Bloomfield Village City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Sign Regulations
§ 135-105 Purpose.
The purpose of these regulations is to provide comprehensive time, place, and manner restrictions on signs, including, but not limited to, controls on size, height, quantity, location, spacing, shape, lighting, motion, design, and appearance toward the basis of promoting community aesthetics, traffic safety, economic development, and the protection of property values.
§ 135-106 Intent.
It is intended, by the provisions of these regulations, to accomplish the following:
Encourage appropriate and compatible commercial speech signs and graphics.
Lessen objectionable competition in commercial speech sign size and placement.
Reduce the hazards of sign obstructions and distractions to motorists.
Create a more attractive business climate.
Preserve the value of buildings and properties.
Protect and enhance Village appearance.
Provide consistent standards for signs in the Village of Bloomfield.
§ 135-107 Compliance.
No sign shall be permitted in the Village of Bloomfield except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. There are three types of signs addressed in this chapter: commercial, noncommercial and political signs. Political signs are limited only in that they may not be placed within a public right-of-way.
§ 135-108 Substitutions.
Noncommercial speech signs are allowed in all districts and may be substituted for any sign expressly allowed under this chapter.
§ 135-109 Sign permit required.
Except as listed in § 135-119, all commercial speech signs shall require a permit. Also, any permanent freestanding sign shall require a permit.
§ 135-110 Site plan approval required.
§ 135-111 Classification of uses for sign regulation applicability.
Signs shall be permitted based on the use of the property by the applicant, in conjunction with the district in which the property is located.
Six use classifications shall apply: residential-simple, residential-complex, business, public and semipublic, farming, and other. Residential is classified as either simple or complex, based on whether the residence is the only use of the property. To determine the classification of a particular situation, refer to Schedule V, Use Classifications.[1] For example in a two-story building in which the first floor is retail and office space and the second floor is apartments, there are various potential applicant uses.
The retail and office space would be considered business uses.
However, office space occupied by a municipality would be classified under public and semipublic uses.
An individual apartment would be classified as residential-complex because it is on a property with other uses.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule V is included as an attachment to this chapter.
Each legal, nonconforming use shall be allowed such signs as would be permitted if the use were located in a district which permitted that use.
§ 135-112 Regulations applicable to all signs in all classifications.
All signs attached to a building or structure should be attached in a manner that will not cause potential damage to the building or structure. All signs attached to a building or structure should be attached in a reversible and repairable manner, such that the building or structure can be returned to its condition prior to attachment of the sign.
Within 45 days after a sign no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, product sold, or activity being conducted, said sign shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure, or lot upon which such sign is found.
No sign shall be permitted to project into any public right-of-way, except a perpendicular sign in the Village Center District.
§ 135-113 Sign regulations, residential simple uses.
Classification | Residential Simple |
|---|---|
Total signs allowed = 4 | |
Use | Maximum Number of Signs | Sign Type Allowed | Maximum Size (square feet) | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Commercial | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
Building-mounted | 4 | Yes | ||
Home occupation | Freestanding | 4 | Yes | |
1 | Window | 4 | No | |
Events signs | n/a | No | ||
Noncommercial | Building-mounted | 1 | No | |
Freestanding | 4 | No | ||
1 | Window | 1 | No | |
Events signs | n/a | No |
The maximum number of noncommercial signs per lot at any one time shall be four.
No commercial speech signs are permitted for any residential use, except for home occupations, or those signs listed in § 135-119. Such signs shall require permits as provided for in this chapter.
Of the total number of signs, no more than one shall be a window sign. Except in the case of a home occupation, no window sign shall exceed one square foot or 20% of the glass area to which it is attached or behind which it is placed, whichever is smaller.
Home occupations. No more than one commercial speech sign is permitted per residence, which shall only identify the business(es) located on the premises. Sign copy is limited to the business name(s), hours of operation, and/or short description of products or services offered.
A permanent, one- or two-sided, freestanding sign may be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line. Such sign shall be no larger than four square feet and no taller than three feet from grade, and it shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
Alternatively, a sign no larger than four square feet may be attached to the principal residence or mounted in a window, on the first floor of the structure, near an entrance.
Noncommercial speech signs are permitted on any residential lot without a sign permit, subject to all of the above conditions, plus the following:
A building-mounted sign shall not exceed one square foot in total area. Any building-mounted sign shall be located in proximity to an exterior entrance.
A ground-mounted sign shall not exceed four square feet and shall not exceed three feet above grade. Such sign shall be no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line, and it shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
§ 135-114 Sign regulations, residential complex uses.
