The purpose of this article is to recognize the function of signs in the city, to provide for their inclusion under the zoning ordinance, and to regulate and control all matters relating to such signs, including location, size and purpose. Signs are accessory uses and are permitted only in conjunction with permitted uses. Such signs are intended to advertise goods, services, facilities, events or attractions available on the premises where located, to identify the owner or occupant or to direct traffic on the premises. It is the further purpose of this article to preserve locally recognized values of community appearance; to safeguard and enhance property values in residential, commercial and industrial areas; to protect public investment in and the character of public thoroughfares; to reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians traveling on the public way, and thereby to promote the public health, safety and welfare.

These purposes will be accomplished by regulation of the display, erection, use, and maintenance of signs. The use of signs is regulated according to zone. The placement and physical dimensions of signs are regulated primarily by type and length of street frontage. Where the provisions of this section may conflict with those in Section 604 Conant Thread District, the provisions for Section 604 shall govern.

(Ord. of 10-16-2019(2), § 5)

No sign will be permitted as a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions of this article.

The following signs are permitted in all zones:

702.1. Governmental. Signs of every kind and nature erected by or on behalf of any federal, state or local government agency, including official traffic control or informational signs, hazard warning signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs or other similar signs required by law.

702.2. Nameplates. One nameplate for each dwelling unit, not internally illuminated, and not exceeding 1½ square feet in area, indicating the name of the occupant or any permitted occupation.

702.3. Identification. Wall signs, which may be externally illuminated, and which are permanently affixed to buildings for the purpose of identifying the name of building, date of erection or other historical information, provided that such signs are composed of similar materials as the building, or bronze or brass, and are affixed flat against the building.

702.4. Credit card signs. Credit card signs, non-illuminated, limited to a total area of one square foot per structure.

702.5. Bulletin boards. Signs used as a bulletin or notice board to announce activities and events for institutional and governmental services. Such signs shall be located upon the premises of said institutions and shall not exceed ten square feet in area. In all R zones, such signs shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from any property line abutting a residential use. Such signs may be externally illuminated.

702.6. Temporary signs. The following temporary signs are permitted in all zones:

A)

Signs, which may be externally illuminated, for nonprofit or charitable organizations, including exterior messages for national and state holidays; provided, however, that no such temporary sign may be erected for a period of more than 30 consecutive days in any year nor more than seven days four times per year with a total of 30 cumulative days throughout the year. In all R and C zones, such signs shall be limited to 32 square feet in area and set back a minimum of ten feet from any property line.

B)

Rental or sale signs, freestanding or attached to the premises, pertaining to the prospective rental or sale of the property on which they are located; provided that such signs shall not be illuminated, nor extend over the sidewalk, and further provided that:

1.

Within all R zones, such signs shall not exceed a total area of six square feet and shall be removed within 14 days of the real estate closing or lease transaction.

2.

Within all C zones, such signs shall not exceed a total area of 12 square feet, and shall be removed within 30 days of the real estate closing or lease transaction.

3.

Within all M zones, such signs shall not exceed a total area of 32 square feet, and shall be removed within 30 days of the real estate closing or lease transaction.

C)

Construction signs and "grand opening" signs, non-illuminated, customary and necessary in connection with the erection of buildings or other construction work, limited to one sign per street frontage for each construction project. Such sign may be freestanding or attached to the premises, but shall not exceed 32 square feet in area, and shall be removed within 60 days of the completion of construction. In all R zones, such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area, and shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from any property line.

D)

Political signs, non-illuminated, incidental to a city, state, or federal election or referendum, or signs which are political in nature. Such signs shall be constructed of durable material, and shall be prohibited from public trees, traffic signs or utility poles. Such signs shall be erected not more than 60 days prior to such election or referendum, and in any event, no premises shall have a sign erected for more than 120 days in any calendar year. Political signs relating to any election or referendum shall be removed within 14 days after said election or referendum.

The following signs shall be prohibited in all zones in the city:

703.1 - Traffic or safety hazards. Signs determined by the chief of police to constitute a traffic or other safety hazard by reason of size, location, or type of illumination.

703.2 - Flashing signs. A sign which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source used primarily to attract attention. Does not include changeable copy signs, animated signs, or signs which, through reflection or other means, create an illusion of flashing or intermittent light.

703.3 - Billboards. Freestanding and roof-mounted billboards (see sections 707 and 710.4).

703.4 - Signs on utility poles. Utility poles owned by any governmental agency or utility company shall not be used for any type of sign or message other than those specifically erected by such governmental agency or utility company.

703.5 - Freestanding sign. A freestanding sign, as defined in sections 704.3 and 1102 shall not be placed on any public sidewalk in the city.

(Ord. of 8-12-1997)

The following sign types are permitted in the city in accordance with the requirements of this article:

704.1 - Canopy sign. A sign painted on or attached to a hood, awning or roof like canopy. Individual letters, words or symbols may be affixed or applied to any surface, provided that area of the sign does not exceed the maximum area allowed in section 707. A canopy sign is not considered a projecting sign. In no event shall such sign or part thereof be erected closer than two feet to the curb line.

