[R.O. 2006 §530.100; CC 1986 §48.210]
A. 
The following sign standards by district shall apply in the City of Willow Springs. The districts are as defined by the zoning ordinance and official Zoning Map. Only signs as described herein and as may be described under Section 425.080 "Exemptions" shall be permitted in each particular district.
1. 
Districts "R-1", "R-2" and "R-3". Developments shall be permitted two (2) non-illuminated detached signs identifying the name of the project only for each entrance of the development. Such sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area and not more than five (5) feet in overall height. Said sign shall be maintained on private property, no closer than ten (10) feet to the property line.
2. 
Districts "B-1" and "B-2".
a. 
Any single-family, duplex or multi-family units existing in these districts must comply with "R-1", "R-2" and "R-3".
b. 
Each business or commercial establishment shall be permitted only one (1) wall sign mounted on the building, the total area of which shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of the facade upon which it is placed. No such sign shall extend above the height of the wall upon which it is mounted. In addition, each business shall be permitted one (1) "Class B" sign the surface area of which shall not exceed two (2) square feet for each lineal foot of street frontage, provided no single sign shall exceed a gross surface area of one hundred (100) square feet, however, "Class B" signs located within two thousand six hundred forty (2,640) lineal feet of the centerline of the public right-of-way may have a gross surface area not to exceed seven hundred (700) square feet. One (1) freestanding sign with total measurements not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet per side may be placed at one (1) major entrance to a shopping area. This sign shall reflect the shopping center name only. Awnings shall be permitted in this district.
c. 
An office building shall be permitted not more than two (2) non-illuminated wall signs, not more than nine (9) square feet in area per sign and shall indicate only the name of the building or establishments housed therein. In lieu of one (1) non-illuminated wall sign, each office building may be permitted one (1) illuminated wall sign, but said sign shall not be erected within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a residential district unless lighting is shielded from view.
d. 
No sign shall be placed closer to the front property line than one-half (½) the distance of the front yard. In addition, no sign shall exceed district height limitations of thirty (35) feet.
3. 
Districts "I-1" and "I-2".
a. 
Signs for commercial uses shall be permitted as provided in District "B-2", however, "Class B" signs located within two thousand six hundred forty (2,640) lineal feet of the centerline of the public right-of-way may have a gross surface area not to exceed seven hundred (700) square feet.
b. 
Only the name of the establishment shall be placed on a sign for an industrial use. The total area of the sign shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of the facade upon which it is placed.
c. 
No sign shall exceed forty-five (45) feet in height unless the building exceeds forty-five (45) feet in height. In such event, the sign may be equal to the height of the building. No sign shall exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area. Signs shall not turn, move or flash.
[R.O. 2006 §530.110; CC 1986 §48.220; Ord. No. 1301 §1, 7-8-2002]
A. 
Billboards shall not be located within three hundred (300) feet of any residentially zoned property.
B. 
Billboards shall not be erected within one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet of one another on the same side of the road. Double-faced sign structures having parallel sign surfaces and adjacent sign structures having touching sign surfaces with an angle no greater than ninety degrees (90°) between sign surfaces, provided they do not exceed the sign surface requirements, shall not be prohibited by this requirement. Such minimum spacing distance shall be measured along the centerline of the City road or street or U.S. highway from any point opposite any edge of a billboard and perpendicular to the centerline of such highway.
C. 
The maximum gross area of any billboard shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet. For the purposes of this Subsection, each side of a billboard shall be considered a separate sign.
D. 
No billboard shall be attached to the roof or wall of any building.
E. 
No new billboard shall be erected having more than one (1) viewable sign face which is directed toward the same lane of traffic.
F. 
Billboards may be illuminated by electrical lighting of the surface of the sign face; however, no flashing, blinking or intermittent lighting of billboard sign faces shall be allowed.
G. 
Billboards shall not exceed a height of thirty-five (35) feet above the nearest adjacent street level.
[R.O. 2006 §530.120; CC 1986 §48.230]
Signs that were erected before the adoption of this Chapter may continue to exist and be maintained in a safe manner, however, such non-conforming signs may not be replaced, expanded, enlarged, modified to denote the change in the type of business or a change in ownership or substantially improved other than in compliance with these regulations.
[R.O. 2006 §530.130; CC 1986 §48.240]
A. 
In obtaining a sign permit, the applicant may apply to the Administrator for a variance from the specific requirements of this code. A variance may be granted by the Board of Aldermen, after receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission, where the literal application of the code would create a particular hardship for the sign user and the following criteria are met:
1. 
The granting of the requested variance would not be materially detrimental to the property owners in the vicinity.
2. 
Hardship caused the sign user under a literal interpretation of the code is due to conditions unique to that property, does not apply generally to other properties in the City and is not based solely upon economic hardship.
3. 
The granting of the variance would not be contrary to the general objectives of this code.
B. 
In granting a variance, the Board of Aldermen may attach additional requirements necessary to carry out the spirit and purpose of this Chapter in the public interest.
[R.O. 2006 §530.140; CC 1986 §48.250; Ord. No. 1488 §II, 9-25-2014]
A. 
The following signs are prohibited in all districts and shall be removed in accordance with Section 425.190, Removal.
1. 
Signs containing any indecent, obscene or immoral matter, as determined by the Board of Aldermen.
2. 
Signs which are located on any public right-of-way, except that traffic or other non-advertising signs as provided in Section 425.080(A)(6) and temporary signs as provided in Section 425.080(A)(9), Exemptions, shall be allowed in rights-of-way.
3. 
Signs illuminated to an intensity to cause glare or brightness to a degree that could constitute a hazard or nuisance. Revolving, flashing, intermittently lighted or changing color signs shall be a minimum of five-second intervals. Beacons or similarly constructed signs shall not be allowed.
4. 
Any detached sign when any portion thereof extends beyond a vertical plane two (2) feet inside the right-of-way line.
5. 
Illuminated signs erected within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a residential district, unless lighting is shielded from view.
6. 
Signs which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic, street sign or signal or which obstruct the view in any direction at a street or road intersection.
7. 
Signs which advertise an activity, business or service that is no longer conducted or advertises a product that is no longer produced shall be removed as provided for in Section 425.190, Removal, except where the owner or lessor of a premises is seeking a new tenant, such signs may remain in place for not more than ninety (90) days from date of vacancy.