Dickinson City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
Signs
§ 600-16 Purpose.
The purpose of the sign standards stated is to regulate the potentially objectionable aspects of sign uses by stating specific standards consistent with the promotion of public health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the Town.
§ 600-17 Residential standards.
Any sign permitted in any residential district shall conform to the following specifications:
§ 600-18 Business signs in residential districts.
A.
The following business signs shall be permitted in residential districts as hereinafter provided:
(1)
One announcement or professional sign not to exceed two square feet in area may be erected in conjunction with a customary home occupation.
[Amended 8-10-1998 by L.L. No. 5-1998; 4-12-2004 by L.L. No. 5-2004]
(2)
One sign, not to exceed six square feet, to announce for sale or rent real property or any part thereof upon which said sign is located.
(3)
One sign or announcement for each church, institutional, recreational or other public use, provided that said sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.
(4)
One temporary real estate development sign, not to exceed 36 square feet, directing attention to the opening of a new subdivision. Such sign shall require a permit issued by the Enforcement Officer. Said permit shall be issued for a period of 12 months and may be renewed upon application.
B.
Advertising signs shall not be permitted in any district.
C.
Directional or information signs shall be permitted in any residential district. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area and shall not be illuminated. Said signs may be used for the purpose of stating the name or location of a Town, hospital, community center, church or school or the name or place of meeting of an official or civic body (i.e., Lions Club). No advertising matter shall be contained on signs of this type.
§ 600-19 Commercial District C-1 and C-2 standards.
[Amended 8-10-1998 by L.L. No. 5-1998]
Any sign permitted in C Commercial Districts shall conform to the following:
A.
Business signs. On lots with street frontage of 50 feet or less, each use conducted within any building or upon any lot may have a business sign or signs, provided that the area of such sign and/or signs shall not exceed a total of 150 square feet. Lots with street frontage greater than 50 feet may increase the permitted sign area 2 1/2 square feet for each linear foot by which said street frontage exceeds 50 feet. In no case shall the area of any sign exceed a total of 200 square feet.
B.
Directional or informational signs shall be permitted in C Commercial Districts. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area and shall not be illuminated. Said signs may be used for the purpose of stating the name or location of a Town, hospital, community center, church, school or the name or place of meeting of an official or civic body (i.e., Rotary or Kiwanis Club). No advertising matter shall be contained on signs of this type.
C.
Signs in Highway Interchange Commercial District. See § 600-35C(13) through (17).
§ 600-20 General regulations applying to all districts.
The following regulations shall be applicable to all signs in all districts, except as otherwise provided by law:
A.
General.
(1)
All signs shall be constructed, erected and maintained so as not to present a hazard to persons or property.
(2)
No sign shall be erected near a street or highway in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision along such highway or street.
(3)
No sign shall be erected which for any reason may obstruct the view of, be confused with or mistaken for any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
(4)
The illumination of any sign shall be nonflashing and indirect or diffused. Illuminated signs shall be constructed so that they do not shine or reflect light directly into adjacent residential districts.
B.
Ground signs.
(1)
All ground signs shall maintain the following setback lines. No business sign shall be located closer than five feet to any lot line.
(2)
No ground sign shall be erected to exceed a height of 30 feet above the level of the ground upon which its support rests.
(3)
The minimum clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground shall be eight feet.
[Added 8-10-1998 by L.L. No. 5-1998]
§ 600-21 Computation of permissible sign area.
A.
When determining total permissible sign area for any lot, the area of any existing sign and/or signs shall be included in the computation. The total area of existing and/or signs shall not exceed that requirement as set forth in this chapter.
B.
When determining the total permissible display area for double-faced or V-type signs only the dimension of one face or surface shall be used for said purpose.
§ 600-22 Obstruction.
No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign shall be attached to a fire escape.
§ 600-23 Traffic hazard.
No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any street or road in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any location where, by reason of its position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device by making use of the words "stop," "look," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character, or red, green or amber illumination or reflection, in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.[1]
§ 600-24 Wind pressure and load requirements.
§ 600-25 V-type signs.
All signs may be single-faced or double-faced. On double-faced and/or V-type signs the angle at the vertex of the sign shall not exceed 5°.
§ 600-26 Freestanding letters or numerals.
Signs consisting of freestanding letters, numerals or other representation shall be considered wall or roof signs, whichever being applicable. The sign area shall include the area of the freestanding letters, numerals or other representation and any intervening spaces.
§ 600-27 Illumination.
The illumination of any sign shall be nonflashing, indirect or diffused and shall be arranged so that direct rays of light do not shine or reflect into adjacent residential districts. All signs shall be located so as not to be in the line of vision of traffic control signals.
§ 600-28 Issuance of sign permit.
A.
No sign in any district shall be erected or altered in physical structure until a sign permit has been issued by the Enforcement Officer. All applicants for sign permits shall submit the following:
(1)
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(2)
Location of the building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.
(3)
The type, size and location of the sign.
(4)
Two blueprints or ink drawings of the plans and specifications and method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground.
(5)
Copy of stress sheets and calculations showing that the structure is designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by this chapter and/or any ordinance of the Town of Dickinson for signs 150 square feet or more.
(6)
Name of the person, firm, corporation or association erecting the structure.
(7)
Any electrical permit required and issued for said sign.
(8)
Such other information as the Enforcement Officer shall require to show full compliance with this chapter or any other ordinance of the Town of Dickinson.
§ 600-29 Violations.
If the Enforcement Officer or other designated official shall find that any sign is unsafe or insecure or constitutes a menace to the public or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of this chapter or other applicable ordinances of the Town of Dickinson, he shall have the owner of said sign cited in violation by written notice. From the date of such written notice or from such date as may be designated, said person in violation shall have 30 days to comply with this chapter or any other ordinance of the Town of Dickinson.
§ 600-30 Nonconforming signs.
Every sign existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter may continue although not in conformity with the provisions herein. However, when a nonconforming sign is removed or destroyed, it shall be replaced only in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 600-31 Special permits.
A special permit to exceed the maximum requirements as set forth for permitted signs may be granted by the Town Zoning Board of Appeals if in its judgment it finds that the use for which such permit is sought will not, in the circumstances of the particular case and under any condition that the Board considers to be necessary to desirable, be injurious to the area or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare. The Board shall impose any conditions which it deems necessary to protect the area. The Board shall deny applications for a special permit which in its judgment would prove detrimental to adjacent property. The Board, on application and after notice and hearing, may issue a permit which complies with the general standards set forth as follows:
A.
Each special permit use must comply generally with regulations of this chapter for the district within which it is to be located.
B.
Each special permit use shall be of such character, intensity, size and location that it will be in harmony with orderly development of the district in which it is to be located.
§ 600-32 Temporary signs.
[Amended 10-4-1976; 11-12-2018 by L.L. No. 4-2018]
A.
Exempt signs. The following signs are exempt from the provisions or requirements of this article.
(1)
New York State Inspection station identification sign. Any New York State inspection station identification sign which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle service station.
(2)
New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for passenger vehicles. Any New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for passenger vehicles which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle service station.
(3)
New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for trucks. Any New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for trucks which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle station.
(4)
Self-service identification sign. One self-service identification sign which does not exceed two square feet per self-service fuel pump island.
(5)
Full-service identification sign. One full-service identification sign which does not exceed two square feet per full-service fuel pump island.
(6)
Fuel price signs. Fuel price signs required by federal, state or local legislation.
(7)
Street number identification plates.
(8)
Historical site markers.
(9)
No-trespassing signs.
(10)
Posted (no hunting, fishing and trapping) signs.
(11)
Governmental signs.
(12)
Utility line identification and location signs.
(13)
Phone identification signs.
(14)
Restroom identification signs.
(15)
Handicapped parking and access signs.
(16)
Vacancy/no-vacancy signs. Vacancy/no-vacancy signs which do not exceed three square feet.
