The purpose of this chapter is to regulate signs and outdoor
advertising in a manner that will minimize their harmful effects while
permitting latitude for creative and effective advertising and identification.
To achieve this purpose, this chapter has the following objectives:
A.
To prevent the number of signs and sign messages from exceeding a
level reasonably necessary to identify businesses and their products;
B.
To prevent the placement of signs in a manner that will conceal or
obscure signs or adjacent buildings;
C.
To keep signs within a reasonable scale with respect to their surroundings;
D.
To prevent off-premises signs from conflicting with business, residential
and other uses;
E.
To keep the areas adjacent to streets clear of signs that might obstruct
the view and/or distract the attention of motorists;
F.
To ensure that the number, size and location of signs do not create
a negative impact on the image or aesthetic environment of the City;
G.
To control the use of signs and their motion, colors, and illumination
that may negatively affect property values and may be injurious to
the mental or physical well being of the public.
A.
General. This chapter applies to the erection, alteration, and maintenance
of all signs in the City, unless specifically exempted pursuant to
§ 7.2B: Exemptions.
B.
Signs Not Requiring a Permit. The erection, alteration, and maintenance
of those signs listed in Subsection 2 of § 7.3A: Residential
Zone Districts and Subsection 5 of § 7.3B: Nonresidential
Zone Districts shall not require the issuance of a sign permit.
C.
Permits Required. Prior to the erection or alteration of any sign
subject to the requirements of this chapter and not listed in Subsection
2 of § 7.3A: Residential Zone Districts or Subsection 5
of § 7.3B: Nonresidential Zone Districts, a sign permit
shall be approved or disapproved pursuant to § 8.3I: Sign
Permit. Replacing the sign face on any nonchangeable copy sign, or
any other alteration of an existing sign structure requires a sign
permit.
D.
Changeable Copy Signs. Up to 25% of the sign face area of any permitted
permanent freestanding sign or wall sign, and up to 75% of the sign
face area of a marquee sign, may be made up of changeable copy area.
Revising the message on a changeable copy sign shall not require a
sign permit.
E.
Temporary/Portable Signs. Temporary/portable signs may be erected
on private property in Commercial, Manufacturing, or Special Purpose
Zone Districts, and on any site in a residential zone district that
contains a multifamily or nonresidential use, for a maximum of four
weeks during any calendar year. Unless more specific standards are
stated in Subsection 2 of § 7.3A: Residential Zone Districts
or Subsection 5 of § 7.3B: Nonresidential Zone Districts,
temporary/portable signs shall be subject to the same restrictions
on size, height, and distance from the right-of-way applicable to
permanent signs on the site. Trailers with message boards and trailers
used as signs shall be treated as temporary/portable signs, and may
not be installed as permanent signage.
F.
Signs on Public Property. No permanent or temporary/portable sign
of any type may be erected or moved onto public property without written
approval from the City, except that sandwich board signs with a sign
face area of no more than eight square feet per side may be used on
public property in the CCBD zone district. Prior to the use of a sandwich
board sign on public property in the CCBD zone district, an encroachment
permit must be obtained from the City of Kalamazoo and must be consistent
with the Kalamazoo Downtown Design Guidelines.
G.
Prohibited Signs. Roof signs are prohibited in all zone districts.
Projecting signs are prohibited in all districts except the CCBD,
CBTR, M-1, and M-2 zone districts.
H.
Compliance With Applicable Codes Required. In addition to complying with the provisions of this chapter 7, all signs requiring the issuance of a sign permit shall be required to comply with all applicable codes. Violations of those provisions of state law shall be a violation of this Ordinance, and shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to Chapter 10: Violations, Penalties and Enforcement.
All on-premises signs shall comply with the following standards.
A.
Residential Zoning Districts. Within Residential zone districts,
all on-premises signs for both residential and nonresidential uses
shall be erected, altered and maintained in compliance with the standards
and requirements in Table 7.3-1: On-Premises Signs in Residential
Districts.
1.
