The purpose of this article is to establish
minimum standards to safeguard life and property and promote public
welfare and community aesthetics by regulating the appearance, construction,
location and maintenance of all signs and billboards.
The following definitions are used in this article:
A temporary hood or cover which projects from the wall of
the building, which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against
the face of a supporting structure.
A sign which advertises goods, products or facilities or
services not necessarily on the premises where the sign is located
or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is
located.
The unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign caused by
the placement of another sign.
Any sign designed to give any artificial light directly through
any transparent or translucent material from a source of light originating
within or on such sign.
Any sign on which the names and locations of occupants or
the use of a building is given. This shall include offices and church
directories.
Any sign whose message may be changed by electronic process,
including such messages as copy, art, graphics, time, date, temperature,
weather or information concerning civic or charitable events or the
advertising of products or services for sale on the premises. This
also includes traveling or segmented message displays.[1]
Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign on which artificial
light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color
at all times when in use.
Any sign which is supported by structures or supports in
or upon the ground and independent of support from any building. (Also
referred to as "freestanding sign.")
Any sign which carries only the name of the firm, major enterprise,
institution or principal products offered for sale on the premises
or combination of these.
A sign that is illuminated from a source outside of the actual
sign.
A permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building
wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting
beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed
to provide protection against weather.
Any sign attached to and made part of a marquee.
Any sign which does not conform to the regulations of this
article.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground which is
designed to be easily moved from one location to another.
Any sign extending more than 18 inches but less than five
feet from the face of a wall or building.
Any sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent the
property upon which the sign is placed.
Any sign erected upon or over the roof or parapet of any
building.
Includes anything that promotes, calls attention or invites
patronage (or anything similar to the aforementioned) to a business,
location or product.
Any sign intended to be displayed for a short period of time,
including real estate or construction site signs, banners, decorative-type
displays or anything similar to the aforementioned.[2]
Any sign attached to, erected on or painted on the wall of
a building or structure and projecting not more than 18 inches from
such wall.
Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and
visible from a public way.
In any district, no sign shall be permitted except as is hereinafter
specified by the regulations for that district.
A.
Permitted signs.
(3)
Signs pertaining to the lease or sale of the property
on which located or any building thereon shall be permitted, not in
excess of 25 square feet in area per sign, and not more than two signs
shall be permitted on any single parcel.[3]
(4)
A sign identifying a planned shopping center grouping
may be permitted with the approval of the Plan Commission, and the
Commission may, in such case, modify the regulations applicable to
the height, size and location of such sign consistent with the spirit
and intent of the regulations.
(5)
A sign for the purpose of designating a new building
or development, for promotion of a subdivision, for announcement of
a special event or for similar special informational purposes may
be permitted for a limited period of time in any district with the
approval of the Plan Commission and subject to the following:
(a)
Drawings showing the specific design, appearance
and location of the sign shall be submitted to the Plan Commission
for approval.
(b)
The permitted size and location of any such
sign shall be at the discretion of the Plan Commission based upon
the character of the area, the type and purpose of the sign and the
length of time permitted.
(c)
Where the sign is to be located on the premises
involved, such may be permitted for a period up to one year. An extension
may be permitted for a period not to exceed two years total.
(d)
Where the sign is not to be located on the premises
involved, such sign may be permitted for a period not to exceed nine
months.
(6)
Signs designating entrances, exits, service areas,
parking areas, rest rooms and other such signs relating to functional
operation of the building or premises shall be permitted without limitation
other than reasonable size and necessity.
B.
Prohibited
signs.
(1)
No
billboard, poster, flat pennant, streamer, outdoor display or other
advertising device not meeting the requirements mentioned above and
no sign employing brilliant intermittent, rotating or flashing lights
which rotate in a manner or at a rate as to simulate flashing lights
shall be permitted. No sign, billboard or other advertising media
which create a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic
or a nuisance to adjoining residential property shall be permitted
in any district.
(2)
No
sign, billboard or other advertising media not directly related to
the use of the premises on which they are located, except directional
signs as herein provided, shall be permitted in any district, except
as a conditional use in such districts as are hereinafter provided.
C.
Government
signs. The provisions of this section shall not apply to signs erected
by national, state, county or municipal governmental agencies, including
traffic and informational signs.
D.
Exceptions to sign regulations. The following signs
and related items shall not be included in the application of the
regulations contained in this article:
(2)
Flags and insignia of any government, except when
displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
(3)
Legal notices, identification information or directional
signs erected by governmental bodies.
(4)
Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings,
except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
(5)
Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on
private property but bearing no advertising matter.
A.
Permit required. No person shall erect, relocate,
reconstruct or maintain or cause any of the aforementioned signs within
the Village of Siren without first having obtained and having in force
and in effect a permit therefor from the Zoning Administrator.
B.
Permit application. Signs shall not be erected or
altered until a permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator.
Applications for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms
furnished by the Zoning Administrator. The applicant shall file with
the application plans and specifications and provide information about
the sign, including dimensions, materials, illumination, wiring, height
above grade, distance from lot line, and by whom it shall be erected.
Permits are not required for a copy change when no change in business
name is involved.
C.
Permit fee. A permit fee as set by the Village Board
shall be paid to the Zoning Administrator for each sign permit issued
under this article; provided, however, that a fee shall not be charged
for putting an existing sign in conformance with this article or for
a copy change when no change in business name is involved.
D.
Exceptions.
(1)
Temporary signs. Permits are not required for such
temporary signs as real estate (which advertises sale or rental of
the premises upon which it is posted) and construction site or similar
type signs, provided that such signs do not exceed 25 square feet
of display surface.
(2)
Window signs. Window signs directing attention to
a business or profession conducted on the premises or to a product,
service or entertainment sold or offered on said premises shall be
permitted without a permit.
A.
All signs shall be removed by the owner or lessee
of the premises upon which the sign is located when a business which
it advertises has not been conducted for a period of six months or
when, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator, such sign is so
old or dilapidated or has become so out of repair as to be dangerous
or unsafe, whichever occurs first. If the owner or lessee fails to
remove it, the Village Board may remove the sign at the cost of the
owner, following adequate written notice. The owner may appeal the
Village Board's decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.[1]
B.
Alterations. Any sign which was erected before the
adoption of this article shall not be rebuilt or relocated without
conforming to all of the requirements of this Code of Ordinances.
C.
Violations. All signs constructed or maintained in
violation of any of the provisions of this article are hereby declared
public nuisances within the meaning of this Code of Ordinances.[2] In addition to the penalty provisions for violation of
this chapter, the Village Board may bring an action to abate the nuisance
in the manner set forth in the Wisconsin Statutes.
Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations
may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and decisions by the
Village Board may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A.
Installation. All signs shall be properly secured,
supported and braced and shall be kept in reasonable structural condition
and shall be kept clean and well painted at all times. Bolts or screws
shall not be fastened to window frames. Every sign and its framework,
braces, anchors and other supports shall be constructed of such material
and with such workmanship as to be safe and satisfactory to Village
officials.
B.
General requirements.
(1)
Awnings. The lowest part of any awning shall be seven
feet above the sidewalk. Signs are allowed directly on the awning
or hanging on the frame but not below seven feet.
(2)
Animated signs. Signs with any moving parts, beacon
lights or moving lights shall not be permitted, except that revolving
signs are permitted.
(3)
Flashing signs. Flashing signs are prohibited. Bare
reflecting-type bulbs of any kind are not allowed for a flashing or
nonflashing sign unless they are properly shaded so as not to interfere
with surrounding properties.
(4)
Roof signs. No sign shall be located so as to project
above the parapet line, unless approved by the Village Board, upon
the recommendation of the Plan Commission.
(5)
Illuminated signs. Any illuminated signs shall not
interfere with surrounding properties or traffic.
(6)
Projection. Signs including supports shall not project
beyond five feet from the face of the wall to which attached.
(7)
Blanketing. Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.
(8)
Maintenance. All signs, including supports and attachments,
shall be properly maintained and have an appearance that is neat and
clean.
C.
Prohibitions.
D.
Searchlights. The Village Board may permit the temporary
use of a searchlight for advertising purposes in any district, provided
that the searchlight will not be located in any public right-of-way,
will not be located closer than 10 feet to an adjacent property and
will not cause a hazard to traffic or adjoining properties. Searchlight
permits shall not be granted for a period of more than five days in
any six-month period.
E.
Signs on public rights-of-way. Signs shall not be
permitted on public rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking
and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter.
A.
Temporary sign limitations.
(1)
All temporary signs, such as real estate and construction
site signs, shall be removed within 10 days after their use has discontinued.
Political signs are subject to the requirements of § 12.04,
Wis. Stats.[1]
(2)
Temporary signs may be placed on a property but shall
not be located on a right-of-way terrace and shall not interfere with
driveway vision clearance.
B.