704.2 - Directional sign. A sign identifying on-premises traffic, parking or other functional activity bearing no commercial advertising. Such signs are permitted in all zones except in R zones, and shall be limited to four square feet in area per sign.

704.3 - Freestanding sign. A sign that is attached to, erected on, or supported by some structure (such as a pole, mast, frame, or other structure, but not any kind of antenna) that is not itself an integral part of or attached to a building. All permanently installed freestanding signs shall be protected from vehicular circulation and parking areas. In accordance with section 703.5 above, freestanding signs shall not be placed on any public sidewalk in the city.

704.4 - Projecting sign. A sign that is perpendicular to the plane of the building to which it is affixed, or which projects more than 15 inches beyond said exterior wall. In no event shall such sign or part thereof be erected closer than two feet to the curb line.

704.5 - Roof sign. A sign that projects more than two feet above the roof, parapet or ridge line of the building; or mounted upon any roof, parapet or ridge line of a building.

704.6 - Wall sign. A sign that is affixed to or painted on the face of any exterior wall or door of a building or fence; is parallel or approximately parallel to the plane of the building to which it is affixed; and does not project more than 15 inches beyond said exterior wall, nor project more than two feet above the roof, parapet or ridge line of the building, whichever is higher.

704.7 - Window sign. A sign that is attached to the inside of any window or situated within a building, so that the sign is visible from the public right-of-way.

(Ord. of 8-12-1997)

All permitted signs shall be measured as follows:

705.1 - Area. Measured in square feet, the entire area within a square, rectangle, circle, triangle or any other polygon enclosing the extreme limits of graphic, writing or similar representation, emblem or any fixture of similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed; excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of the one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.

705.2 - Height. Measured in feet, the overall height of a sign is measured from the grade directly below the sign to the highest point of the sign or any of its supports. The height of any free standing sign in all zones may not exceed 20 feet.

705.3 - Setback. Measured in feet from the outermost edge of the sign to the public right-of-way.

705.4 - Projection over public right-of-way. Measurement in feet, perpendicular to the property line, from the property line to the outermost edge of the sign, over any public right-of-way.

705.5 - Maximum permitted sign area. In all zones but the R zone, the maximum permitted area for signs on a building shall be based on the building frontage. Where a building fronts on two or more streets, the total area for signs for each street frontage shall be based on the building frontage for that street. For gas stations, street frontage shall be used to calculate the permitted total area of signs as permitted in the tables. For any drive-in business that has a booth for employees only with no public access, including a gas station, the maximum area of signs shall be based on the street frontage, and on a corner lot, only one street frontage shall be used to calculate maximum sign area.

706.1 - Externally illuminated sign. Any sign which is illuminated by a light that reflects off the surface of the sign from an external source shall be considered an externally illuminated sign.

706.2 - Internally illuminated sign. Any sign shall be considered an internally illuminated sign where the source of the illumination is inside the sign and light emanates through the message of the sign. Digital, LED, and neon signs shall be considered internally illuminated signs.

707.1 - R zones. Signs to identify each permitted home occupation and one sign to display the name of a permitted nonresidential use. Such signs may be externally illuminated. The total area of all such signs shall not exceed six square feet on any lot. All types of billboards are prohibited in R zones. Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the total display area per window.

707.2 - C zones. The maximum total area of all signs on any structure shall not exceed 1½ square feet per one foot of building frontage. Window signs shall not be included in this calculation. All signs may be illuminated externally. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be limited to 30 square feet. Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the total display area per window.

707.3 - M zones. The maximum total area of all signs on any structure shall not exceed four square feet per one foot of building frontage. Window signs shall not be included in the above calculation. Such signs may be externally or internally illuminated. The maximum area of any individual sign shall be limited to 45 square feet.

Any sign which lawfully existed and was maintained at the time this ordinance became effective may be continued. Maintenance, repairs and changing of sign faces are permitted provided that there is no change in area, height, setback, projection or lighting of the existing sign.

709.1 - Signs in historic districts. All signs, including window signs, but except political signs, in an historic district shall be subject to approval by the historic district commission.

709.2 - Signs in overlay zones. Signs in overlay zones shall conform to the corresponding requirements of the underlying zone.

The board, as provided in section 907, may grant the following special use permits provided that all other requirements of this ordinance are met:

710.1. Any particular sign may be increased in area by 25 percent over the requirements in this article, provided that the total area of all permitted signs on the building does not exceed the maximum permitted sign area by 15 percent.

710.2. The maximum permitted sign area for an allowed use or structure may be increased by 15 percent.

710.3. The maximum permitted sign height may be increased by 25 percent.

710.4. Billboards may be permitted in C and M zones only.

710.5. Digital and LED signs may be permitted in C and M zones only.