General.
|
Table 7.3-1: On-Premises Signs In Residential Districts
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Use Type
|
Signs Allowed
|
Maximum Area
(square feet)
|
Maximum Height
(feet)
|
Maximum Height Above Main Entrance Elevation
|
Minimum Distance from Property Line
(feet)
|
|
One- and two-family dwellings
|
One nameplate that indicates the name and address of occupants
|
2
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Multifamily dwellings, roominghouses, sorority and fraternity
houses
|
One identification sign per street frontage
|
32
|
Free-
standing: 6
|
N/A
|
Freestanding: 10
|
|
One sign per building
|
4
|
N/A
|
Wall: 8
|
N/A
| |
|
Subdivision, mobile home park, or special use
|
One subdivision sign may be located at each entrance road to
a subdivision
One park identification sign may be located at each entrance
to a mobile home park
One identification sign may be located on each street frontage
of an approved special use
Sign may be indirectly or internally illuminated
|
32
|
6
|
N/A
|
5 from right-of-way, and 10 from other property lines
|
2.
No Sign Permit Required. The following types of signs are permitted
without a sign permit, subject to the following requirements. Applicants
for signs included in the following list that cannot meet the stated
requirements (for example, where a larger size sign is needed) shall
be required to obtain a sign permit pursuant to § 8.3I:
Sign Permit.
a)
Construction Signs. One nonilluminated construction sign on each
street frontage of a site being developed or improved. Construction
signs shall not exceed six square feet in area if related to the construction
of single-family or two-family dwellings and shall not exceed 32 square
feet in area if associated with other permitted uses, shall not exceed
12 feet in height, and shall be located at least five feet from the
right-of-way and 10 feet from any other property line.
b)
Real Estate Signs. One nonilluminated real estate sign on each street
frontage of the site, not exceeding six square feet in area or six
feet in height. The nonilluminated real estate sign may be located
in the setback area but shall not be placed or project into the public
right-of-way. The nonilluminated real estate sign shall be removed
within 30 days after the sale or lease of the property on which it
is located.
c)
"Open House" Directional Signs. One nonilluminated "open-house" directional
sign on each street frontage of a site, not exceeding six square feet
in area and four feet in height. The nonilluminated "open-house" directional
sign shall only be permitted on the day of the open house and shall
not be placed in and shall not project into the public right-of-way.
d)
Election Campaign Signs. Election campaign signs not exceeding 4 1/2
square feet in area that are not placed in and do not project into
the public right-of-way. Election campaign signs shall be removed
within 30 days following the election for which they are used.
e)
Temporary Event. One nonilluminated sign in connection with a permitted
temporary event conducted by any nonresidential use permitted in the
district, not exceeding 30 square feet in area, that is not placed
in and does not project into the public right-of-way. Temporary event
signs shall be for a period not exceeding 14 calendar days, two times
a year, and shall be removed within two days following the event for
which they are used.
f)
Holiday Displays. Holiday displays of any size that are not placed
in and do not project into the public right-of-way, provided that
such displays do not contain advertising.
[Amended 3-19-2007 by Ord. No. 1822]
g)
Yard Sale Signs. One nonilluminated yard sale sign not exceeding
4 1/2 square feet in area, that is not placed in and does not
project into the public right-of-way, may be erected up to two times
each calendar year.
B.
Nonresidential Districts.
1.
Nonresidential Uses. All on-premises signs erected, altered, and
maintained at a business development (one or more uses within a building
or buildings using common parking facilities) in the nonresidential
districts shall comply with the standards in Table 7.3-2: On-Premises
Signs in Nonresidential Districts. Additional provisions related to
Grand Opening/Change of Business Signs and Temporary Event Signs are
set forth in § 7.3B.3: General Provisions and § 7.3B.5:
No Sign Permit Required.
2.
Residential Uses in Nonresidential Districts. All on-premises signs
erected, altered, and maintained on residential uses in all nonresidential
districts shall comply with the standards and requirements in Table
7.3-1: On-Premises Signs in Residential Zoning Districts.
3.
General Provisions.
|
Table 7.3-2: On-Premises Signs in Nonresidential Districts
[Amended 3-19-2007 by Ord. No. 1822; 6-6-2022 by Ord.
