A.
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.
B.
No person shall erect, enlarge, locate, move, reconstruct, extend, convert or structurally alter any sign in the Village of Howards Grove without first securing a sign permit from the Building Inspector. The fee for such permits shall be determined from time to time by the Village Board and adopted as part of the rate schedule kept by the Village Clerk-Treasurer. Exceptions to the sign regulations are listed in § 415-58.
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. Decorative awnings without lettering
or imagery are not considered signs.
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.
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, 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.[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'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.
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 12 inches but less than five
feet from the face of a wall or building.
Any sign that 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, political or construction site signs, and banners,
decorative-type displays or anything similar to the aforementioned.
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.
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.[1]
A.
Signs in Residential, Multifamily, and Parks and Recreation Districts.
All signs are prohibited, except the following signs are permitted
when located outside of the public right-of-way, and which comply
with all side and rear yard setback requirements, except as otherwise
provided in this article:
(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.
(2)
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.
(3)
Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two square feet
located on the premises.
(4)
Bulletin boards and signs for public, charitable or religious institutions
located on the premises and not to exceed 60 square feet in area per
side.
(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.
(8)
Subdivision entrance and development signs may be permitted as a
conditional use with Village Board approval. A development or subdivision
may have one freestanding sign on each street which the development
abuts. Each sign may not exceed 48 square feet in area or eight feet
in height and may be single or double-faced. Signs permitted by this
section may be exempt from the setback requirements of the district
upon approval by the Village Board.
(9)
Parks and recreation areas and multifamily buildings of 12 or more
units may have a ground sign as herein regulated.
B.
Signs in Commercial and Industrial Districts. Any sign permitted
in a residential district is permitted in Commercial and Industrial
Districts and is exempt from setback requirements unless otherwise
noted. No signs may extend into any public right-of-way or easement.
Identifying signs for the principal building of the commercial or
industrial enterprise advertising a business or activity conducted
on the premises are permitted in accordance with the following provisions:
(1)
Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings shall not
extend more than one foot from the wall surface or extend above or
beyond the wall itself. The maximum allowable coverage of permanently
mounted signs to the street side(s) wall shall not exceed a total
of 300 square feet in total area, or 25% of the vertical surface of
the wall, exclusive of the window and door opening square footage.
If signs are placed in or on windows and doors, the actual sign area
used in the windows and doors will also be included in the aggregate
sign square footage.
(2)
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by attached
structures shall not exceed 40 square feet in area on a side, shall
not be less than 10 feet from all side lot lines, and shall not be
less than 10 feet above the sidewalk. Only one projecting sign is
permitted per lot. Projecting signs are allowed only when a pole or
ground sign cannot be constructed to code.
(3)
Ground signs shall not extend into any public right-of-way or easement
and shall not exceed 100 square feet on a side and 200 square feet
on all sides and shall not exceed eight feet in height above the main
road grade measured at its highest point. Only one ground sign is
permitted per lot. All ground signs shall have a minimum landscaped
area of 16 square feet around the base of the sign.
(4)
Pole signs shall not exceed 25 feet in height above the main road
grade. The sign shall be completely within the property on which it
is located and may not extend into any public right-of-way or easement.
The total signage area per premises may not exceed six square feet
for each 10 feet or fraction of frontage. No sign shall have an area
exceeding 150 square feet on a side or 300 square feet on all sides.
One pole sign per street frontage is permitted. All pole signs shall
have a minimum landscaped area of 16 square feet around the base of
the pole.
(5)
In Commercial Districts, temporary window signs advertising a sale
or special event at an individual commercial establishment shall be
exempt from the sign regulations.
(6)
A temporary sign for the purpose or designating a new building or
development, announcement of a special event, or for similar special
informational purposes may be permitted for limited period of time
with the approval of the Village Board.
(7)
A roof sign shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof and
shall be considered part of the structure in meeting all height requirements
and setbacks for the district in which it is located, and shall not
exceed 100 square feet on all sides for any one premises. Only one
roof sign per frontage is permitted.
(8)
Permanent window signs shall be placed only on the inside of commercial
buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the total window area in aggregate/per
side.
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.
H.
Temporary banners.
A.
No sign will be permitted that resembles the size, shape, form or
color of official traffic control signs, signals or devices.
B.
Advertising on vehicles.
(1)
No persons shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of
way or public property or on private property so as to be seen from
a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon
any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing
advertisement of products or directing people to a business activity
located on the same or nearby property or any other premises.
(2)
This subsection shall not prohibit "For Sale" signs on vehicles for
sale provided the vehicle is not parked on a public right-of-way.
C.
No sign in a conspicuous state of disrepair shall be permitted to
exist. The Village Board may order removal on a twenty-day public
notice or immediately if public danger exists.
D.
No billboard signs shall be permitted.
E.
Moving or flashing signs. No sign shall be erected which has any
flashing, brilliant intermittent parts or lights, or bare reflecting-type
bulbs, except those giving public service information such as time,
date, temperature, weather or similar information. This prohibition
shall apply to all signs, including portable and temporary.
A.
Removal. 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 Building Inspector or Village Board, such sign is
so old, dilapidated or has become so out or 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 cost of the owner,
following adequate written notice. The owner may appeal the Village
Board's decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
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 article.
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. 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 State 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 the Village
Board and Building Inspector.
B.
Prohibitions.
(1)
No sign shall be erected so that any portion of the sign or its supports
is attached to or interferes with the free use of any fire escape,
exit, any required stairway, door, ventilator or window.
(2)
No sign shall be erected that will interfere with, obstruct, confuse
or mislead traffic.
(3)
At no time shall signs be permitted within a vision clearance triangle
in such a manner as to restrict vision or impair safety.
(4)
No sign located within 150 feet of a highway or street right-of-way
shall contain, include or be illuminated by a rotating beam of light.
C.
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.
D.
General requirements.
(1)
Awnings. Lowest part of any awning shall be a minimum of 10 feet
above the sidewalk. Signs are allowed directly on the awning or hanging
on the frame but not below 10 feet.
(2)
Animated signs. Signs with any moving parts, beacon lights or moving
lights shall not be permitted, except revolving-type signs are permitted.
(3)
Illuminated signs. Any illuminated signs shall not interfere with
surrounding properties or traffic. Bare reflecting type bulbs of any
kind are not allowed for nonflashing signs unless they are properly
shaded so as not to interfere with surrounding properties.
(4)
Projection. Signs including supports shall not project beyond five
feet of the face of the wall to which attached.
(5)
Blanketing. Blanketing of signs shall not be allowed.
(6)
Maintenance. All signs, including supports and attachments, shall
be properly maintained and have an appearance that is neat and clean.
A.
Signs eligible for characterization as legal nonconforming. Any sign
located within the Village of Howards Grove limits on the date of
adoption or amendment of this chapter or located in an area annexed
to the Village of Howards Grove hereafter which does not conform with
the provisions of this article is eligible for characterization as
a legal nonconforming sign and is permitted.[1]
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
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 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 in which the sign is located from the
provisions of this article regarding safety, maintenance and repair
of signs.
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[1] 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.
