30 SIGNS
Signs have an impact on the character and quality of the environment as a prominent part of the scenery; they attract or repel the viewing public and affect the safety of vehicular traffic. Their suitability or appropriateness helps to set the tone of the neighborhood. The purpose of this section shall be to regulate the placement, erection and maintenance of signs in the City so as to promote the health, safety, aesthetics, economic welfare and general welfare of the community. The following standards in this chapter are, therefore, adopted to regulate signs. (Ord. 704, 2-2-1998)
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms are defined as follows:
ADDRESS SIGN: A sign communicating street address only, whether script or in numerical form.
ALTER: Any major change to a sign, but shall not include routine maintenance or painting.
ANIMATED SIGN: Any sign that uses technology of any type to create movement or to depict action or create a special effect or scene, including devices with or without a commercial message, such as spinners and windsocks, but not including barber's poles, time and temperature signs, dynamic display billboards, or changeable copy signs. A changeable copy sign where the message changes more frequently than one time for every eight (8) second interval or a dynamic display billboard where the message changes more frequently than one time for every eight (8) second interval shall be considered an animated sign.
AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN: A freestanding sign which identifies the name of a residential subdivision consisting of fifty (50) or more lots; a multiple residential complex consisting of twenty (20) or more units or three (3) or more structures; an office, business or industrial structure containing three (3) or more independent businesses or organizations; a single business and/or industrial complex consisting of three (3) or more separate structures existing on individual platted lots or as a planned unit development; a mobile home court; or any integrated combination of the above.
AWNING: A temporary hood or cover that projects from the wall of a building, and which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the face of the supporting building.
BALLOON: A flexible, nonferrous inflated bag in various shapes and colors.
BANNER: Flexible material affixed to a building, vehicle, poles, or other supporting structures by all corners.
BANNERETTE: Flexible material that resembles a flag, and has minimum dimensions of two feet by two feet (2' x 2') and no larger than three feet by five feet (3' x 5'). A "smaller sized bannerette" is defined as a pennant.
BEACON: Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD: See definition of off premises advertising sign.
BUILDING FACADE: That portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation.
BUSINESS SIGN: Any sign which identifies a business.
CABINET SIGN: A sign that has framing around the entire sign message with a removable face.
CAMPAIGN SIGN: A temporary sign promoting the candidacy of a person running for a government office, or promoting an issue to be voted on at a governmental election.
CANOPY SIGN: The area of copy, graphic or identification which is affixed to a projection or extension of a building or structure, including a marquee, erected in such a manner as to provide a shelter or cover over the approach to any entrance of a building. The portion of the canopy, projection, or other architectural feature which contains no copy or graphic identification, shall not be defined as signage, but if illuminated shall be included in the total sign area pursuant to subsection 10-30-3(N) of this chapter.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: An on premises sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. Signs or portions thereof shall not change in color, illumination or intensity more frequently than one time for every eight (8) second interval. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and temperature" portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this chapter.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE: Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity.
COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN: A sign criteria plan for a single- or a multi-tenant building to be established by the owner or owners' association (as in the case of a condominium) and the City, which shall include the following components: height, location, size, number, type, basic decorative theme, design, decor and material of signs to be placed on the buildings.
DIRECTORY SIGN: An exterior informational sign which identifies the names and/or addresses of businesses or tenants within a multi-tenant building.
DYNAMIC DISPLAY BILLBOARD: An off premises advertising sign used for outdoor advertisement including, but not limited to, cathode ray tubes (CRT), light emitting diode (LED) displays, plasma displays, liquid crystal displays (LCD), or other technologies used in commercially available televisions or computer monitors. Dynamic display billboards may be internally or externally illuminated in compliance to lighting limitations in section 10-30-9 of this chapter. Dynamic display billboards shall contain static messages only, and shall not have animation, movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement, of any part of the sign structure. Each static message shall not include flashing, scintillating lighting or the varying of light intensity. Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of eight (8) seconds.
FREESTANDING SIGN: A self-supported sign placed on or in the ground and not affixed to any part of any structure.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGN: A sign which is erected by a public school district, governmental unit or transit authority with the permission of the City, for information, identification or traffic.
GROUND SIGN: A freestanding sign under eight feet (8') in height erected on one or more freestanding shafts, posts, or piers which are solidly affixed to the ground and not attached to a building. A ground sign shall be considered one sign though it may have two (2) faces.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign which is lighted by an artificial light source either external (light source not within sign) or internal (light source within sign), or by means of reflective materials. Illuminated architectural features or portions thereof which contain no copy or graphics shall not be defined as an illuminated sign, but shall be included in the total sign area pursuant to subsection 10-30-3(N) of this chapter.
INFLATABLE DEVICES: Any three-dimensional object supported or filled by forced air, helium or other gas.
INFORMATION SIGN: Any permanent sign, including on premises directional signs, and public information service signs, giving information to employees, customers, visitors or delivery vehicles, but containing no advertising or identification.
INTEGRAL SIGN: A sign carrying the name of a building, its date of erection, incidental information about its construction, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type of construction and made an integral part of the structure.
LOGO SIGNS: Any brand name, trademark, logo, distinctive symbol, or other similar device or thing used to identify a particular business, institution, or activity.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: The vertical distance measured from the highest adjacent grade, within one foot (1') of the base of the sign, to the top of a sign.
MINIMUM HEIGHT: The vertical distance measured from the highest adjacent grade, within one foot (1') of the base of the sign, to the bottom of such sign.
MONUMENT SIGN: A freestanding sign that is intended to be incorporated into some form of landscaping design scheme or planter box, is attached to the ground by means of a freestanding support structure, is solid from grade to the top of the structure, has materials that are constructed of the same primary building materials of the principal structure, is placed directly on the ground or on an interior planter base which is incorporated into a design arrangement. A monument sign shall be considered as one sign though it may have two (2) faces.
MULTIFACED SIGN: Any sign with a sign face oriented to more than two (2) directions.
NAMEPLATE SIGN: Any sign in a Residential District which states the name and/or address of a business or occupant of the lot where the sign is placed.
NONCOMMERCIAL SPEECH: Messages concerning political, religious, social, ideological, public service, holiday, and informational topics.
OFF PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN: A billboard, poster panel, painted bulletin board, dynamic display billboard or other communicative device which is used to advertise products, goods, services, ideas or noncommercial speech which are not exclusively related to the premises or owner of the property on which the sign is located.
OFF PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A directional sign located upon property other than the lot of a development or use for which off site direction is intended.
ON PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A sign erected on private property which contains no advertising, and is specifically intended to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles into, out of and circulating upon the site on which such signs are located.
OPAQUE: Impervious to the passage of light.
ORIGINAL ART MURAL: A hand-painted image on or affixed to the exterior wall of a building that is coordinated with a commissioned artist and is noncommercial in nature. Any building surface may have a mural.
PARAPET: The portion of a vertical wall plane located along the edge of the roof that extends above the roof level (deck) of the building, subject to the architectural standards outlined in sections 10-19-1 and 10-23-1 of this title.
PENNANTS: Flexible material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually triangular shaped and in a series, designed to move in the wind.
PERMANENT SIGN: A sign that is not temporary and is affixed or attached to a building, ground or a structure whose intended use and duration appears to be definite.
PORTABLE SIGN: Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day to day operations of the business.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING: A building or buildings in which is conducted the principal use of the lot, not including storage buildings, garages, and buildings for other clearly accessory uses.
PROJECTING SIGN: A sign other than a wall sign which is perpendicular to and projects from a building, is supported by a wall of a building or structure, where the leading edge extends more than twelve inches (12") beyond the surface of such wall.
PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICE SIGN: A sign designating the current time and/or temperature and/or stock market data on the exterior of a building or pylon so as to be viewed by the passing public from a public right-of-way.
PYLON SIGN: A freestanding sign erected on one or more freestanding shafts, posts, or piers which are solidly affixed to the ground and not attached to a building. A pylon sign shall be considered as one sign though it may have two (2) faces.
RIBBONS OR STREAMERS: Long or varied lengths of flexible material used to decorate.
ROOF SIGN: Any sign which is erected, constructed or attached wholly or in part upon any roof or over the roofline of a building. For buildings with multiple rooflines or roof decks, a roof sign is considered in relation to the adjacent roofline or deck of the sign and not the highest roofline of the building.
ROOFLINE: The top of the coping; or, when the building has a pitched roof, at the intersection of the outside wall with the roof.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN: Two (2) sided self-supporting temporary signs which may be no more than three feet (3') in width and four feet (4') in height. Sandwich board signs are allowed only during business hours and must be removed on a daily basis.
SECURITY SIGN: A sign identifying the presence of a security system.
SERVICE ENTRANCE: Secondary passage or opening to a structure which is intended for delivery and removal of merchandise or goods, and which is not intended as a public entrance.
SIGN: Any written announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia or illumination used to advertise or promote the interest of any person or persons when the same is displayed or placed out of doors in view of the general public, or inside of a building within three feet (3') of a transparent window. A sign shall be considered as a structure or a part of a structure for the purpose of applying yard and height regulations except as herein provided.
SIGN AREA: That area that includes the smallest rectangle around each line of copy for individually mounted letter signs and the entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding but not including the supporting structure for all other signs. The maximum sign area is the maximum allowable gross surface area in square feet of a sign or signs. The maximum number of signs cannot be arranged and integrated so as to create a cumulative gross sign area in excess of such requirements as may be applicable.
SIGN SETBACK: The distance from the property line and curb to the nearest part of the sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line or curb.
SIGN STRUCTURE: The supports, uprights, bracing and framework for a sign.
STREET FRONTAGE: The side of a lot abutting one or more streets. An interior lot has one street frontage and a corner lot has two (2) or more frontages.
TEMPORARY BANNER SIGN: A sign that is designed to be installed for a limited duration, subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-4(b) of this title that is attached to a building wall or fence that could be used to identify commercial or non-commercial speech.
TEMPORARY DECAL INSTALLATION: A sign installation upon an exterior wall or facade of a structure which is designed to be displayed for a limited duration subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-10 and could be used to identify commercial or non-commercial speech. Also known as building wrap.
TEMPORARY FREESTANDING SIGN: A self-supported sign which is placed in or on the ground and not affixed to any part of any structure and that is designed to be installed for a limited duration subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-4(C) of this title and could be used to identify commercial or non-commercial speech.
TEMPORARY OFF PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A sign that is installed for a limited duration, which gives direction for a temporary event.
TEMPORARY SIGN: Any sign which is designed to be erected or displayed for a limited duration subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-4 of this title, and is not of a permanent nature. Any sign in which the duration of installation is in accordance with a special event is subject to the requirements of Title 3, Chapter 32 of this Code.
TRANSIENT MERCHANT SIGN: A sign that is accessory to any person, firm, or corporation who obtained a transient merchant license per Title 3, Chapter 20 of this Code to engage temporarily in the business of selling and delivery of goods, wares, or merchandise within the City, and who in furtherance of such purpose, hires, leases, uses, or occupies any vacant lot, parking lot, motor vehicle, or trailer.
WALL GRAPHICS: A sign which is painted directly on an exterior wall surface.
WALL SIGN: A sign which is affixed to the exterior wall of a building and which is parallel to the building wall. A wall sign does not project more than twelve inches (12") from the surface to which it is attached, nor extend beyond the top of the parapet wall. Temporary banners do not qualify as a permanent wall sign.
WINDOW SIGN: A temporary sign affixed to the outside or inside of a window or inside the building within three feet (3') of a window in view of the general public. This does not include merchandise on display.
(Ord. 704, 2-2-1998; Ord. 772, 10-18-1999; Ord. 786, 3-20-2000; Ord. 1001, 11-21-2005; Ord. 1020, 4-3-2006; Ord. 1065, 2-20-2007; Ord. 1074, 5-7-2007; Ord. 1084, 7-16-2007; Ord. 1166, 6-2-2009; Ord. 1178, 8-18-2009; Ord. 1196, 4-6-2010; Ord. 1207, 7-20-2010; Ord. 1232, 4-5-2011; Ord. 1265, 5-22-2012; Ord. 1281, 10-2-2012; Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; Ord. 1391, 8-1-2016; Ord. 1417, 5-16-2017; Ord. 1423, 6-20-2017; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018; Ord. 1455, 5-8-2018; Ord. 1457, 6-5-2018)
(Ord. 1332, 12-2-2014; Ord. 1432, 8-22-2017; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
| Zoning Districts | Property Size | Temporary Freestanding Sign Square Footage | Height | Permit Required |
| R1, R-1A, R2, R-3D | n/a | 12 square foot maximum | 6 feet | No |
| Conditional uses in the R1, R-1A, R-2, and R-3D | n/a | 100 square foot maximum | 8 feet | Yes |
| R-3A, R-3B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH and MIX | 0 - 2 acres | 100 square foot maximum | 8 feet | Yes |
| R-3A, R-3B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH and MIX | 2 - 10 acres | 200 square foot maximum | 12 feet | Yes |
| R-3A, R-3B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH and MIX | 10 or more acres | 300 square foot maximum | 12 feet | Yes |
(Ord. 704, 2-2-1998; Ord. 1084, 7-16-2007; Ord. 1232, 4-5-2011; Ord. 1265, 5-22-2012; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018; Ord. 1455, 5-8-2018; Ord. 1457, 6-5-2018)
(Ord. 1417, 5-16-2017)
Signs will be allowed by permit in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3A, R-3B, R-3D Districts and residential uses in a MIX District.
(Ord. 1247, 9-20-2011;Ord. 1277, 9-18-2012; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
Wall signs will be allowed by permit in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH Districts and commercial uses in a MIX District.
(Ord. 1332, 12-2-2014; Ord. 1394, 8-16-2016; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
Freestanding signs will be allowed by permit in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH Districts and commercial uses in a MIX District.
(Ord. 1247, 9-20-2011; Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; Ord. 1420, 6-6-2017; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
Temporary Decal Installations shall be allowed by permit in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH Districts, commercial uses in a MIX or TOD District and conditional uses in R Districts.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no sign or structure shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt or relocated until the required fee as determined by City policy has been paid and a permit has been issued by the City. (Ord. 704, 2-2-1998)
If the City finds that any sign or sign structure is unsafe or in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the chief building official, or his/her designee, shall give written notice to the owner and/or party responsible for the sign to comply with the standards required by this chapter in a prescribed time frame and manner. The removal of the signs shall be done in the following manner:
Any sign legally existing on the effective date of this chapter which does not conform to the requirements set forth in this chapter shall become a legal nonconforming use. Except as specified elsewhere, legal nonconforming on premises signs shall be allowed to be maintained, repaired and refaced, but shall not be expanded without being brought into compliance with all the requirements of this chapter. No maintenance, repair, refacing or alteration of any nonconforming sign is permitted if the maintenance, repair, refacing or alteration involves a change that incorporates any element or display prohibited by this chapter. The addition of any changeable copy technology to an existing fixed sign shall be considered an expansion of the use and function of the sign. A sign may not be changed, maintained, repaired or altered from one type of nonconformity to any other type of nonconformity. (Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
| A | B | ||
| B-1 and TOD Districts | 50 sq. ft. | or | 10% |
| CUPs in R Districts | 50 sq. ft. | or | 12% |
| B-2, I-3 and GIM Districts | 50 sq. ft. | or | 14% |
| B-3 and CRD Districts and commercial uses in a MIX District | 100 sq. ft. | or | 16% |
| B-4, I-1, I-2 and GIH Districts | 125 sq. ft. | or | 18% |
| Street Classification1 | Speed
(mph) | Area
(Sq. Ft.) | Height
(Ft.) |
| City | 30 | 20 | 6 |
| Collector | 30 | 25 | 16 |
| 35 | 50 | 20 | |
| 40 | 100 | 24 | |
| Principal and minor arterials | 30 | 50 | 18 |
| 35 | 100 | 22 | |
| 40 | 125 | 24 | |
| 45 | 150 | 26 | |
| 50+ | 175 | 28 | |
| 65 | 200 | 32 |
(Ord. 1247, 9-20-2011; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
(Ord. 1485, 4-16-2019)
The owner of any sign which is otherwise allowed by this chapter may substitute noncommercial speech in lieu of any other commercial speech or noncommercial speech. This substitution of copy may be made without any additional approval or permitting. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial speech over any other noncommercial speech. This provision prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary. (Ord. 1001, 11-21-2005)
(Rep. by Ord. 1497, 10-8-2019)
30 SIGNS
Signs have an impact on the character and quality of the environment as a prominent part of the scenery; they attract or repel the viewing public and affect the safety of vehicular traffic. Their suitability or appropriateness helps to set the tone of the neighborhood. The purpose of this section shall be to regulate the placement, erection and maintenance of signs in the City so as to promote the health, safety, aesthetics, economic welfare and general welfare of the community. The following standards in this chapter are, therefore, adopted to regulate signs. (Ord. 704, 2-2-1998)
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms are defined as follows:
ADDRESS SIGN: A sign communicating street address only, whether script or in numerical form.
ALTER: Any major change to a sign, but shall not include routine maintenance or painting.
ANIMATED SIGN: Any sign that uses technology of any type to create movement or to depict action or create a special effect or scene, including devices with or without a commercial message, such as spinners and windsocks, but not including barber's poles, time and temperature signs, dynamic display billboards, or changeable copy signs. A changeable copy sign where the message changes more frequently than one time for every eight (8) second interval or a dynamic display billboard where the message changes more frequently than one time for every eight (8) second interval shall be considered an animated sign.
AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN: A freestanding sign which identifies the name of a residential subdivision consisting of fifty (50) or more lots; a multiple residential complex consisting of twenty (20) or more units or three (3) or more structures; an office, business or industrial structure containing three (3) or more independent businesses or organizations; a single business and/or industrial complex consisting of three (3) or more separate structures existing on individual platted lots or as a planned unit development; a mobile home court; or any integrated combination of the above.
AWNING: A temporary hood or cover that projects from the wall of a building, and which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the face of the supporting building.
BALLOON: A flexible, nonferrous inflated bag in various shapes and colors.
BANNER: Flexible material affixed to a building, vehicle, poles, or other supporting structures by all corners.
BANNERETTE: Flexible material that resembles a flag, and has minimum dimensions of two feet by two feet (2' x 2') and no larger than three feet by five feet (3' x 5'). A "smaller sized bannerette" is defined as a pennant.
BEACON: Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD: See definition of off premises advertising sign.
BUILDING FACADE: That portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation.
BUSINESS SIGN: Any sign which identifies a business.
CABINET SIGN: A sign that has framing around the entire sign message with a removable face.
CAMPAIGN SIGN: A temporary sign promoting the candidacy of a person running for a government office, or promoting an issue to be voted on at a governmental election.
CANOPY SIGN: The area of copy, graphic or identification which is affixed to a projection or extension of a building or structure, including a marquee, erected in such a manner as to provide a shelter or cover over the approach to any entrance of a building. The portion of the canopy, projection, or other architectural feature which contains no copy or graphic identification, shall not be defined as signage, but if illuminated shall be included in the total sign area pursuant to subsection 10-30-3(N) of this chapter.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: An on premises sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. Signs or portions thereof shall not change in color, illumination or intensity more frequently than one time for every eight (8) second interval. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and temperature" portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this chapter.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE: Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity.
COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN: A sign criteria plan for a single- or a multi-tenant building to be established by the owner or owners' association (as in the case of a condominium) and the City, which shall include the following components: height, location, size, number, type, basic decorative theme, design, decor and material of signs to be placed on the buildings.
DIRECTORY SIGN: An exterior informational sign which identifies the names and/or addresses of businesses or tenants within a multi-tenant building.
DYNAMIC DISPLAY BILLBOARD: An off premises advertising sign used for outdoor advertisement including, but not limited to, cathode ray tubes (CRT), light emitting diode (LED) displays, plasma displays, liquid crystal displays (LCD), or other technologies used in commercially available televisions or computer monitors. Dynamic display billboards may be internally or externally illuminated in compliance to lighting limitations in section 10-30-9 of this chapter. Dynamic display billboards shall contain static messages only, and shall not have animation, movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement, of any part of the sign structure. Each static message shall not include flashing, scintillating lighting or the varying of light intensity. Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of eight (8) seconds.
FREESTANDING SIGN: A self-supported sign placed on or in the ground and not affixed to any part of any structure.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGN: A sign which is erected by a public school district, governmental unit or transit authority with the permission of the City, for information, identification or traffic.
GROUND SIGN: A freestanding sign under eight feet (8') in height erected on one or more freestanding shafts, posts, or piers which are solidly affixed to the ground and not attached to a building. A ground sign shall be considered one sign though it may have two (2) faces.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign which is lighted by an artificial light source either external (light source not within sign) or internal (light source within sign), or by means of reflective materials. Illuminated architectural features or portions thereof which contain no copy or graphics shall not be defined as an illuminated sign, but shall be included in the total sign area pursuant to subsection 10-30-3(N) of this chapter.
INFLATABLE DEVICES: Any three-dimensional object supported or filled by forced air, helium or other gas.
INFORMATION SIGN: Any permanent sign, including on premises directional signs, and public information service signs, giving information to employees, customers, visitors or delivery vehicles, but containing no advertising or identification.
INTEGRAL SIGN: A sign carrying the name of a building, its date of erection, incidental information about its construction, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type of construction and made an integral part of the structure.
LOGO SIGNS: Any brand name, trademark, logo, distinctive symbol, or other similar device or thing used to identify a particular business, institution, or activity.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: The vertical distance measured from the highest adjacent grade, within one foot (1') of the base of the sign, to the top of a sign.
MINIMUM HEIGHT: The vertical distance measured from the highest adjacent grade, within one foot (1') of the base of the sign, to the bottom of such sign.
MONUMENT SIGN: A freestanding sign that is intended to be incorporated into some form of landscaping design scheme or planter box, is attached to the ground by means of a freestanding support structure, is solid from grade to the top of the structure, has materials that are constructed of the same primary building materials of the principal structure, is placed directly on the ground or on an interior planter base which is incorporated into a design arrangement. A monument sign shall be considered as one sign though it may have two (2) faces.
MULTIFACED SIGN: Any sign with a sign face oriented to more than two (2) directions.
NAMEPLATE SIGN: Any sign in a Residential District which states the name and/or address of a business or occupant of the lot where the sign is placed.
NONCOMMERCIAL SPEECH: Messages concerning political, religious, social, ideological, public service, holiday, and informational topics.
OFF PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN: A billboard, poster panel, painted bulletin board, dynamic display billboard or other communicative device which is used to advertise products, goods, services, ideas or noncommercial speech which are not exclusively related to the premises or owner of the property on which the sign is located.
OFF PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A directional sign located upon property other than the lot of a development or use for which off site direction is intended.
ON PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A sign erected on private property which contains no advertising, and is specifically intended to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles into, out of and circulating upon the site on which such signs are located.
OPAQUE: Impervious to the passage of light.
ORIGINAL ART MURAL: A hand-painted image on or affixed to the exterior wall of a building that is coordinated with a commissioned artist and is noncommercial in nature. Any building surface may have a mural.
PARAPET: The portion of a vertical wall plane located along the edge of the roof that extends above the roof level (deck) of the building, subject to the architectural standards outlined in sections 10-19-1 and 10-23-1 of this title.
PENNANTS: Flexible material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually triangular shaped and in a series, designed to move in the wind.
PERMANENT SIGN: A sign that is not temporary and is affixed or attached to a building, ground or a structure whose intended use and duration appears to be definite.
PORTABLE SIGN: Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day to day operations of the business.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING: A building or buildings in which is conducted the principal use of the lot, not including storage buildings, garages, and buildings for other clearly accessory uses.
PROJECTING SIGN: A sign other than a wall sign which is perpendicular to and projects from a building, is supported by a wall of a building or structure, where the leading edge extends more than twelve inches (12") beyond the surface of such wall.
PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICE SIGN: A sign designating the current time and/or temperature and/or stock market data on the exterior of a building or pylon so as to be viewed by the passing public from a public right-of-way.
PYLON SIGN: A freestanding sign erected on one or more freestanding shafts, posts, or piers which are solidly affixed to the ground and not attached to a building. A pylon sign shall be considered as one sign though it may have two (2) faces.
RIBBONS OR STREAMERS: Long or varied lengths of flexible material used to decorate.
ROOF SIGN: Any sign which is erected, constructed or attached wholly or in part upon any roof or over the roofline of a building. For buildings with multiple rooflines or roof decks, a roof sign is considered in relation to the adjacent roofline or deck of the sign and not the highest roofline of the building.
ROOFLINE: The top of the coping; or, when the building has a pitched roof, at the intersection of the outside wall with the roof.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN: Two (2) sided self-supporting temporary signs which may be no more than three feet (3') in width and four feet (4') in height. Sandwich board signs are allowed only during business hours and must be removed on a daily basis.
SECURITY SIGN: A sign identifying the presence of a security system.
SERVICE ENTRANCE: Secondary passage or opening to a structure which is intended for delivery and removal of merchandise or goods, and which is not intended as a public entrance.
SIGN: Any written announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia or illumination used to advertise or promote the interest of any person or persons when the same is displayed or placed out of doors in view of the general public, or inside of a building within three feet (3') of a transparent window. A sign shall be considered as a structure or a part of a structure for the purpose of applying yard and height regulations except as herein provided.
SIGN AREA: That area that includes the smallest rectangle around each line of copy for individually mounted letter signs and the entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding but not including the supporting structure for all other signs. The maximum sign area is the maximum allowable gross surface area in square feet of a sign or signs. The maximum number of signs cannot be arranged and integrated so as to create a cumulative gross sign area in excess of such requirements as may be applicable.
SIGN SETBACK: The distance from the property line and curb to the nearest part of the sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line or curb.
SIGN STRUCTURE: The supports, uprights, bracing and framework for a sign.
STREET FRONTAGE: The side of a lot abutting one or more streets. An interior lot has one street frontage and a corner lot has two (2) or more frontages.
TEMPORARY BANNER SIGN: A sign that is designed to be installed for a limited duration, subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-4(b) of this title that is attached to a building wall or fence that could be used to identify commercial or non-commercial speech.
TEMPORARY DECAL INSTALLATION: A sign installation upon an exterior wall or facade of a structure which is designed to be displayed for a limited duration subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-10 and could be used to identify commercial or non-commercial speech. Also known as building wrap.
TEMPORARY FREESTANDING SIGN: A self-supported sign which is placed in or on the ground and not affixed to any part of any structure and that is designed to be installed for a limited duration subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-4(C) of this title and could be used to identify commercial or non-commercial speech.
TEMPORARY OFF PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A sign that is installed for a limited duration, which gives direction for a temporary event.
TEMPORARY SIGN: Any sign which is designed to be erected or displayed for a limited duration subject to the standards outlined in 10-30-4 of this title, and is not of a permanent nature. Any sign in which the duration of installation is in accordance with a special event is subject to the requirements of Title 3, Chapter 32 of this Code.
TRANSIENT MERCHANT SIGN: A sign that is accessory to any person, firm, or corporation who obtained a transient merchant license per Title 3, Chapter 20 of this Code to engage temporarily in the business of selling and delivery of goods, wares, or merchandise within the City, and who in furtherance of such purpose, hires, leases, uses, or occupies any vacant lot, parking lot, motor vehicle, or trailer.
WALL GRAPHICS: A sign which is painted directly on an exterior wall surface.
WALL SIGN: A sign which is affixed to the exterior wall of a building and which is parallel to the building wall. A wall sign does not project more than twelve inches (12") from the surface to which it is attached, nor extend beyond the top of the parapet wall. Temporary banners do not qualify as a permanent wall sign.
WINDOW SIGN: A temporary sign affixed to the outside or inside of a window or inside the building within three feet (3') of a window in view of the general public. This does not include merchandise on display.
(Ord. 704, 2-2-1998; Ord. 772, 10-18-1999; Ord. 786, 3-20-2000; Ord. 1001, 11-21-2005; Ord. 1020, 4-3-2006; Ord. 1065, 2-20-2007; Ord. 1074, 5-7-2007; Ord. 1084, 7-16-2007; Ord. 1166, 6-2-2009; Ord. 1178, 8-18-2009; Ord. 1196, 4-6-2010; Ord. 1207, 7-20-2010; Ord. 1232, 4-5-2011; Ord. 1265, 5-22-2012; Ord. 1281, 10-2-2012; Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; Ord. 1391, 8-1-2016; Ord. 1417, 5-16-2017; Ord. 1423, 6-20-2017; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018; Ord. 1455, 5-8-2018; Ord. 1457, 6-5-2018)
(Ord. 1332, 12-2-2014; Ord. 1432, 8-22-2017; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
| Zoning Districts | Property Size | Temporary Freestanding Sign Square Footage | Height | Permit Required |
| R1, R-1A, R2, R-3D | n/a | 12 square foot maximum | 6 feet | No |
| Conditional uses in the R1, R-1A, R-2, and R-3D | n/a | 100 square foot maximum | 8 feet | Yes |
| R-3A, R-3B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH and MIX | 0 - 2 acres | 100 square foot maximum | 8 feet | Yes |
| R-3A, R-3B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH and MIX | 2 - 10 acres | 200 square foot maximum | 12 feet | Yes |
| R-3A, R-3B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH and MIX | 10 or more acres | 300 square foot maximum | 12 feet | Yes |
(Ord. 704, 2-2-1998; Ord. 1084, 7-16-2007; Ord. 1232, 4-5-2011; Ord. 1265, 5-22-2012; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018; Ord. 1455, 5-8-2018; Ord. 1457, 6-5-2018)
(Ord. 1417, 5-16-2017)
Signs will be allowed by permit in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3A, R-3B, R-3D Districts and residential uses in a MIX District.
(Ord. 1247, 9-20-2011;Ord. 1277, 9-18-2012; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
Wall signs will be allowed by permit in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH Districts and commercial uses in a MIX District.
(Ord. 1332, 12-2-2014; Ord. 1394, 8-16-2016; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
Freestanding signs will be allowed by permit in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH Districts and commercial uses in a MIX District.
(Ord. 1247, 9-20-2011; Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; Ord. 1420, 6-6-2017; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
Temporary Decal Installations shall be allowed by permit in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, CRD, I-1, I-2, I-3, GIM, GIH Districts, commercial uses in a MIX or TOD District and conditional uses in R Districts.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no sign or structure shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt or relocated until the required fee as determined by City policy has been paid and a permit has been issued by the City. (Ord. 704, 2-2-1998)
If the City finds that any sign or sign structure is unsafe or in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the chief building official, or his/her designee, shall give written notice to the owner and/or party responsible for the sign to comply with the standards required by this chapter in a prescribed time frame and manner. The removal of the signs shall be done in the following manner:
Any sign legally existing on the effective date of this chapter which does not conform to the requirements set forth in this chapter shall become a legal nonconforming use. Except as specified elsewhere, legal nonconforming on premises signs shall be allowed to be maintained, repaired and refaced, but shall not be expanded without being brought into compliance with all the requirements of this chapter. No maintenance, repair, refacing or alteration of any nonconforming sign is permitted if the maintenance, repair, refacing or alteration involves a change that incorporates any element or display prohibited by this chapter. The addition of any changeable copy technology to an existing fixed sign shall be considered an expansion of the use and function of the sign. A sign may not be changed, maintained, repaired or altered from one type of nonconformity to any other type of nonconformity. (Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
| A | B | ||
| B-1 and TOD Districts | 50 sq. ft. | or | 10% |
| CUPs in R Districts | 50 sq. ft. | or | 12% |
| B-2, I-3 and GIM Districts | 50 sq. ft. | or | 14% |
| B-3 and CRD Districts and commercial uses in a MIX District | 100 sq. ft. | or | 16% |
| B-4, I-1, I-2 and GIH Districts | 125 sq. ft. | or | 18% |
| Street Classification1 | Speed
(mph) | Area
(Sq. Ft.) | Height
(Ft.) |
| City | 30 | 20 | 6 |
| Collector | 30 | 25 | 16 |
| 35 | 50 | 20 | |
| 40 | 100 | 24 | |
| Principal and minor arterials | 30 | 50 | 18 |
| 35 | 100 | 22 | |
| 40 | 125 | 24 | |
| 45 | 150 | 26 | |
| 50+ | 175 | 28 | |
| 65 | 200 | 32 |
(Ord. 1247, 9-20-2011; Ord. 1447, 1-16-2018)
(Ord. 1485, 4-16-2019)
The owner of any sign which is otherwise allowed by this chapter may substitute noncommercial speech in lieu of any other commercial speech or noncommercial speech. This substitution of copy may be made without any additional approval or permitting. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial speech over any other noncommercial speech. This provision prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary. (Ord. 1001, 11-21-2005)
(Rep. by Ord. 1497, 10-8-2019)