No. 2049]
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Freestanding Signs
|
Wall Signs, Marquees1, Canopies,
and Awnings
|
Other Signs
|
|
CNO, RMU, P, IC Districts
| ||
|
Number: 1 freestanding sign on each street frontage
Maximum Area: 24 square feet
Maximum Height: 12 feet
Minimum Distance From Property Line: 10 feet
|
Maximum Area: 10 square feet per establishment
|
Freeway Signs: not allowed
Special Use Signs: Subject to Planning Commission review (§ 8.3D)
|
|
CO, CN-2, CN-1, CMU and PUD-O Districts
| ||
|
Number: 1 freestanding sign on each street frontage
Maximum Area: 1/2 square foot of sign area for each foot of
street frontage, up to maximum of 100 square feet. In addition, each
individual establishment may have one additional freestanding sign
for every additional 150 feet of street frontage, not exceeding 100
square feet in area.
Maximum Height: 20 feet
Minimum Distance From Property Line: 2 feet
|
Maximum Area: For each individual establishment, 1 square foot
of sign area for each foot of wall length
|
Freeway Signs: not allowed
|
|
CCBD District
| ||
|
Number: 1 freestanding sign allowed on each street frontage
Maximum Area: 1 square foot of sign area for each foot of street
frontage, up to maximum of 150 square feet. In addition, each individual
establishment may have one additional freestanding sign for every
additional 150 feet of street frontage not exceeding 150 square feet
in area
Maximum Height: 25 feet
Minimum Distance From Property Line: 2 feet
Rotation: Freestanding signs may rotate up to 15 revolutions
per minute
|
Maximum Area: For each individual establishment, 2 square feet
of sign area is allowed for each 1 foot of wall length; no single
wall sign shall exceed 200 square feet on a site
In the CCBD district, buildings over four stories in height
are allowed to have an additional amount of wall signage equal to
no more than 5% of the total area of each building facade that faces
a public street. The additional wall signage must be located on the
street facing facade. No single wall sign shall exceed 200 square
feet
|
Freeway Signs: not allowed
Special Use Signs: Subject to Planning Commission review (§ 8.3D)
|
|
CBTR, M-1, and M-2 Districts
| ||
|
Same as CCBD district
For the CBTR district, freestanding signs shall not exceed eight
feet in height and may not rotate
|
Same as CCBD district
|
Freeway Signs:
Number: For a lot with a properly line within 200 feet of freeway
or freeway interchange, 1 additional on-premises freestanding sign
Maximum Area: 150 square feet per side.
Maximum Height: 80 feet
Minimum Distance from Property Line: 10 feet
Orientation: Sign faces shall be oriented to primarily attract
vehicular traffic from freeway
|
|
NOTE:
| |
|---|---|
|
1.
|
An encroachment permit is required for all marquee,
canopy, or awnings extending over a public right-of-way. Marquee,
canopy or awning signs may be located on a building marquee, canopy
or awning that is located over a sidewalk located in the public ROW,
provided the marquee, canopy or awning does not extend more than eight
feet over the ROW, is closer than three feet to the curbline, and
is not less than eight feet, at its lowest point, above sidewalk level.
In no event shall a marquee sign extend above the peak of the roof
of the building to which it is affixed.
|
4.
Variations. In the case of proposed development in the P, IC, or
PUD-O zone districts, the decisionmaking body responsible for approval
of the site plan, Institutional Master Plan, or PUD Plan, as applicable,
may approve modifications to the standards in Table 7.3-2, provided
that (a) no such modification has the effect of increasing the number
of signs, the total sign area, or the height of any sign by more than
25%, and (b) any such modification shall meet the same standards for
approval applicable to the proposed development as a whole.
[Amended 3-19-2007 by Ord. No. 1822]
5.
