[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Oconomowoc 11-16-1998 (Sec. 14.04
of the 1986 Town Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is adopted to promote the health, safety, morals,
comfort, prosperity and general welfare of the Town of Oconomowoc.
Among other purposes, such provisions are intended to promote safety
and efficiency of public streets and highways and to avoid clutter
thereon, to aid in conserving and stabilizing the economic values
of the community, to preserve and promote the general attractiveness
and character of the community environment, and otherwise provide
for the healthy and prosperous growth of the Town.
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul,
impair or interfere with any existing covenants or agreements between
parties or with any rules, regulations or permits previously adopted
or issued pursuant to laws, or with existing zoning ordinances enforceable
in the Town of Oconomowoc, and any provisions therein relating to
signs; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater
restriction upon the location of signs, the provisions of this chapter
shall govern.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A sign directing attention to a business, service, sales
of real or personal property, open houses or entertainment conducted,
sold or offered elsewhere than upon the premises where the sign is
placed, including billboard signs.
Any identification, description, illustration, symbol, statue
or device, illuminated or nonilluminated, which is visible from any
public place designed to advertise, identify or convey information,
including any landscaping where letters or numbers are used for the
purpose of directing the public's attention to a product or location.
For the purpose of removal, a sign shall also include all sign structures.
Includes, but is not necessarily limited to, any sign coming within the terms of Chapter 207, Nuisances, § 207-5A, of the Code of the Town of Oconomowoc and any sign located on state, county or Town public streets or highways or off-premises signs located on private property if the off-premises sign is in violation of the Waukesha County Zoning Ordinance or Waukesha County Shoreland and Floodplain Protection Ordinance and no permit was issued therefor.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge,
move or convert any unauthorized sign in the Town of Oconomowoc.
In addition to signs permitted under the Waukesha County Zoning
Ordinance or the Waukesha County Shoreland and Floodplain Protection
Ordinance, the following signs are exempt from the prohibitions of
this chapter:
A.
Off-premises rummage sale signs. Notwithstanding any other provisions
of this chapter, off-premises signs advertising rummage, garage, yard
or estate sales, or any other type of sale of personal property, may
be erected off-premises, provided they comply with the following restrictions:
(1)
There may be only one off-premises sign per sale, and such sign shall
be placed no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on the day of sale and must be
removed daily no later than 6:00 p.m.
(2)
The permitted off-premises sign shall be located on property adjacent
to the intersection of the street where the sale is to be held and
the nearest arterial street, but only with the permission of the owner
of the property upon which said sign is to be located.
(3)
No off-premises sign allowed under this subsection may be attached
to any municipal, highway or utility pole, nor may any off-premises
sign be placed in street rights-of-way.
B.
"Open house" signs. Sale of real estate "open house" signs may be
placed on the premises for sale and on a premises located on a property
adjacent to the intersection of the street upon which the property
to be sold is located and the nearest arterial street, but only with
the property owner's permission. Off-premises "open house" signs may
be placed only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. of the
day of the open house and must be removed daily.
C.
Community
banner signs. A sign which displays information of interest to the
general community regarding charitable or community events. It is
intended to promote free charitable community events and it is not
intended for business or events outside the Town of Oconomowoc. All
community banner signs shall comply with the Town of Oconomowoc banner
policy as established by the Town of Oconomowoc and as may be amended
over time.
[Added 5-15-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-9]
The Highway Department shall cause to be removed any sign that
endangers the public safety or that is erected in violation of this
chapter. Upon request of the Highway Superintendent, the Clerk shall
prepare a notice which shall describe the sign and specify the violation
involved, which notice shall state that if the sign is not removed
or the violation is not corrected within three days, the sign shall
be removed in accordance with the provisions of this section. All
notices mailed by the Highway Department shall be sent by certified
mail. Any time period provided shall be deemed to commence on the
date of receipt of the certified mail. The notice shall be mailed
to the owner of the property on which the sign is located, the owner
of the sign and the occupant of the property. If any such person is
unknown or cannot be found, notice shall be mailed to such person's
last known address, if any, and posted on the sign or on the premises.
Notwithstanding the above, in cases of emergency, the Administrator
may cause the immediate removal of a dangerous or defective sign without
notice.
A.
Any sign removed by the Highway Department pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter shall become the property of the Town and may be disposed
of in any manner deemed appropriate by the Town. The Highway Department
shall store the sign for not less than 10 days before disposal.
