Deposit City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Signs
§ 140-50 Purpose.
Sign regulations are designed to achieve the following purposes:
To protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate and protect the physical appearance of the community.
To control the number of distractions or obstructions that may pose traffic hazards.
To provide reasonable, yet appropriate, conditions for advertising goods sold or services rendered in commercial and industrial districts.
§ 140-51 General regulations.
The following regulations shall govern all signs in the Village of Deposit:
No sign shall be permitted which is animated by means of flashing, blinking or traveling lights or any means not providing constant illumination. Public service information signs, such as time/weather information and other electronic message centers classified as changeable copy signs are permitted.
No sign, or any portion thereof, shall be permitted which rotates or moves. This section is not meant to prohibit any form of vehicular signage, such as a sign attached to a bus or lettered on a vehicle.
No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
Back-to-back signs shall be counted as one sign and measured as if there were only one face.
No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a street, public property or private property which has attached to it any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of directing people to a business or activity located on the same or other premises, except as permitted in § 140-54. This section is not meant to prohibit any form of vehicular signage, such as a sign attached to a bus or lettered on a vehicle.
No sign shall be placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, tree or other surface located on public property or over or across any street.
No sign shall bear or contain statements, words or pictures of any obscene or pornographic nature.
No signs shall emit audible sounds, odors or visible matter.
No signs shall be permitted which may be confused with a traffic control sign, signal or device or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle bearing the words "stop," "go slow," "caution," "danger," "warning" or similar words or hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal or device.
Banners, pennants, search lights, sandwich board signs, sidewalk or curb signs and balloons are prohibited. Banners, pennants and sandwich board signs shall be permitted at the opening of a new business in a C-B, C-H or IND District for a total of 10 days, after which time they shall be removed.
In no event shall an illuminated sign be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed upon any adjacent public or private premises, so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a nuisance or traffic hazard.
§ 140-52 Permitted signs.
The permitted signs are allowed in the various zoning districts as an accessory use as follows.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Permitted Signs is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 140-53 Specific regulations.
Business signs.
Ground signs.
Large lots. Where a lot has in excess of 300 feet of frontage, one additional ground sign may be erected for each additional 300 feet of street frontage. When more than one ground sign is allowed to be erected, only one sign may be an advertising sign.
Area and height. In nonresidential districts the maximum permitted area and height of a ground sign shall not exceed the following:
Right of Way Width (feet) | Sign Area (square feet) | Maximum Height From Grade (feet) |
|---|---|---|
50 or less | 1 for each linear foot of street frontage | 25 |
51 or more | 1.5 for each linear foot of street frontage | 35 |
Awning or marquee sign. An awning or marquee sign with a printed message or symbols shall be considered a ground sign. Setbacks for these signs shall comply with § 140-25B of this chapter.
Minimum clearance. Where a ground sign projects over a traffic area, such as a driveway or parking lot aisle, the minimum clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground shall be 15 feet.
Ground sign setback. No ground sign shall be located in the side or rear yard of the applicable zoning district in which the ground sign is located, except as permitted in this chapter. Ground signs shall maintain a minimum ten-foot street setback.
Roof signs.
Location. In nonresidential districts, roof signs shall be permitted on principal buildings. Roof signs shall not be permitted on accessory buildings.
Support structure. All signs shall be erected in such a manner that there will be no main support structure visible from off the lot.
Setback. All roof signs shall be set back a distance of at least two feet from the outside walls of the building on which they are located.
Sign area. Although more than one roof sign is permitted, the aggregate sign area shall not exceed the sign area requirements of § 140-53A(1)(d).
Sign height. The maximum height of the roof sign from grade shall meet the requirements of § 140-53A(1)(d) or shall be no more than 10 feet higher than the height of the roof, whichever is the greater.
Individual lettering. When individual letters are to be affixed to a roof, the sign area shall be determined as the sum of the area, in square feet, of the smallest geometric figure which would enclose the individual letters.
Wall signs.
Location. Wall signs shall only be permitted on two sides of a principal building. Wall signs shall not be permitted on accessory buildings.
Number of signs. More than one sign is permitted on a building side, but the total areas of the wall signs on each side of the building shall not exceed 25% of the respective wall area. Unused area from one side of a building may not be added to another side of the building.
Sloping roof signs. Sloping roof signs shall be considered a wall sign. Such signs can be attached flush to the sloping roof or extend upward perpendicular to the street. The sign shall not be higher than the top of the sloping roof.
Individual lettering. When individual letters are to be affixed to a building, the sign area shall be determined as the sum of the area, in square feet, of the smallest geometric figure which would enclose the individual letters.
Signs painted on walls. Signs painted directly onto a wall shall be measured as the area, in square feet, of the smallest geometric figure which would enclose the painted area of the wall.
Wall sign height. The height of the sign(s) shall not exceed 50% of the building height, as measured by the average height of the side of the building the sign(s) are on. The sign can extend no more than 10 feet above the roofline. At least 1/2 of the square footage of the sign must be below the top of the roofline. This sign can only have one face.
Advertising signs.
Ground signs.
Number. No more than one advertising ground sign is permitted on a lot in place of a business ground sign. If a business ground sign is erected, the advertising ground sign must be removed, except where § 140-53A(1)(b) or (c) is applicable.
Size. The size of the sign shall not exceed 72 square feet.
Height. The maximum height from grade shall be 25 feet.
Not permitted. Advertising ground signs shall not be permitted on vacant lots, on lots where the principal use is a parking lot or on lots where the use is totally residential.
Other. See § 140-53A(1)(f) and (g).
Wall signs.
Number. Only one advertising ground sign shall be permitted per principal building.
Size. The maximum size of the sign shall neither exceed 25% of the wall area nor be greater than 72 square feet.
Extension over wall. Advertising wall signs shall not extend over the roofline, nor may they be sloping roof signs.
Usable space. Wall signs shall only be allowed on building sides where unused space for business signs exist. Unused area from one side of a building may not be used on another side.
Additional signs. If additional business signs are constructed, the area of the advertising wall signs may have to be reduced if the remaining unused area is less than the area of the advertising sign.
Not permitted. Advertising wall signs shall not be permitted on lots where the use is totally residential.
Other. See § 140-53A(3)(d) through (f).
§ 140-54 Exemptions.
For the purpose of this article, the term "sign" does not include the following types of signs. Although permits are not required for these exempt signs, the signs shall conform to the height, setback and size requirements detailed in this chapter.
Construction signs. One sign per construction project, not exceeding 32 square feet in area in residential districts or 64 square feet in all other districts, provided that such signs shall be removed five days after the completion of construction. The signs shall be confined to the construction site.
Directional signs. Signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. Directional signs include signs identifying public restrooms, public telephones, walkways or signs providing direction, such as parking lot entrance and exit signs and those of a similar nature. Such directional signs shall be allowed within the street setbacks side and rear yards.
Drive-in facilities.
Businesses with drive-in facilities may have one sign not exceeding 16 square feet for each drive-in lane. The sign shall be located adjacent to the drive-in lane and shall be easily visible to motorists using the lane. If the drive-in lane or facility is removed or not operating for a period exceeding 60 days, the sign must be removed.
Such signs shall only provide information which will assist the motorist in using the facility. Such signs may include but shall not be limited to menus, banking instructions, manual car wash instructions and other signs of a similar character. Advertising is not permitted on these signs.
Flags. The flags, emblems or insignia of any nation, political subdivision or corporation flag. There are no bulk requirements for flags.
Gasoline service station price signs. Signs not exceeding three square feet advertising the price of gasoline and indicating self-service or full-service, when attached to a gasoline pump, pump service island or service-island canopy.
Government signs. Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any government function. There are no bulk requirements for government signs.
Home occupation signs. One sign for each dwelling unit, not to exceed three square feet in area, indicating the name, location or identification of a home occupation.
House numbers and nameplates. There are no bulk requirements for house numbers and name plates.
Interior signs. There are no bulk requirements for signs located within the interior of any buildings, including signs displayed from the inside surface of any door, window or similar facility.
Memorial sign. There are no bulk requirements for memorial signs, which include the names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or other similar noncombustible material, historical markers erected by any government body or with a government permit.
"No trespassing" and "no dumping" signs. "No trespassing" and "no dumping" signs not to exceed two square feet in area per sign. Such signs shall be permitted within the street setback and side and rear yards.
Multifamily retail and subdivision sales signs. One sign shall be permitted, its purpose is to advertise the availability of rental units, subdivision lots and houses. The sign may contain information on rent levels, number of bedrooms, housing prices, financing, descriptive matter and the like. The sign shall be limited to 32 square feet in size. The sign may be located on any lot within the subdivision or multifamily project area, but shall not be located upon a public right-of-way. The sign shall be subject to the restrictions and regulations of the zoning district in which it is located. The sign shall be removed within 12 months following the completion of the subdivision development or multifamily project.
Notice bulletin boards. Notice bulletin boards not over 24 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions where the same is located on the premises of the institution.
Political and campaign signs. Political an campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots, provided that the signs are subject to the following regulations:
The signs shall not be erected earlier than 30 days prior to any election or primary and shall be removed within five days following the election or primary.
Only one ground sign is permitted on any one parcel of land. The total signage shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall not exceed five feet in height from the surrounding grade. The sign shall not be erected in such a manner as to constitute a roof sign. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a sign may be placed upon any legally existing sign structure, but not so as to cover an already existing sign.
No sign shall be located within or over a public right-of-way.
This section in no way prohibits the display or use of car bumper stickers, cartop signs and signs inside the window of a building.
Portable signs. Portable signs shall be permitted in the following situations:
Real estate signs. One real estate sign on any lot or parcel, provided that such sign is located entirely within the property to which the sign applies, is not directly illuminated, does not exceed six square feet in area and is removed within seven days after the sale, closing, rental or leasing.
§ 140-55 Maintenance and removal of signs.
Maintenance and repair. Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times by the replacement of defective parts, painting, and repainting and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign.
Abandoned signs. Any sign which is located on a property which becomes vacant for a period of three months or more shall be deemed to have been abandoned. Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change in ownership or management of the business shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of 12 consecutive months. An abandoned sign is prohibited and the sign shall be removed by the owner of the premises upon which the sign is located.
Dangerous or defective signs. No person shall remain or permit to be maintained on any premises one owns any sign which is dangerous or in defective condition. Such sign shall be removed or repaired by the owner of the premises.
§ 140-56 Permit exceptions.
The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign insofar as requiring the issuance of a permit, but the signs shall be in conformance with all other laws and regulations of the Village:
Changing the advertising copy or message of an existing painted or printed sign, changeable copy sign or similar sign, whether electrical, illuminated, electronic changing message center or nonilluminated painted message, which are all specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
Painting, repainting, cleaning or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign not involving structural changes. Replacement of the plastic face will be included as an exempt operation, provided that it is due to a change caused by breakage and/or deterioration of the face, but not for the substitution of a different or new advertiser.
§ 140-57 Required permit information.
All applicants for sign permits shall submit the following:
Name, address and telephone number of applicant.
Location of building or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.
Name of the person, firm, corporation or association erecting the sign.
Two copies of the plans and specifications and methods of construction and attachment to the building or the ground.