No Sign Permit Required. The following types of on-premises signs
are allowed in the nonresidential districts without a sign permit,
subject to the following requirements.
a)
Construction Signs. One nonilluminated construction sign is permitted
on each street frontage of a site being developed or improved. Such
sign (i) shall not exceed 32 square feet; (ii) shall not exceed 12
feet in height, and (iii) shall be located at least two feet from
any right-of-way.
b)
Real Estate Signs. One nonilluminated real estate sign is permitted
on each street frontage of a site. Such sign (i) shall not exceed
24 square feet in area if located in a Commercial or Special Purpose
District or 32 square feet if located in a Manufacturing District;
(ii) shall not project into the public right-of-way, and (iii) shall
be removed within 30 days after the sale or lease of the property
on which it is located.
c)
"Open House" Directional Signs. One nonilluminated "open-house" directional
sign is permitted on each street frontage of a site, not exceeding
six square feet in area and four feet in height. Such sign shall only
be permitted on the day of the open house and shall not be placed
or not project into the public right-of-way.
d)
Election Campaign Signs. Election campaign signs are permitted. Such
signs (i) shall not exceed six square feet in area when located in
the nonresidential districts; (ii) shall not be placed in and shall
not project into the public right-of-way; and (iii) shall be removed
within 30 days following the election for which they are used.
[Amended 3-19-2007 by Ord. No. 1822]
e)
Holiday Displays. Holiday displays of any size that are not placed
in and do not project into the public right-of-way, provided that
such displays to not contain advertising.
f)
Directional Signs. Signs providing directions and other related information
for a site shall be allowed. One such sign shall be allowed for each
parking lot or parking structure entrance, and each building entrance.
Such signs shall not be greater than four square feet in area and
four feet in height, and they may be internally illuminated. They
must be placed a minimum of two feet from all right-of-way lines,
and cannot obstruct traffic or otherwise create a hazard. The name
and/or logo of the business or entity may be identified on the sign,
but such name/logo shall not occupy more than 1/3 of the copy area.
[Added 3-19-2007 by Ord.
No. 1822]
6.
Special Signs.
[Amended 3-19-2007 by Ord. No. 1822]
a)
Special Event Signs.
1)
Business special event signs shall be permitted for each business
for a period not exceeding a maximum of 28 calendar days per year.
2)
Each business is allowed a maximum of 100 square feet of temporary/portable
sign area. each sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in area, including
portable signs.
3)
One cold air or helium-inflatable balloon may be used for not
more than 14 calendar days, two times a year, subject to the following
conditions: (i) said balloon shall not exceed 40 feet in height and
shall be set back from any property line one foot for every one foot
of height; (ii) said balloon shall be ground-installed; (iii) said
balloon may be illuminated from inside or by exterior lights placed
to direct the light source away from adjacent roadways or properties;
(iv) flashing, colored, or glaring lights shall not be permitted;
and (v) the balloon shall be installed so as not to interfere with
utility lines, traffic circulation, visibility of drivers or fire
lanes.
b)
Grand Opening/Change of Business Signs. Signs are permitted for a
grand opening of a new business or for a change in tenancy or ownership
of an existing business for a period not to exceed 14 calendar days.
Each business shall be allowed a maximum of 100 square feet of sign
area; however, each sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in area;
and, if freestanding, said sign shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
Portable signs for a grand opening or change-of-business signs shall
not exceed 30 square feet in area. All such signs shall be set back
at least two feet from all property lines. Additionally, one cold
air or helium-inflatable balloon may be used, subject to the preceding
standards.
[Amended 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 1912]
A.
Limitation on Number of Off-Premises Sign Structures in the City. No new off-premises sign structure shall be erected when there are 99 or more off-premises sign structures in the City. This limitation is based on the number of potential sign locations and the existing number of conforming sign structures as of the date of the original enactment of this section, September 21, 1987. As of October 18, 2005, there are more than 99 off-premises sign structures in the City, and no new off-premises signs may be erected. All replacements of existing off-premises signs shall comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter 7.
B.
General. Off-premises signs shall be permitted only in the M-1 and
M-2 Districts and shall comply with all the standards in § 7.4,
Off-Premises Signs, including, without limitation, those standards
in Table 7.4-1: Off-Premises Signs. Off-premises signs that comply
with the standards in § 7.4A shall be permitted in the CCBD
District.
[Amended 6-6-2022 by Ord. No. 2049]
|
Table 7.4-1: Off-Premises Signs
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zone District
|
Maximum Area
(square feet)
|
Minimum Distance Between Off-Premises Signs
|
Double-Faced Signs Permitted
|
Side-by-Side Signs Permitted
|
Maximum Height
(feet)
|
|
M-1 District
|
380 (672 if located along I-94)
|
On same side of street: 1,000 feet
On opposite sides of the street: 500 feet
|
Yes
|
Yes, only along I-94 (not BL-94)
Maximum square footage per sign face: 300
|
35
|
|
M-2 District
|
672
|
On same side of the street: 1,000 feet
|
Yes
|
Yes, but only when located on the opposite side and parallel
to a single 672-square-foot sign face
|
40
|
|
On opposite sides of the street: 500 feet
| |||||
|
(Distance shall be measured from the closest edge of each off-premises
sign)
|
Maximum square footage per sign face: 300
| ||||
C.
Intersections. Off-premises signs shall not be permitted within a
one-hundred-foot radius of public street intersections as measured
from the center point of the intersection of each street to the closest
edge of the sign. A distance of 500 feet shall be maintained between
all signs at an intersection.
D.
Setback Requirements. Off-premises signs shall comply with the setback
standards in the zoning districts in which they are allowed. (See
Chapter 5.)
F.
Radius Requirements. Off-premises signs shall not be permitted within
a three-hundred foot radius of residential districts, cemeteries,
and dedicated parks.
G.
No Off-Premises Signs in Local Historic Districts. Off-premises signs
shall not be permitted in established and designated local historic
districts.
H.
Sign Protrusions. No part of the advertising copy for a sign shall
protrude beyond the sign frame.
[Added 8-19-2013 by Ord.
No. 1912]
A.
The following regulations governing internally illuminated automatic
changeable copy off-premises signs within the City are enacted in
order to create clear guidelines for businesses, balance the commercial
interests in such signs with neighborhood quality of life where such
signs are, or may be located, maintain residential neighborhoods,
generally reduce the overall number and impact of billboard advertising
in the City and positively affect traffic safety, community aesthetics,
and environmental conditions.
B.
To achieve and further these purposes,
any internally illuminated, automatic changeable copy signs, such
as, but not limited to, signs using LED technology, are permitted
as a lawful conforming off-premises sign in compliance with the following
requirements:
1.
Location. Such signs shall only be located in CCBD, M-1, and M-2
zoning districts when:
[Amended 6-6-2022 by Ord. No. 2049]
(a)
Located on sites where an off-premises sign that is 200 square
feet or more existed as of July 1, 2013, that is adjacent to state
or federally controlled roads; and
(b)
More than 300 feet away from a residential zoning district,
except on West Main Street from Northampton Road west to the City
limits if more than 100 feet away from a preexisting residential use;
and
(c)
Whose sign face area does not exceed that of the static sign
face or faces being replaced; and is not less than 2,500 feet from
another off-premises internally illuminated automatic changeable copy
sign.
2.
Sign Support Structure Elimination Credits.
(a)
Notwithstanding the total number of off-premises signs located
in the City, so as to reduce the overall number of nonconforming off-premises
signs, the erection of, installation of, or upgrade of a static display
or manual changeable copy sign to an off-premises internally illuminated
automatic changeable copy sign shall require the elimination of existing
nonconforming off-premises signs within the City. The installation,
erection or upgrade of any existing sign to an internally illuminated
automatic changeable copy sign shall require the sign owner to secure
six sign support structure elimination credits.
(b)
The elimination of an off-premises sign support structure in
an R, CO, CN-1, or CCBD zoning district shall count for two credits;
elimination of an off-premises sign support structure in all other
zoning districts shall count as one credit. Only whole numbers shall
be applied to credits used to erect, install or upgrade an off-premises
automatic changeable copy sign, and any credits more than the amount
required to qualify for the erection of, installation of, or upgrade
of a static display or manual changeable copy sign to an off-premises
internally illuminated automatic changeable copy sign shall not be
available for future use.
(c)
In order to qualify for an elimination credit, the off-premises
sign support structure shall be completely removed and the property
site returned to as good or better condition as existed before the
sign support structure was installed.
C.
General Requirements. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the requirements set forth in § 7.4 are applicable to internally
illuminated off-premises signs.
1.
Sign face images shall not change more often than once every 10 seconds.