(17)
Accessory signs. Accessory signs, identifying such uses as parking, no parking or office, which do not exceed two square feet each.
(18)
Holiday decorations. Holiday decorations erected for and during the particular holiday they relate to or symbolize.
(19)
Open/closed business signs. Open/closed business signs which do not exceed two square feet.
(20)
Street identification, traffic and governmental signs and control devices. Street identification, traffic and governmental signs and control devices required by law, ordinance or regulation.
(21)
Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates. Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates or similar information cut into masonry or other permanent surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material, not to exceed 16 square feet.
(22)
Signs and markers in cemeteries. Signs and markers in cemeteries designating graves and memorials.
(23)
Residential use "for sale" or "for rent" signs. Residential use, one- and two-family use "for sale" or "for rent" signs that do not exceed 16 square feet in size.
B.
Political campaign signs. "Political campaign signs" refer to signs expressing a noncommercial message which bears the name and/or political party of a candidate/candidates for public office or announces and/or supports issues in connection with any national, state or local election. Such signs are permitted, upon application to the Town Clerk for a permit, in any district subject to the following regulations:
(1)
The sign(s) shall be a temporary nature and be constructed of materials that can withstand the elements.
(2)
Said signs may be displayed for a maximum of 90 days and shall be removed promptly within 15 days following the election.
(3)
Upon the issuance of a permit for such signs, check or cash, in an amount as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Town Board, shall be deposited with the Town Clerk to ensure the removal of such signs at the expiration of the permit. The Enforcement Office, after twenty-days written notice to the permit holder addressed to the address shown on the application for said signs to remove such signs, and after the failure of the permit holder to do so, shall cause said signs to be removed and the cash deposit shall be forfeited to help defray the cost of the removal by the Town.
(4)
In the event that the said sign or signs are removed to the satisfaction of the Enforcement Office of the Town of Dickinson without the necessity of any action being taken by the appropriate office of the Town of Dickinson for such removal, any money deposited shall be returned after proper application for the return thereof is made.
C.
Special events and/or on-sale signs. "Special events and/or on-sale signs" refers to signs of a temporary nature, such as banners, special events notifications, and/or similar short duration installations, require a temporary sign permit, subject to the following regulations:
(1)
The number of signs per business allowed on any single property is not restricted, but the total combined size of the allowable signs shall not exceed 24 square feet and shall not exceed five feet in height from the surrounding grade.
(2)
Such temporary signs may be displayed for a maximum of two consecutive weeks at any one time, renewable upon reapplication such that the combined length of display shall not exceed six weeks total in any twelve-month period. Intermittent display on a defined schedule is also allowed (e.g. only on weekends), but such displays are limited to six such singular occurrences in any twelve-month period.
(3)
Sign(s) shall be placed in a location not overly distracting to the public, nor endanger the health, safety and general well-being of the community. No signs shall be located within or over a public right-of-way. All signs shall comply with provision regarding visibility at intersections (§ 600-12D).
(4)
Sign(s) can be lit (either internally or externally) but cannot rotate, flash, blink or be induced to move by artificial means such as a forced-air blower. Inflatable signs, even if deflated during nonbusiness hours, are not allowed.
(5)
A "banner" is any lightweight fabric or similar, nonrigid material used to construct a nonpermanent (temporary) sign. National, state or municipal flags shall not be considered a banner.
(6)
A temporary sign permit is required to be issued prior to installation.
D.
Building construction-related signage. "Building construction-related signage" refers to signs typically erected on construction sites listings, e.g., prospective occupants; contractors; owners; design teams; projected completion/opening date(s); other pertinent information. Such signs are permitted on properties where a valid building permit has been issued, subject to the following limits:
(1)
No more than two such signs are allowed, neither of which shall exceed 50 square feet in area. Internal and/or external lighting of these sign(s) is prohibited.
(2)
The sign(s) shall be removed immediately upon project completion or the issuance of a building compliance certificate, whichever comes first.
(3)
A temporary sign permit is required.
(4)
Signs shall maintain a fifteen feet setback from all property lines.