Elmwood Park City Zoning Code
SECTION 1409
SIGNS
1409.01 Preamble.
Whereas there is a significant relationship between the standards used in displaying signs and public safety and the value and economic stability of adjoining property, and whereas the reasonable display of signs is necessary as a public service and necessary to the conduct of competitive commerce and industry, the regulations in this section establish minimum standards for the display of signs in direct relationship to the functional use of property and to the intensity of development as permitted within the zoning districts which are provided in this Ordinance.
1409.02 Applicability of Sign Regulations to Specific Uses and Districts.
B.
Within the above classifications, Identification Signs are further classified in this Ordinance by the principal use of the lot on which they are located and all other signs are further classified by specified types.
C.
No sign shall be permitted on a lot unless:
1.
The classification of the sign is enumerated as a permitted use or a special use in the regulations of the district in which the lot is located;
2.
The sign, in the case of an Advertising Sign, is a lawfully established use, or, in the case of all other types of signs, the sign is accessory, a lawfully established use; and
3.
The sign is erected, constructed and displayed in conformance with the provisions of this section and other applicable provisions of this Ordinance.
1409.03 General Provisions.
[Ord. 2000-4, 3-6-2000, § 1]
A.
Only one identification sign shall be permitted on a lot, except that on a corner lot, two signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted and each such sign may have an area equal to the permitted maximum gross surface area. For purposes of this section, a canopy or marquee which contains lettering shall be considered an identification sign. (Eg. If a premises displays a canopy with lettering, no other identification sign shall be permitted. Also, if a premises displays an identification sign, no canopy containing lettering shall be permitted, but a canopy without lettering shall be permitted.) A corner lot may display two identification signs, or two canopies with lettering, or one canopy with lettering and one identification sign, one facing each street.
B.
On corner lots where business signs are permitted the maximum gross surface area of signs permitted may be applied to each street frontage.
C.
Signs shall not be erected on the roof of a building.
D.
Signs affixed to a building wall shall not project above the building wall.
E.
Signs shall not be painted on the wall of a building or adhered to the wall of a building with glue or mastic, except those Business Signs normally affixed in such a manner to the windows of business establishments. Signs shall not be posted on street lights, electric traffic signals or other poles or posts.
F.
On corner lots, permitted grounds signs shall not be located within 25 feet of the intersection of the street rights-of-way unless located over 10 feet in height so as not to obstruct the vision of motorists; and otherwise permitted projecting signs, awnings or marquees shall not project into the required front yard or side yard adjoining a street or into the street right-of-way below a height of 10 feet.
G.
New development signs shall be removed within nine months following the first occupancy in the development or within six months after the completion of the development, whichever is sooner.
H.
Special event posters and banners shall not be displayed for longer than 30 days prior to or 10 days after the advertised event, excluding requirements for legal notices.
J.
No off-site advertising sign shall be located within 150 feet of a residence district.
K.
On open sales lots where the maximum gross surface area of permitted signs is specified as a ratio of building facade, the permitted sign area shall equal 1/2 of that specified multiplied times the width of the lot in feet.
L.
Where permitted, awnings shall have a clearance of eight feet measured from the sidewalk grade.
M.
Where otherwise permitted, in this Ordinance marquees and canopies shall be permitted only when approved by the Director of Code Administration after finding that:
1.
The marquee or canopy is structurally safe and will not impair or endanger public safety, and
2.
If the marquee or canopy is an accessory to the entrance of a building and such marquee or canopy extends to the edge of the roadway, a "no-parking zone" must be designated in front of the marquee or canopy.
N.
All signs or other advertising structures, except as provided in Section 1409.05C hereof, shall be affixed flat against building walls parallel to the lot line and no sign shall project more than 12 inches from such building wall.
O.
No overhanging marquee or canopy which violates the provisions of Subparagraph N hereof shall be constructed or erected for the purpose of advertising on the face or wall of any building.
P.
No sign or other advertising structure erected shall be constructed on or across the roof of any building, no shall any sign affixed to the wall of a building, which would otherwise be in conformance with the regulations of this Code, protrude above the horizontal roof line of such building.
Q.
The permittee of any sign or other advertising structure as defined in this Zoning Ordinance shall, at least once every three years, paint all exposed parts and supports of such sign, or other advertising structure, unless the same are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust or rotting.
R.
Every sign or other advertising structure in violation of any provision of this Zoning Ordinance except as specifically hereinafter provided in Subparagraph S shall be deemed a violation sign, and shall forthwith be removed, altered or replaced so as to conform with the provisions of this Ordinance.
S.
For the purposes of Subparagraphs N to R of this Section 1409.03, any sign or other advertising structure erected and in place on January 15, 1968, or erected between January 15, 1968 and June 1, 1990 pursuant to a permit issued by the Village, which does not conform with the provisions of Subparagraphs N or O, shall be deemed a nonconformity.
T.
Authority to Continue Existing Nonconformities. Any sign, or other advertising structure, which is deemed to be a nonconformity in subparagraph S and which is not a violation sign as described in Subparagraph R, and which was erected pursuant to a Village permit, and in place on the effective dates of Subparagraph S and which remains or becomes a nonconformity upon the adoption of such sections or any subsequent amendment thereto, may be continued only in accordance with the following regulations:
1.
