Elbridge Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signs
§ 265-37 Intent and scope.
The intent of this article is to regulate the size, location and physical characteristics of all signs. It is intended to create a more attractive physical appearance of the Town and to promote the public welfare and safety by minimizing the distraction of the traveling public caused by the location, lettering, message or animation of outdoor advertising devices, and at the same time provide the business community a reasonable and practical amount of advertising devices to announce their locations, services and products.
The regulations of this article shall govern and control the erection, enlargement, expansion, renovation, operation, maintenance relocation and removal of all signs within the Town visible from any street, sidewalk or public or private common open space. Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited. These regulations also address the use and termination of nonconforming signs.
§ 265-38 Permit.
Except as provided in this article, no sign shall be erected or renovated without a sign permit evidencing the compliance of such work under the provisions of this article.
Routine sign maintenance, changing of parts designed to be changed or changing the content of a sign in any manner which does not change the physical characteristics of the sign shall not require a sign permit.
Every application for a sign permit shall be submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer with a fee as established by resolution of the Town Board for each sign and shall be accompanied with a copy of plans and specifications showing the method of construction, illumination and support of such signs and a sketch, drawn to scale, showing sign faces, exposed surfaces and the proposed message and design, accurately represented as to size, area, proportion and color, by a calculation of the total amount of sign area presently existing on the property, and by the applicant's attestation that the sum of the areas of the requested sign or signs and the existing signs do not exceed the maximum allowed by the provision of this article.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]
Any variance from the size, height or setback provisions of this article shall be subject to the standards for an area variance.
§ 265-39 Sign definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any sign which includes movement of light, text or parts.
A sign which is displayed upon a sheet of canvas or other material used to protect it from sunlight or rain, which is attached to the face of a building.
A temporary sign, not exceeding three feet by 10 feet composed of lightweight canvas-like material, which can be attached to a structure or suspended by attachment at each end.
See "off-premises sign."
Lineal measurement of the wall of a building which faces a public street. A building on a corner has two building street frontages.
A sign used for identification purposes, to direct attention to a business or profession conducted upon the premises at which the sign is located, and which may also refer to goods or services produced, offered for sale or obtained at such premises. Such a sign may not include pricing, except fuel stations.
A sign which is displayed upon a permanent roof-like shelter extending from part of a building face over an entryway.
A temporary sign erected on premises on which construction is taking place during the period of such construction, indicating the names of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors and similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors and similar persons or firms having a role or interest with respect to the structure or project.
Any sign which is designed and erected solely for the purpose of traffic or pedestrian direction or control. Such a sign contains no advertising copy.
A sign which may be supported by one or more posts and does not exceed six feet above the finished grade upon which it is erected or does not exceed eight feet above the finished grade if it is erected upon a berm.
A sign or tablet memorializing a person, event, structure or the like.
A free standing sign, in which the entire bottom is in contact with the finished grade.
A third-party sign which advertises goods, products, services or facilities or directs people to a different location from where the sign is installed.
A sign supported by one or more columns, uprights or braces in or upon the finished grade and not attached to or forming part of a building, which does not exceed 20 feet above the finished grade.
Any temporary sign which displays the name and/or picture of any individual seeking election or appointment to a public office, or pertaining to a forthcoming public election or referendum or pertaining to or advocating political views or policies.
A sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, a structure or the finished grade, including A-frame style, freestanding sandwich board signs.
A temporary sign advertising private sales of personal property at house sales, garage sales, rummage sales and the like.
A sign pertaining to the sale or rental of the property upon which it is located.
A freestanding sign not exceeding four feet in height with a face no greater than two feet by three feet, of A-frame design and is not illuminated.
Any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or project images. "Sign" does not include the flag or emblem of any nation, organization of nations, state or city, or any fraternal, religious or civic organizations; merchandise, pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window display; works of art which in no way identify a product; or scoreboards located on athletic fields; official notices issued by any court or public office or officer in the performance of a public or official duty; and traffic control signs as defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Law. For the purpose of removal, "signs" shall also include all sign structures.
A sign which is not permanently affixed and is not otherwise included within the definition of a portable sign.
A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of the sign and which does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure nor does it extend above the height of the wall to which it is attached. Also included in this definition are awnings, canopy, and roof and window signs for purposes of calculation of total sign age.
A sign which is applied or attached to the exterior or interior of a window or is installed inside of a window within 12 inches of the window through which it can be seen.
§ 265-40 General standards.
Sign measurement.
The area of a sign shall include any frame and all lettering, wording, designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed. The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall be omitted in measuring the area of the sign unless such structure or bracing is made part of the message or face of the sign.
Where a sign consists of individual letters, words or symbols attached to or painted upon a surface, building, canopy, awning, wall or window, the sign area shall be the area of the smallest rectangle which completely encompasses all such letters, words or symbols and any accompanying background of a color different than the natural color of the building, canopy, awning, wall or window and any frame.
A sign may only have two faces and, if it does, only the area of one face is considered in calculating the area of the sign.
Sign height shall be measured between average finished grade and the highest point of the highest element of the sign.
No sign shall be maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, size, shape, content, lighting or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device, or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic; nor shall a sign obstruct any fire escape, window, door or opening used as a means of egress, ventilation or for firefighting purposes.
