[Added 6-11-1990; amended 11-9-2009]
The purpose of this article is to regulate the use of exterior
signs so that the following goals can be achieved:
A.
To protect the health, safety and welfare of the community.
B.
To equitably distribute the privilege of using the public environs
to communicate private information.
C.
To safeguard the public use and nature of the streets and sidewalks.
D.
To protect and enhance the visual environment of the City.
E.
To prevent the diminishing of property values within the City.
F.
To minimize visual distractions to motorists using the public streets.
A.
SIGN
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any structure, device, mural or part thereof painted on or
represented on a building or other structure, upon which is displayed
or included any letter, work, model, banner, flag, pennant, insignia,
decoration, device or representation used as, or which is in the nature
of, any announcement, direction, advertisement or any other attention-directing
service, excluding soft drink, snack and ice machines. A sign designed
to be seen from two opposite directions shall be considered as one
sign, provided that the two sign faces shall not be more than 42 inches
apart, if parallel, nor form an angle of more than 60° in angular
sequence.
B.
ADVERTISING SIGN
BILLBOARD
BULLETIN BOARD
BUSINESS SIGN
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
FREESTANDING SIGN
HOME OCCUPATION SIGN
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
LOCATION SIGN
MURAL
NONCONFORMING SIGN
PORTABLE SIGN
PROJECTING SIGN
PUBLIC SERVICE SIGN
REAL ESTATE SIGN
ROOF SIGN
STREET GRAPHICS
TEMPORARY SIGN
Sign categories shall be defined as follows:
A sign, including a billboard, which directs attention to
a business, commodity, activity, service or product not conducted,
sold or offered upon the premises where it is located.
An off-premises sign which directs attention to the approximate
location or advertisement of a business.
Any sign erected by a charitable, educational or religious
institution or a public body, which is erected upon the same property
as said institution for the purpose of announcing events which are
held on the premises.
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession,
commodity, service, activity or entertainment sold or offered upon
the premises where such sign is located or to which it is attached.
Such a sign may contain a commercial or noncommercial message.
A sign directing traffic on private property but bearing
no advertising matter.
A sign erected which is wholly independent of any building
for support. All such signs must be permanently affixed to or constructed
upon the lot where they are located.
A sign permitted in association within an occupation conducted
on the premises within a dwelling unit occupied by the operator of
the business.
A permanent on-premises sign announcing the name of a subdivision,
group housing project, church, school, park, shopping center, industrial
park, public area or similar type use.
An off-premises sign which directs attention to the approximate
location of a church, school or other nonprofit institution. Location
signs may be freestanding and may be located within the public right-of-way,
provided that written permission is obtained from the Administrator.
Only one location sign per establishment is permitted.
A painting, decal or three-dimensional relief applied to
a wall surface, which contains no commercial message, symbol, logo,
letter or other text depicting or advertising any product, merchandise,
service, business or establishment, or which suggest the identity
or nature of any business or establishment.
A sign existing before the effective date of the amendment
of this chapter, which could not be built under the terms of this
chapter.
A sign mounted on wheels or runners that is not designed
for permanent use and can be moved easily by the release of nails,
bolts, clamps, etc.
A sign which is attached perpendicular to a building wall,
roof, facade, canopy, marquee or porch by means of brackets, hooks
or chains and the like, and which may extend out or down no more than
18 inches.
A sign advertising only the name, time and place of any bona
fide fair, carnival, festival, bazaar, horse show or similar event,
when conducted by or for the benefit of any civic, religious, educational
or charitable cause, provided that the sign shall be displayed no
longer than 14 days per calendar year.
A sign displayed for the purpose of offering for sale, lease
or rent the property on which any such sign is displayed.
Any sign which is erected, constructed, placed or maintained
on or above the roof of any building.
A form of art, such as but not limited to murals and sculptures,
that shall not constitute any type of outdoor advertising of a commercial
message.
An attached on-premises sign applying to a seasonal or brief
activity, such as but not limited to summer camps, horse shows, sales,
promotions and auctions.
The following shall be deemed to be excluded from the regulations
of this article:
A.
Official governmental signs, such as but not limited to traffic or
similar regulatory signs.
B.
Identification signs, not to exceed six square feet in surface area,
bearing only addresses or names of occupants of the premises and located
on privately owned property.
C.
Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including
signs which identify rest rooms, and the location of public telephones,
public entrances, freight entrances or the like, provided that such
signs do not exceed a total surface area of three square feet per
sign on any lot or parcel.
D.
Memorial signs or bulletin boards.
E.
Yard sale signs and the like, provided that such signs shall not
be attached in any way to utility poles, meter posts or trees within
any public street right-of-way. No person shall put up any notice
upon any building, wall, fence or other property of another person
without having first obtained the consent of the owner or lessee of
such property. The maximum time limit for the display of such signs
is three consecutive days.
G.
"No trespassing," "no dumping," "no parking," and other similar signs
not exceeding two square feet.
H.
Signs displayed during the month of December for the purpose of selling
Christmas trees and other holiday vegetation and accessory items
The following signs are prohibited in the City:
A.
Portable signs.
B.
A sign which imitates or approximates an official highway sign or
carries the word STOP or DANGER, or any sign which obscures a sign
displayed by public authority for the purpose of giving traffic instruction
or direction or other public information.
C.
A sign which displays flashing or intermittent lights or lights of
changing degrees of intensity; however, time and weather informational
signs, traffic signals, railroad crossing signals and other official
warning or regulatory signs are excluded.
D.
A sign which obstructs any window or door opening used as a means
of egress or which prevents free passage from one part of a roof to
any other part thereof, and a sign which interferes with an opening
required for ventilation.
E.
A sign in a public right-of-way that interferes with the use of that
right-of-way. Any sign existing or allowed in a public right-of-way
may be ordered removed by the Administrator upon 30 days' notice
if the use of that right-of-way is changed to require the sign's
removal or if the public right-of-way is to be used for any public
purposes inconsistent with the existence of the sign.
F.
A sign or illumination that causes any glare into or upon any building
or land other than the building and land to which the sign is necessary.
G.
A sign that violates any provision of any federal or state law relative
to outdoor advertising.
H.
Moving signs, pennants and streamers, except as provided in § 160-129C; balloons; striplights; striplights outlining structures and used to attract attention for commercial purposes; and signs attached, painted or mounted to unlicensed and inoperative or generally stationary vehicles.
I.
Billboards.
J.
Signs which project more than 18 inches over any publicly maintained
sidewalk.
K.
Any nonconforming sign that advertises a business which is no longer
operating at that site.
A.
No sign that was not in existence and in place on the date of amendment of this chapter shall hereafter be displayed, and no sign existing on that date shall be enlarged, relocated, changed or modified until a sign permit for the same has been obtained in accordance with this section and all applicable regulations of the Administrator. The maintenance, repair or restoration of nonconforming signs must be in accordance with § 160-130B under a permit issued in accordance with this section.
B.
Every application for such permit shall include a sketch of the property,
indicating the exact area, size, structures, design, location, color,
lighting and materials for the proposed signs on the property.
C.
Fees for sign permits shall be as fixed from time to time by the
governing body.
D.
A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the
permits was issued has not been completed within a period of 60 days.
The following signs shall be permitted anywhere within the City
and require a permit without fee:
A.
Sales and special events signs, which shall be removed within three
days after the event.
(1)
Each sign is to be 32 square feet or less in area.
(2)
Each sign is an attached on-premises sign.
(3)
Such sign is displayed no more than 14 consecutive days.
(4)
No person may display temporary signs more than five times per calendar
year.
(5)
Regardless of the status of the conformity of all other on-premises
signs, one temporary sign shall be allowed.
B.
Signs used for construction on or the development of a lot will be
allowed as the basis of one sign per contractor, not more than 12
square feet in area, or one sign, not exceeding 100 square feet in
area, giving the names of the contractors, engineers and architects.
These signs are to be allowed only during the time such construction
or development is actually in progress.
C.
Pennants and streamers without advertising may be displayed simultaneously
with temporary signs, but at no other time.
D.
Street banners advertising a public entertainment or event, if specially
approved by the City Manager and only for locations designated by
the City Manager, during and for 14 days before and several days after
such event.
A.
Except where otherwise provided, in cases where signs existing as
of the date of the amending of this chapter exceed the total allowable
sign area for the subject parcel, no additional signs shall be permitted
thereon.
B.
All nonconforming signs may be maintained and repainted but shall
not be maintained in such a manner as to increase the degree of nonconformity.
A nonconformity sign may be repaired, provided that it had not been
damaged in excess of 50% of its replacement value. The procedure for
determining the percentage of damage will be determined by requiring
the owner to obtain quotes from a sign company on the cost to replace
and the cost to repair the sign. Any freestanding nonconforming sign
which does not exceed current requirements for height, size or setback
by more than 50% may be modified so long as the proposed modification
brings the nonconforming sign into conformity with the provisions
of this article in terms of size, height or setback. A permit shall
be required for the repair or modification of any nonconforming sign.
C.
Upon vacating all premises, the tenant or, in his absence, the owner
shall remove all nonconforming signs, sign supports and attendant
hardware.
D.
Owners of nonconforming signs must register these signs with the
Administrator within three months of the amendment of this chapter
or remove the sign
The Administrator shall require the immediate repair or removal of any sign or sign structure which has been damaged or has deteriorated so as to become a public hazard. Such a sign or sign structure may be restored to its original condition within 30 days of the order to remove the hazard, and if the sign is nonconforming, such restoration shall be in accordance with § 160-130.
Signs shall be permitted which are in accordance with:
The following shall apply in residential districts:
A.
Permitted signs; size.
|
Permitted Signs
|
Permit Required
|
Maximum Size of Total Signage
(square feet)
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Real estate*
|
No
|
12
| |
|
Identification*
|
Yes
|
18
| |
|
Mural
|
Yes
|
18
| |
|
Home occupation
|
Yes
|
2
| |
|
Directional*
|
No
|
3
| |
|
Public service*
|
Yes
|
20
| |
|
Professional
|
Yes
|
15
| |
|
Location*
|
Yes
|
3
|
|
* NOTE: These signs may be freestanding signs.
|
B.
Location. All freestanding signs shall be a minimum of 10 feet from the closer right-of-way line of a street 50 feet or greater in width and a minimum of 35 feet from the center line of any street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width. Corner lots must also meet the requirements of § 160-145 of the Zoning Ordinance concerning visibility at intersections.
C.
Height limitations. No freestanding sign shall exceed eight feet
in height.
D.
Lighting. Lighted signs or signs illuminated by a light shall not
cast a glare on adjacent properties.
E.
Number of signs permitted. No establishment shall be permitted more
than two signs, excluding permitted directional signs.
The following shall apply in the Downtown Tax District:
A.
Permitted signs; size.
|
Permitted Signs
|
Permit Required
|
Maximum Sign of Total Signage
(square feet)
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Real estate*
|
No
|
12
| |
|
Business
|
Yes
|
For establishments with a lot width less than 30 feet, a maximum
of 15 square feet; for all others, a maximum of 1 square foot for
each 2 linear front feet, not to exceed 100 square feet of sign area
| |
|
Mural
|
Yes
|
For establishments with a lot width less than 30 feet, a maximum
of 15 square feet; for all others, a maximum of 1 square foot for
each 2 linear front feet, not to exceed 100 square feet of sign area
| |
|
Temporary
|
Yes
|
20
| |
|
Directional
|
No
|
3
| |
|
Identification
|
Yes
|
15
| |
|
Public service
|
Yes
|
15
| |
|
Location
|
Yes
|
3
|
|
* NOTE: These signs may be freestanding signs.
|
B.
Location. All signs, unless otherwise stated, shall be subject to
the same setback and yard requirements as other structures.
C.
Number of signs permitted. Excluding public service signs, only one sign shall be permitted, except that a corner lot occupied by a single establishment shall be allowed up to two signs, as provided in § 160-138C.
D.
Suspended and projecting signs. Sign of these types shall not be
less than eight feet from the ground nor larger than 20 square feet.
E.
Review by Design Committee. All sign permits for this district must
be reviewed by the Design Committee.
The following shall apply in the business districts:
A.
Permitted signs; size.
|
Permitted Signs
|
Permit Required
|
Maximum Size of Total Signage
(square feet)
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Real estate*
|
No
|
32
| |
|
Business
|
Yes
|
For establishments with a lot width less than 15 feet, a maximum
of 20 square feet; for all others, a maximum of 1 square foot of sign
area for each linear front foot of lot, not to exceed 150 square feet
of sign area
| |
|
Mural
|
Yes
|
For establishments with a lot width less than 15 feet, a maximum
of 20 square feet; for all others, a maximum of 1 square foot of sign
area for each linear front foot of lot, not to exceed 150 square feet
of sign area
| |
|
Identification
|
Yes
|
30
| |
|
Temporary
|
Yes
|
20
| |
|
Directional
|
No
|
3
| |
|
Public service*
|
Yes
|
15
| |
|
Location*
|
Yes
|
3
|
|
* NOTE: These signs may be freestanding.
|
B.