Electronic message unit signs.
(1)
Such signs may be used only to advertise activities
conducted on the premises or to present public service information.
(2)
Segmented messages must be displayed for not less
than 1/2 second and not more than 10 seconds.
(3)
Traveling messages may travel no slower than 16 light
columns per second and no faster than 32 columns per second.
A.
Signs eligible for characterization as legal nonconforming.
Any sign located within the Village of Siren limits on the date of
adoption of this chapter or located in an area annexed to the Village
of Siren hereafter which does not conform to the provisions of this
article is eligible for characterization as a legal nonconforming
sign and is permitted, provided that it meets the following requirements:
B.
Loss of legal nonconforming status.
(1)
A
sign loses its nonconforming status if one or more of the following
occurs:
(a)
The sign is structurally altered in any way,
except for normal maintenance or repair, which tends to or makes the
sign less in compliance with the requirements of this article than
it was before alteration.
(b)
The sign is relocated.
(c)
The sign fails to conform to the Village requirements
regarding maintenance and repair, abandonment or dangerous or defective
signs.
(2)
On the date of occurrence of any of the above, the
sign shall be immediately brought in compliance with this article
with a new permit secured therefor or shall be removed.
C.
Legal nonconforming sign maintenance and repair. Nothing
in this article shall relieve the owner or user of a legal nonconforming
sign or the owner of the property on which the sign is located from
the provisions of this article regarding safety, maintenance and repair
of signs.
All billboards, signs and other advertising
structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure
of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed
to receive dead loads as required in the Building Code or other ordinances
of the Village of Siren.
A.
A billboard shall only be erected in areas that are
zoned commercial or industrial.
B.
No billboard shall be allowed within the fire zone
as described on the Official Map.
C.
No more than one billboard back-to-back shall be erected
upon one lot.
D.
The maximum size of billboards shall be 360 square
feet.
E.
No billboard may be erected within 800 feet of another
existing billboard measured along or across the same right-of-way.
G.
The maximum height of billboards shall be 30 feet.
In no event shall the maximum height of any billboard exceed the height
requirements for buildings in the underlying zoning district regulations.
Minimum height shall be 12 feet above grade.
H.
Roof-mounted billboards (off-premises signs) shall
be prohibited.
No billboards shall be erected within 100 feet
of the intersecting right-of-way of signalized intersections, and
no billboards shall be erected within 50 feet of the intersecting
right-of-way of all other streets.
Except as otherwise herein provided, all billboards
and/or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the
premises upon which an off-premises sign/billboard is located when
the business it advertises is no longer conducted where advertised.
If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign/billboard, the Village
Board shall give the owner 60 days' written notice to remove said
sign/billboard and thereafter, upon the owner's or lessee's failure
to comply, may remove such sign/billboard, any costs for which shall
be charged to the owner of the property or may be assessed as a special
assessment against the property, and/or the Village Board may take
any other appropriate legal action necessary to attain compliance.
A.
All signs are prohibited in the R-1, R-2, A and W
Districts, except the following:
(1)
Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming
business establishment announcing without display or elaboration only
the name and occupation of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet
in height and 10 feet in length.
(4)
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious
institutions not to exceed 12 square feet in area located on the premises.
(5)
Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings and date
of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed
of metal and affixed flat against a structure.
(6)
Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions,
information and notices.
(7)
Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the
Plan Commission.
B.
Signs are permitted in the C-1, C-2 and I-1 Districts,
subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings
shall not extend more than 18 inches outside of a building's wall
surface, shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises
and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center-line
street grade.[3]
(2)
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from or supported
by structures shall not exceed 36 square feet in area for any one
premises, shall not extend more than five feet into any required yard,
shall not extend into any public right-of-way, shall not be less than
10 feet from all side lot lines, shall not exceed a height of 20 feet
above the mean center-line street grade and shall not be less than
10 feet above the sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.[4]
(3)
A ground sign shall not exceed 20 feet in height above
the mean center-line street grade, shall meet all yard requirements
for the district in which it is located and shall not exceed 60 square
feet on one side nor 120 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(4)
A roof sign shall not exceed 10 feet in height above
the roof, shall meet all the yard and height requirements for the
district in which it is located and shall not exceed 120 square feet
on all sides for any one premises.
(5)
Window signs shall be placed only on the inside of
commercial buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of
the pane upon which the sign is displayed.
(6)
Combinations of any of the above signs shall not exceed
the dimensional requirements of any single sign included in the combination.
