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 billboard.
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, 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.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
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 a "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.
Any sign attached to and made part of a marquee. A marquee
is defined as 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 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 six
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.
A sign shall include 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 than 18 inches from
such wall.
Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and
visible from a public way.
A.
Sign regulations for residential districts. All signs are prohibited
in all residential, agricultural and conservation districts, except
the following:
(1)
Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment
announcing without display or elaboration the name and occupation
or business of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet in height
and five feet in length.
[Amended 1-2-2019 by Ord.
No. 2019-0102]
(a)
Area and number. There shall not be more than one sign per lot unless
a second business is approved by the Plan Commission. No sign shall
exceed 10 square feet in area. Such sign shall have a ten-foot setback
from the public right-of-way or lot line and be parallel to the main
structure.
(b)
Projection. No sign shall project beyond the property line into the
public right-of-way.
(c)
Lighting. No directly illuminated sign or electronic message signs
allowed. Indirectly illuminated lighting is permitted dusk to 10:00
p.m.
(2)
Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise
the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are
temporarily located.
(3)
Name, occupation and warning signs upon the issuance of a conditional
use permit.
(4)
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions
upon the issuance of a conditional use permit.
(5)
Memorial signs, tables, names of buildings and date of erection when
cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed
flat against a surface.
(6)
Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information
and notices.
(7)
Temporary signs when authorized by the Building Inspector for a period
not to exceed 30 days.
B.
Sign regulations for commercial and industrial districts. Signs are
permitted in all commercial and industrial districts subject to the
following restrictions:
(1)
Walls signs placed against the exterior walls of a building shall
not extend more than six inches outside of a building's wall
surface, shall not exceed 500 square feet in area for any one premises
and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center line
street grade.
(2)
Projected signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by structures
shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises, shall
not extend more than six feet into any required yard, shall not extend
more than three feet 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.
(3)
Ground signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center
line street grade, shall meet all yard requirements for the district
in which they are located and shall not exceed 200 square feet on
one side nor 400 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(4)
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof, shall
meet all the yard and height requirements for the district in which
they are located and shall not exceed 300 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)
Combination of any of the above signs shall meet all the requirements
for the individual sign.
C.
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 rotates in a manner or at a rate as to simulate flashing
lights shall be permitted. No signs, billboard or other advertising
media which creates a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular
traffic or a nuisance to adjoining residential property shall be permitted
in any district.
(2)
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.
(3)
No sign, billboard or other advertising media not directly related
to the use of the premises on which it is located, except directional
signs as herein provided, shall be permitted in any district, except
as a conditional use in such districts as is hereinafter provided.
(4)
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the signs erected
by national, state, county or municipal governmental agencies, including
traffic and information 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:
(1)
Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property
numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants of premises.
(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 persons shall erect, relocate, reconstruct or
maintain or cause the aforementioned within the Village of Monticello
any signs without first having obtained and having in force and in
effect a permit therefor from the Zoning Administrator or Building
Inspector.
B.
Permits. Signs shall not be erected or altered until a permit has
been issued by the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector. Applications
for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms furnished by
the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector. 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 fees. A permit fee as from time to time determined by resolution
of the Village Board shall be paid to the Zoning Administrator or
Building Inspector for each sign permit issued under chapter provided,
however, that a fee shall not be charged for putting an existing sign
in conformance with chapter or for a copy change when no change in
business name is involved.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
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), political and construction site or similar-type
signs provided 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 Building Inspector such sign is so old, 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 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
sign ordinance 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 the Code of the Village of Monticello. In addition
to the above 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 Building
Inspector.
B.
General requirements.
(1)
Awnings. 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 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 of 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.
Exceptions to height and setback requirements. Signs may be allowed
in the setback area if they are below three feet or are pole-mounted
and above 12 feet to the bottom of the sign. The pole diameter of
pole-mounted signs shall not exceed 12 inches and shall not interfere
with reasonable vision clearance.
D.
Prohibitions.
E.
Search lights. The Village Board may permit the temporary use of
a search light for advertising purposes in any district provided that
the search light 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. Search light
permits shall not be granted for a period of more than five days in
any six-month period.
F.
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, construction site and political
signs shall be removed within 10 days after their use has discontinued.
(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.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
(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 Monticello limits of the date of adoption
of this chapter or located in an area annexed to the Village of Monticello
hereafter which does not conform with the provisions of this article
is eligible for characterization as a legal nonconforming sign and
is permitted, providing it meets the following requirements:
B.
Loss of legal nonconforming status. A sign loses its nonconforming
status if one or more of the following occurs:
(1)
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;
(2)
The sign is relocated;
(3)
The sign fails to conform to the Village requirements regarding maintenance
and repair, abandonment or dangerous or defective signs;
(4)
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 therefore or shall be removed.
C.
Legal nonconforming sign maintenance and repair. Nothing in this
article shall relieve the owner or use 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 billboards, signs and other advertising structures shall
be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less
than 30 pound 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 Monticello.
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 400 square feet.
E.
No billboards may be erected within 800 feet of another existing
billboard measured along or across the same right-of-way.
F.
No billboard may be erected within 100 feet of a residential or multiple-family
zoning district.
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-premise 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-premise sign/billboard is located when the business it
advertised 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 owners 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.