Freestanding signs. On lots with a public street right-of-way frontage
of between 75 feet and 150 feet and a building setback of at least
15 feet, one freestanding sign will be allowed with a maximum area
of 100 square feet and a maximum height of 20 feet. On lots with a
public street right-of-way frontage of more than 150 feet, one freestanding
sign will be allowed with a maximum area of 150 square feet and a
maximum height of 30 feet. All such freestanding signs shall be set
back at least five feet from the edge of pavement or behind the sidewalk,
whichever is greater. No freestanding signs shall be allowed in this
district on lots with less than 75 feet of public right-of-way frontage.
C.
Determination of available frontage. Each freestanding sign existing on or proposed for a lot shall require a separate and distinct allotment of frontage as required in Subsection B. When more than one establishment is on a lot, the double counting of frontage shall not be permitted when determining frontage available for freestanding signs.
D.
Number of signs permitted. Excluding public service signs, a maximum
of three signs shall be allowed.
E.
Business selling gasoline. Businesses selling gasoline will be allowed
an additional nine square feet of signage for the purpose of displaying
gas prices only.
F.
Required frontage. More than one business may be combined to obtain
the required frontage for a freestanding sign.
The following shall apply in the industrial districts:
A.
Permitted signs; size.
|
Permitted Signs
|
Permit Required
|
Maximum Size of Total Signage
(square feet)
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Real estate*
|
No
|
32
| |
|
Business
|
Yes
|
A maximum of 2 square feet of sign area for each 1 1/2
linear front feet of lot, not to exceed 120 square feet of sign area
| |
|
Mural
|
Yes
|
A maximum of 2 square feet of sign area for each 1 1/2
linear front feet of lot, not to exceed 120 square feet of sign area
| |
|
Identification
|
Yes
|
30
| |
|
Directional
|
No
|
3
| |
|
Temporary
|
Yes
|
32
| |
|
Location*
|
Yes
|
3
|
|
* NOTE: These signs may be freestanding.
|
B.
Number of signs permitted. Excluding public service signs, a maximum
of two business signs per establishment shall be allowed.
C.
Special sign regulations. All signs must be attached signs, except:
(1)
Freestanding business signs. A use permitted in this district with
at least 200 feet of street frontage may be served with a freestanding
business sign. Such freestanding sign shall not exceed 30 feet in
height or 100 square feet in area.
(2)
Industrial parks. An industrial park in this district shall be permitted
one freestanding identification sign. Such freestanding identification
sign may list the names of the tenants, as well as the name of the
industrial area, its owner and developer. Such signs shall not exceed
30 feet in height or 100 square feet in area.
Sign area shall be calculated as follows:
A.
The area of an attached sign, where the sign consists of words, numbers
or symbols painted on or affixed to a wall, shall be the entire area
within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of each
work, symbol, numeral, groups of symbols or groups of numerals where
the symbols or numbers are meant to be read as a unit. Where there
is a symbol that encompasses or partly encompasses the message of
the sign, the sign area shall be the entire area within a continuous
perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the symbol.
B.
The area of a suspended, attached or projecting sign, where the letters,
numerals or symbols are on a sign surface which is hung or affixed
to a structure, shall be the total area of the hung or affixed surface.
C.
The area of a freestanding sign shall be the total area of all surfaces,
excluding poles, visible from the public right-of-way or other point
from which the sign is intended to be viewed. Only one display face
shall be measured in computing the total sign area where the sign
faces are arranged to be viewed one at a time.
B.
For business or industrial uses, the front shall not be a primary
residential street. In cases where the front cannot be determined,
the Administrator shall designate the front.
C.
On corner lots where a building or buildings have more than one principal
use, sign area shall be allowed for front linear footage as indicated
in the district regulations and for 1/2 the side street frontage,
provided that:
All conforming signs, sign supports and attendant hardware not
used by a new tenant or new owner shall be removed by the new owner
within one year of the premises being vacated. If reoccupied, a new
tenant or new owner has three months to use or remove all signs, sign
supports or attendant hardware.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect any sign (excluding signs cited in § 160-126) without complying with the following requirements:
