The purpose of this article is to promote the well-being of the community by establishing standards that ensure the provision of signs while also safeguarding the rights of the people in the community to a safe, healthful and attractive environment. This article provides standards for signs to safeguard life, health, property, safety, and public welfare, while encouraging creativity, variety and compatibility and enhancing the city's image. Within this overall framework, it is the intent of these regulations to:

(1)

Encourage creative and well-designed signs that contribute in a positive way to the city's visual environment;

(2)

Encourage signs that are responsive to the aesthetics and character of their particular location, adjacent buildings and uses, and the surrounding neighborhood;

(3)

Prevent signs from interfering with traffic regulatory devices or otherwise obstructing motorist or pedestrian vision;

(4)

Protect the right to the use of signs for the identification of activities and any related products, services and events and for noncommercial messages;

(5)

Protect the right of individuals to privacy and freedom from nuisances;

(6)

Protect the value of property and improvements thereon; and

(7)

Provide an efficient and effective means of administration and enforcement.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.01; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.01, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017)

(a)

Compliance and nonconforming signs. All signs erected after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived must be in compliance with city codes. Signs which were lawful at the time of their construction or placement but are not in conformance with current ordinances shall be permitted as nonconforming signs until such time that the sign is damaged, in a state of disrepair, has lived its functional life span, has a change of use of the site, or have become obsolete.

(b)

Design and construction.

(1)

All signs shall comply with the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and the National Electrical Code.

(2)

Signs shall be permanently affixed to the ground or building except for the following which are explained in following sections of this article:

a.

Temporary signs; and

b.

Window signs.

(c)

Changeable copy signs. Manual changeable copy signs and electronic changeable copy signs shall be allowed subject to the following:

(1)

Manual copy change. Each message must be displayed at least seven days except a gas station may change its copy as needed.

a.

Area: No more than 50 percent of the area of a sign shall be devoted to changeable copy.

b.

Theatres: Signs for theaters may devote up to 80 percent of a sign area to changeable copy.

(2)

Electronic copy change.

a.

Fluctuating illumination is prohibited.

b.

Copy rotation. Each message shall be displayed for at least three seconds before alternating to the next message. For scrolling signs, messages shall be permitted to scroll from one direction onto the message board so long as the message remains on the message board for at least three seconds before scrolling off.

c.

Lumens. Screen may not be brighter than five lumens measured at any point along the public right-of-way.

d.

Screen size. Screen shall be no more than 50 percent of the total size of the sign, not to exceed 24 square feet.

(d)

Illumination.

(1)

Source. Signs may be illuminated from within or from an external source, but such illumination shall be in a manner which avoids glare or reflection which in any way interferes with traffic safety or infringes on neighboring residential districts. External, down-lighting is preferred.

(2)

Internal illumination. Internally illuminated signs in all districts shall have an opaque background and translucent copy.

(3)

External illumination. External illumination shall be selected, located, aimed and shielded so that direct illumination is focused solely on the sign face, away from adjoining properties and the public street right-of-way. Down lighting is preferred. Installation shall comply with the requirements of the Arkansas Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act, A.C.A. § 8-14-101, et seq.

(4)

Strung lights. Signs shall not be illuminated by a string of lights placed around the sign.

(5)

Lighting adjacent to residential areas. Sign lighting shall not be a nuisance to adjacent neighboring residential areas and shall be at least 400 feet beyond a boundary designating a residential district or at the farthest point of the commercial property from the residential district.

(e)

Maintenance. All signs, whether or not a permit is required, shall be maintained in good condition, shall be legible, kept free of cracked or peeling paint, kept free of missing or damaged sign panels or supports, and kept free of weeds, grass or vegetation which obscures the view of the sign message, and shall not be in disarray or fallen over. Sign landscaping shall be maintained so as not to interrupt the view of the sign. The owner will be required to remove signs within 30 days or face citations for signs not maintained as required herein when notified by the mayor or the mayor's designee.

(f)

Obstructions. No sign shall block entrances or exits to buildings, including fire escapes.

(g)

Nonconforming, obsolete, and unpermitted signs. Signs which were lawful at the time of their construction or placement but are not in conformance with current ordinances shall be permitted as nonconforming signs until such time that the sign is damaged, in a state of disrepair, has lived its functional life span, or has a change of use of the site. At that time, the sign, if replaced, shall be in compliance with this article.

(h)

Sight triangle. No sign shall constitute a hazard to traffic including, but not limited to, signs located within the sight triangle of an intersection. The sight triangle is defined by a triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting two points on intersecting street rights-of-way, measured 35 feet along each pavement edge starting at the intersection point.

(i)

Permission of owner. Any sign erected with or without a sign permit, must have the property owner's permission, with the exception of signs allowed within the public right of way.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.02; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.02, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017)

(a)

Temporary signs during a period of construction.

(1)

Residential districts; individual lot. A temporary sign during a period of construction on individual lots in residential districts, are subject to the following regulations:

a.

Number permitted: One temporary sign during a period of construction per street frontage identifying on the single sign builder.

b.

Maximum area: Five square feet in total for all.

c.

Timeframe: The sign shall be allowed at the time a building permit is issued, and shall be removed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

(2)

Residential districts; subdivision. Temporary signs during a period of construction for a subdivision in residential districts, are subject to the following regulations:

a.

Number permitted: One per street frontage of subdivision.

b.

Maximum area: 32 square feet per sign face.

c.

Maximum height: Nine feet.

d.

Timeframe: The temporary sign during a period of construction shall be allowed at the time the first building permit is issued, and shall be removed within seven days of erection of a permanent subdivision sign or within one year of issuance of sign permit, whichever comes first.

(3)

Nonresidential districts. Temporary signs during a period of construction in nonresidential districts, are subject to the following regulations:

a.

Number permitted: One per street frontage.

b.

Maximum area: 32 square feet per sign face.

c.

Maximum height: Nine feet.

d.

Timeframe: The construction sign shall be allowed at the time a building permit is issued, and shall be removed prior to obtaining a certificate of occupancy or erection of a permanent sign or within one year of issuance of sign permit, whichever comes first.

(b)

Farm signage. Signs on farms of at least five acres in size and registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) are allowed. A maximum of two signs are allowed per property location. Each sign size shall not exceed 32 square feet and must be maintained in good condition.

(c)

Flags. U.S., state, municipal, or other flags are allowed.

(d)

Hand-carried signs. Hand-carried signs are allowed.

(e)

Historic or memorial site signs. Attached or freestanding signs at historic or memorial sites erected by a governmental agency or private, nonprofit historic preservation or education organization pursuant to a plan or program for the erection of such signs or markers applied on a national, state or county wide basis or to properties within a duly authorized local historic district are allowed. Such plan or program must employ uniform standards of eligibility. Historical or memorial site signs are subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Maximum area.

a.

Freestanding: 18 square feet.

b.

Wall: Six square feet.

(2)

Materials. Each such sign or marker shall be made of metal, cast metal, cut masonry, brick, stone, painted wood, vinyl or other similar weather resistant, durable, permanent material.

(3)

Condition. Historic or memorial site signs must be kept in good condition.

(4)

Location. A map showing the location of any and all historic markers must be filed with the city clerk's office.

(f)

Holiday decorations. Temporary lighting and displays that are part of customary holiday decorations are subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Time period. Displays and lighting associated with holiday celebrations shall not be illuminated more than 45 days prior to the holiday and shall not be illuminated more than 30 days after the holiday.

(2)

Location. Such decoration shall not be located in the public right-of-way.

(g)

Identification signs.

(1)

Customary identification signs. These signs are described as those which are commercially made, such as: building numbers, addresses, private parking signs, no trespassing signs or dangerous animal signs and are no larger than three square feet in area per sign.

(2)

Individual numbers. These signs are those posted on a structure or a post. They must be clearly visible from the road so that an emergency response vehicle can readily identify the location of the home or business. The numbers shall be of a color that contrasts with the background or made of reflective material and must be three to four inches in height.

(3)

Location. Numbers must be displayed on the side of the building facing the street the building is addressed on. If the building is not visible from the street, the numbers must be displayed on a post facing the street the building is addressed on. The numbers should be located at least three to four feet from the ground so they are easily seen. The area surrounding this post must be kept neat and free of weeds, grass or vegetation so they do not cover up the numbers. If there is more than one address on a driveway, all addresses must be visible.

(h)

Interior signs. Signs visible only from the interior of a structure, such as in a mall, where they are not visible from a public right-of-way or public space are allowed.

(i)

Non-readable. Any sign not readable either from any public right-of-way or from any lot or parcel other than the parcel on which such signs are located or from an adjacent lot or parcel under common ownership with the lot or parcel on which such sign is located is allowed.

(j)

Temporary signs during public elections. Temporary signs erected during public elections are subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Maximum size. Five square feet in residential areas and 18 square feet in nonresidential areas.

(2)

Materials. Signs must be made of a durable, and non-destructible weather resistant material.

(3)

Location. Signs are prohibited on utility poles, street signs, or any other permanent sign; signs cannot obstruct driver's vision clearances at an intersection; signs shall not be placed in public rights-of-way.

(4)

Maximum number permitted. One per each 20 feet of street frontage the property borders.

(5)

Timeframe. Signs erected pursuant to this subsection (k) shall be allowed no earlier than 60 days prior to a public election date and shall be removed within two days after the public election date or after any runoff public election date.

(k)

Public notice. Any public notice or warning required by valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance. The location must be on file with the planning and development department. Sign must be removed within three days of date of posted event.

(l)

Public park signs. Signs in public parks erected by a government agency that are no greater than four feet in height are allowed.

(m)

Public sign. Any federal, state or local traffic control or other public sign is allowed.

(n)

Temporary signs erected during real estate sale. Temporary signs erected during any period when the sale, lease, or rent of real estate is being attempted shall be subject to the limitations of the following table:

(o)

Stadium signage. Signs within city and school stadiums are allowed.

(p)

Traffic control signs. Traffic control signs on private property such as "stop," "yield," and similar signs, the face of which meet Arkansas Department of Transportation standards, are subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Maximum area: Eight square feet.

(2)

Subject: Such sign shall not contain a logo or commercial message.

(q)

Signs on vending machines, ATM, gas pumps. Signs on vending machines, automatic tellers, or gasoline pumps shall not exceed 32 square feet in area per side. The display shall be an integral part of the machine or pump.

(r)

Window signs. Any sign, pictures, symbol or combination thereof that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window shall not exceed 40 percent of the window area. One sign displayed during any period employment opportunities for an on-site business is being procured, is allowed, exempt from a time requirement, subject to a maximum area of five square feet or 40 percent of the window area, whichever is less.

(s)

Signs during period of a yard sale. Signs erected during a yard, garage, moving, estate, auction, and rummage sale, are subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Time period. No sign shall be posted more than three days prior to the sale. Signs must be removed no later than the final day of the sale.

(2)

Maximum area. Five square feet.

(3)

Maximum number permitted. One at the site of the sale and five off-site private signs.

(4)

Materials. Signs shall be made of a durable, non-destructible, weather-resistant material. Cloth, paper, cardboard and similar materials, unless laminated, are not allowed.

(5)

Location. Signs shall be placed no farther than five road miles from the location of the sale. Signs shall be placed at least six feet distant from the edge of the nearest paved road, shall be located at intersections only, and be securely attached to the ground with a pole or stake. Signs are not allowed on street signs, utility poles, directional signs, mail boxes, trees or similar permanent existing signage; signs are not allowed freestanding attached to a box, rock or similar device.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.03; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.03, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2015-18, § 1, 8-24-2015; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017; Ord. No. 2024-23, § 1(Exh.), 11-25-2024)

(a)

In public right-of-way. No sign, including supports, frames, and embellishments, shall be located within a public right-of-way or attached, affixed, or painted on any utility pole, light standard, utility box or pedestal, tree, rock, or other natural object located within the public right-of-way or on public property, except as specifically permitted in subsection (b) of this section.

(b)

Exemptions.

(1)

Emergency. Emergency warning signs erected by a government agency, utility company, or a contractor doing work in a public right-of-way. No permitting required.

(2)

Public. Signs erected by the city, county, state or federal government. No permitting required.

(3)

Private. Small signs referred to in sections 109-283 and 109-285 are allowed in the right-of-way, however they must be at least six feet from the nearest paved street, securely fastened to the ground, readable from a moving vehicle, and made of weather-resistant material. Such signs shall not create a cluttered, unsightly condition due to close proximity to one another. Signs must be removed upon expiration of any time period or event authorizing such sign.

(4)

Use of structures within the public right-of-way. Placement of temporary signs on overpass railings within the public right-of-way shall be allowed upon permitting procedures under section 109-285.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.04; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.04, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2015-18, § 1, 8-24-2015; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017)

(a)

Permit required. Temporary signs during special sales events and promotions, fund raising events, new business openings, and non-recurring activities of interest to the general public must obtain a temporary sign permit, subject to the regulations of this section.

(b)

Time. Temporary sign permits must be approved by the planning and development department a minimum of three days prior to the intended display period.

(c)

Materials. Temporary signs shall be commercially made of a durable, non-destructible, weather-resistant material. Cloth, paper, cardboard and similar materials, unless laminated, are not allowed.

(d)

Permit types. Four types of temporary sign permits may be issued by the planning and development department:

(1)

New business. This permit shall be a new business opening.

(2)

Special sales event/promotion for an existing business. This permit shall be for a special sales event or promotion, rather than a routine business activity, for a business location in a nonresidential district.

(3)

Non-recurring events. This permit shall be for signs during fundraising events, special events, or activities of interest to the general public typically held once a year. Political events are exempted from this type of permit.

(4)

Recurring events. This permit shall be for signs during fundraising events, special events, or activities of interest to the general public that occur on a recurring basis described as monthly, bi-monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly.

The following table shall govern individual temporary sign permit requirements:

(e)

Private signage in public right-of-way. Recurring and non-recurring permit types shall allow private signage in the public right-of-way subject to the following:

(1)

Maximum number.

a.

For recurring event permits, a maximum of 40 signs may be erected.

b.

For non-recurring event permits, a maximum of number of ten signs may be erected.

(2)

Maximum height. Private signage is limited to three feet in height.

(3)

Maximum area. Signs are limited to five square feet in area.

(f)

Banner signage. Regardless of permit type, banner signage permitted shall be attached to a building or be hung tautly by providing a member across the top of the banner to ensure that the sign does not sag and become unreadable.

(g)

Freestanding signage. Regardless of permit type, freestanding signage must located on private property within ten feet of main entrance.

(h)

Prohibited locations.

(1)

Unless specifically allowed by the provisions of this article, temporary signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way.

(2)

Signs are prohibited on utility poles, street signs, or any permanent signs; signs cannot obstruct a driver's vision clearances at an intersection.

(i)

Conformance with other regulations. The temporary sign shall conform to the regulations for suspended signs, projecting signs or freestanding signs depending on the method of installation and support.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.05; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.05, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2015-18, § 1, 8-24-2015; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017; Ord. No. 2024-23, § 1(Exh.), 11-25-2024)

(a)

Permit required. Permanent signs must obtain a sign permit as outlined in section 109-46, subject to the regulations specified in this section.

(b)

Maximum area limitations. All signs, regardless of type, located on individual parcels in commercial and industrial districts permitted under this section shall be limited to maximum signage area per parcel as follows:

TOTAL SIGN SQUARE FOOTAGE AREA TABLE

(c)

Attached signage. Permanent signage attached to or integral to a building or structure are subject to the following regulations. The following table shall govern individual attached, permanent sign type requirements:

ATTACHED SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS TABLE

(d)

Canopy signs. Canopy signs shall be permitted in nonresidential districts, subject to the following regulations:

(1)

All canopies. In no case shall the sign extend beyond the vertical edge of the canopy it is attached to.

