Ensure the right to free speech as protected under the Constitution;

Protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, and protect the physical appearance of the community;

Provide businesses with effective means of identification while reducing visual clutter through the prevention of excessive and confusing sign displays;

Reduce traffic conflicts or hazards by minimizing visual distractions or obstacles in or visible from the public rights-of-way;

Minimize the adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property;

Avoid personal injury and property damage from unsafe or confusing signs; and

Establish a clear and impartial process for those seeking to install signs.

Required conformance. No person shall erect, place, establish, paint, or retain any sign, or cause a sign to be located or retained within the Village of Geneseo, unless all provisions of this Sign Code have been met.

Sign permit required. To ensure compliance with the provisions of this Sign Code, a sign permit shall be acquired from the Village Planning Board for each sign unless specifically exempted by this Sign Code.

Sign permit application requirements. The following information shall be provided to the Village office prior to the review or issuance of a sign permit:

Sign permit required for alteration. A sign initially approved for which a permit has been issued shall not be modified, relocated, altered, or replaced, nor shall design elements of any building or lot upon which such sign is maintained be modified, relocated, altered, or replaced if any such design element constituted a basis for approval of such sign unless an amended or new sign permit is obtained consistent with these regulations.

Specific situations requiring sign permit. The following specific situations shall require a sign permit:

Specific situations not requiring sign permit. The following specific situations shall not require a sign permit:

Expiration of sign permit. Any sign permit shall expire if the sign for which the permit has been issued is not fully constructed within 180 days from the date of issuance of the sign permit.

Lapse of sign permit. A sign permit shall lapse automatically if the zoning permit for the premises lapses, is revoked, or is not renewed. A sign permit shall be reviewed as part of the zoning permit renewal for the premises on which it applies. A sign permit shall also lapse if the activity on the premises for which the sign permit was issued is discontinued for a period of 180 days or more.

Traffic safety. All signs shall be designed, constructed, and located in accordance with the following criteria:

Design and construction. All signs shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following criteria:

Location. All signs shall be located in accordance with the following standards:

Illumination. Any illuminated sign shall be in accordance with the following standards:

Maintenance and repair. All signs shall be maintained in safe and good structural condition, in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this chapter at all times. Such maintenance includes replacement of all defective bulbs, parts, materials, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for maintenance of such sign. If any sign does not comply with the above maintenance and repair standards, the Code Enforcement Officer shall require its removal.

Protection of property. Signs shall not be posted in any manner destructive to public property. Signs shall also not be attached or otherwise applied to trees, utility poles, transit shelters, benches, trash receptacles, or newsracks.

Obsolete signs. Any sign that no longer advertises or identifies the current or permitted use of the property must be removed within 30 days after written notification from the Code Enforcement Officer.

Sign area.

Sign height.

Frontage.

Banners or pennants. Such signs shall not require a sign permit if all the following conditions are met:

Construction or home improvement signs. No sign permit shall be required for temporary construction or home improvement signs if all of the following conditions are met:

Decorations: temporary displays of patriotic, religious, charitable, or civic character with no commercial message, including holiday lights and decorations that are erected for customary periods of time.

Directional signs. Signs that provide direction and are located entirely on the property to which they pertain and contain no commercial message shall not require a sign permit provided they do not exceed four square feet in area. Directional signs include, but are not limited to, signs identifying public restrooms, public telephones, walkways or signs providing direction, such as parking lot entrance and exit signs, and those of a similar nature. Such directional signs shall be allowed within the street setbacks and side and rear yards insofar as they do not obstruct free and clear vision to traffic.

Drive-through signs. Businesses with drive-through facilities may have one sign not exceeding 12 square feet in area or six feet in height for each drive-through lane provided such sign is oriented solely for the use of patrons utilizing the drive-through lane and is not intended to be visible from adjacent property or the right-of-way.

Flags: the flags, emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision. Flagpoles shall be subject to the height restrictions imposed by each respective zoning district.

Gasoline station price signs: signs not exceeding four square feet advertising the price of gasoline and indicating self-service or full-service, when attached to a gasoline pump or pump service island.

Governmental signs: any official sign, public notice, or warning sign supported by federal, state or local law, including but not limited to signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any government functions. (Example: New York State inspection station or authorized repair shop identification) There are no size requirements for governmental signs.

Historical signs: signs that are in the nature of cornerstones, commemorative tablets, and historical signs, provided that such signs are less than nine square feet and not illuminated.

Home occupation signs: one sign for each legally established home occupation, for a total not to exceed four square feet in area.

House numbers and nameplates. Address and name of occupant of premises for a residential structure, not including designations as to employment or home occupation, are to be limited in size to four square feet per dwelling unit.

Incidental signs. Such signs shall have an aggregate area not to exceed four square feet.

Internal signs: any sign located within a building, provided that window signs shall not cover more than 25% of the total window area or 10% of the window space within a door.

Limited signs: signs and notices advertising an open house, garage or yard sale, or event, displayed for no more than 15 days and no more frequently than two times in a calendar year. These signs must be placed on the property where the open house, sale, or event is being held.

Noncommercial signs. Any lot shall be allowed up to two signs of any type containing solely noncommercial messages provided said signs are in conformance with the size, height, setback, and illumination regulations set forth within the table of Sign Regulations[1] for each applicable sign type.

Political and campaign signs. Political and campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots are permitted without a permit under the following conditions:

Portable signs: one nonilluminated, two-sided portable sign not to exceed 32 square feet in size and six feet in height in the following situations:

Real estate signs: up to two signs on any lot or parcel, provided that such sign is located entirely within the property to which the sign applies and is in conformance with the size, height, setback, and illumination regulations set forth within the Table of Sign Regulations[2] for each applicable sign type.

Sandwich board signs or A-frame signs. One sandwich board sign is permitted per use. Said sign shall not exceed six square feet in area. Said sign must be removed at the close of each business day. A sandwich board sign shall not require a sign permit if the following conditions are met:

Banners for charitable events. Street banners for events sponsored by charitable, service, educational, religious, or not-for-profit organizations may be granted approval by the Village Board of Trustees. The banner may be placed at a site across Main Street, as designated by the Village Board of Trustees, and kept in place for a period not to exceed 14 days. The banner shall be made of canvas or other material of equal or better durability and shall be kept in an attractive and safe condition. The banner shall not exceed 30 feet in width and three feet in height; shall not include advertisements for commercial products or services; and shall be removed no later than two business days after the event terminates.

Signs for public events. Signs for public events approved or sponsored by the Village Board of Trustees, such as festivals, arts and crafts shows, farmers markets, or similar events, may be displayed for a period beginning no earlier than two weeks prior to the event and ending no later than two business days after the event terminates. Such signs shall not exceed 15 square feet on either side. All such signs shall be kept in an attractive and safe condition. Placement of signs shall not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic or create a public hazard or nuisance.

Signs for which no permit was issued or for which a permit has been revoked;

Obsolete signs or signs that are not properly maintained, or considered structurally unsound, hazardous or otherwise unsafe;

Signs that contain words or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature;

Signs that emit audible sounds, odor, or visible matter;

Signs that may be confused with a traffic control sign, signal or device or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle; or bear one of more of the words "stop," "go slow," "caution," "danger," "warning" or other similar words; or hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal or device;

Signs that interfere with official traffic lights or traffic control devices;

Flashing, rotating, or revolving signs/lights, except barber poles or holiday decorations, which do not violate Subsection D, E, F, or G above;

Signs with unshielded lighting devices or reflectors placed to outline or provide the background of a sign;

Signs that are animated or use full motion or video technology;

Signs that utilize electronic changeable copy;

Signs with mirrors;

Permanent banner, pennant, windblown or inflated signs. These may be permitted as a temporary sign for a total of 30 days;

Portable signs attached to or placed on an unregistered vehicle parked on private property for the primary purpose of being viewed by motorists within the right-of-way;

Pennants not affixed to the face of a building;

Signs placed on a curb, sidewalk, hydrant, utility pole, trees or other objects located on or over any street or within the public right-of-way, unless otherwise permitted;

Signs, banners, or pennants mounted on or extending above the roof of any building or structure;

Signs painted directly on an exterior wall;

Off-premises signs; and

Freestanding signs supported by a single pole or post with more than 30 inches clearance from the bottom of the sign to the ground below, commonly referred to as a "pole sign."

Residential districts (R-1, R-2, and R-3).

Nonresidential districts (MU-1, MU-2, WMU, C-1, CI-1, and CR).

Temporary signs. Temporary signs on private property shall be allowed, subject to the following conditions:

Permitted nonconforming signs. Any sign erected prior to the adoption of this chapter that does not conform to the provisions of this article is permitted to remain as a nonconforming sign.

Loss of nonconforming status. A sign characterized as a nonconforming sign shall lose its nonconforming status if: