The construction and alteration of outdoor signs shall be regulated so that such signs by reason of their size, location, or manner of display will not endanger public health and safety, hinder the safe flow of traffic, obstruct vision, or disrupt the rural atmosphere of the Township. The intent of this section is to:

1.

Ensure that signs are located, designed, constructed, installed, and maintained in a manner that protects life, health, property, and the public welfare;

2.

Reduce visual distractions and obstructions to motorists and thereby maintain or improve traffic safety;

3.

Enhance the appearance and economic value of the community by regulating the size, type, location, design and maintenance of signs;

4.

Preserve the existing and desired character of the Township, as identified in the Township's adopted Master Plan;

5.

Prevent visual blight and protect the desired aesthetic qualities of the Township by preventing visual clutter, and protecting views;

6.

Regulate the light emitted by signs to protect the Township's natural, existing, and desired dark skies;

7.

Keep in harmony the sign location, scale, color, lettering, materials, texture and depth to be consistent with the architecture of the building and relate to the features of the building they are located on and the area they are located within; and

8.

Protect and preserve the constitutional rights to free speech under the first amendment.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.01; Amd. No. 83, § 1, 11-9-2017)

Abandoned Sign—A sign that no longer advertises or identifies a business, lessor, owner, or activity conducted upon or product available on the premises where such a sign is displayed.

Billboard—See "Off-Site Sign."

Business District—A group of two or more stores, offices, research or manufacturing facilities which collectively have a name different than the name of any of the individual establishments and which have common off-street parking and entrance facilities.

Canopy or Marquee Sign—Any sign attached to or constructed within or on a canopy or marquee.

District—Zoning district as established by the Cohoctah Township Zoning Ordinance.

Electronic Display Sign—A sign with an electronic background or electronic numbering and letters.

Freestanding Sign—A sign permanently anchored in, or on, the ground, that stands on its own, having one, and not more than two faces or surfaces upon which announcements, declarations, displays, etc., may be placed. In the case of a two-faced sign, the faces, or surfaces, shall be constructed back-to-back.

Height of Sign—The vertical distance to the top edge of the copy area or structure, whichever is higher, as measured from the adjacent street grade.

Identification Sign—See "On-Site Sign."

Off-Site Sign(Off-Premises Sign)—A sign other than an on-site sign.

On-Site Sign(On-Premises Sign)—A sign which advertises or identifies only goods, services, facilities, events, or attractions on the premises where located.

Outdoor Advertising Sign—See "Off-Site Sign."

Portable Sign—Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building.

Sign—Any structure or part thereof, any device, declaration, display, illustration, insignia, or any material or thing, illuminated or otherwise that displays, includes or uses any numeral, letter, word, model, banner, emblem, insignia, device, code, mark, or other representation by which anything is made known and/or visible to the general public such as are used to show an individual, firm, profession, or business, event, good, product or service and also any banner, bulbs or other lighting device, streamer, pennant, balloon, propeller, flag, as well as any similar device of any type or kind whether bearing lettering or not.

Temporary Sign—A sign that is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time.

Wall Sign—A sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building with the face in a plane parallel to the plane of the building wall.

Window Sign—A sign installed on or in a window for purposes of viewing from outside the premises. This term does not include merchandise located in a window.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.02; Amd. No. 83, § 2, 11-9-2017)

The following regulations shall apply to all signs in Cohoctah Township:

A.

Illuminated Signs.

1.

RR, SR, S, LRR and NSC Districts. Only indirectly illuminated signs shall be allowed, provided such sign is so shielded as to prevent direct light rays from being visible from the public right-of-way or any adjacent residentially used or zoned property.

2.

In LI District. Indirectly or internally illuminated signs are permitted provided such sign is so shielded as to prevent direct light rays from the light source from being visible from the public right-of-way or any adjacent residentially used or zoned property.

B.

Measurement of Sign Area. The area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular geometric form or combination of such forms comprising all the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not bearing copy or display materials shall not be included in computation of sign area. 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, parallel to one another, and less than 24 inches apart, the area of the sign shall be the area of one face.

C.

Height of Signs. No freestanding sign shall exceed a height of 25 feet.

D.

Setback Requirements for Signs. Except where specified otherwise in this Ordinance, all signs shall be set back a minimum of one-half the required yard requirements.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.03; Amd. No. 20, 2-8-1996; Amd. No. 82, §§ 14, 15, 7-13-2017)

Subject to the other conditions of this Ordinance, the following signs shall be permitted anywhere within Cohoctah Township:

A.

Signs that direct traffic movement onto or within a property and that do not contain any type of advertising, and that do not exceed nine square feet in area for each sign. Any such sign shall be located on the lot or parcel behind the road right-of-way line.

B.

One church announcement sign shall be permitted on any site that contains a church, regardless of the district in which it is located, except the announcement sign shall not exceed 25 square feet in area nor a height of six feet and shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from the road right-of-way line.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.04; Amd. No. 83, § 3, 11-9-2017)

A.

Miscellaneous Signs and Posters. Tacking, pasting, or otherwise affixing of signs or posters visible from a public way located on the walls of buildings, barns or sheds, or on trees, poles, posts, or fences is prohibited.

B.

Banners. Pennants, banners, searchlights, twirling signs, sandwich board signs, sidewalk or curb signs, balloons, or other gas-filled figures are prohibited except as provided in Section 19.10G, pertaining to temporary signs.

C.

Swinging Signs. Signs that swing or otherwise noticeably move as a result of wind pressure because of the manner of suspension or attachment are prohibited.

D.

Moving Signs. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, no sign or any portion thereof which moves or assumes any motion constituting a nonstationary or unfixed condition shall be permitted.

E.

Abandoned Signs. Signs that advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted or available on the premises on which the sign is located shall be prohibited.

F.

Unclassified Signs. The following signs are prohibited:

1.

Signs that imitate an official traffic sign or signal or that could be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or that could interfere with the safe flow of traffic.

2.

Signs which are of a size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or road sign or signal or which obstruct the view in any direction at a road intersection.

3.

Signs that contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, pornographic or immoral character.

G.

Intermittent Flashing Signs. Intermittent flashing illuminated portable signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.05; Amd. No. 1, 8-11-1988; Amd. No. 83, §§ 4, 5, 11-9-2017)

A.

Each sign advertising the type of farm products grown on the farm premises shall not exceed 16 square feet in area. Each farm is permitted two signs.

B.

One identification sign shall be permitted for each public road frontage for a vehicle entrance, for a school, church building or other authorized use or lawful nonconforming use, except home occupations. Each sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and eight feet in height.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.06; Amd. No. 20, 2-8-1996)

A.

One identification sign shall be permitted for each public road frontage, for a subdivision, multiple-family building development, and each NSC business. Each sign shall not exceed 25 square feet in area. One additional sign advertising for a rental residential development may be placed on each public road frontage of the rental residential development provided that such sign shall not exceed nine square feet and is incorporated into the identification sign. Each sign shall be located behind the right-of-way line of any public road.

B.

In NSC Districts, one identification sign shall be permitted for each public road frontage for a vehicle entrance for a school, church, public building, or other authorized use or lawful nonconforming use, except home occupations. Each sign shall not exceed 25 square feet in area and eight feet in height.

C.

In RR, SR, S, and LRR Districts, one identification sign shall be permitted for each public road frontage for a vehicle entrance for a school, church, public building, or other authorized use or lawful nonconforming use, except home occupations. Each sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area and five feet in height.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.07; Amd. No. 60, §§ 1, 2, 2-19-2009; Amd. No. 82, §§ 16, 17, 7-13-2017; Amd. No. 83, § 6, 11-9-2017)

On-site canopy or marquee signs, wall signs, and freestanding signs are allowed in LI Districts, subject to the following:

A.

Signs permitted for single buildings on developed lots or group of lots developed as one lot, not in a shopping center, not subject to Subsection B, are subject to the following:

1.

Each developed lot or parcel shall be permitted at least 80 square feet of sign area for all exterior on-site signs. The area of exterior on-site signs permitted for each lot or parcel shall be determined as two square feet of sign area for each one linear foot of building length that faces on a public road. The maximum area for all exterior on-site signs for each developed lot or parcel shall be 200 square feet. No freestanding identification sign shall exceed 100 square feet in area. No exterior wall sign for businesses without ground floor frontage shall exceed 24 square feet in area.

2.

Each developed lot or parcel shall be permitted two exterior on-site signs, one wall and one freestanding. For every developed lot or parcel which is located at the intersection of two collector or arterial roads or highways as classified in the Comprehensive Plan, three exterior on-site signs shall be permitted. Only one freestanding identification sign shall be permitted on any single road. All businesses without ground floor frontage shall be permitted one combined exterior wall sign, in addition to the number of signs allocated to the developed lot or parcel. The total area of all exterior signs shall not exceed the total sign area permitted in Subsection A.1.

B.

Signs permitted for a shopping center or other integrated group of stores, commercial buildings, office buildings or industrial buildings not subject to Subsection A are subject to the following:

1.

Each shopping center or commercial district shall be permitted one freestanding identification sign for each collector or arterial road or highway, as classified in the Cohoctah Township Master Plan, that it faces. The sign area shall be determined as one square foot for each one linear foot of building that faces on a public road. The maximum area for each freestanding sign shall be 200 square feet. Tenants of a shopping center shall not be permitted individual freestanding identification signs.

2.

Each business in a shopping or commercial district with ground floor frontage shall be permitted one exterior wall sign. The area for such an exterior wall sign shall be computed as one square foot for each one linear foot of building frontage occupied by the business not to exceed 25 square feet. All businesses without ground floor frontage shall be permitted one combined exterior wall sign not more than 25 square feet in area.

C.

Window signs shall be permitted and shall not be included in total sign area computation if said signs do not occupy more than 25 percent of the total window areas of the floor level on which displayed or exceed a total of 200 square feet for any one building. If window signs occupy more than 25 percent of said window area or exceed a total of 200 square feet for any one building, they shall be treated as exterior signs and shall conform to Subsections A.1 and B.2.

D.

A time and temperature sign shall be permitted in addition to the above conditions, provided that ownership identification or advertising copy does not exceed ten percent of the total sign area and further provided that the total area of the sign does not exceed 30 square feet.

E.

In addition to the provisions of Subsections A and B above, an automobile service station may have one additional sign for each public road or highway frontage for a vehicle entrance, for the purpose of an On-Site Sign. Said sign shall be mounted on a freestanding structure or on the structure of another permitted sign, provided that clear views of road traffic by motorists or pedestrians are not obstructed in any way. Said sign shall not exceed eight square feet in area.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.08; Amd. No. 82, § 18, 7-13-2017; Amd. No. 83, §§ 7—10, 11-9-2017)

A.

Outdoor advertising signs are permitted only on undeveloped and vacant unimproved lots in LI Districts, and shall be considered the principal use of such lots. Signs shall not be placed on a lot where such a sign is located. Outdoor advertising signs shall also be subject to the following requirements:

1.

Where two or more outdoor advertising signs are located along the frontage of a road or highway, they shall not be less than 1,000 feet apart. A double-face (back-to-back) or a V-type structure shall be considered a single sign, provided the interior angle of such signs does not exceed 20 degrees.

2.

The total surface area, facing the same direction, of any outdoor advertising sign shall not exceed 300 square feet. Signs may be single-faced or double-faced and shall contain no more than two faces or panels.

3.

Outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height from ground level. The permitted height may be increased to 40 feet by the Planning Commission, if it can be shown that excessive grades, building interference, bridge construction, and/or similar conditions obstruct views of the sign.