(2)

Fuel canopies. Signage for fuel canopies shall be limited to logo signs on each side of the canopy.

(3)

Setbacks. Canopy structures must adhere to the building setback requirements of article III of this chapter.

(4)

Maximum area. Canopy signs are limited to 25 percent of the wall area on each side of the canopy.

(5)

Signage attached to or integral to a building or structure shall be no higher than the roofline of the building or structure to which it is attached.

(e)

Monument signage. Monument signage is subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Maximum height. Detached signage located on individual parcels in commercial and industrial districts permitted under this section shall be limited in height by district as follows:

DETACHED DISTRICT HEIGHT LIMITATIONS TABLES

(2)

Maximum area. Detached signage located on individual parcels in commercial and industrial districts permitted under this section shall be limited in area by district as follows:

DETACHED DISTRICT AREA LIMITATIONS TABLES

(f)

Sign landscaping. All permitted permanent monument and freestanding signs require:

(1)

A defined, bordered, landscaped area at the base of the sign.

(2)

The required landscaped area shall be parallel to the face of the sign.

(3)

The required landscaped area shall be at least 50 square feet in area, be kept neat, weed-free and in compliance with the original site plan.

(4)

For signs with multiple faces, the landscaped area shall be allocated so that a portion of the required landscaping is located in front of each sign face.

(5)

The required landscaped area shall contain living plant materials covering at least 50 percent of the defined landscaped area. Artificial plant materials are not authorized for use.

(6)

A plan of the landscaped area with the name, quantity, and spacing of plant materials shall be included as a part of the sign permit application.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.06; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.06, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017; Ord. No. 2017-16, § 1(Exh. A), 4-24-2017)

(a)

Billboards and permanent freestanding signs. Billboards and permanent freestanding signs are prohibited.

(b)

Fluctuating illumination. Signs, or any means of advertising, with the illusion of movement by means of a preprogrammed repetitious sequential switching of action in which illuminated elements of the sign are turned off or on to visually simulate the impression of motion characteristic of chasing, running, blinking, oscillating, twinkling, scintillating, or expanding and contracting light patterns are prohibited. Illumination of attraction devices or signs that fluctuates in light intensity shall be prohibited. Signs that operate or employ any motion picture projection in conjunction with any advertisements shall be prohibited.

(c)

Damaged signs. Signs which have broken supports, are in disarray or fallen over, are not in good condition, or are overgrown with vegetation, are nonconforming to these regulations.

(d)

Off-site signs. Permanent off-site signs are signs that direct attention to a business, commodity, service, event or entertainment not conducted, sold or offered on the premises where the sign is located are prohibited.

(e)

Portable sign. Any sign not securely affixed to the ground or other permanent structure is prohibited.

(f)

Roadside markers. Signs or memorials commemorating a death location are prohibited.

(g)

Rotating or revolving signs. These signs, lighted or not, are prohibited.

(h)

Strung lights. Lights strung across buildings or property, except those allowed under section 109-283(f), are prohibited.

(i)

Vehicle signs. Signs attached to or painted on vehicles including automobiles, trucks, boats, campers, and trailers, which are parked on or otherwise utilizing a public right-of-way, public property or on private property so as to be intended to be viewed from a vehicular right-of-way are prohibited. This definition is not to be construed to include those signs on a vehicle as may be attached to and within the normal unaltered lines of the vehicle of a licensed transit carrier, when and during that period of time said vehicle is regularly and customarily used to traverse the public highways during the normal course of business.

(j)

Windblown. Fluttering, spinning, windblown or inflated devices including pennants, propeller discs and balloons are prohibited.

(k)

Other. All other signs which are not expressly allowed, with our without a permit, are prohibited.

(l)

Banners. Banners are not allowed except for those allowed under section 109-285.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.07; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.07, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017)

(a)

Appeals of this article shall follow the procedures for variances as outlined in section 109-42.

(Zoning Ord., § 1000.09; Ord. No. 2012-12, § 1000.09, 11-9-2012; Ord. No. 2017-03, § 1, 1-23-2017)