[Ord. No. 03-2010 §1, 2-8-2010]
A.Â
Purpose. The purpose of these sign regulations is to provide
minimum standards to safeguard, maintain, preserve and protect life,
the public health, property, property values, convenience, the aesthetic
quality of the community, welfare and safety within the City of Louisiana
while at the same time recognizing the importance of signage in:
B.Â
Effect.
1.Â
To provide minimum standards regulating and controlling the quality
of materials, design, color, illumination, number and type of sign
permitted;
2.Â
To provide minimum standards of construction, installation and maintenance
of signs, advertising devices, outdoor displays and billboards;
3.Â
To establish a permit system that allows a variety of types of signs
on business premises and a variety of signs on other premises, subject
to this Chapter and its permit procedures;
4.Â
To allow certain small signs incidental to the principal use of a site without a permit if such signs meet the substantive requirements of this Chapter and Chapter 405 "Zoning Regulations";
5.Â
To allow a variety of types of signs subject to the same substantive
and permit requirements that control on-premises signs;
6.Â
To allow non-commercial signs/decorations to be temporarily placed
on or make minor encroachments of the public right-of-way, upon request
being made and permission being specifically granted; and
7.Â
Prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this Chapter.
C.Â
Scope.
1.Â
Louisiana, City Code Chapter 405 "Zoning Regulations" shall govern the area of the City in which any sign, sign structure or advertising device shall be located.
D.Â
Applicability.
1.Â
The regulations and requirements of this Chapter shall apply to all
signs that are or are intended to be viewed from any public right-of-way
or public property, unless otherwise exempted by this Chapter.
2.Â
Signs shall be permitted only in conformance with these regulations
unless otherwise provided for a non-conforming signs under the provisions
of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 03-2010 §1, 2-8-2010]
For the purpose of this Chapter, the definitions of words and
phrases contained in 23 USC 131 Section 226, RSMo., 1994, as amended,
and the City Codes of Louisiana, Missouri, are hereby adopted and
incorporated by reference and shall apply whenever such word or phrase
is used within this Chapter. The following words and phrases shall
have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Chapter:
A device hung to attract attention to a business, trademark,
sports team, holiday or special event. Such device may be constructed
of paper, plastic or cloth and may move with the wind or by some other
artificial means.
The Building Inspector of Louisiana or his designee.
A freestanding structure affording protection from the elements
to persons or property thereunder.
The City Administrator of Louisiana or his designee.
Any sign wording, logo or other representation that, directly
or indirectly, names, advertises or calls attention to a business,
product, service or the commercial activity.
The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
A multiple lot subdivision or a single parcel or assemblage
of abutting parcels containing multiple structures and/or uses.
To build, construct, reconstruct, attach, hang, rehang, alter,
place, affix, enlarge, move or relocate and includes the painting
and repainting of existing sign structures.
The length of the lot along the street side, but which does
not provide both free ingress and egress. The length of a lot bordering
more than one (1) street is considered separate for each street.
Any fabric or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns
or symbols.
NON-OFFICIAL — Any fabric designed to be flown from a
permanent or temporary ground-set flagpole, staff or hung as a pennant
or bunting and may be used for any commercial purpose.
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OFFICIAL — Any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns
or symbols designed to symbolize the United States, State of Missouri,
other States, other Nations, the United State military, veterans and
other organization.
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The length of the lot along the street side providing both
free ingress and egress. The length of a lot bordering more that one
(1) street is considered separate for each street.
A designated and numbered area of land within a subdivision
of the City of Louisiana, the designated number of a lot refers to
its location within the specified subdivision of the City. A lot is
of undetermined size and shape.
An artistic, non-commercial rendering applied directly on
or attached to a wall. Such "mural" shall not be considered as a sign.
Such mural shall not be governed by the regulations and requirements
of this Chapter.
Any use or sign that does not pertain to commerce or trade.
As used in this Chapter shall mean a use or sign that is
not in compliance with the regulations outlined in this Chapter.
A portion of land with clearly defined boundaries that has
been divided from a larger portion of land for any purpose whatsoever
or has been created by combining two (2) or more areas of land. A
parcel is of undetermined size and shape.
A business combining one (1) service station facility and
one (1) merchandise store on the same lot. The service station and
merchandise store shall be contained in one (1) combined-used building.
Any business that dispenses or is designed to dispense gasoline
and oil for use in motor vehicles and boats.
A structure that includes any announcement, declaration,
demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise,
inform direct or promote the interest of any person when the same
is placed in view of the general public. Such term, when used in this
Chapter, shall include any and all types and kinds of advertising
devices. Such types shall include, but not be limited to, those listed
herein:
ABANDONED — A sign that has not been utilized for a continuous
uninterrupted period of one hundred eighty (180) days.
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ANIMATED — Any sign that includes action or motion.
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AREA/FACE — A total area of the space to be used for information
purposes.
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AWNING — A sign permanently affixed to an awning.
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BASE/PLINTH — The base of a pedestal sign that rests directly
on the ground designed as a support unit, architectural unit or decorative
design element.
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BILLBOARD — An outdoor advertising sign or device supported
by uprights or braces on the ground that advertises products or services
which are not sold or manufactured on the premises of the sign or
device's location.
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CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION — A sign used during the construction
of new buildings or reconstruction of or additions to existing buildings,
which identifies the project or future use of site and provides information
denoting the owner, architect, engineer, contractor and/or financing
institutions of the project.
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DAILY ADVERTISING SET OUT — A freestanding sign (e.g.,
A-frame, sandwich boards) that is displayed during hours in which
a business is open and removed during hours in which a business is
closed.
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DIRECTIONAL — A sign that indicates a direction for vehicular
or pedestrian traffic or other movement.
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DIRECTORY — A sign containing three (3) or more names
within a single sign.
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ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD/CENTER — A sign that presents
a message through illumination that includes, but not limited to,
intermittent or moving lights forming letters, numbers or symbols
of the message, whether or not the message appears to move across
the sign face including such message as may be driven mechanically
or by computer-driven electronic impulses.
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FLASHING — Any sign which contains or utilizes an intermittent
or flashing light source or which includes the illusion of intermittent
or flashing light by means of animation or an externally mounted intermittent
light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service, time,
temperature and date signs are not defined as flashing signs.
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FLUTTERING — Any sign manufactured of flexible materials
or is in any way designed to be moved by the wind or by some other
artificial means shall be considered a "fluttering sign". Such signs
shall include, but not limited to, pennants, banners, balloons, spinning
devices and streamers.
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FREESTANDING — Any sign supported by structures or supports
that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that is independent
from any building or other structure.
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GARAGE/YARD SALE — The offering for sale of one (1) or
multiple items of personal property.
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HELP WANTED — Any sign advertising employment opportunities.
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ILLUMINATED — Any sign that is illuminated by light source
mounted on or in the sign or at some other location.
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INFORMATIONAL — Those signs dealing with traffic, street,
speed, etc., that are approved and erect by the City, County, State
or Federal authority. Also any sign that gives parking, directions,
building address, fire protection, traffic flow (other than directional
signs), height clearance, pedestrian, no trespassing and other similar
information and that does not advertise a business or use located
on lot or parcel.
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INTERIOR — An interior sign erected so as to be visible
from a street but not attached to a window.
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MEMORIAL OR TABLET — A permanent part of a building that
denotes the name of the building, date of erection or historical significance,
dedication or other similar information or a monument/sign/marker
permanently erected on the ground and constructed of durable weather-proof
materials that denotes a site and its historical significance, dedication
or other similar information.
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OCCUPATIONAL/IDENTIFICATION — A wall sign identifying
the vocation and name of a person occupying a building and mounted
adjacent to the main entrance of the building.
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OFF-SITE — Any sign advertising products or services not
manufactured, sold, performed or available on the premises of the
sign.
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PEDESTAL — Any detached sign on the same lot or parcel
as the use it advertised which has its bottom portion attached to
a proportionate base or plinth, integrated ground planter box or structural
frame, the width of which shall be a minimum of one-half (½)
the width of the widest part of the sign face.
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PERPENDICULAR WALL SIGN — A projecting sign erected perpendicular
to the building or structure upon which it is placed.
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POLE/PYLON — Any freestanding sign located on the same
lot or parcel as the use it advertises which is supported by one (1)
or more stationary poles.
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POLITICAL — A temporary sign advocating or opposing any
political proposition or candidate for public office.
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PORTABLE — A sign that is not permanently affixed to a
building, structure or ground and that may be readily moved or relocated.
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PROJECTING — Any sign or part thereof protruding outwardly
from the building or structure to which it is attached.
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QUICK SHOP/SERVICE STATION — A business combining one
(1) service station facility and one (1) merchandise store on the
same lot. The service station and merchandise store shall be contained
in one (1) combined-use building or a business that dispenses or is
designed only to dispense gasoline and oil for use in motor vehicles
and boats.
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QUICK SHOP/SERVICE STATION GASOLINE PRICE — A sign containing
thereon the price per gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel sold at said
business.
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REAL ESTATE — Signs relative to the sale, lease or rental
of property.
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ROOF — Any sign erected on a roof, excluding wall signs.
The generally vertical or perpendicular plane of a mansard-type roof
shall be interpreted the same as a wall of a building.
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SPECIAL HOLIDAY DISPLAYS — Signs or an assemblage of materials
used for holiday or promotion of a civic purpose, civil welfare or
charitable purposes.
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TEMPORARY — Any sign intended for a limited or intermittent
period of display. Such signs shall include, but not limited to, political
signs, yard/garage sales signs, real estate signs, etc.
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WALL — A sign attached to the wall of a building or against
the perpendicular or generally vertical place of a mansard-type roof
with the plane of the sign face parallel to the plane of the wall
below the roof line. Such sign may be hung parallel or perpendicular.
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WINDOW — A sign internally or externally affixed on a
window or glass door.
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