Aitkin City Zoning Code

SIGNS

§ 152.120 FINDINGS, PURPOSE AND INTENT.

(A) Findings. The city hereby finds as follows:

(1) Exterior signs have a substantial impact on the character and quality of the environment;

(2) Signs provide an important medium through which individuals may convey a variety of messages; and

(3) Signs can create traffic hazards, aesthetic concerns and detriments to property values, thereby threatening the public health, safety and welfare.

(B) Purpose and intent. It is not the purpose or intent of these sign standards to regulate the message displayed on any sign; nor is it the purpose or intent of this chapter to regulate any building design or any display not defined as a sign, or any sign which cannot be viewed from the outside of a building. The purpose and intent of this subchapter is to:

(1) Regulate the number, location, size, type, illumination and other physical characteristics of signs within the city in order to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare;

(2) Maintain, enhance and improve the aesthetic environment of the city by preventing visual clutter that is harmful to the appearance of the community;

(3) Improve the visual appearance of the city while providing for effective means of communication, consistent with constitutional guarantees and the city’s goals of public safety and aesthetics; and

(4) Provide for fair and consistent enforcement of the sign regulations set forth herein under the zoning authority of the city.

(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008)

§ 152.121 RULES AND REGULATIONS.

(A) Size. No sign shall exceed 128 square feet in area. See division (I) below for measurement of area.

(B) Regulations. Except as otherwise permitted in this section, no signs shall be erected or maintained at any angle to a building or structure so that the sign extends or projects over the street or highway. No sign which is erected or maintained flat against any building or structure shall extend or project more than 12 inches from the building.

(C) Electrical signs. Electrical signs must be installed in accordance with the current Electrical Code and a separate electrical permit from the state must be obtained prior to placement.

(D) Flashing signs. All flashing, revolving and intermittently lighted signs and all portable signs are prohibited, except as specifically allowed in this section.

(E) Temporary signs.

(1) Temporary signs pertaining only to the construction, sale or rental of the premises are allowable provided they do not exceed nine square feet in any district and are removed within 30 days of the completion of construction, sale or rental.

(2) One temporary signs is allowed for special events such as grand openings and promotions subject to the following conditions.

(a) Time frame of use.

1. No temporary sign shall be erected for more than 14 days unless otherwise authorized by a temporary sign permit.

2. The use of temporary signs shall be limited to six independent time periods which do not exceed 90 days gross in any calendar year.

(b) Number. Only one temporary sign shall be allowed, but the sign may be supplemented by streamers, balloons and other similar peripherals.

(c) Size and height. No temporary sign for special events shall exceed 64 square feet in size, nor exceed the height standards for signs in the base zoning district.

(F) Sandwichboard signs. Sandwichboard signs are permitted in the DMU district and may be used as temporary signage subject to the following conditions.

(1) Four feet of clear space must be maintained in the center of all sidewalks for the passage of pedestrians.

(2) The sign shall conform to the following height and area maximums:

(a) Height: five feet; and

(b) Area: six square feet.

(3) All sandwichboard signs shall be placed 20 feet back from the Highway 210/Highway 169 Intersection.

(G) Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited signs:

(1) Any sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles any official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or emergency vehicle signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal;

(2) All off-premises advertising; and

(3) Signs painted, attached or in any other manner affixed to trees, rocks or similar natural surfaces, or attached to public utility poles, bridges, towers or similar public structures.

(H) Setbacks. Permanent signs can be allowed up to the right-of-way as long as there are no safety or maintenance concerns as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

(I) Area. The area within the frame shall be used to calculate the square footage. If the letters or graphics are mounted directly on a wall of fascia or in such way as to be without a frame, the dimensions for calculating the square footage shall be the area within the periphery around the letters or graphics in a plane figure bounded by straight lines connecting the outermost points thereof. Each surface utilized to display a message or to attract attention shall be measured as a separate sign and shall be calculated in the overall square footage. Symbols, flags, pictures, wording, figures or other forms of graphics painted on or attached to walls, awnings, free-standing structures, suspended by balloons or kites are considered a sign and are included in calculating the overall square footage.

(J) Canopies, marquees and fixed awnings. Canopies, marquees and fixed awnings are an integral part of the structure to which they are attached. Where allowed, they shall meet the following requirements and the applicable square footage requirements.

(1) An awning, canopy or marquee may not extend out from the building more than 30 inches.

(2) Awnings, canopies or marquees may have no part of the structure other than supports nearer to the ground surface than eight feet.

(3) No sign, either illuminated or non-illuminated, may project below a marquee.

(K) Illumination. External illumination for signs shall be so constructed and maintained so that the source of light is not visible from the public right-of-way or neighboring residential properties.

(L) Height. The top of a sign, including its superstructure, if any, shall be no higher than 50% of the roof elevation of the building to which the sign may be attached or 30 feet above ground level, whichever height is less. Free-standing signs shall not exceed an overall height of 30 feet from ground level.

(M) Non-commercial speech. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, all signs of any size containing non-commercial speech may be posted in any number from August 1 in a (state) general election year until ten days following the (state) general election and 13 weeks prior to any special election until ten days following the special election.

(N) Projecting signs. Projecting signs are subject to the building sign requirements in this chapter. Where there is a conflict between the requirements governing projecting signs and building signs, the requirements for projecting signs shall control for projecting signs only.

(1) A building tenant shall have no more than one projecting sign attached outside the tenant's space within building. The projecting sign may be in addition to other signage permitted by this chapter.

(2) Projecting signs attached directly to the building facade shall be supported in a stationary position by a cantilevered structure without the use of any guy wires, cables, angle irons, or turnbuckles. Projecting signs attached to the underside of an overhang covering the pedestrian walkway shall be securely attached by metal anchors, bolts, or expansion screws and hang by a metal pole or chain of sufficient gauge to hold the weight of the sign. The only permissible attachment angle shall be 90 degrees from the building facade and positioned perpendicular to a pedestrian walkway so to be viewable in both directions of the walkway. The projecting sign shall be attached to the building within ten feet of the tenant's entrance for the public from the exterior as measured along the building facade. The projecting sign shall not extend more than four feet from the building measured from the face of the wall to which the sign is mounted to the farthest edge of the sign structure including any mounting equipment. The sign shall not extend over a parking area, or a loading area. A projecting sign hanging over a pedestrian walkway shall not conflict with the use of the walkway and in no case shall the bottom edge of the sign structure, including mounting devices, be less than eight feet above grade of the walkway. The top edge of the sign shall not be taller than the roof line of a single-story building, nor a windowsill of the second story of a multi-story building. If multiple projecting signs are attached to the same building, they shall be attached at the same height so to present a uniform appearance.

(3) Sign size. A projecting sign structure (not copy area on sign), excluding the mounting equipment, shall not exceed eight square feet. The thickness of the sign shall be no more than one foot.

(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008; Ord. 354, passed 11-1-2010; Ord. 418, passed 10-20-2025) Penalty, see § 152.999

§ 152.122 SPECIFIC REGULATIONS BY ZONING DISTRICT.

(A) Residential districts.

(1) Within residential zoning districts one sign per primary structure is allowed, with a permit, with a maximum sign area of eight square feet.

(2) The following types of signs are not permitted in residential zoning districts:

(a) Awning signs;

(b) Balloon signs;

(d) Flashing signs;

(e) Marquee signs;

(f) Pole signs;

(g) Projecting signs;

(h) Pylon signs;

(i) Neon signs;

(j) Scrolling signs; and

(k) Shimmering signs.

(B) Business districts.

(1) Highway Commercial District. Within the Highway Commercial District (C), signs are permitted as follows.

(a) The following types of signs are permitted in Highway Commercial zoning districts:

1. Pole signs;

2. Pylon signs;

3. Awning signs;

4. Balloon signs;

5. Digital display signs;

6. Flashing signs;

7. Marquee signs;

8. Neon signs;

9. Scrolling signs; and

10. Shimmering signs.

(2) Downtown Mixed Use District. Within the Downtown Mixed Use District (DMU), signs are permitted as follows.

(a) The following types of signs are conditional in the DMU district:

1. Pole signs; and

2. Pylon signs.

(b) The following types of signs are permitted in Downtown Mixed Use zoning districts:

1. Awning signs;

2. Balloon signs;

3. Digital display signs;

4. Flashing signs;

5. Marquee signs;

6. Projecting signs;

7. Neon signs;

8. Scrolling signs; and

9. Shimmering signs.

(1) The following types of signs are permitted in industrial zoning districts:

(a) Awning signs;

(b) Balloon signs;

(d) Flashing signs;

(e) Marquee signs;

(f) Pole signs;

(g) Pylon signs;

(h) Neon signs;

(i) Scrolling signs; and

(j) Shimmering signs.

(2) Each property is allowed one free-standing sign so long as the sign’s placement does not create a safety hazard by obstructing lines of sight or pedestrian corridors.

(3) For corner lots, one free-standing sign conforming to these standards is allowed on each roadway.

(4) Maximum sign area of a single sign is 128 square feet.

(5) Up to 10% of any principal structure facade area which directly abuts and lies generally parallel with a road right-of-way or publicly traveled roadway may be dedicated to signage.

(6) The permitted sign area may be split up into several signs or used for one sign.

(7) Signs placed on a building shall not exceed 10% of the facade area encompassed by the building side on which the sign is placed.

(8) The maximum sign area for the side of the principal structure not abutting the road right-of-way or publicly traveled road is 24 square feet.

(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008; Ord. 354, passed 11-1-2010; Ord. 418, passed 10-20-2025) Penalty, see § 152.999

§ 152.123 REQUIRED PERMITS.

No sign shall be erected, altered, reconstructed or moved in the city without first securing a permit from the city. The content of the sign shall not be reviewed or considered in determining whether to approve or deny a sign permit.

(A) Permanent signs. To apply for a permanent sign permit, a complete application shall be submitted to the city containing the following:

(1) Names and addresses of the applicant, owners of the sign and lot;

(2) The address at which the sign(s) are to be erected and the street on which they are to front;

(3) A complete set of scaled plans showing the sign dimensions, area, height, ground elevations, applicable setbacks and other details to fully and clearly represent the safe construction and placement of the proposed sign(s);

(4) Type of sign(s) being requested (i.e., wall sign, pylon sign and the like);

(5) The permit fee; and

(6) A permit from either MnDOT or the county if the proposed sign is along a state highway or county road (only if applicable).

(B) Temporary signs. To apply for a permit to allow a temporary sign, a complete application shall be submitted to the city containing the following:

(1) Names and addresses of the applicant, owners of the sign and lot;

(2) The address at which the sign(s) is to be erected;

(3) A generalized plan set showing the sign dimensions and height and a notation of the materials to be used;

(4) A generalized site plan which clearly represents the placement of the proposed sign(s) on the applicable property;

(5) The proposed time frame(s) over which the sign(s) will be posted; and

(6) A permit from either MnDOT or the county if the proposed sign is along a state highway or county road (only if applicable).

(C) Temporary sign renewal. A previously approved temporary sign permit issued by the city may be renewed provided the sign design, size, location or other previously approved details are not proposed to significantly change. A temporary sign permit renewal application shall include the following:

(1) Names and addresses of the applicant, owners of the sign and lot;

(2) The address at which the sign(s) is to be erected;

(3) The date of issuance of the original permit which is being renewed; and

(4) The proposed time frame(s) over which the sign(s) will be posted.

(D) Review.

(1) The city shall approve or deny complete sign permit applications upon receipt of a complete application.

(2) If the permit is denied, the city will send a written notice of denial to the applicant.

(3) The written notice will indicate the reason(s) for denial and a description of the applicant’s appeal rights.

(E) Exemptions. The following signs shall not require a permit. However, these exemptions shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance regulating signs:

(1) The changing of the display surface on a previously approved sign;

(2) Signs six square feet or less in size, per surface if double sided;

(3) Window signage; and

(4) Governmental signs.

(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008; Ord. 354, passed 11-1-2010; Ord. 418, passed 10-20-2025)

§ 152.124 NON-CONFORMING SIGNS.

(A) (1) It is recognized that signs exist within the zoning districts which were lawful before this chapter was enacted, which may be prohibited, regulated or restricted under the terms of this subchapter or future amendments.

(2) It is the intent of this subchapter that non-conforming signs shall not be enlarged upon, expanded or extended, nor be used as grounds for adding other signs or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same district.

(B) It is further the intent of this subchapter to permit legally established non-conforming signs existing on the effective date of this chapter, or amendments thereto, to continue as legally established non-conforming signs provided the signs are safe, are maintained so as not to be unsightly, and have not been abandoned or removed subject to the following provisions.

(1) No sign shall be enlarged or altered in a way which increases its non-conformity.

(2) Should the sign or sign structure be destroyed by any means to an extent greater than 50% of its replacement cost and no sign permit has been applied for within 180 days of when the property was damaged, it shall not be reconstructed, except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.

(3) Should the sign or sign structure be moved for any reason for any distance whatsoever, it shall thereafter conform to the regulations for the zoning district in which it is located after it is moved.

(4) No existing sign devoted to a use not permitted by this chapter in the zoning district in which it is located shall be enlarged, extended or moved, except in changing the sign to a sign permitted in the zoning district in which it is located.

(5) When a structure loses its status as a legal non-conforming structure, all signs on the property shall be brought into conformance with this chapter within 60 days.

(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008)

§ 152.125 SUBSTITUTIONS.

(A) The owner of any sign which is otherwise allowed by this chapter may substitute non-commercial copy in lieu of any other commercial or non-commercial copy.

(B) This substitution of copy may be made without any additional approval or permitting.

(C) The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over non-commercial speech or favoring of any particular non-commercial message over any other non-commercial message.

(D) This provision prevails over any more specific provisions to the contrary.