The following definitions are used in this article:
AWNING
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. Decorative awnings without lettering
or imagery are not considered signs.
BANNER
A temporary sign generally constructed of flexible nonrigid
material (i.e., canvas, cloth, plastic, etc.) upon which a sign, logo,
advertising, events or goods have been placed.
BILLBOARD
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.
BLANKETING
The unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign caused by
the placement of another sign.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED 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.
DIRECTORY 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.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE UNIT SIGN
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, charitable or other noncommercial
activities, or the advertising of products or services for sale on
the premises. This also includes traveling or segmented message displays.
FLASHING SIGN
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.
GROUND AND/OR POLE SIGN
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.")
IDENTIFICATION 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.
MARQUEE
A permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building's
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.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to and made part of a marquee.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground which is
designed to be easily moved from one location to another.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign extending more than 12 inches but less than five
feet from the face of a wall or building.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any sign that which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent
the property upon which the sign is placed.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected upon or over the roof or parapet of any
building.
SIGN
Includes anything that promotes, calls attention or invites
patronage (or anything similar to the aforementioned) to a business,
location or product.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign intended to be displayed for a short period of time,
including real estate, political or construction site signs, and banners,
decorative-type displays or anything similar to the aforementioned.
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached to, erected on or painted on the wall of
a building or structure and projecting not more 12 inches from such
wall.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and
visible from a public way.
Required information: Application for a sign permit shall be
made in writing upon forms furnished by the Village which contain
the following information about the sign: dimensions, including display
surface; materials; illumination; wiring; height above grade; distance
from lot lines; and the person, firm or corporation erecting or altering
the sign. The applicant must attach to the application a scale drawing
of the design of the sign.
The following signs and related items shall not be included
in the application of the regulations contained in this article:
A. Signs not exceeding one square feet in area and bearing only property
numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants or premises.
B. Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection
with commercial promotion.
C. Legal notices, identification information or directional signs erected
by governmental bodies.
D. Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except
letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
E. Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property,
but bearing no advertising matter, and not exceeding eight square
feet in size.
F. Signs erected by national, state, county or municipal governmental
agencies, including traffic and informational signs.
G. Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise
the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which signs are temporarily
located.
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.
All 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 Howards Grove.
Except as otherwise herein provided, all sign messages shall
be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which an off-premises
sign is located when the business it advertises is no longer conducted
where advertised. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign,
the Village Board shall give the owner 60 days' written notice to
remove said sign and thereafter, upon the owner's or lessee's failure
to comply, may remove such sign, any costs of 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.