(a)

The purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety, and welfare through reasonable non-discriminatory standards which shall govern the time, place, and manner of signs and billboards while allowing free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Regulations are necessary as signs obstruct views, distract motorists, hinder the aesthetics of the community and pose other various problems. The regulations seek to uphold property value, protect the characteristics of the community, and allow economic development and these sign regulations serve a substantial governmental interest.

(b)

In addition to other provisions of this article, all signs and billboards shall meet the applicable provision of the International Building Code. All billboards with in the city shall meet all applicable regulations of state law and those stated herein.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)1, 2-11-2019)

(a)

The following are prohibited in the city:

(1)

Signs that revolve, move laterally or transversely or have flashing lights; provided, however, that this subsection shall not be construed to include stationary signs with moveable electronic letters or graphics.

(2)

Self-changing electronic display boards that appear to blink, flash or otherwise cycle between on and off phases of illumination more frequently than one cycle per four seconds except to produce the illusion of vertical or horizontal scrolling.

(3)

Signs erected on or over any public right of way or easement unless located within a C-1 District.

(4)

Any sign erected so as to prevent free egress to or egress from any door window or other exiting required by the city building code.

(5)

Any sign erected in any location where, by reason of its location, it will of obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or other traffic-controlled device. Nor may any sign imitate any official traffic sign.

(6)

Any sign erected in a location where it will obstruct vision of the public right-of-way to a vehicle operator during egress to, egress from or travel on the public right of way.

(7)

Any sign attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb sidewalk or other surface located on public property.

(8)

Signs illuminated to an intensity to cause glare or brightness to a degree of that constitutes a hazard or nuisance.

(9)

Roof signs and revolving signs.

(10)

Signs on licensed or unlicensed commercial vehicles, including trailers, utilized as parked or stationary outdoor signs or billboards.

(11)

Portable reader boards.

(12)

Projecting signs in any district other than C-1 District.

(b)

Billboards and signs that are not maintained in good repair shall be subject to removal. The city code enforcement officer or building commissioner shall give written notice to the owner. The owner shall have 30 days to commence the needed repairs with completion within 60 days. If evidence of such repairs is not precluded, the city building commissioner shall issue summons to have the billboard or sign removed.

(c)

No sign, excluding billboards, shall exceed 30 feet above street grade or natural ground level whichever is highest.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)2, 2-11-2019)

(a)

In any R District, there may be name plate not exceeding five square feet in area attached to the wall of the wall at the end entrance to be lighted with only indirect, non-intermittent rights.

(b)

In the C-1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 Districts, there may be signs displayed upon the following conditions:

(1)

Signs attached to the vertical surface of the building. No part of this sign shall extend above the roof line or parapet of the building, projecting signs only allowed in C-1 District and shall not project beyond five feet from vertical surface of the building.

(2)

The aggregates gross area, in square feet of all signs on the lot shall not exceed the number of lineal feet of frontage of such lot.

(3)

When any such sign is illuminated, the lights shall be shaded or concealed so that they will not interfere with the vision of the motor vehicle operators or shine directly on residential property located in any residential district.

(4)

Electronic message centers maybe allowed, provided such message center conforms to the following:

a.

The electronic message centers shall serve the public convenience and not be positioned closer than 600 feet in any direction to another device.

b.

The sign message shall not consist of flashing, chasing or animated lights and shall not change more frequency that once than once every three seconds.

c.

The sign structure shall conform to all applicable regulations.

d.

Free-standing signs shall be separated and protected from vehicle circulation and parking areas.

e.

Searchlights. Searchlights may be placed in C-1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 Districts under the following conditions:

1.

Such displays require a permit.

2.

Each business individual or lot owner shall be permitted one permit per calendar year that shall not exceed a total of six days and shall terminate at 11:00 p.m.

3.

Devices may not be placed on the roof of a building.

When searchlights are placed, the illumination shall not interfere with the vision of the motor vehicle operator or illuminate residential property located in any residential district.

(c)

Cold air balloons, inflatable advertising and air devices simulating movement. Such devices and displays require a permit. Each business, individual or lot owner shall be permitted one permit per year for a period not to exceed 30 days. Each devise shall require a permit. No device shall be placed on a roof nor exceed 100 square feet in size or 25 feet in height.

(d)

Signs containing noncommercial speech are permitted anywhere that advertising or business signs are permitted, subject to the same regulations applicable to such signs.

(e)

No sign in any zoning district in the city shall advertise, market or depict any action that is illegal under state law or in violation of this Code.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)3, 2-11-2019; Ord. No. 1793-2019, § 4, 5-13-2019)

(a)

A temporary sign is one that is not designed or intended to be placed permanently. These include, but are not limited to, signs, banners, or other advertising device or display constructed of cloth, canvas, cardboard, wallboard, or other light temporary materials, with or without a structural frame, intended for a temporary period of display. The sign shall be wall mounted flat against a building or securely fastened to a wood or metal freestanding stake or post of sufficient strength. The maximum sign area shall be 32 square feet per sign. Temporary signs shall not be placed in a position that it will obstruct or impair vision or traffic or in any manner which creates a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the general public.

(b)

One temporary sign shall be permitted per lot without the need for a permit.

(c)

A temporary sign may be placed for 48 hours without the need for obtaining a permit.

(d)

Each lot owner can apply for a permit to allow up to two additional temporary signs which may be granted for a period not exceeding 30 consecutive days. Each temporary sign may be renewed by applying for an additional permit.

(e)

Signs on city right-of-way. No sign shall be erected on/over the public right-of-way.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)4, 2-11-2019)

Billboards and signs that are not maintained in a good repair shall be subject to removal. The city building commissioner or code enforcement officer shall give written notice to the owner and the owner shall have 30 days to commence the needed repairs with completion within 60 days. If such evidence of repairs is not produced, the city building commissioner or code enforcement officer shall order the billboard or sign to be removed. If a nonconforming sign is damaged or destroyed and requires replacement or repair or more than 50 percent of the sign, the sign shall be required to come into compliance with this Code.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)5, 2-11-2019)

(a)

Any sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in the discharge of governmental function or required by law, ordinance or governmental regulation, including traffic control devices.

(b)

Every parcel shall be entitled to one permanent sign not exceeding five square feet in surface area to be placed in any of the following locations:

(1)

On the front of every building, residence, or structure;

(2)

On each side of an authorized United States Postal Service mailbox;

(3)

On one post which measures no more than 48 inches in height and four inches in width.

(c)

Signs being manufactured, transported and or stored; provided such signs are not used for advertising in any manner, at the place or place of manufacture or storage.

(d)

Signs located within malls courts, porches, patios and similar areas where such signs are not visible form any point on the boundary of the premises.

(e)

Signs who are addressed in this article.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)6, 2-11-2019)

(a)

On-premises and off-premises billboards are only allowed by permit in the M District, there may be any advertising sign or billboard on any vacant or agricultural property, billboards cannot be located on any commercial or industrial developed area or parcel.

(b)

Billboards may not be erected within 200 feet of any residential district.

(c)

Billboards may not be erected with 30 feet of any right of way pavement edge, adjacent street on curb line.

(d)

No billboard shall be placed within 500 feet of another billboard on the same side of the street. The spacing requirements set forth in this article shall not apply to on premises signs.

(e)

The maximum area of a billboard sign face and display area shall not exceed 400 square feet, with a maximum length of 40 feet.

(f)

Billboards shall have a minimum clearance of 20 feet from the grade of adjacent street to the bottom of the sign face and a maximum of 50 feet from the adjacent street to the top of the sign face.

(g)

Billboards much be of engineered construction of steel frame with concrete base with no more than two steel vertical supports.

(h)

Billboards that require more than 50 percent repair or replacement shall meet the requirement of this section.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)7, 2-11-2019)

If a sign violates the city's sign ordinance, the owner must, upon written notice from the city, remove the sign or bring it into compliance within ten days. If the sign is not timely removed, the city may remove the sign at the owner's expense, and any person who violates this article is subject to prosecution for a criminal violation as well as a suit for injunction in addition to any other remedies provided by law.

(Ord. No. 1787-2019, art. II, § 4B(3)8, 2-11-2019)