4.

Outdoor advertising signs shall not be erected on the roof of any building, nor have one sign above another.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.09; Amd. No. 20, 2-8-1996)

Unilluminated, on-site temporary signs may be erected in accordance with the regulations of this Article.

A.

In all districts, after final site plan approval of the project, one sign for each public road frontage advertising a residential or commercial development shall be permitted that does not exceed 25 square feet in area. Each sign shall be removed within one year after the sale of 70 percent of all lots, units or buildings within the project

B.

Temporary direction signs, not exceeding three square feet in area and four in number, showing a direction arrow and placed back of the road right-of-way line, shall be permitted on approach routes to an open house. Such signs shall not exceed five feet in height and must be removed at the end of the open house.

C.

Temporary on-site signs for any event or function, the maximum size of the sign area shall not exceed 25 square feet. Signs must be removed within seven days after the event ends. If building-mounted, signs shall be flat wall signs and shall not exceed six feet in height. Signs shall meet the setback requirements of Section 19.03D.

D.

In RR, SR, S, LRR and NSC Districts, one temporary on-site sign, located on the property, and not exceeding nine square feet in area, shall be permitted. In the LI Districts, one sign of this type shall be permitted, provided it does not exceed 25 square feet in area and meets the setback requirements of Section 19.03D. If any such lot or parcel has multiple street frontage, then one additional sign is permitted provided it meets the requirements of this Section but under no circumstances shall more than two signs be permitted on any lot or parcel. All such signs shall be removed within seven days following the conclusion of reason for the sign.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.10; Amd. No. 26, 2-8-1996; Amd. No. 82, § 19, 7-13-2017; Amd. No. 83, §§ 11, 12, 11-9-2017)

The following types of signs are exempted from all provisions of this Ordinance, except for construction and safety regulations and the following standards:

A.

Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by, or on the order of a public officer, in the performance of a public duty, such as directional signs, regulatory signs, warning signs, and informational signs.

B.

Political signs provided they shall be removed within seven days after the date of the election for which the sign was posted.

C.

Signs when carved or etched into stone, concrete, metal or similar material, or made of other permanent type construction, and made an integral part of a structure.

D.

Yard or garage sale signs not exceeding six square feet and displayed only on days of such sales.

E.

Signs for crop identification purposes on land used for agriculture.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.11; Amd. No. 83, §§ 13, 14, 18, 11-9-2017)

Nonconforming signs shall not be reestablished after the activity, business, or usage to which it relates has been discontinued for 90 days or longer.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.12)

A.

Application for a permit to erect or replace a sign shall be made by the owner of the property, or his authorized agent, to the Township Clerk, by submitting the required forms, fees, exhibits and information. Fees for sign permits for all signs erected pursuant to Sections 19.04, 19.06, 19.07, 19.08, 19.09 and 19.10 shall be established by resolution of the Township Board.

B.

An application for a sign permit shall contain the following information:

1.

The applicant's name and address in full, and a complete description of his relationship to the property owner.

2.

If the applicant is other than the property owner, the signature of the property owner concurring in a submittal of said application is required.

3.

The address of the property.

4.

An accurate scale drawing of the property showing location of all buildings and structures and their uses, and location of the proposed sign.

5.

A complete description and scale drawings of the sign, including all dimensions and the area in square feet.

C.

All proposed sign locations or relocations shall be inspected on the site by the Township Zoning Administrator for conformance to this Ordinance prior to placement on the site; foundations shall be inspected by the Zoning Administrator on the site prior to pouring of the concrete for the sign support structure.

D.

A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of the permit. Said sign permit may be extended for a period of 30 days upon request by the applicant and approval of the Planning Commission.

E.

Painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure, unless a structural or size change is made, shall not require a sign permit.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.13)

Signs erected or maintained in violation of this Ordinance shall be removed.

(Ord. of 11-12-1987, § 19.14)