No sign or light shall move, flash, or make noise. (Indications of time and temperature are exemptions.) Signs that contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, outdoor wall murals, or other similarly moving devices are prohibited. (See § 500-56I and J for exemptions.)

Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate shape, size or color of traffic or railroad signs, signals or devices which use such words as "Stop," "Look," "Danger," "Go Slow," "Caution" or "Warning." Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of traffic or railroad signs, signals or devices. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.

Permanent and temporary signs affixed to or painted upon rocks, trees, utility poles or other such structures are prohibited.

No advertising signs shall be designed and erected so as to be intentionally seen or read from any water area, unless authorized by a conditional permit.

Sign definitions and standard. The following definitions shall be applicable in this article:

Sign permits. No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, constructed, extended, converted, or structurally altered without a permit and without being in conformity with the provisions of this article. These permits are available from the Building Inspector, unless otherwise indicated herein.

Signs not requiring permits.

Nonconforming signs. Nonconforming signs are prohibited.

Nonprofit event signs. If erecting one to six nonprofit event signs, a permit, including approval of the specific locations of signs must be obtained in advance from the City zoning administrator. If erecting seven or more nonprofit event signs, a permit, including approval of the specific locations of signs, must be obtained in advance from the Plan Commission. One sign permit fee will apply for each event or series of events, such as a concert series. The acceptable locations for such nonprofit event signs are boulevards, City trash receptacles, sidewalks near buildings, and private property if approved by property owners. Such nonprofit event signs may be displayed for 24 hours before event and must be taken down by noon the next day. The maximum size of such nonprofit event signs shall not exceed two feet by three feet.

New zoning districts. If any zone is omitted from this chapter, or if a new zone is created after enactment of this chapter, no signs shall be permitted therein until this chapter shall be amended to include this zone.

Indirect illumination. Indirect lighting of signs is allowed. Provided the lighting conforms with the lighting ordinance (Ord. No. 273).

Direct illumination. All direct illumination and stationary neon signs will require conditional use permits (see sections beginning at § 500-33).

The following signs are allowed in Residential Districts:

Permitted signs shall not project beyond any property line. If ground mounted, the top shall be not over five feet above the ground; if building mounted, shall be flush mounted, shall not be mounted on any roof of the building, and shall not project above the roofline.

Content. Signs allowed in the Commercial and Waterfront Zones shall be identity signs only, and only two identity signs shall be allowed per business. If two signs are mounted, they shall be on different sides. The second sign shall not exceed six square feet.

Roofline projection. No sign shall project above the rooflines.

Size. Maximum allowable sign area will be determined by the type of sign. The following types of signs are allowed within the Commercial District and the Waterfront District:

Multifloored offices. When a building contains offices or business establishments above the first floor, one additional sign may be erected on the front of such building located at a first-floor level. This sign shall be a directory type sign only for the purpose of listing such offices or business establishments located in said building. Each listing thereon shall be limited to one square foot.

Multicustomer entrances. When any business establishment has more than one customer or service entrance, said establishment shall be allowed additional signing to be erected on, over, or adjacent to each regular customer entry, not to exceed six square feet; or service entry, not to exceed two square feet. Applicants need to submit their request to the Plan Commission for approval.

Additional signs. Additional signs will be allowed if more than one business or service is conducted on the premises; a premise that operates two or more separate ventures. Applicants must submit a sign plan to the Plan Commission prior to installing any additional signs. In general, such signs shall not exceed six square feet in size.

Awnings and marquees. Signs may be on the vertical faces of awnings and marquees and may project below the lower edge of the awning or marquees not more than six inches. The bottom of such signs shall be no less than eight feet above the sidewalk or grade at any point. No part of the sign shall project above the vertical awning or marquee face. Awning and marquee signs shall be included in the total number of signs allowed.

Open/closed signs. Businesses in the Commercial District and Waterfront District shall each be allowed one open/closed sign. Main Street businesses (those located on Rittenhouse Avenue between Third Street and Front Street) may have one open/closed sign not to exceed two square feet. All other businesses will be allowed permission to display one open/closed sign not to exceed four square feet. Open/closed signs may be placed in their door, windows, attached to their main identifying sign, or projecting style as described in Subsection C(1) of this section except for the size requirement. No direct illuminating/neon open/closed signs will be allowed.

One "Bayfield is OPEN" banner per business will be allowed.

Holiday banners and decorations are allowed.

Construction signs which identify the architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, including any advertisement of any product, and signs announcing the character of the building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended, during the construction period. The signs shall be confined to the site of the construction and shall be removed within 14 days of the beginning of the intended use of the project. Construction signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.

Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or part of the premises on which the signs are displayed, up to a total area of eight square feet. Such signs shall be removed within 14 days of the sale, rental or lease. Real estate directional signs are not permitted.

Political campaign signs announcing the candidates seeking public office and other data pertinent thereto, up to an area of four square feet for each sign. Only one sign per candidate per premises shall be confined within private property with the owner's consent, and removed by the owner within seven days after the election for which they were made.

(Reserved)

Show window signs. They need not be related in content with the display. They shall not be larger than 25% of the total window area in aggregate/per side; first floor only. This clause is meant to discourage the blocking of the view into the premises with signage or any other nontraditional window treatment/covering or merchandise display.

Daily special boards or menus will be allowed in addition to the identifying signs as long as they are placed on or within the building, are temporary in nature and do not exceed six square feet. No sandwich board signs will be allowed.

Applications. The permit application shall contain the location of the sign structure, the name and address of the sign owner and of the sign erector, drawings, showing the design, size and location of the sign and such other pertinent information as the Building Inspector may require to ensure compliance with the ordinances of the City.

Fees.

Nullification. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of the permit.

Permit exceptions. The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign and, therefore, shall not require a sign permit:

Inspections. Signs for which a permit is required may be inspected periodically by the Building Inspector for compliance with this and other codes of the City.

Maintenance. All signs and components thereof shall be kept in good repair and in safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition. Compliance shall be made within five days.

Removal of sign. The Building Inspector may order the removal of any sign erected in violation of this article. He shall give five days' notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure or premises on which the sign is located, to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. The Building Inspector may remove a sign immediately and without notice if, in his opinion, the condition of the sign is such as to present an immediate threat to the safety of the public. If the sign owner does not comply with the orders of the Building Inspector, the Inspector is authorized to have the sign removed and the removal charged to the owner of the sign.

Abandoned signs.