Classification | Residential Complex |
|---|---|
Total signs allowed = see below | |
Use | Max Number of Signs | Sign Type Allowed | Maximum Size (Square Feet) | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Noncommercial | Building-mounted | 1 | No | |
Freestanding | 4 | No | ||
1 | Window | 1 | No | |
Events signs | n/a | No | ||
Max 2 | ||||
2-family home occupation | 1/unit | Building-mounted | 4 | Yes |
1/unit | Freestanding | 4 | Yes | |
1/unit | Window | 4 | No | |
Events signs | No | |||
Max 2 | ||||
3-or-more-family home occupation | 0 | Building-mounted | n/a | n/a |
0 | Freestanding | n/a | n/a | |
1 | Window | 4 | No | |
Events signs | n/a | No | ||
Max 1 | ||||
Apartment complex | 1 | Building-mounted, flush | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes |
or 1 | Building-mounted, right angle | 16 | Yes | |
or 1 | Freestanding | 16 | Yes | |
Apartment complex home occupation | 1 | Window | 4 | No |
Events signs | n/a | No | ||
Mixed-use residential | 1 | Building-mounted | 1 | No |
1 | Window | 1 | No | |
Events signs | n/a | No | ||
Mixed-use home occupations | 1/unit | Building-mounted | 4 | Yes |
n/a | Freestanding | no | n/a | |
1/unit | Window | 4 | No | |
Events signs | n/a | No |
The following regulations shall apply to all signs, except political signs, for uses in the residential-complex category.
Of the total number of signs, no more than one per residential unit shall be a window sign. Except in the case of a home occupation, no window sign shall exceed one square foot or 20% of the glass area to which it is attached or behind which it is placed, whichever is smaller.
Noncommercial speech signs are permitted for any residential unit without a sign permit, subject to all of the above conditions, plus the following:
A building-mounted sign shall not exceed one square foot in total area. Any building-mounted sign shall be located in proximity to an exterior entrance.
A ground-mounted sign shall not exceed four square feet and shall not exceed three feet above grade. Such sign shall be no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line, and it shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
On a lot containing a two-family dwelling and no other uses, signs shall be permitted as follows:
The maximum number of signs per residential unit shall be two.
No commercial speech signs are permitted, except for home occupations or those signs listed in § 135-119. Such signs shall require permits as provided for in this chapter.
Home occupation. No more than one commercial speech sign is permitted per residential unit, which shall only identify the business(es) located in the residence. Sign copy is limited to the business name(s), hours of operation, and/or short description of products or services offered. Except in the case of a window-mounted sign, permission of the property owner must be obtained prior to a sign permit being issued.
A permanent, one- or two-sided, freestanding sign may be erected for each residential unit. Such sign shall be placed no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line. Such sign shall be no larger than four square feet, and no taller than three feet from grade, and it shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
Alternatively, a sign no larger than four square feet may be attached to the principal residence or mounted in a window, on the first floor of the structure, near an entrance.
On a lot containing three or more residential units, except apartment complexes, and no other uses, signs shall be permitted as follows:
The maximum number of signs per residential unit shall be two.
No commercial speech signs are permitted, except for home occupations or those signs listed in § 135-119. Such signs shall require permits as provided for in this chapter.
Home occupation. No more than one commercial speech sign is permitted per residential unit, which shall only identify the business(es) located in the residence. Sign copy is limited to the business name(s), hours of operation, and/or short description of products or services offered. Such sign may only be mounted in a window and may be no larger than four square feet.
Apartment complex sign. One permanent sign, either building-mounted or freestanding, shall be permitted.
Such building-mounted sign shall be mounted either flush to the facade, perpendicular to the facade, or on an awning.
Such flush-mounted or awning sign shall be mounted on the first-floor facade of the building. The area of such sign shall be limited to one square foot per linear foot of building frontage, but no larger than 30 square feet.
A perpendicular sign shall not project more than five feet from the facade of the building to which it is attached. There must be a minimum of nine feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground. The maximum size of a perpendicular sign is 16 square feet.
Such permanent, one- or two-sided, freestanding sign shall be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line and with a maximum height of five feet from grade. Each side of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area. Said sign shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
A permanent freestanding sign taller than five feet from grade is considered a deviation from the sign regulations but may be allowed when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Board that there is not an appropriate location on the building that provides adequate visibility for a sign. The height of the freestanding sign shall be the lowest height necessary to achieve adequate visibility. Visibility is considered inadequate if:
In the case of a building-mounted sign, the building is more than 50 feet from the nearest right-of-way; or
Both the building-mounted sign and a legal, five-foot-tall, freestanding sign would be at least 50% obscured by an object or objects, either outside of the control of the applicant, or the removal of which would be excessive or detrimental to the Village.
