(a)

Characteristics of authorized signs. The purpose of these sign regulations is to promote health, safety, general welfare, and order within the city through the establishment of a comprehensive and impartial series of standards, regulations, and procedures governing the type, numbers, size, structure, location, height, lighting, use, or display of devices, signs, or symbols serving as a visual communication media to persons situated within or upon public rights-of-way or properties. With this purpose in mind, it is the intention of this section to authorize signs that are:

(1)

Compatible with their surroundings.

(2)

Appropriate to the activity to which they pertain.

(3)

Expressive to the identity of the individual properties or the community as a whole.

(4)

Legible in the circumstances in which they are seen.

(5)

Safely located with respect to passing vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

(b)

Characteristics of prohibited signs. It is further the intent of this section to prohibit signs that:

(1)

Prevent or inhibit adequate light, air, or ventilation.

(2)

Inhibit the safety of vehicular or pedestrian traffic by actual physical or visual impairment or obstruction.

(3)

Distract from the aesthetics of the location, area, and community as a whole.

(c)

Signs in extraterritorial jurisdiction area. The provisions of this article do not apply to signs in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Such signs are subject to the provisions of section 56-759.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-100)

(a)

Generally. The signs enumerated in this section are allowed without a permit but shall comply with all other applicable provisions of this article.

(b)

Public signs. Signs of a public, noncommercial nature to include safety signs, danger signs, traffic signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, memorial plaques and the like, when signs are erected by or on order of a public officer or employee in the performance of official duty.

(c)

Nameplates and identification signs. Nameplates and identification signs shall not exceed three square feet in area for each dwelling unit. Content shall be limited to the name and address of the occupant and the name and nature of a permitted home occupation.

(d)

Bulletin board and identification signs. Bulletin boards and identification signs for churches, schools, and other permitted institutions and nonprofit organizations, not exceeding 24 square feet, one per zoning lot on which such use is located. Such sign shall be located entirely within the property line of the use.

(e)

Direction signs (on-site). On-site directional signs not exceeding two square feet in area, intended to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and vehicles within the site upon which such signs are located.

(f)

Integral signs. Names of buildings, date of construction, commemorative tablets and the like which are a permanent type of construction and which are an integral part of the building or structure.

(g)

Political campaign signs. Signs or posters announcing the candidates seeking political office or political issues and a date pertinent thereto providing all such signs are located on private property. Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in area.

(h)

Individual property sale or rental signs. Any on-premises sign announcing the name of the owner, manager, realtor, or other person directly involved with the sale or rental of the property or announcing the purpose for which it is being offered provided that:

(1)

Signs must be removed within ten days after sale or rental of the property.

(2)

Signs may not measure more than six square feet in R-l, R-2, and R-3 districts and 20 square feet in the C-1, C-2, IL, and IG districts.

(3)

There shall be only one such sign per property. Corner properties may contain two signs, one per frontage.

(4)

Development signs. One temporary sign not larger than 32 square feet pertaining to the development of the land on which the sign is located, during actual development or construction of the site. No such sign shall be located closer than 20 feet to a property line or right-of-way.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-101)

(a)

Generally. The following signs are specifically prohibited by this article:

(1)

Signs that obstruct the vision of drivers or pedestrians or detract from the visibility of any official traffic control device.

(2)

Permanent signs that make use of flashing or intermittent signs or signs that are animated are allowed.

(3)

Permanent signs that consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or similar devices for private or commercial purposes.

(4)

Signs or posters that are tacked on trees, fences, utility poles, or other such permanent supports within the public right-of-way.

(b)

Signs on parked vehicles. No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way property or on private properties 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. The zoning administrator may issue special permits for the parking of advertising vehicles for a period not to exceed five days per location.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-102; Ord. No. 2017-1, § I, 3-14-17)

The gross sign area shall be the area within the single continuous line enclosing the extreme limits of such sign and in no case passing through or between any adjacent elements of the same. It does not include any structural or framing elements lying outside the limits of such sign surface and not forming an integral part of the display. In computing the number and square footage of signs, all signs other than those allowed in section 56-226 and signs on windows shall be included.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-103)

(a)

Applicability; permit required. The restrictions of this section apply to signs in specific zoning districts; provided, however, that signs authorized under this section require issuance of a sign permit from the zoning administrator:

(b)

R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts. In R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts no signs are allowed other than those authorized under section 56-226.

(c)

C-1 district.

(1)

Area and number. The gross area in square feet of all signs shall not exceed four times the lineal front footage of the zoning lot; however, the gross surface area of all illuminated signs shall not exceed two times the lineal front footage. Three signs are allowed per zoning lot and may be either freestanding or connected to the building.

(2)

Freestanding signs. Freestanding sign supports shall be located not closer than ten feet to any property line, and no part of a sign shall project into the public right-of-way. No part of any freestanding sign shall be higher than 30 feet above grade level.

(3)

Attached signs. No sign attached to a building shall project more than eight feet from the building, nor shall any sign be lower than ten feet from grade level. No attached sign may extend closer than one foot from the vertical plane of the street curb or, if no curb exists, not more than six feet beyond the vertical plane of the official map right-of-way line.

(4)

Canopy signs. Signs attached to permanent, stationary canopies or marquees shall not extend more than 12 inches from the face of the canopy or marquee, nor shall any canopy sign extend more than 36 inches above the top of the marquee or canopy.

(5)

Advertising signs. Advertising signs are prohibited.

(d)

C-2 district.

(1)

Area and number. The gross area in square feet of all signs shall not exceed four times the lineal front footage of the zoning lot; however, the gross surface area of all illuminated signs shall not exceed two times the lineal front footage. Three signs are allowed per zoning lot and may be either freestanding or connected to the building.

(2)

Freestanding signs. Freestanding sign supports shall be located not closer than ten feet to any property line, and no part of a sign shall project into the public right-of-way. No part of any freestanding sign shall be higher than 30 feet above grade level.

(3)

Attached signs. No sign attached to a building shall project more than eight feet from the building.

(4)

Advertising signs. Advertising signs up to 800 square feet in area, provided that the sign is no closer than 100 feet to the public right-of-way, no closer than 100 feet to another advertising sign facing the same right-of-way, no higher than 30 feet, and no closer than 100 feet to an R-1, R-2, or R-3 district.

(e)

IL and IG districts.

(f)

Area and number. The gross area in square feet of all signs shall not exceed four times the lineal front footage of the zoning lot. Three signs are allowed per zoning lot and may be either freestanding or connected to the building.

(g)

Freestanding signs. Freestanding sign supports shall be located not closer than ten feet to any property line, and no part of a sign shall project into the public right-of-way. No part of any freestanding sign shall be higher than 30 feet above grade level.

(h)

Attached signs. No sign attached to a building shall project more than eight feet from the building, nor shall any attached sign extend into the public right-of-way.

(i)

Advertising signs. Advertising signs up to 800 square feet in area, provided that the sign is no closer than 100 feet to the public right-of-way, no closer than 100 feet to another advertising sign facing the same right-of-way, no higher than 30 feet, and no closer than 100 feet to an R-1, R-2, or R-3 district.

(j)

Integrated shopping centers. For integrated shopping centers in single ownership or under unified control, one additional sign, other than those listed under subsection (d) of this section, shall be permitted, subject to the following:

(1)

Content. Such signs shall advertise only the name and location of such center and the name and type of each occupant of the center.

(2)

Area. The gross surface area in square feet of all business signs shall not exceed two times the lineal feet of front footage on such zoning lot. All signs may be illuminated.

(3)

Height. Such sign shall not project higher than 25 feet above grade level.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-104)

(a)

All signs and sign structures shall be kept in good repair. Responsibility for the maintenance and removal of signs and structures rests first with the sign owner and secondly with the property owner.

(b)

At the termination of a business, commercial, or industrial enterprise, all signs shall be removed if the building or property remains vacant after six months. Responsibility for removal in this case rests with the property owners, according to the latest official tax roll listing.

(c)

Vacant lots upon which signs now exist or are erected in the future shall be maintained in an orderly fashion by the removal of rubbish and maintenance of any plants growing on the lot.

(d)

If any sign is in violation of this article or becomes damaged or dilapidated, the zoning administrator shall give written notice to the owner of the sign or the owner of the property on which the sign is located, in person or by mail, addressed to the last-known post office address of such owner to repair or remove the sign. If the order is not complied with within 60 days of serving the notice, the zoning administrator shall cause the sign and structure to be razed and the cost thereof assessed as a special charge against the property on which the sign was located.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-105)