Brutus Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signs
§ 125-44 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession, product, home occupation or activity not conducted on the same lot.
A sign which directs attention to a person, business, home occupation or activity conducted on the same lot.
§ 125-45 Sign area.
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing which are incidental to the display itself.
The area of a sign painted upon or applied to a building shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with any backing associated with the sign.
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
In computing square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered, provided that both faces are identical.
§ 125-46 Signs requiring permits.
All on-premises signs over ten square feet in area and all off-premises signs, except governmental signs, regardless of size, shall require the issuance of a zoning permit before erection or replacement. All signs must comply with all the regulations contained herein, irrespective of whether a permit is required.
§ 125-47 Permitted signs.
No sign or other advertising device shall be permitted except as follows:
On-premises signs.
Official traffic signs and other official federal, state, county or Town government signs.
Signs displaying the name and address of the occupant of a dwelling, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed three square feet and not more than one such sign shall be erected for each dwelling unit, unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
Identification signs for a housing development or apartment house, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 25 square feet and not more than one such sign shall be erected for any one project, unless such project fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
Signs advertising the sale of farm products, nursery products or livestock produced or raised on the premises, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet and not more than two such signs shall be placed on property held in single ownership, unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case two such signs may be erected on each street frontage.
Signs denoting membership in agricultural associations, cooperatives or indicating specialization in a particular breed of cattle, hogs, etc., or in particular hybrids or strains of plants. Such signs may also include the name of the farm or owner.
Bulletin or announcement boards for schools, churches, hospitals, recreation areas and other principal uses and buildings other than dwellings, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 25 square feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed on property held in single and separate ownership, unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case, one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
Identification signs for schools, churches, hospitals, recreation areas and other principal uses and buildings other than dwellings, provided that such sign is attached to part of the building structure to which it relates, and further provided that not more than one such sign shall be placed on property held in single and separate ownership, unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
Signs advertising the sale or rental of property, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed on property held in single and separate ownership, unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage. Such signs shall be removed upon final settlement or renting a property.
Temporary contractor's, developer's or builder's signs, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
Trespassing signs, signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway or premises and signs controlling fishing or hunting on the premises, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed four square feet.
Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be removed immediately upon the completion of the campaign, drive or event.
Memorial signs or tablets.
Agricultural tourism and seasonal agricultural uses seasonal signs may be erected for a limited period of time during the year when retailing activities for a particular farm product are available to the public. Signs for uses no longer being offered to the public shall be removed within 30 days of the cessation of the activity.
[Added 4-8-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
Off-premises signs.
Off-premises signs which are used for directing patrons, members or audiences to service clubs, churches or other nonprofit organizations, subject to the following requirements:
A sign shall indicate only the name of the organization and the direction to the facility.
Only one such sign shall be erected prior to each intersection turning movement necessary to reach such facility.
Signs shall not exceed four square feet in area, except for cooperative displays by more than one organization, in which case the maximum size shall be 16 square feet.
Signs directing patrons, members or audiences to temporary exhibits, shows or events and signs erected in conjunction with a political election, subject to the following requirements:
Official traffic signs and other official federal, state, county or Town government signs.
§ 125-48 On-premises signs in the C-I and S-D Districts.
On-premises signs permitted in the Commercial-Industrial (C-I) and Special Development (S-D) Districts identifying a business or industry shall be as follows:
Signs attached to a building and to be viewed from without, provided that the total area of all such signs placed on any one building shall not exceed two square feet in area for each one linear foot of front building wall.
One freestanding sign for each street frontage of a lot, provided that the total area of such sign shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of lot frontage up to a maximum of 50 square feet.
Special temporary promotional devices, signs or displays such as banners and pennants.
§ 125-49 Off-premises signs in the C-I, S-D and A-R Districts.
Off-premises advertising signs shall be permitted in the C-I, S-D and A-R Districts, subject to the following requirements:
No such sign shall be located within 100 feet of a public street or road right-of-way.
Not more than one such sign shall be placed on any one property held in single and separate ownership, unless such property has frontage on more than one road, in which case one such sign may be placed on each road frontage.
The area of any such sign shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of lot frontage; however, in no case shall the area of any sign exceed 200 square feet.
Off-premises signs which are used for directing persons to principal uses in the Town may be erected in the A-R, S-D and C-I Districts in accordance with the following requirements:
A sign shall indicate only the name and direction of the principal use.
Only one such sign shall be erected prior to each intersection turning movement necessary to reach such principal use and not less than 50 feet from such intersection.
No more than four directional signs shall be erected in the Town for any one principal use.
Signs shall not exceed 35 square feet in area.
Signs shall be no closer than 15 feet to a side lot line and shall not be located within the street line.
Signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
§ 125-50 Restrictions.
The following requirements shall apply to all signs:
No sign shall have visible moving or movable parts or flashing, animated or intermittent illumination.
No sign shall project more than 12 inches out from the wall to which it is attached. Signs not exceeding two square feet in area may be attached perpendicular to a building face if attached to and below a canopy projection from said building.
No sign shall be located within 10 feet of any property line except signs permitted in § 125-47A(1), (2) and B(3).
No sign shall be located in the street lines except signs permitted in § 125-47A(1) and B(3).
Signs shall not project above the height limit permitted in any district in which they are located.
All signs except temporary signs shall be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition.
Nonconforming signs, once removed, shall be replaced only with conforming signs; however, nonconforming signs may be repainted or repaired, provided that such repainting or repair does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign.