Fredonia Village City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signs
§ 575-66 Sign permits required.
No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a zoning permit, except those signs excepted in § 575-67, and without being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 575-67 Signs permitted in all districts without permit.
The following signs are permitted in all zoning districts without a permit, subject to the following regulations:
A.
Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
B.
Name and warning signs not to exceed two square feet located on the premises.
C.
Household occupation and professional home office not to exceed two square feet in area and mounted flush against the dwelling.
D.
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed 50 square feet in area located on the premises.
E.
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed 50 square feet in area located on the premises.
F.
Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure.
G.
Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information, and notices.
H.
Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the Planning Commission for a period of not more than six months.
I.
Temporary signs or banners to be displayed for 45 days or less which promote community events or events sponsored by nonprofit organizations with prior approval of at least two of the three following Village officials: Village President, Village Clerk, Director of Public Works.
J.
Rummage sale signs used for the purpose of advertising the sale of merchandise at a private residence by at least one occupant of said residence, subject to the following regulations:
(1)
Such signs shall be posted only on the day(s) of the sale.
(2)
Signs shall not be attached to or displayed on traffic or regulatory signs, light poles, parkway/terrace trees or other public property.
(3)
Signs shall be ground signs.
(4)
Signs must not exceed four square feet, shall be a minimum of 10 feet from the right-of-way line of the intersection street, and are not allowed in the median strip of boulevard streets.
K.
Election campaign signs, provided that permission has been obtained from the property owner, renter or lessee. The combined area of campaign signs on properties in a business or industrial district shall not exceed 100 square feet. In residential districts, campaign signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area on all sides. No election campaign signs are permitted on public property or in any public right-of-way. This section shall not apply during an election campaign period, as defined as the period beginning on the first day of circulation of nomination papers by candidates for office or the first day on which candidates would circulate nomination papers were papers to be required and ending on the day of the election; in the case of a referendum, the period beginning on the day on which the question to be voted on is submitted to the electorate and ending on the day on which the referendum is held.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
§ 575-68 Signs permitted in all business and manufacturing districts with permit.
Signs are permitted in all business, manufacturing, and extractive districts subject to the following restrictions. Each premises is limited to two of the following sign types, and any unused area may not be transferred from one sign type to another:
A.
Wall signs placed against the walls of buildings shall not extend more than six inches outside of a building's wall surface, shall not exceed 500 square feet in area for any one premises, and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center-line street grade.
B.
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from, or supported by structures shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises, shall not extend more than six feet into any required yard, shall not extend more than three feet into any public right-of-way, shall not be less than 10 feet from all side lot lines, shall not exceed a height of 20 feet above the mean center-line street grade, and shall not be less than 10 feet above the sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
C.
Ground signs shall be of the monument style, shall not exceed 30 feet in height above the mean center-line street grade, shall not be less than 10 feet from any right-of-way or lot line, shall not exceed 100 square feet on one side nor 200 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
D.
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof, shall meet all the yard and height requirements for the district in which it is located and shall not exceed 300 square feet on all sides for any one premises. The sign shall be considered part of the building in determination of permitted height.
E.
Window signs shall not exceed 50% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed.
F.
Combinations of any of the above signs shall meet all the requirements for the individual sign.
§ 575-69 Signs permitted in institutional and park districts with permit.
Institutional and park name signs are permitted in the institutional and park districts when approved by the Village Board after review and recommendation by the Planning Commission.
§ 575-70 Municipal-owned signs.
Municipal-owned signs may be permitted in any district without a permit, provided that permission shall be obtained from the property owner, renter, or lessee and provided that such sign shall not exceed 200 square feet in area per face.
§ 575-71 Search lights.
The Village Board may permit the temporary use of a search light for advertising purposes in any district, provided that the search light will not be located in any public right-of-way, will not be located closer than 10 feet to an adjacent property, and will not cause a hazard to traffic or adjoining properties. Search light permits shall not be granted for a period of more than five days in any six-month period.
§ 575-72 Facing.
§ 575-73 Lighting and color.
Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. Signs shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape. Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility, nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways. Signs may be illuminated but only by non-flashing lighting.
§ 575-74 Construction and maintenance standards.
A.
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All signs and other advertising structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure of not less than 40 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed to receive dead loads as required in the Village Building Code[1] or other ordinance.
B.
Protection of the public. The temporary occupancy of a sidewalk or street or other public property during construction, removal, repair, alteration or maintenance of a sign is permitted, provided the space occupied is roped off, fenced off, or otherwise isolated.
C.
Maintenance. The owner of any sign shall keep it in good maintenance and repair, which includes restoring, repainting, or replacement of a worn or damaged legally existing sign to its original condition, and shall maintain the premises on which the sign is erected in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish, weeds, and grass.
D.
Supporting members or braces. Supporting members or braces of all signs shall be constructed of galvanized iron, properly treated steel, copper, brass, or other noncorrosive incombustible material. All projecting signs, if placed at a right or other angle to the wall or roof of any building, shall be attached by such noncorrosive metal bolts, anchors, cable, or other metal attachments as shall ensure permanent and safe construction and shall be maintained free from rust or other defects. Every means or device used for attaching any sign shall extend through the walls or roof of the building should the Building Inspector determine that the safe and permanent support of such sign so requires and shall be securely anchored by wall plates and nuts to the inside of the walls or to bearings on the under side of two or more roof or ceiling joists in accordance with instructions given by the Building Inspector. Small flat signs containing less than 10 feet of area may be attached to a building by the use of lag bolts or other means to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.
E.
No signs, or any part thereof, or sign anchors, braces, or guide rods shall be attached, fastened, or anchored to any fire escape fire ladder, or standpipe and no such sign or any part of any such sign or any anchor, brace, or guide rod shall be erected, put up, or maintained so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress through such door, doorway, or window or as to hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against such building by the Fire Department of the Village, as necessity therefor may require.
§ 575-75 Existing signs.
Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this chapter may be continued although the size or location does not conform to this chapter. However, all nonconforming signs shall be deemed to have exhausted their economic life after seven years from the time they became a nonconforming use. Nonconforming signs, after this seven-year period, shall either be made to conform to the terms of this chapter or shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having beneficial use of the property. Nonconforming signs, during the seven-year grace period, shall be kept in good repair, but the cost of maintenance shall not be considered grounds for their continued use beyond the seven-year period. The Village Planning Commission shall, after the seven-year grace period, notify the owner, agent, or person having beneficial use of the property, of the expiration of the grace period. After 30 days, if the sign has not been made to conform to this chapter or removed, the Planning Commission shall initiate appropriate punitive action. Signs which are not repaired, painted or maintained pursuant to written notification and orders by the Planning Commission shall also be subject to punitive action.
§ 575-76 Sign permit.
A.
Applications for a sign permit shall be made on forms provided by the Village Clerk and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
[Amended 11-17-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-6]
(1)
Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant. Location of building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.
(2)
Name of person, firm, corporation, or association erecting the sign.
(3)
Written consent of the owner or lessee of the building, structure, or land to which or upon which the sign is to be affixed.
(4)
A scale drawing of such sign, indicating the dimensions, the materials to be used, the type of illumination, if any, and the method of construction and attachment.
(5)
A scale drawing indicating the location and position of such sign in relation to nearby building or structures.
B.
Copies of any other permit required and issued for said sign, including the written approval by the Electrical Inspector, in the case of illuminated signs, who shall examine the plans and specifications, reinspecting all wiring and connections to determine if the same complies with all applicable local, state and federal electrical codes and regulations.
C.
Additional information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator.
D.
Sign permit applications shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator, who shall review the application for its completeness and accuracy.
E.
The Zoning Administrator shall approve, deny, or forward to the Planning Commission, in writing, the application within 15 days of receipt unless the time is extended by written agreement with the applicant. A sign permit shall become null and void, if work authorized under the permit has not been completed within six months of the date of issuance.
F.
Fee. The fee for the permit shall be in accordance with the Village’s current Schedule of Fees.
[Added 12-17-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-06]