The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the location, size, placement, and certain features of signs in order to increase safety to life and property, to reduce unnecessary distractions along public road rights of way, and to assure the continued attractiveness of Cache County while allowing for the appropriate identification of property and businesses.

(Ord. 2005-06, 4-12-2005)

The following table contains the minimum sign standards which shall apply to all proposed signs:

(Ord. 2005-04, 3-8-2005; amd. Ord. 2005-06, 4-12-2005)

The following signs shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:

1. Church or other institution signs; provided such signs are erected and contained on the property where the church or institution is located, do not have interior illumination, and do not exceed thirty two (32) square feet in area.
2. Dead end road sign; provided such signs are two feet by three feet (2' x 3'), six (6) square feet or smaller, and located entirely on private property.
3. Election signs; provided such signs favoring or opposing a candidate or issue to be voted on in an election conform to Utah Code Annotated section 20A-3-501(7), for distance from any building being used as a polling place. Election signs may be erected three (3) weeks prior to the election and must be removed within one week following the election. No election sign shall be placed within or on publicly owned property or road right of way; all election signs must be authorized by the owner of property on which the election sign is placed.
4. For sale/for rent signs. Temporary signs located on the premises shall be placed on the property for no longer than six (6) months, and used for the purpose of selling or renting property. Signs for selling or renting a residence shall be no larger than two feet by three feet (2' x 3') or six (6) square feet; signs for selling or leasing farm ground shall be no larger than four feet by eight feet (4' x 8') or thirty two (32) square feet.
5. Interior signs. Signs visible only from the premises on which they are located or visible off the premises only through a window or windows from which they are set back at least ten feet (10').
6. No trespassing signs. Signs that are two feet by three feet (2' x 3'), six (6) square feet or smaller, and located entirely on private property.
7. Residential identification signs; provided such signs are limited to no more than six (6) square feet in area; the display is limited to street numbers, street name, and the name of the resident(s); and provided such sign does not project beyond the property boundary.
8. Seasonal agricultural produce. Signs for the sale of seasonal agricultural produce, provided such signs are placed for a period not to exceed four (4) months and are located entirely on the property where the produce is being sold.
9. Special events; provided such signs shall be placed no earlier than three (3) weeks prior to the event, shall be removed no later than one week following the event, shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area, shall be safely affixed, shall not be placed within or on publicly owned property or road rights of way, shall be authorized by the owner of the property on which the sign is placed, and shall not project beyond the property boundary.
10. Traffic control signs. All signs required for traffic control as prescribed in the manual of uniform traffic control devices or applicable state law and placed by the county, state or federal agency with authority over that road and road right of way.
11. Traffic warning, direction and regulation signs. Temporary or permanent signs for the purposes of traffic warning, regulation and/or direction on which the displayed message is solely for traffic warning, regulation and/or directional information authorized and placed by the county, state or federal agency with authority over that road and road right of way.
12. Window signs. Signs located inside an enclosed building while remaining visible through a window where the area of such signs does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the area of the window or two (2) square feet, whichever is less.
13. Required sign. Any sign required by federal, state or local law to be a certain dimension or size.
14. Community identification sign. Signs identifying communities may be up to forty (40) square feet.

(Ord. 2005-04, 3-8-2005)

1. All off premises advertising signs larger than ten (10) square feet advertising a commercial business, goods or services offered at a place other than the location of the sign.
2. All animated signs and all flashing signs that have on and off phases.
3. All signs that include streamers, banners, balloons and similar wind activated materials.
4. Obsolete signs advertising for longer than thirty (30) days a discontinued business, service or activity; or directional signs for a business, service or activity which has changed the location to which it directs. An obsolete sign does not retain nonconforming status.
5. Signs resembling or imitating traffic control signs or other government signs.
6. Signs placed on unlicensed, inoperable or immovable vehicles or trailers which are parked in one location for more than three (3) consecutive days in any week for the purpose of displaying the sign. This prohibition does not apply to licensed vehicles used in the regular course of business with a primary purpose other than advertising.
7. Signs erected or placed which partially or completely obstructs the view or the face of another sign.
8. Signs with direct rays of light which penetrate a property used for residential purposes or which may cause a glare, impair the vision of, or otherwise interfere with the driver of any motor vehicle.
9. A sign erected or placed in excess of two feet (2') in height and less than seven feet (7') in height on a corner lot within a triangular area formed by the road right of way lines and a line connecting them at points forty feet (40') from the intersection of the road right of way lines (clear view zone).

(Ord. 2005-04, 3-8-2005)

Signs regulated by this chapter shall be maintained in good visual and structural appearance at all times. The county, or any of its officers or employees, shall not be liable for negligence for failure of the owner or the person responsible for maintaining any sign to keep such sign in good condition or be responsible for damages caused by defective conditions.

(Ord. 2005-04, 3-8-2005)

Any person, whether acting as owner or occupant of the premises involved, contractor or otherwise who violates or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. A separate offense shall be deemed to be committed on each day that the offense occurs or continues. Violations may result in the following actions:

1. If an unsafe or dangerous sign is not repaired or made safe within five (5) working days after giving said notice, the county may issue a citation and the person having charge, control or benefit from such sign shall pay the fine within thirty (30) calendar days, after written notice is mailed to such person.
2. If an illegal sign is not made conforming within thirty (30) calendar days after giving said notice, the county may issue a citation, and the owner or person having charge, control or benefit of any such sign shall pay the fine, within thirty (30) calendar days after written notice is mailed to such person. Failure to pay shall be deemed a class C misdemeanor.
3. The county shall require each nonmaintained or abandoned sign to be removed from the building or premises when such sign has not been repaired or put into use by the owner, person having control, or person reserving benefit from such sign within thirty (30) calendar days after notice of nonmaintenance or abandonment is given to the owner, person having control, or person receiving benefit from such sign.

(Ord. 2005-04, 3-8-2005)

A nonconforming sign shall not be altered, reconstructed, raised, moved, placed, extended, or enlarged, unless said sign is changed so as to conform to all provisions of this chapter.

1. "Alterations" shall be defined as changes which result in a modification to the outside dimensions of the sign cabinet. Any sign that is located within or projects into the public right of way shall be made conforming when a change of ownership, lessee or use occurs.
2. Nonconforming signs which have been allowed to deteriorate or which have been damaged by fire, explosion, act of nature, act of a public enemy, or damaged by any other cause to the extent of more than fifty percent (50%) of its assessed value shall, if repaired or rebuilt, be repaired or rebuilt in conformity with the regulations of this chapter.
3. Minor repairs and maintenance shall not necessitate conformance to the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. 2005-04, 3-8-2005)