The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Advertising sign means a sign which directs attention to a business or profession or to the primary commodity, service or entertainment not sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is attached.

Billboard sign means a sign which advertises goods, products or facilities, or services not on the premises where the sign is located or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is located.

Business sign means a sign which directs attention to a business or profession or to the primary commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is attached.

Business sign, off-premises banner or plate, means a sign which directs attention to an off-premises business or profession or to the primary commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered.

Event sign means a sign that is erected to describe the location, date, and/or announce pertinent information about a special event or happening that will be occurring. Event signs are often temporary. Political signs are considered event signs.

Identification sign, nameplate, means a sign identifying a resident, school, church, or other non-business use.

Illuminated flashing sign means any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary or constant in intensity and color at all times when such sign is in use.

Illuminated sign means any sign which has characters, letters, figures, design or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.

Mobile sign means any sign mounted on any type of frame, chassis, or trailer, whether on wheels, skids, or otherwise mounted, designed to be easily relocated or driven for the primary purpose of advertising. These are sometimes referred to as a mobile sign, portable sign or relocatable sign. These exclude signs such as real estate signs, garage/yard sale signs, or sandwich board signs directly adjacent to the business it advertises.

Revolving sign means a sign which does not remain stationary and revolves at a rate faster than one revolution per minute.

Sign means a name, identification, description, display, illustration, structure or device which is affixed to, or painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building or other outdoor surface or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business, and may be a single-face, double-face, or "V" type structure.

Signs are a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts, subject to the following regulations:

Advertising means a sign which directs attention to a business or profession or to the primary commodity, service or entertainment not sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is attached.

Billboard means a sign which advertises goods, products or facilities, or services not on the premises where the sign is located or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is located.

Business means a sign which directs attention to a business or profession or to the primary commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is attached.

Business (off-premises banner or plate) means a sign which directs attention to an off-premises business or profession or to the primary commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered.

Identification (nameplate) means a sign identifying a resident, school, church, or other non-business use.

Illuminated means a any sign which has characters, letters, figures, design, or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.

Illuminated flashing signs means any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary and/or constant in intensity and color at all times when such sign is in use.

Mobile means any sign mounted on any type of frame, chassis, or trailer, whether on wheels, skids, or otherwise mounted, designed to be easily relocated or driven for the primary purpose of advertising. These are sometimes referred to as a mobile sign, portable sign, or relocatable sign. These exclude signs such as real estate signs, garage/yard sale signs, or sandwich board signs directly adjacent to the business it advertises.

Revolving means a sign, which does not remain stationary and revolves at a rate faster than one revolution per minute.

Temporary means a sign that is not solidly affixed to the ground or to a building and displayed not more than 60 days within a six month period. This includes garage or yard sale signs, banners, and sale advertisements.

(Code 2001, § 16.13(1)(a); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022; Ord. No. 1223, 11-19-2024)

(a)

A sign is considered a structure or a part of a structure for the purpose of applying yard and height regulations.

(b)

Except for traffic control, signs and parts of the superstructure may not extend into the required yards and right-of-way without a revocable special permit for temporary signs and decorations granted by the city, subject to the laws of the state.

(c)

Illuminated flashing signs or devices giving off an intermittent or rotating beam consisting of a collection or concentration of rays of light shall not be permitted in any district.

(d)

For the purpose of selling or leasing property in any district, a sign not in excess of 32 square feet per surface (ten square feet in residential districts) may be placed within the front yard of such property to be sold or leased. Such signs shall not be less than 15 feet from the right-of-way line unless flat against the structure.

(e)

The area within the frame shall be used to calculate the square footage except that width of a frame exceeding 12 inches shall constitute advertising space, or should such letters or graphics be mounted directly on a wall or facia or in such a way as to be without a frame, the dimensions for calculating the square footage shall be the area extending six inches beyond the periphery formed around such letters or graphics in a plane figure, bound by straight lines connecting the outer-most points thereof, and each surface utilized to display a message or to attract attention shall be measured as a separate sign. Any symbols, flags, pictures, wording, figures or other forms of graphics painted on or attached to windows, walks, awnings, free standing structures, suspended by balloons or kites or on persons, animals or vehicles shall be considered as a sign.

(f)

Except for temporary signs, signs shall not be attached by an adhesive or painted on a building or fence but shall be on a separate frame or attached by a permanent fixture. Permanent window signs (painted or vinyl occupying no more than 25 percent of the glazed portion of a window) and awning signs are excluded.

(g)

The source of light for any illuminated sign shall not be directed into any street or property used or zoned for residential purposes.

(h)

Event signs are permitted in all districts; provided, however, they shall be removed within five days following the event. Event signs shall not be greater than 32 square feet per surface (16 square feet in residential districts).

(Code 2001, § 16.13(1)(b)—(i); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022; Ord. No. 1223, 11-19-2024)

Within the R districts, the following signs are permitted:

(1)

One nameplate sign for each dwelling and such sign shall not exceed three square feet in area per surface, and no sign shall be so constructed as to have more than two surfaces for advertising purposes.

(2)

One nameplate sign for each dwelling group of three or more units, and such sign shall not exceed three square feet in area per surface and no sign shall be so constructed as to have more than two surfaces for advertising purposes.

(3)

One unlighted sign not over three square feet in area for home occupations.

(4)

Public and institutional uses within a residential district may be allowed a sign in excess of three square feet may be allowed as a conditional use, taking into consideration the size, design, location and lighting of the sign, and its impact on the aesthetics of the neighborhood, visibility, and any other safety factors.

(5)

Symbols, statues, sculptures, and integrated architectural features on non-residential buildings may be illuminated by flood lights provided the direct source of light is not visible from the public right-of-way or adjacent residential district.

(6)

Temporary signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area per surface.

(Code 2001, § 16.13(2); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022; Ord. No. 1223, 11-19-2024)

Within the business districts, nameplate signs and business signs are permitted subject to the following regulations:

(1)

The aggregate square footage of signage per lot shall not exceed the sum of three square feet for each front foot of building plus one square foot for each front foot of building siding on a street. Signs directing ingress, egress, and traffic flow (directional signs) are exempt from the aggregate square footage limits; however, each directional sign shall be no greater than three square feet per surface.

(2)

No individual sign shall exceed 200 square feet of area per surface.

(3)

Off-premises signs, billboards, displays and devices shall be permitted only by conditional use subject to the following:

a.

Must be a minimum of 100 feet from residential district property line.

b.

Must be a minimum of 100 feet from an intersection.

c.

Must be a minimum of 350 feet from a church or school.

d.

Must be a minimum of 1,000 feet from another billboard on the same side of the street.

e.

Must be a minimum of five feet from the right-of-way and from any property line.

f.

Must be erected on a free standing structure - no back bracing or guy wires are allowed.

g.

Must meet all federal, state, and local requirements prior to issuance of permit.

h.

The maximum size shall be 32 square feet per side of sign.

i.

No off-premises, sign shall be permitted within 60 feet of the right-of-way or 110 feet of centerline, whichever is greatest on all streets within the city limits.

j.

Height of sign shall not exceed principal building on lot; if a vacant lot, the height of the sign shall not exceed 15 feet.

(4)

Off-premises banner or plate signs shall be permitted only by conditional use subject to the following:

a.

Must be attached or affixed to a permanent building structure.

b.

The sign cannot exceed the set back of the principal building.

c.

The sign cannot exceed the height of the principal building.

d.

The maximum size of the sign shall be 32 square feet, taking into consideration the size, design, location, and lighting of the sign, provided it does not exceed the allowable square footage for signs in commercial or industrial zoning.

e.

The sign must be one sided.

(5)

Mobile signs are limited to 32 square feet per side and shall not be located in any right-of-way.

(Code 2001, § 16.13(3); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022)

Within the industrial districts, nameplate signs and business signs and advertising signs shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:

(1)

The aggregate square footage of sign space per lot shall not exceed the sum of four square feet per front foot of building, plus one square foot per front foot of property not occupied by a building. No individual sign surface shall exceed 250 square feet except advertising signs permitted as an accessory use shall not exceed 250 square feet of surface and shall be counted toward square footage permitted.

(2)

Off-premises signs, billboards, displays and devices shall be permitted only by conditional use subject to the provisions of Section 316.

(3)

Mobile signs are limited to 32 square feet per side and shall not be located in any right-of-way.

(Code 2001, § 16.13(4); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022)

(a)

Removal. Except as otherwise herein provided, all dangerous and abandoned billboards and/or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which a sign or billboard is located when the business it advertised is no longer conducted where advertised or when, in the judgment of the city, such sign is so old, dilapidated or has become so out of repair as to be dangerous or unsafe, whichever occurs first. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign or billboard, the city council, or its designee, shall give the owner 30 days written notice to remove and sign or billboard. Thereafter, upon the owner's or lessee's failure to comply, the city council or its designee, may remove such sign or billboard, any costs for which shall be charged to the owner of the property or may be assessed as a special assessment against the property, and/or the city council, or its designee, may take any other appropriate legal action necessary to attain compliance. The owner may appeal the city's or its designee's decision to the board of appeals.

(b)

Alterations. For signs erected before the adoption of this sign code, said signs shall be rebuilt or relocated to conform to this article if the cost of reconstruction or relocation is 50 percent or more of its replacement value.

(c)

Violations. All signs maintained in violation of any of the provisions of this article are hereby declared public nuisances within the meaning of this code of ordinances. In addition to the above penalty provisions for violation of this chapter, the city council or its designee may bring an action to abate the nuisance in the manner set forth in the Wisconsin Statutes.

(Code 2001, § 16.13(5); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022)

(a)

Any person, firm or corporation who begins, erects, or completes the erection or construction of any sign controlled by this article prior to the granting of a permit shall be in violation of this chapter.

(b)

If the city finds any sign regulated herein unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public, it shall give written notice to the sign owner and to the property owner.

(c)

If such sign owner fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 30 days after such notice, the city council may cause such sign to be removed or altered at the expense of the owner of the sign or the owner of the property upon which it is located so as to comply with the provisions of this article.

(d)

Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this article shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in Section 1-12. Each day, or portion thereof, that such violation continues is hereby deemed to constitute a separate offense.

(Code 2001, § 16.13(6); Ord. No. 1099, 1-15-2013; Ord. No. 1195, § 1, 6-7-2022)