As used in this section, change shall preclude any method of message
transition, involving the use of animation, dissolving, or fading,
flashing techniques. In the event of a mechanical failure, the sign
image shall default to a static display.
2.
Sign faces permitted by this subsection may be placed back to back,
but shall not be placed side by side or stacked.
3.
The luminance of an internally illuminated off-premises automatic
changeable copy sign shall utilize dimming capabilities so that the
maximum luminescence of the sign shall not exceed 0.2 footcandles
over ambient light conditions when measured at a height of five feet
facing the sign face at a distance of 200 feet.
4.
Signs permitted by this subsection shall not be equipped to transmit
sound or other forms of broadcast signals.
D.
After July 1, 2013, no more than eight additional internally illuminated
off-premises automatic changeable copy sign structures shall be permitted
in the City.
[Amended 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 1912]
A.
External Lighting Directed Inward and Shielded from Adjacent Residential
Districts and Rights-of-Way. Any external lighting intended for the
illumination of the face of a sign shall be directed inward and shielded
from any adjacent residential districts and public right-of-way, and
shall not adversely affect driver visibility or adjacent public thoroughfares.
No external light source intended to illuminate the face of a sign
shall be directly visible from any adjacent property located within
a residential zone district and public right-of way.
B.
Blinking or Flashing Lights. On-premises signs displaying blinking
or flashing lights are only permitted within the CCBD zoning district,
and shall be limited as follows:
[Amended 6-6-2022 by Ord. No. 2049]
1.
No light shall blink, flash, or change its intensity or color more
often than one time every 10 seconds.
2.
If a sign displays images or messages that change automatically,
each image on such sign that is visible from a public street shall
remain unchanged and unmoving for a minimum of eight seconds before
changing. A sign that displays text messages in a continuous scrolling
movement (e.g., ticker-type signs) is exempt from this provision.
C.
No Beacon or Strobe Lights. Beacon lights and strobe lights are not
permitted.
D.
Colored Lights. No colored lights shall be used at any location or
in any manner so as to be confused with or construed as traffic-control
devices.
E.
No Traffic Hazard. Neither the direct nor reflected light from light
sources shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles
on public rights-of-way.
F.
Automatic changeable copy signs utilizing external lighting directed
toward the sign face shall not change images more often that once
every 10 seconds.
[Added 6-29-2009 by Ord.
No. 1854]
All murals shall comply with the following standards:
A.
Zoning Districts. A mural of 1,000 square feet or less is permitted
in all zoning districts. Any mural more than 1,000 square feet is
only permitted in the CCBD Commercial Central Business District, or
in the M-1 or M-2 Manufacturing Districts.
B.
Permission of Owner. If the owner of the building or structure on
which the mural is placed is not the occupant of such building or
structure, the person who leases or otherwise has the right to occupy
such building or structure shall obtain the prior written permission
of the owner to place the mural on the building or structure. Such
lessee or other person with the right of occupancy shall provide a
copy of the letter to the City Planner if requested.
C.
Permit Required. A mural that is produced off-site and affixed in
a structurally sound and workmanlike manner on the exterior wall and
that is larger than 200 square feet shall require a permit under the
provisions of § 8.3I, Sign Permit.
D.
Windows, Doors and Other Architectural Features. No mural shall obstruct
any window, door or architectural feature of the exterior wall on
which the mural is placed.
E.
Additional Standards. Murals more
than 1,000 square feet shall also comply with these additional standards:
(1)
The person who commissioned or who has a proprietary interest in
a mural that is produced off-site and affixed in a structurally sound
and workmanlike manner and the owner, lessee or person having the
right to occupy the building or structure on which such mural is placed
shall maintain public liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000
and list the City, its employees, Commissioners and officials as additional
insureds. A certificate of such insurance shall be provided with the
application for a permit and annually thereafter. Failure to maintain
such insurance shall result in a revocation of the permit to allow
such mural and shall further require the prompt removal of the mural.
If not removed within 30 days, the City shall have the right to remove
the mural and place a lien against the real property (enforced in
the same manner as delinquent property taxes) for the cost incurred
in removing the mural if such costs are not paid prior to when delinquent
taxes are turned into the County of Kalamazoo.