On a lot containing one or more residential units in conjunction with any other use, signs shall be permitted as follows:
Signs for residential uses are to be determined separately from those for the other uses on the property. Signs for the other uses are permitted as stated in other sections of this chapter.
The maximum number of signs for each residential unit is two.
No commercial speech signs are permitted, except for home occupations or those signs listed in § 135-119. Such signs shall require permits as provided for in this chapter.
Home occupation. No more than one commercial speech sign is permitted per residential unit, which shall only identify the business(es) located in the residence, unique and independent of any other uses on the property. Sign copy is limited to the business name(s), hours of operation, and/or short description of products or services offered. Such sign shall be no larger than four square feet and shall be mounted on the first floor of the structure, near an entrance, and either in a window or attached to the exterior of the principal residence. If the residential unit does not have a first-floor window, the sign may be mounted in a window of the residential unit. Except in the case of a window-mounted sign, permission of the property owner must be obtained prior to a sign permit being issued.
§ 135-115 Sign regulations, business uses.
Classification | Business |
|---|---|
Total signs allowed = 7 | |
Use | Max Number of Signs | Sign Type Allowed | Maximum Size (Square feet) | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 business | 1 | Building-mounted, flush | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes |
or 1 | Building-mounted, right angle | 16 | Yes | |
or 1 | Freestanding | 16 | Yes | |
1/entrance | Auxiliary entrance | No | ||
Window sign | No | |||
1 | Address sign | No | ||
1 | Portable sign | Yes | ||
Directional sign | 4 | No | ||
1 | Glass door sign | No | ||
Event signs | n/a | No | ||
Multiple businesses; 1 entrance/business | 1 | Building-mounted, flush | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes |
or 1 | Building-mounted, right angle | 16 | Yes | |
or 1 | Freestanding | 16 | Yes | |
1/entrance | Auxiliary entrance | No | ||
Window sign | No | |||
1 | Address sign | No | ||
1 | Portable sign | Yes | ||
Directional sign | No | |||
1 | Glass door sign | No | ||
Event Signs | n/a | No | ||
Multiple businesses, 1 main entrance | 1/business | Building-mounted, flush | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes |
or 1/business | Building-mounted, right angle | 16 | Yes | |
or 1/business | Awning sign | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes | |
1/entrance | Auxiliary entrance | No | ||
window sign | No | |||
1 | Address sign | |||
Event signs | n/a | No | ||
1 | Portable sign | |||
Directional sign | ||||
1 | Glass door sign event signs | n/a | No | |
Commercial complex | 1 | Freestanding | 16 | Yes |
1 | Directory | 1 square foot/business | Yes | |
or 1 | Building-mounted | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes | |
1/business | Auxiliary sign | 4 | Yes | |
1/business | Glass door | 25% coverage | Yes | |
No limit | Window signs | 25% coverage | No | |
1 | Address sign | No | ||
1/business | Portable sign | 6 | Yes | |
1 | Directional sign | 4 | Yes | |
Event signs | n/a | No |
Signs permitted for each business use shall be limited to the following, subject to the following specific regulations, and further subject to approval and permits as provided for in this chapter. Commercial speech signs shall denote only the name of the owner, street address, trade names, trademarks, products sold, and/or the businesses or activity conducted on the premises where such sign is located.
One permanent sign that identifies the business (except in a complex, where there may also be a sign that lists all of the businesses in the complex). See Subsection C.
Primary business identification sign.
In a building that houses only one business use, one permanent sign, either building-mounted or freestanding, shall be permitted.
Such building-mounted sign shall be attached to the side of the building that contains the principal entrance (herein defined as the "building frontage"), mounted either flush to the facade, perpendicular to the facade, or on an awning.
Such flush-mounted or awning sign shall be mounted on the first-floor facade of the building. The area of such sign shall be limited to one square foot per linear foot of building frontage, but no larger than 30 square feet.
A perpendicular sign shall not project more than five feet from the facade of the building to which it is attached. There must be a minimum of nine feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground. The maximum size of a perpendicular sign is 16 square feet.
Such permanent, one- or two-sided, freestanding sign shall be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line and with a maximum height of five feet from grade. Each side of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area. Said sign shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
A permanent freestanding sign taller than five feet from grade is considered a deviation from the sign regulations but may be allowed when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Board that there is not an appropriate location on the building that provides adequate visibility for a sign. The height of the freestanding sign shall be the lowest height necessary to achieve adequate visibility. Visibility is considered inadequate if:
In the case of a building-mounted sign, the building is more than 50 feet from the nearest right-of-way; or
Both the building-mounted sign and a legal, five-foot-tall, freestanding sign would be at least 50% obscured by an object or objects, either outside of the control of the applicant, or the removal of which would be excessive or detrimental to the Village.
In a building that houses multiple business uses, where an entrance serves a single commercial establishment, one permanent building-mounted sign shall be permitted on the same side of the building as the entrance (herein defined as the "building frontage"). Such sign shall be attached either flush to the facade, perpendicular to the facade, or on an awning, and within the horizontal building frontage allocated to that business.
Such flush-mounted or awning sign shall be mounted on the first-floor facade of the building. The area of such sign shall be limited to one square foot per linear foot of building frontage, but no larger than 30 square feet.
A perpendicular sign shall not project more than five feet from the facade of the building to which it is attached. There must be a minimum of nine feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground. The maximum size of a perpendicular sign is 16 square feet.
In a building that houses multiple business uses, where an entrance serves more than one commercial establishment, there shall be permitted both:
One sign per commercial establishment, located on the same side of the building as the entrance (herein defined as the "building frontage"). Such signs shall be attached either flush to the facade or perpendicular to the facade.
If attached flush to the facade, all such signs shall be located in a group, on the first-floor facade of the building, the aggregate square footage of which shall not exceed one square foot per linear foot of building frontage, and in no case greater than 30 square feet. The total square footage of each sign within the group shall not exceed the calculation of: the square footage of the floor space occupied by the individual commercial enterprise within the building, divided by the total square footage of floor space in the building, times 30 square feet total sign area allowed.
A perpendicular sign shall not project more than five feet from the facade of the building to which it is attached. There must be a minimum of nine feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground. Signs for individual commercial establishments shall be hung together from the same bracket, one below the other. The total square footage of all of the signs in aggregate shall not exceed 16 square feet.
The individual sign components comprising the group shall be compatible with each other in style, materials, color, and lettering.
For each commercial establishment, an awning sign limited to one square foot per linear foot of building frontage, but no larger than 30 square feet. Such awning sign shall be mounted on the first-floor facade of the building, on the same side as the entrance, over a window allocated to that business.
In a commercial complex, there shall be permitted both:
Either one permanent, freestanding sign, denoting only the name and/or address of said commercial complex and one directory sign listing the commercial enterprises within the complex; or one sign which denotes all of the aforementioned information.
If there are to be two signs:
One shall be a permanent freestanding sign, either one- or two-sided. Said sign shall not exceed five feet in height from grade, and each side of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area. Said sign shall be erected no closer than 10 feet to the right-of-way or any other property line and shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
One shall be a directory sign, which shall be one-sided and shall not exceed in size the number of commercial establishments and offices listed times one square foot. The individual sign components comprising the directory shall conform to one another in size, style, materials, color, and lettering, and shall contain only identification and direction to the commercial establishments. Said directory sign may be either a permanent freestanding sign or attached flush to the building facade. If freestanding, said sign shall not exceed five feet in height from grade and shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
If there is to be one sign denoting the name and/or address of the commercial complex and listing the commercial enterprises within the complex, such sign shall be either building-mounted or a permanent freestanding sign.
Such building-mounted sign shall be attached flush to the facade of the building. Such sign area shall be limited to one square foot per linear foot of building frontage facing the public way, but no larger than 30 square feet.
Such permanent, one- or two-sided, freestanding sign shall be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line, and with a maximum height of five feet from grade. Each side of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area, plus one square foot per commercial enterprise within the complex, but not to exceed 30 square feet. Said sign shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
Additional signs permitted. The following signs shall be permitted for a business use, with a permit as provided for in this chapter. The square footage of signs in this subsection shall not be included in calculating the allowable square footage of signs for a location.
One permanent sign per commercial establishment shall be permitted at each auxiliary entrance or stairway to an entrance to said commercial establishment. The square footage of each sign shall not exceed four square feet. Where an auxiliary entrance into a single commercial building faces a public street, only one sign for said commercial establishment shall be permitted on that building frontage.
One permanent sign per commercial establishment shall be permitted upon each glass door of that commercial establishment. The total square footage of all signs in aggregate shall not exceed 25% of the square footage of the glass surface to which they are attached or behind which they are located.
Each commercial establishment shall be permitted an unlimited number of signs in windows or behind glass walls of that commercial establishment, limited by glass coverage as follows:
Each side of the building shall be considered separately.
The glass surfaces within the horizontal building frontage allocated to a particular commercial establishment on a particular side are to be considered in aggregate.
One permanent address sign per street address shall be permitted. The address sign shall contain numbers and letters and shall be no greater than six inches in height. Said sign shall contain a street address only.
One sidewalk sign is allowed for each business on a daily basis, but must conform to the following:
No sidewalk sign may be displayed during hours when the business is closed.
No sidewalk sign shall be allowed within or on any public way, except where the only property located in front of a business is a sidewalk within the public right-of-way. No sidewalk sign shall be allowed in a location that will interfere with a pedestrian's normal use of a sidewalk or walkway.
The sign must be displayed only in front of the business for which it advertises, except when the business is located within a plaza or shopping center. In such cases, a sandwich board sign is permitted near the roadway as long as the placement of the sign in no way obstructs vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
A sidewalk sign shall be no larger than 24 inches wide by 36 inches high.
All sidewalk signs shall be removed during periods of strong winds.
Any sign found to be in violation of these regulations may be confiscated by the Code Enforcement Officer and held for up to 30 days, during which time the sign may be brought into compliance by the owner and the appropriate fine paid. If, after 30 days, the sign remains in violation of these regulations and/or the fine remains unpaid, the Code Enforcement Officer shall not return the sign to the owner, but shall dispose of the sign.
§ 135-116 Sign regulations, public and semipublic uses.
Classification | Public and Semipublic Uses |
|---|---|
Total signs allowed = 4 | |
Use | Max Number of Signs | Sign Type Allowed | Maximum Size (square feet) | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Public/semipublic | 1 | Freestanding | 16 | Yes |
1 | Building-mounted | 1 square foot/linear foot | Yes | |
Public/Semipublic changeable copy | 1 | Building-mounted | 16 | Yes |
or 1 | Freestanding | 16 | Yes | |
1 | Portable sign | 6 | No | |
Event signs | n/a | No |
Public uses are considered such uses as government offices and post offices; and semipublic uses are considered such uses as schools and fire departments.
Signs for each public or semipublic use shall be limited to the following, and shall require a permit as provided for in this chapter:
One permanent freestanding sign, either one- or two-sided, which identifies the public or semipublic use, shall be permitted. Such sign shall be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line, and with a maximum height of five feet from grade. Each side of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area. Said sign shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
One building-mounted sign which identifies the public or semipublic use shall also be permitted. Such sign shall be flush-mounted to the first-floor facade of the building, on the same side of the building as the entrance. Such sign shall be limited to one square foot per linear foot of building frontage facing the public way, but no larger than 30 square feet.
In addition, one permanent changeable-copy sign shall be permitted. Such sign may be building-mounted or freestanding.
A building-mounted sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in sign area and shall be mounted on the first-floor facade of the building.
A permanent freestanding sign shall be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line and with a maximum height of five feet from grade. Each side of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of sign area. Said sign shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
A sidewalk sign no larger than 24 inches wide by 36 inches high shall also be permitted. No sidewalk sign shall be allowed within or on any public way, except where the only property located in front of the public or semipublic use is a sidewalk within the public right-of-way. No sidewalk sign shall be allowed in a location that will interfere with a pedestrian's normal use of a sidewalk or walkway. All sidewalk signs shall be removed during periods of strong winds.
§ 135-117 Sign regulations, farm operations.
Classification | Farms |
|---|---|
Total signs allowed = 3 | |
Use | Max Number of Signs | Sign Type Allowed | Maximum Size (square feet) | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Commercial speech | 1 | Building-mounted | 4 | Yes |
or 1 | Freestanding | 4 | Yes | |
or 1 | Window | 4 | No | |
No limit | Crop signs | No | ||
Noncommercial | 1 | Building-mounted | 1 | No |
1 | Freestanding | 4 | No | |
Event signs | n/a | No |
Of the total number of signs, no more than one shall be a window sign. Except in the case of a business identification sign, no window sign shall exceed one square foot or 20% of the glass area to which it is attached or behind which it is placed, whichever is smaller.
Commercial speech signs for each farm operation shall be limited to the following, and shall require a permit as provided for in this chapter.
One sign, which shall only identify the business located on the premises. Sign copy is limited to the business name, hours of operation, and/or short description of products or services offered.
A permanent, one- or two-sided, freestanding sign may be erected no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line. Such sign shall be no larger than four square feet, and no taller than three feet from grade, and it shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
Alternatively, a sign no larger than four square feet may be attached to the principal residence or mounted in a window, on the first floor of the structure, near an entrance.
A building-mounted sign may instead be attached to a barn. Such sign may be no greater than four square feet, plus 1/4 square foot for each foot the barn is set back from the public right-of-way.
Signs identifying crops being grown are allowed without a sign permit. Such signs shall be placed no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line, and no closer than 25 feet to each other.
"Noncommercial speech" is speech which presents some personal, political or religious point of view. Noncommercial speech signs are permitted without a sign permit, subject to all of the above conditions, plus the following:
A building-mounted sign shall not exceed one square foot in total area. Any building-mounted sign shall be located in proximity to an exterior entrance.
A ground-mounted sign shall not exceed four square feet and shall not exceed three feet above grade. Such sign shall be no closer than 10 feet to the public way or any other property line, and it shall in no way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian visibility.
§ 135-118 Sign regulations, other uses.
Other uses are permitted one commercial speech sign and such other signs as are necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community. All signs shall be subject to permits and approvals as specified in this chapter. The commercial speech sign shall identify the owner of the facility and contain such contact information as would be necessary in case of an emergency. Such sign shall be flush-mounted to a building, fence, or structure, no higher than 10 feet from the ground, and shall be limited to one square foot per linear foot of building, fence, or structure on the side to which it is attached, but no larger than 30 square feet.
§ 135-119 Additional regulations in Historic District Overlay area.
In addition to the provisions of this chapter, the following standards shall further guide the regulation of all signs located within the Historic District Overlay area.
No more than one commercial speech sign shall be erected on a principal building.
To the greatest extent possible, all signs shall be comprised of natural materials.
All signs must be consistent with the architectural character of the district and any sign theme established by the Village.
No permanent freestanding or building-mounted sign shall be allowed that advertises an accessory product being offered.
§ 135-120 Sign permit not required.
The following signs and actions do not require a sign permit application to be submitted or a sign permit to be issued.
Sidewalk signs of public and semipublic uses.
Event signs such as those of charitable organizations and churches, advertising one-time events. Such signs are not permitted on telephone or utility poles or traffic control devices. These signs may be placed up to 14 days prior to the event and must be removed within 48 hours after the event is concluded.
Garage sale/yard sale signs. Such signs are not permitted on telephone or utility poles or traffic control devices. These signs may be placed up to seven days prior to the event and must be removed within 24 hours after the event is concluded.
Political signs. Signs which promote a political point of view or an individual running for political office shall not be placed in the public right-of-way. Such signs shall be removed within 48 hours after the political issue or election has been decided.
"For sale," "for rent," "for lease," or "open for inspection" signs.
Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located do not require a permit, provided the sign does not exceed six square feet in area. One such sign shall be permitted per premises. Where such sign(s) are associated with a townhouse or condominium unit, the sign placement shall be set back at least 10 feet from the right-of-way line directly in front of the unit.
The following signs may be placed on a Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m., but only during the hours when the property in question is open for inspection:
One sign, not exceeding six square feet, bearing a legend such as "open" or "open for inspection" in front of a premises being advertised for sale.
Two signs, each not exceeding six square feet, bearing a legend such as "open" or "open for inspection" at locations other than the premises being advertised for sale.
Such signs may be located within the right-of-way, provided they are placed so as not to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular safety. Each sign shall not be more than three feet in height.
Temporary construction signs. One freestanding sign is permitted to advertise a contractor's business while that contractor is performing work on a property. Such sign shall not be placed in the public right-of-way, shall be no higher than three feet from the ground, and shall be no larger than six square feet. Such sign shall be removed upon completion or termination of the construction work.
Credit card signs. Credit card advertisements or trade association emblems which are displayed together, and the area of which does not exceed one square foot, may be displayed. Such signs shall be displayed flat on window or door surfaces. The purpose of these signs is to offer a service and not to advertise the business. The square footage of these signs shall be included in the total square footage of signs when calculating the limitation of allowable signs.
Vehicular signs. Commercial speech signs are allowed only on motor vehicles that are both licensed and registered and used in conjunction with a business, provided further that the primary purpose of such sign copy is not to direct the traveling public's attention to the business location.
Repainting. Repainting of a conforming commercial speech sign, including the change of colors, is permitted, provided the copy or logo does not change.
Change of copy. On any sign, no permit is required for the replacement of all speech with non-commercial speech. On a conforming commercial speech sign, no permit is required for the replacement of a portion of the commercial speech with noncommercial speech, as long as the remaining commercial speech does not change.
Directional signs. such as directional arrows, enter, exit, etc., shall be no larger than four square feet in size.
§ 135-121 Prohibited signs.
Posted advertisements. Posted advertisements are allowed on designated bulletin boards and other appropriate areas, as may be provided at locations such as the post office, bank, grocery store, and/or Village offices. Posted advertisements are not allowed in any residential district, and shall not be attached to trees, fences, utility poles, telephone booths, street furniture, public transit shelters, benches, or automatic teller machines (ATMs) etc.
Motion signs. Signs which move or simulate motion are prohibited. This shall include: flashing, blinking, animated, rotating signs, or signs whose illumination, lettering, or projected surface change with time.
Attention devices. No sign shall consist of animated or moving parts. Balloons, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, fluttering banners, or similar fluttering devices are not permitted other than for a noncommercial event at a residence, such as a birthday party. Such devices may not be displayed other than on the day of the event.
Impertinent advertising. No commercial speech sign shall be displayed unless such sign advertises a bona fide business currently being conducted.
Price signs. Window signs and sandwich board signs are the only types of signs which are allowed to specify price, cost, or value, unless advertising the price of gas at a gasoline station, as required by county law.
Product, trade names, and logos. Product names, trade names, or logos are permitted as a part of a sign only when the product name, trade name, or logo is integral to the use of the premises. No more than 10% of the area of such sign may be used to display the brand names of any products or commodities actually sold on the premises.
Reflective signs. Reflective surfaces are not allowed.
Signs posted in a right-of-way. Unless otherwise specified herein, no signs shall be permitted in any public right-of-way without permission of the Board of Trustees or other governmental agency having jurisdiction over the public right-of-way.
Roof signs. No signs, banners, flags, or other like advertising devices shall be permitted on the roof of any building or structure or be mounted so as to project above the eave line.
Signs causing traffic hazard. No permanent or temporary sign shall be erected or placed at or near the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to cause a traffic hazard at the intersection. No permanent or temporary sign shall be erected or placed at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, color, or illumination of the sign, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device. No permanent or temporary sign may use any word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse vehicle operators.
Inappropriate content. Any sign containing obscene content as prohibited by New York Penal Law § 235.05 or New York Penal Law § 245.11 shall be prohibited in the Village of Bloomfield.
§ 135-122 Sign standards, general.
All signs erected and maintained in the Village of Bloomfield shall be in accordance with the following sign design standards:
Lighting.
Angle. If exterior sign lighting is provided, it shall be arranged to reflect down and away from the surrounding properties and away from public ways.
Intensity. The intensity of the light source shall not exceed that necessary to illuminate and make legible a sign from the public ways. Lighting constituting a traffic hazard is prohibited.
Attachments. No sign shall be attached to fences, streetlights, utility poles, or trees.
Uniform building code. All signs shall comply with the applicable regulations of the State of New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
Utility lines clearance. No permit for any sign shall be issued, and no sign shall be constructed or maintained, which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from communication lines and energized electrical power lines than that prescribed by the laws of the State of New York.
Address signs. Every principal building or structure shall have Arabic numerals (street identification numbers) at least four inches in height permanently attached to the building near the main entrance and clearly visible from the public way. Where said principal building or structure is located more than twice the minimum front setback required, or where street identification numbers attached to the building are not clearly visible from the public way, then there shall be erected within 10 feet of the property line and next to the site's access point a sign which shall contain the street identification number.
Public safety clearance. No sign shall be allowed to be attached in any form, shape, or manner to a fire escape or to any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
§ 135-123 Nonconforming signs.
Any lawfully erected sign that was made nonconforming by the enactment of this chapter shall be permitted to remain in its existing form and location. The nonconforming sign shall become one of the total number of permitted signs for that district and no additional, conforming, like sign may be included as one of the remaining total number of permitted signs.
Nonconforming signs shall not be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended, or relocated, unless such action changes a nonconforming sign to a conforming sign as provided herein.
If a project subject to development review is proposed for a parcel upon which a nonconforming sign is located, said nonconforming sign shall be brought into compliance as a condition of approval of the proposed development.
§ 135-124 Sign maintenance.
All signs, and structures which support a sign, shall be properly maintained at all times. Maintenance of a conforming sign or a legally nonconforming sign shall not be considered an erection or alteration so long as the overall size and sign copy are not changed.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to order the painting, repair, or removal of a sign and accompanying landscaping which constitutes a hazard to safety, health, or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment. Notification shall be by certified mail. Failure to comply within 15 days of such notice will serve as an authorization to the Code Enforcement Officer to remove or cause removal of such sign, with all costs and expenses charged to the property owner.
Signs causing immediate peril. The Code Enforcement Officer may cause any sign which is a source of immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily upon written notice to that effect. Failure to comply within five days of such notice will serve as an authorization to the Code Enforcement Officer to remove or cause removal of such sign, with all costs and expenses charged to the property owner.
§ 135-125 Application procedures.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to issue sign permits for any use as specified in this chapter.
All applications for a sign permit shall be made, in writing, upon forms prescribed and provided by the Code Enforcement Officer and shall contain the following information:
Name, address, telephone number, and any other contact information of the applicant, and, if different, the same information for the owner of the land upon which the sign is to be erected.
Location of building, structure, and land boundaries to which or upon which the sign is to be erected.
A detailed drawing or blueprint, to a scale not exceeding one inch equals one foot, showing the construction details of the sign, the lettering and/or pictorial matter, and the position of lighting or other extraneous devices.
A location plan, drawn to a scale not exceeding one inch equals 20 feet, showing the position of the sign on any land, buildings, or structures, including building elevations and the sign's position relative to property lines and private or public streets or highways.
The use of the property on which the sign is to be placed and reference cited to the sign requirements as contained in this chapter.
Identification of all other signs existing and continuing on said land and whether or not those other signs are conforming or legally nonconforming.
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure, or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected, if the applicant is not the owner thereof.
The applicant's signature attesting to the accuracy of the application.
The Code Enforcement Officer's review of all sign permits shall be based on the completed application form, any accompanying photos and drawings, and a site inspection.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall review the design, size, and location of the proposed sign to determine whether the proposed sign is in violation of any of the regulations or restrictions set forth in this chapter.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall determine whether sign site plan review is required.
If sign site plan review is required, the Code Enforcement Officer shall follow the procedures outlined in § 135-126.
If sign site plan review is not needed, the Code Enforcement Officer shall grant or deny the application within 30 days of receipt of a complete application. A denial shall be accompanied with a brief statement of the reason for the denial.
Once an application has been approved, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a sign permit. Said permit shall be valid for a period of 120 days from date of issuance. If a certificate of sign compliance is not issued within the 120-day period for the sign permit, said sign permit shall expire, but may be renewed for one additional sixty-day period upon the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer and upon payment of an additional fee.
Within five business days of the placement of the approved sign, the applicant shall provide a photograph of the sign to the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer shall then within five business days inspect the sign for compliance with the sign permit and this chapter.
If the Code Enforcement Officer determines that the sign has been erected in compliance with the sign permit and this chapter, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a certificate of sign compliance within five business days of the inspection.
Should the Code Enforcement Officer find the sign not in compliance with the sign permit and/or this chapter, the applicant shall be so notified by certified mail within two business days of the inspection. The applicant shall have up to 30 business days from the date of the receipt of the certified notification letter to correct the cited deficiencies and to notify the Code Enforcement Officer of said changes. If the sign is not brought into compliance within this thirty-day period, the Code Enforcement Officer shall cause the removal of the sign at the applicant's expense. In no event shall said additional thirty-day period extend the 120-day validation period for the sign permit.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall maintain a file on all sign permits issued. The file shall contain photos of all existing signs requiring a permit and identify whether a sign was erected with or without a permit, before or after the effective date of these sign regulations. The file shall also identify the dates that all nonconforming signs shall be relocated or removed, or dates when sign compliance certificates were issued. The Code Enforcement Officer shall notify the owner of the property on which the sign is located, or the applicant on file, of the date said sign is to be relocated or removed.
§ 135-126 Sign site plan approval.
Pursuant to § 135-110, all applications for sign site plan approval are to be submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer on forms provided. The Code Enforcement Officer shall process all complete applications in accordance with the following procedures:
The Code Enforcement Officer shall refer the sign application, along with an application for sign site plan approval, to the Village of Bloomfield Planning Board for its review and approval.
All sign site plan approval applications to be heard by the Planning Board are hereby classified as "unlisted actions," under Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations. All applications for sign site plan approval must be accompanied by a completed short form environmental assessment for unlisted actions.
Upon a referral from the Code Enforcement Officer of a complete application for a sign site plan, the Planning Board shall within 60 days approve, modify, or deny the application. Any modification or denial of a sign site plan shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the reason for such modification or denial. Site plan review shall include but not be limited to the following:
The Planning Board may modify a sign site plan application, provided such modification does not result in the need for any variances to these sign regulations. All sign site plan modifications must directly relate to the statements of purpose and intent set forth above in this chapter.
The Planning Board's action on a sign site plan application shall be the basis for the Code Enforcement Officer to approve or deny a sign permit, which action is declared ministerial in nature.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to approve a subsequent modification to an approved sign site plan, provided there is no change to either the number, location, total area of signs, or any other aspect determined by the Planning Board to be material.
§ 135-127 Enforcement, penalties, and fees.
Enforcement and penalties.
A permit issued pursuant to this section may be revoked by the Code Enforcement Officer if it appears that the sign erected pursuant to the permit no longer conforms to the provisions of these regulations.
The remedies provided herein shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law.
Fees. All fees associated with these regulations shall be established and maintained by the Village Board and made a part of the Village's Fee Schedule.