C. Sign Color
The City of Sedona has long placed a strong emphasis on building design and aesthetics, including regulations of color to ensure the built environment blends into the surrounding natural environment. In order to ensure the signs adhere to this same standard, sign colors are regulated in a similar way to building colors.
(1) Sign colors shall provide sufficient contrast to be legible, yet be subdued enough to blend with the natural landscape and/or surrounding structures.
(2) Background colors shall be limited to no more than three on a single sign. Too many colors overwhelm the viewer’s ability to process fast what the sign is communicating. Limit use of accent colors to increase legibility.
(3) The background area of a sign, exclusive of any letters, words, or symbols, shall comply with the exterior color requirements of Section 5.7.F(5), Building Color, except as noted below.
a. Not more than 10 percent of the sign background area shall exceed these color requirements.
b. Natural materials including, but not limited to, rock, natural wood, tile, and brick, which do not comply with these color requirements, may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Director.
(4) Text colors are not subject to the same color restrictions as background colors, but should provide sufficient contrast. Bright and glossy or fluorescent colors and reflective surfaces are prohibited.
(5) Sign colors shall relate to and complement the materials or color scheme of the buildings, including accent and trim colors.
(6) Signs may be painted directly on building façades. The Director shall review such requests on a case-by-case basis and make a determination based on a review of whether the proposed sign interferes with the architectural integrity of the building.