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Eldridge City Zoning Code

§ 37.07

TABLE OF SIGN TYPES, DEFINITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.

   Listed below are the types of signs permitted followed by a definition of each sign type and a table of the standards governing the characteristics of each:
   (A)   01 Awning sign: a sign which is designed into the material composing the awning which may serve as an on-premises identification and advertising sign:
 
Height:
Same as awning NTE 30 feet
Ill:
Flood
Loc:
Same as awning
Number:
Same as awning up to 4
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
300 square feet each per frontage
Type Str.:
On awning, 1 face
 
   (B)   02 Nonprofit sign: a sign identifying a nonprofit service club with a charter in the city:
 
Height:
10 feet
Ill:
Flood
Loc:
On public property
Number:
1 per organization
Size:
4 square feet consistent with other signs in group
Special conditions:
Sign must be grouped with other nonprofit organization signs at location approved by the City Council or Park Board if on park property; or placed on a public project the organization funded. Signs must be ordered by the city or be made of materials approved by the city
Type Str.:
1 face
 
   (C)   03 Automobile gas station sign tire rack: a sign on a tire rack at a service station:
Height:
10 feet
Ill:
None
Loc:
On tire rack within 15 feet of building
Number:
2
Projection:
None
Size:
Area of tire rack
Special conditions:
Signs only permitted at gasoline service stations
Type Str.:
Attached to rack, 1 face
 
   (D)   04 Automobile gas station door sign: a sign painted or otherwise attached to the door on a service station:
Height:
Same as doors
Ill:
None
Loc:
Buildable area on overhead door
Number:
Same as doors
Projection:
None
Size:
Same as doors
Special conditions:
Signs only permitted at service stations
Type Str.:
Attached to door of building, 1 face
 
   (E)   05 Clocks: a commercial size clock capable of being read beyond the property on which it is located:
 
Ill:
Back, flood
Loc:
Buildable area only
Height:
30 feet
Number:
1 per interior lot
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
300 square feet
Type Str.:
Mon, pole, bldg, 2 face
 
   (F)   06 Church bulletins: a sign which may contain the name of the church or other religious organization involved, located on the immediate church grounds, which has moveable type or other manner of changing copy and shows the names of officials of the church and gives times and other information of coming church activities:
 
Height:
10 feet
Ill:
Back, flood, sil
Loc:
NCT 10 feet to front property line and other buildable areas
Number:
1 per interior lot
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
32 square feet
Type Str.:
Mon, pole, bldg, 2 face
 
   (G)   07 Entryway sign: a sign located at the entrance to a development or subdivision which contains the name of the development and/or the names of businesses located therein:
Height:
6 feet above street elevation
Ill:
None in Residential District, all other back, flood, sil
Loc:
In Residential Districts, sign must be setback 5 feet from each lot line. Signs in a boulevard must be setback 25 feet from the intersection corner
Number:
1 each side of primary entrance
Projection:
None
Size:
64 square feet
Special conditions:
The design and location of all entryway signs must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council before construction will be allowed
Type Str.:
Mon, 2 face
 
   (H)   08 For sale, for lease and open house: a sign which is temporary, located on and is intended to indicate that the immediate perimeter or land is available for sale or for lease or that the structure located thereon may be visited during certain hours and contains the corporate and/or private name and phone and/or address of the agent who may be contacted for inquiries concerning the property:
 
Height:
15 feet
Ill:
None
Loc:
No restriction
Number:
1 per interior lot
Projection:
None
Size:
32 square feet in “R” districts, 64 square feet in all other districts
Type Str.:
Temp, mon, pole, bldg, 2 face, yard
 
   (I)   09 Flags: a flag of the United States, the state or the city. Insignia of the United States, state, city or other flags representing national, state or local concerns when displayed with one of the above:
 
Height:
50 feet
Ill:
Flood
Loc:
No restriction
Number:
No limit
Projection:
30 feet from pole
Size:
No limit
Type Str.:
Pole, bldg, 2 face
 
   (J)   10 Garage sale signs: a sign which advertises a general sale, open to the public conducted from or on a residential premises in any residential zone, for the purpose of disposing of personal property, including, but not limited to, all sales entitled garage, lawn, yard, attic, porch, room, backyard, patio, flea market, rummage or moving sale:
Ill:
None
Height:
4 feet
Loc:
No restriction on the garage sale premises. Signs may be posted off-premises provided that the premises upon which the garage sale is conducted is not on a major thoroughfare as shown on the major street map and permission to erect said sign is received from the property owner upon whose property such signs are to be placed. No signs shall be placed on any public right-of-way or structure thereon
Number:
4 on-premises, 4 off-premises
Projection:
None
Size:
2 square feet off-premises, 4 square feet on-premises
Special condition:
No off-premises sign shall be exhibited prior to the day of the sale. No sign on the premises of the garage sale shall be exhibited more then 48 hours prior to the sale. All signs must be removed at the close of the garage sale
Type Str.:
Temp, 2 face, yard
 
   (K)   11 House numbers: also known as street address numbers; is a small sign with the numerals or written number which has been assigned as the progressive number which indicates the relative location along a street or place of the premises concerned:
 
Height:
10 feet bldg, 4 feet for mon
Ill:
Back, flood, sil
Loc:
Residential District - no restrictions. Commercial or Industrial District - minimum of 15 feet from the property line or 1/2 the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater or within the buildable area
Number:
1 for each wall of each building, 1 mon per street frontage
Projection:
2 feet from structure
Size:
Residential District - 2 square feet, Commercial or Industrial District - 48 square feet
Type Str.:
Bldg, mon, 2 face
 
   (L)   12 Marquee sign or changeable copy sign: a fixed sign either mounted on the ground, on a pole or on a building, which has letters which can be changed so as to make new messages:
 
Height:
30 feet
Ill:
Back, flood
Loc:
Buildable area
Number:
1 per interior lot
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
300 square feet
Type Str.:
Pole, bldg, mon, 2 face
 
   (M)   13 Church directional sign: a sign directing motorist to church location:
 
Height:
8 feet above street
Loc:
On public property in city right-of-way
Number:
2 per organization
Size:
3 square feet
Special conditions:
Sign must be ordered by the city and be made of materials approved by the city
Type Str.:
1 face
 
   (N)   14 Nameplates: a small sign which contains the name of one individual or a married couple or a family surname or company name, as an identification for a specific doorway or building:
 
Height:
15 feet
Ill:
Flood, back
Loc:
No restrictions
Number:
1 per dwelling
Projection:
2 feet
Size:
1 square feet
Type Str.:
Bldg, mon, 2 face
 
   (O)   15 Off-premises advertising: a sign which advertises a business, service, product or activity at a location other than where the business, service, product or activity is located:
 
Height:
30 feet for a separate structure, or when attached to a building, 4 feet above roof parapet line not to exceed 30 feet, whichever is lower, except in the “I-2” District the maximum height may be up to 40 feet
Ill:
Back, flood, all lighting shall be shielded as to avoid casting bright light beyond the property on which the sign is located
Loc:
Buildable area, except front of building
Number:
2 (2 face signs) on one structure not to exceed a total of 300 square feet per orientation or up to 672 square feet in the “I-2” District, if approved by the Board of Adjustment. The total number of sign structures shall not exceed 1 per 2 square miles of area within the corporate limits of the city
Size:
Maximum of 300 square feet in all districts. Board of Adjustment may allow a sign up to 672 square feet only in the “I-2” District as a use on review. The Board of Adjustment may also allow the use of extensions on a sign in the “I-2” District up to a total of 100 square feet. The extensions may be in addition to an increase in sign size
Special conditions:
Signs located in the “C-3”, “C-4” and “C/I” districts are allowed only as a use on review. Signs in the “I-1” and “I-2” Districts are a permitted use. No sign shall be located closer than 1,000 feet to a Residential District, school or park with a play area. All off-premises advertising sign structures must be separated from each other by a minimum of a 1/2 mile radius
Type Str.:
Pole, mon, bldg except front, 2 face, yard
 
   (P)   16 Reserved: reserved;
   (Q)   17 Tethered floating signs: a sign which advertises a business, service, product or activity at the premises on which the sign is tethered:
Height:
Maximum of 100 feet to the top of the balloon or blimp
Ill:
May be internally or externally illuminated
Number:
Only one such sign shall be allowed per business at a time
Restriction:
A sign permit shall be obtained from the building inspector for up to the 72-hour display period. The permit fee shall be $50
Loc:
The anchor point for the tether must be located within the buildable portion of the lot
Size:
Maximum of 200 square feet area includes the actual sign area and the balloon or blimp needed to transport the sign
Special conditions:
The sign may be allowed only in the “C-1”, “C-2”, “C-3”, “C-4”, “C/I”, “I-1” and “I-2” Zoning Districts. The sign must be tethered at a location for which the height of the tethered sign will be less then the distance to the nearest property line on which it is tethered. No sign shall be permitted for more then 72 hours. Said sign shall be removed for at least 30 days before any similar type sign is again displayed
Type Str.:
Floating sign made of mylar, rubber, nylon or other similar material which is anchored to the ground or structure by means of a flexible tether such as a wire cable, rope or other similar material
 
   (R)   18 On-premises identification and advertising sign: a sign which displays the name and/or products and/or service which can be purchased on the premises where the sign in located. May include time and temp information:
 
Height:
“O-T”, “C-1” and “C-2” District - 20 feet; “C-3” District - 30 feet if erected at or behind the required yard line, 20 feet if erected within the required yard; “C-4” District - 30 feet
Ill:
Back, flood, sil
Loc:
Minimum of 15 feet from the property line or 1/2 the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater or within the buildable area
Number:
1/business/street frontage
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
300 square feet if erected at or behind the required yard line. 60 square feet if erected within a required yard
Type Str.:
Pole, mon, building, 2 face, yard
 
   (S)   19 Parking lot instructional signs: a sign located adjacent to driveway and/or within parking areas which instructs the users as to restriction and regulations controlling the parking area, such as, but not limited to, private parking areas, hours of parking, one-way entrances, no parking area, towing policy and the like:
Height:
7 feet
Ill:
Back, flood, sil
Loc:
Buildable area
Number:
1 per entrance
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
9 square feet
Special conditions:
Signs identifying the specific use of individual parking spaces are allowed; provided they are located within a 3 foot distance of the identified space and do not exceed 4 square feet in area
Type Str.:
Bldg, pole, mon, 2 face
 
   (T)   20 Parking lot entrance/exit: a sign located along a driveway entrance or exit to some type of parking area which indicates the use of the driveway as an entrance and/or exit:
 
Height:
7 feet
Ill:
Back, flood, sil
Loc:
No restriction
Number:
1 per entrance
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
2 square feet
Type Str.:
Bldg, pole, mon, 2 face
 
   (U)   21 Political signs: political signs are permitted in all districts, subject to the following conditions:
 
Height:
5 feet
Ill:
None
Loc:
No restriction, except no sign shall be within 30 feet of a corner street lot line intersection
Number:
No restriction
Size:
32 square feet and not longer then 8 feet horizontally
Special condition:
No sign shall be erected on public right-of-way. Such signs shall be removed, or caused to be removed, by the person or organization responsible for the erection or distribution of such signs, or by the owner of the property upon which they are located, or by such owner’s agent no later than seven days after the election to which such signs pertain, unless a primary or special election sign continues to be pertinent to an election to be held within 45 days after said primary or special election, in which case such signs may remain for a period not to exceed 7 days after such general election. Any person who violates this section will be given 48 hours from the time the violation is discovered and the offender notified to come into compliance herewith. Thereafter, the offense may be prosecuted as a municipal infraction
Type Str.:
Temp, yard
 
   (V)   22 Public service and safety: a sign authorized by a governmental agency with highway directions, parking restrictions, information of government regulations for traffic control, street traffic control, street names or other public purposes:
 
Height:
No limit
Ill:
Back, flood
Loc:
On public property
Number:
No limit
Projection:
No limit
Size:
No limit
Type Str.:
Pole, bldg, mon, 2 face
 
   (W)   23 Temporary banner sign: signs which are temporary in nature and are typically used to advertise a product or event on the site the sign is posted. The signs are usually fastened to the existing building, other structures on-site or temporary posts of some sort:
Height:
Maximum of 15 feet; however, if the bottom of the sign is less then 7 feet above the average ground height and located between 2 poles, fence type posts or other similar type structure, then the bottom of the sign shall be no higher than 3 feet above the average ground height
Ill:
None
Loc:
Minimum of 15 feet from the property line or 1/2 the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater or within the buildable area
Number
2/business/street frontage
Projection:
None
Size:
30 square feet
Special condition:
No sign shall be permitted for more than 30 consecutive days. Said sign shall be removed for at least a 15-day period before a similar type sign advertising a similar type product is displayed on the site
Type Str.:
Pole, bldg, 2 face
 
   (X)   24 Temporary mobile sign: signs which are temporary and can easily be moved to another location and which have moveable type:
Height:
No limit
Ill:
Back, flood
Loc:
No restriction
Number:
2
Projection:
None
Size:
40 square feet
Special conditions:
No sign shall be permitted for more than 30 days and one renewal of 30 days. No additional reapplication shall be considered sooner than 90 days after termination of the last such permit
Type Str.:
Mon, 2 face
 
   (Y)   24 Tee marker with off-premises advertising: a sign located at a tee an a golf course containing a graphic representation of the current hole on the front and off-premises advertising on the opposite side:
Height:
7 feet maximum
Ill:
None
Loc:
Within 20 feet of the area designated for the tee
Number:
1 per tee
Projection:
None
Size:
9 square feet
Special restrictions:
No sign shall be located so that any advertising is visible from any adjoining roadway or property outside of the golf course. The front side may contain, in addition to the graphic representation of the current hole, the name or logo only of the advertiser on the opposite side. Said name or logo shall cover no more than 20% of the sign face
Type Str.:
Mon, 2 face, wood with an etched surface
 
   (Z)   26 Shopping center: a sign which identifies a complex of retail or office establishments which are serviced by common parking and driveway facilities and are in a complex of at least three commercial establishments on the same property or adjacent properties. Such a sign is allowed in lieu of on-premises identification pole signs for each individual business:
 
Height:
Minimum 8 feet, maximum 30 feet
Ill:
Back, flood, sil
Loc:
No restriction
Number:
1 per interior lot
Projection:
4 feet
Size:
500 square feet
Type Str.:
Pole, 2 face
 
   (AA)   27 Subdivision, temporary: a sign located at a new development where there are multiple lots, which is intended to identify the development until the lots are sold and/or initial construction of buildings and sales are complete:
Height:
35 feet
Ill:
None
Loc:
Buildable area
Number:
1 per entrance to area
Projection:
None
Size:
100 square feet
Special conditions:
180-day period can be renewed until project is 90% completed or 10 renewals maximum.
Type Str.:
Pole, mon, 2 face
 
(Ord. 2023-07, passed 3-20-2023; Ord. 2025-10, passed 5-19-2025)