No sign may extend, project over or be located on any public right-of-way.
The owner of a sign and the owner of the premises upon which the sign is erected shall maintain such sign, including its illumination sources, in neat and orderly condition and good working order at all times and to prevent the development of any corrosion, rotting or other deterioration in the physical appearance or safety of such sign or support structures.
All signs must appear to be professionally created.
§ 265-41 Prohibited signs.
The following signs are prohibited:
Off-premises sign;
Animated sign;
Bare bulb sign;
Temporary sign, except as expressly authorized;
Any outdoor sign which advertises, identifies or pertains to a business no longer conducted or a product no longer sold on the premises where such sign is located;
Any sign on a tree or utility pole or painted on or otherwise directly affixed to any rock, ledge or other natural feature;
Any sign on a single-family dwelling or freestanding on its lot which contains a message other than the address and the names of the residents, or the dwelling name;
Portable sign, except a sandwich board sign;
Swinging sign;
Roof sign;
Projecting sign.
§ 265-42 General restrictions and standards for specific sign.
Wall sign. A wall sign may be painted directly upon a building wall subject to the following restrictions:
The area of the sign shall include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs or symbols, together with any background of a different color.
A color depiction of the area to be painted shall be included with the application for a painted wall sign.
No sign shall be painted directly upon any unpainted stone wall.
Freestanding sign: may not be situated less than 15 feet from a highway right-of way.
Monument sign: may not be situated less than 15 feet from a highway right-of-way.
Pole sign: may not be situated less than 15 feet from a highway right-of-way.
Window sign. The area of a window sign shall not exceed 25% of the window surface or four square feet, whichever is less, and may not be in any window higher than the level at which the principal use takes place. Any window sign installed in a window above the first grade floor shall not be illuminated.
§ 265-43 Nonconforming sign.
A sign which was lawful at the time of adoption of this chapter and became nonconforming as the result of its adoption shall be removed or modified to conform to this chapter within three years of its effective date. A nonconforming sign may not be enlarged or replaced by another nonconforming sign.
§ 265-44 Signs allowed without permit.
The following signs may be erected and maintained upon a lot without obtaining a sign permit:
One construction sign not exceeding four square feet in an agricultural, residential district or service district, 16 square feet in a business district or 32 square feet in an industrial district and may not be maintained for more than three days following the conclusion of the construction project.
Directional sign not exceeding one square foot and shall not be more than three feet in height and may be utilized in sufficient number to accomplish adequate public notice.
Flags and emblems of a government or of a political, civic philanthropic, education or religious organization.
Memorial sign shall be made of durable materials, such as bronze, stone or concrete, and is integral with the building.
Political sign in all districts shall not exceed 32 square feet. Political signs shall be erected no more than four weeks prior to an election and must be removed within one week following such election.
Private sale sign shall not exceed four square feet in area, shall be located entirely on the premises where such a sale is to be conducted, shall not be erected more than 48 hours in advance of such sale and shall be removed on the day following the conclusion of such sale.
One real estate sign not exceeding four square feet in area per residential lot, 16 square feet in area per commercial lot, or 32 feet in area per industrial lot. Such a sign shall be removed within three days following the sale or rental of the property.
One sandwich board sign which may be placed no less than 15 feet away from the highway right-of-way. Such sign may only be displayed during the business hours of operation and may not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Special commercial promotional event sign. A banner announcing a special commercial event promotion is allowed to be erected three times during a calendar year and may not be displayed for more than 30 days on each such occasion.
Community event signs. Temporary, nonilluminated signs advertising coming events, special sales, contests, promotional activities, sponsored by a not-for-profit organization, and which shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. The name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for removal of the sign shall be clearly marked on the sign. Such signs may be erected not more than three weeks prior to the beginning of the event and must be removed within three days after the event.
Government mandated sign.
§ 265-45 Business signs allowed with permit.
All businesses which sell goods within a building less than 10,000 square feet may erect a freestanding sign not to exceed 32 square feet. Such an enterprise may also erect a wall sign the total square footage of which shall be determined by a one square foot of signage per lineal foot of street frontage not to exceed 75 square feet except for corner lots which may not exceed 100 square feet. If there is more than one entity within the building, the total allowable wall signage shall be apportioned among such entities based upon their proportionate share of the building. For all buildings 10,000 square feet and over, the allowed signage shall be as determined by the Planning Board.
Any lot from which fuel is dispensed at retail may erect one pole sign not exceeding 32 square feet identifying the brand of fuel and it's pricing. A wall sign shall be limited as provided for in Subsection A herein above. Pump price signage and brand identification as prescribed by other laws are allowed. Upon each face of a canopy erected over the dispensing pump, a brand logo may be displayed which shall not exceed nine square feet.
Signage for all industrial district uses shall be determined by the Planning Board.
Manufactured home parks may erect only a monument sign which shall not exceed 24 square feet. Such a sign shall include location identification and the name of the park.
Any entity which is entitled to an agricultural exemption under the Real Property Tax Law may have a freestanding sign not to exceed 32 square feet and wall signage not to exceed 75 square feet, which signage may be placed upon any buildings which are utilized for the production of agricultural products.
Signage for all other uses shall be limited to a freestanding sign which shall not exceed 32 square feet.