Clinton Village City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signs and Advertising Devices
§ 260-14 Signs.
General requirements.
Signs shall be designed to be compatible with the surroundings and appropriate to the architectural character of the buildings on which they are placed. Sign panels and graphics should relate with and not cover architectural features and should be in proportion to them.
Illumination should be appropriate to the character of the sign and surroundings.
Groups of related signs should express uniformity and create a sense of harmonious appearance.
No building shall be painted, illuminated or otherwise intended for use as a sign that is not in conformance with the regulations set forth in this chapter.
Signs shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be maintained in good condition. Signs that are permitted to deteriorate shall be removed upon direction of the Code Enforcement Officer following notification to the owner. No sign other than those listed as exempt shall be erected, constructed or placed on a parcel until application has been made and approval granted pursuant to this section. All signs other than those listed as exempt and temporary shall be reviewed and approved by the Village Planning Board.
Permitted signs.
R-1 and R-2P Zoning Districts. Signs herein permitted shall not be located in or project into the public way or be located above the first story, be more than five feet in height nor less than 10 feet from any side property line. Any illumination shall be white nonflashing, and the sources of light shall be shielded from the street and adjacent lots or properties. Permitted signs are as follows:
Nonilluminated real estate development sign. Such sign shall be located on the property approved for development, shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the front property line. Said sign shall be removed within two years from the time of erection, unless an application for extension is submitted to and granted by the Village Planning Board.
Institutional sign of school, college, church, hospital, medical clinic, sanitarium, convalescent or nursing home or home for the aged or other institution of a similar public or semipublic nature located on the premises, provided that the size of any such sign is not in excess of 15 square feet.
A single nonilluminated sign identifying a home occupation or professional office. Such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area and shall be mounted flush on the dwelling, or as approved by the Planning Board.
C-1 and C-2 Commercial Zoning Districts.
A business sign is permitted which pertains only to a permitted use, product or service available on the premises and is either integral with or attached flat against the building or projects not more than four feet from the building line nor projects above the high point of the roof, and does not face any adjoining lot in any residence district. At most, two principal signs are allowed per business.
The aggregate area of any signs on any building or premises shall not exceed 1 1/2 square feet in area for each foot of the frontage of that portion of the building devoted to that business displaying such sign. In any event, no aggregate sign area shall exceed 90 square feet or five feet in height. If illuminated, the source of light, except for neon signs, shall be concealed from any lot in any residential district. In case of a principal area involving no building (or in the case of a building where the front wall is located at least 50 feet from the street) one pole sign shall be permitted on the premises. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area for each display surface (maximum two sides of 64 square feet total) and, if located within eight feet of the front property line, shall have a minimum clearance above the ground of 10 feet. The overall height of such sign shall not be more than 18 feet.
Gasoline service stations shall additionally be permitted two price product or promotional signs each, not exceeding 12 square feet, or six square feet per side, if located on the pump island, or set not closer than 10 feet from the edge of the pavement (but not within the street right-of-way), not exceeding eight feet above grade nor situated so as to impair visibility for pedestrians or motorists.
Sign requirements for shopping plazas. The design and style of such individual signs shall be coordinated so as to create aesthetic uniformity within the plaza and must conform to Subsection B(2) of this section. In addition, the shopping plaza may erect a double-sided directory advertising the name of the shopping plaza and stores on the premises. Such sign shall be freestanding and elevated a minimum of nine feet and a maximum of 20 feet in height, so as not to interfere with vehicular traffic, and shall not exceed 40 square feet in area.
Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts in the Village:
No off-premises signs shall be allowed other than as permitted under the exempt sign provision of this section.
No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing intermittent, rotating or moving lights, except to show time and temperature.
No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement. No sign shall impair visibility for the motorist at a street corner or intersection by placement and location. No portable sign shall be allowed other than as permitted under the exempt sign provision of this section.
No advertising message shall be comprised of more than one sign placed along the street or highway.
No sign in a district shall project into the public way or project higher than one story or 20 feet, whichever is lower.
Temporary signs. The following signs are exempt and may be erected and maintained in all zoning districts without permits, provided they comply with this section and all other conditions imposed by this chapter.
No temporary sign shall obstruct or impair access to a public sidewalk, public or private street or driveway, traffic control sign, bus stop, fire hydrant, or any other type of street furniture, or otherwise create a hazard, including a tripping hazard.
Temporary signs shall be designed to be stable under all weather conditions, including high winds.
All signs of a temporary nature, including advertising banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices, shall be allowed, (except as otherwise provided by this section), and shall be permitted for a period not exceeding six weeks prior to the activity or event, nor exceeding four days after the activity or event. Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in business or industrial districts nor eight square feet in residential districts, nor be attached to fences, trees, rocks or other parts of a natural landscape, nor be placed in a position that will obstruct or impair traffic or in any manner create a hazard or disturbance to the health, safety and welfare of the general public.
Both on-premises and off-premises directional signs for the convenience of the general public, identifying public sales, public parking areas, fire zones, bus and service entrances and exits and similar signs, internally illuminated or nonilluminated, not exceeding four square feet per face and six feet in height. (These signs must be removed during nonbusiness hours.)
Temporary nonilluminated "for sale," "for lease" or "for rent" real estate signs concerning the premises upon which the sign is located: in a residential zoning district, one sign not exceeding six square feet per side; in a business or industrial zoning district, one sign not exceeding 20 square feet, set back at least 15 feet from all property lines. All signs shall be removed within three days after the sale, lease or rental of the premises.
Temporary, nonilluminated window signs and posters not exceeding 25% of the window surface.
One sign, not exceeding six square feet in the R-1 and R-2P districts nor 16 square feet in the business districts, listing the architect, engineer, contractor and/or owner on premises where construction, renovation or repair is in progress. All such signs shall be removed within three days after completion of said construction, renovation or repair.
Political campaign posters not exceeding six square feet, provided that the total placement time does not exceed 30 days and a period of 11 months shall elapse between the last day of one period of showing and the first day of the next.
Height and projection of signs. No sign in a residential district shall project into the public way or project higher than one story or 20 feet, whichever is lower.
Exempt signs. The following signs are exempt and may be erected and maintained without permits, provided that such signs comply with the general requirements of this section and other conditions specifically imposed by the regulations:
Historical markers, tablets and statutes, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies, religious or nonprofit organizations; not exceeding six square feet.
Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
Both on-premises and off-premises temporary, portable directional signs for the convenience of the general public, identifying businesses, public parking areas, fire zones, bus and service entrances and exits and similar signs, internally illuminated or nonilluminated, not exceeding four square feet per face and six feet in height. (These signs must be removed during nonbusiness hours.)
Posted "no trespassing" signs, not exceeding two square feet.
Number and nameplates, identifying residents, mounted on the house, apartment, mailbox or lamppost, not exceeding one square foot in area.
Enforcement.
Removal of signs. The provisions of this article shall be administered and enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall have the power to direct the repair and/or removal of any sign that fails to comply with the provisions of this article.
A sign which does not advertise an existing business on the premises.
A sign which obstructs the view of a public highway.
A sign which is abandoned, unsafe or insecure. If the sign is not removed or repaired within 30 days, the Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke the permit issued for such sign and may remove or repair the sign and assess the owner for all costs incurred for such service. The responsibility is the owner's.
The Code Enforcement Officer may cause any sign that is a source of danger to persons or property to be removed immediately without notice.
The Zoning Board of Appeals interprets this chapter and grants variances applicable to the provisions of this section.