Repairs and Alterations. Ordinary repairs and nonstructural alterations may be made to a nonconforming sign. No structural alterations shall be made in, to or upon such nonconforming sign, except those required by law, or except to make the sign conform to the regulations of Subparagraph N to R.
2.
Additions and Enlargements. A nonconforming sign shall not be added to or enlarged in any manner, except to make the sign conform to the regulations of such Sections (N-R).
3.
Moving. No nonconforming sign shall be moved in whole or in part to any other location within the Village, unless such sign, and the use thereof, is made to conform to all the regulations of such sections.
4.
Restoration of Damaged Nonconforming Signs. A nonconforming sign which is destroyed or damaged by fire or other casualty to the extent that the cost of restoration will exceed 60% of the original cost of such sign, shall not be restored unless it shall be made to conform to all the regulations of such sections, or any subsequent amendment thereto. In the event that such damage is less than 60% of the original cost of such sign, no repairs or construction shall be made unless such restoration is started within one year from the date of the partial destruction and is diligently prosecuted to completion.
5.
Discontinuance of Use of Nonconforming Sign. A nonconforming sign, the use of which is discontinued for a period of 180 days, shall thereafter conform to the regulations of such Sections (N-R).
6.
Changes of Use Nonconforming Sign. Where the business use or identity associated with the nonconforming sign, at the time of the adoption of such sections, thereafter terminates or changes, such termination or change of use or identity shall operate as a termination of the nonconforming use, and the use of such sign thereafter shall conform to the regulations of such Sections (N-R).
7.
Amortization of Nonconforming Signs. All signs or advertising structures rendered nonconforming by the provisions of such sections shall be removed, altered, remodeled or converted to conform to the provisions of such sections wherever any of the conditions set forth in subsections T1 through T6 of this section inclusive, occur.
V.
In addition to the remedies provided by the laws of this state to prevent, restrict, correct or abate the violation of this ordinance, any person who violates any of the provisions of such sections shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500 for each offense. Every day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
W.
Additional regulations regarding the display of temporary real estate for sale or to rent and open house signs are as follows:
1.
Only one single or double-faced temporary real estate for sale or to rent sign shall be permitted on a lot. One additional sign advertising a real estate open house shall be permitted on a lot on which an open house is being conducted, but such additional sign is only permitted to be displayed for the period beginning one hour prior to the commencement of, and ending one hour after the conclusion of, the open house.
2.
No banners, pennants, balloons, inflatable figures or other such devices shall be displayed in connection with an open house or sale of real estate.
3.
Temporary real estate for sale or to rent or open house signs shall consist of not more than four colors.
4.
The maximum gross surface area of a temporary real estate for sale or to rent or open house signs may be increased by not more than two additional rider boards, each not greater than six inches in height nor wider than the width of the basic sign.
1409.04 Area, Display, Illumination and Content of Signs.
Signs which are permitted in any zoning district shall be in accordance with the standards listed in the following chart.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Sign Regulations Table is included as an attachment to this chapter.
1409.05 Regulation of Signboards and Billboards.
A.
No sign board or billboard shall be erected or maintained in the Village unless the owner or lessee thereof shall first have obtained a permit therefor.
B.
The President and Board of Trustees may, in their discretion, authorize a permit to issue for the erection of signboards or billboards on the street line, not exceeding the height of 15 feet, where the same will afford protection from excavated ground, holes, abandoned cellars or unsightly or dangerous conditions, on condition that the person erecting such billboard shall give a bond to the Village in such penal sum as the President and Board of Trustees may fix, with sureties to be approved by the President and Board of Trustees, conditioned to save the Village harmless from all liability from damages or accidents to persons or property occasioned by or resulting from the erection of such billboards on the street line.
The President and Board of Trustees may, in their discretion, authorize a permit to issue for the erection of public transit shelters, on the street line, parkway or sidewalk, which shelters may have space for the display of advertising material; provided that such shelter shall not exceed 9 1/2 feet in height, the party erecting same shall give, as the Village may elect, a bond or evidence of insurance, which insurance shall name the Village as additionally insured, to the Village in such sums as the President and Board of Trustees may fix, with sureties to be approved by the President and Board of Trustees to save the Village harmless from all liability for damages or accidents to persons or property occasioned by or resulting from the erection and maintenance of such transit shelter and the property owner abutting the proposed location of such shelter shall not subject to same.
C.
All signboards or billboards or places prepared for or devoted to that particular purpose, and not forming the outer wall of any building or shed, shall not exceed 15 feet in height and shall be securely built and subject to the inspection and supervision of the electrical inspector.
D.
Whoever shall erect, keep or maintain any signboard or billboard for advertising upon any public ground or place, or upon any private premises adjacent to a sidewalk, street or footway, the same being so erected as to occasion danger or inconvenience to the public, shall be guilty of maintaining nuisance and shall be punished as provided in Section 13-3 of the Code of the Village of Elmwood Park.
E.
The owner, licensee or lessee of any signboard or billboard in the Village, or of blank walls or pace used for the posting of bills and display advertising shall keep the same in an orderly and clean condition, and well braced and constructed, and shall further comply with all orders of the President and Board of Trustees or the electrical inspector requiring the same to be repaired or made more secure, presentable and sightly.
F.
No person shall cover, mutilate, tear down, destroy or injure in any manner, any poster, bill or advertisement, lawfully upon any signboard or billboard or any other pace within the Village limits until after the happening of the event therein advertised, if the date thereof be given.