Grain Valley City Zoning Code
SECTION 400
300 Signs.
[R.O. 1996 § 400.300; Ord. No. 1084 § 350, 3-10-1997; Ord. No. 1278 § F, 7-12-1999; Ord. No. 1524, 10-28-2002]
A.
Purpose.
1.
The purpose of this Section is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property, property values and public welfare by regulating and controlling the quality of materials, construction, installation and maintenance of signs in addition to the number, size, sign type and type of illumination of all on-site signs and off-site signs and sign structures located on private property.
2.
The ban of all signs on utility poles, governmental signs, public rights-of-way and other public property is necessary to protect the safety of workmen who must scale utility poles, to eliminate traffic hazards, and to preserve the aesthetic appeal of the City by eliminating clutter and visual blight.
B. APPROVED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL APPROVED COMBUSTIBLE PLASTICS ATTENTION ATTRACTING DEVICE DETACHED SIGN ILLUMINATED SIGNS1. 2. 3. INCIDENTAL SIGN MARQUEE SIGN MONUMENT SIGN OFF-PREMISES SIGN ON-PREMISES SIGN PORTABLE SIGN PROJECTING SIGN ROOF SIGN SIGN SIGN AREA SNIPE SIGN SUBDIVISION AMENITY SIGN SUBDIVISION ENTRANCE MARKER TEMPORARY SIGN UNDER CANOPY SIGN WALL SIGN
Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall be deemed to have the meaning indicated below:
Wood, or materials not more combustible than wood, and approved combustible plastics.
Those plastics which, when tested in accordance with American Society for Testing Materials standard methods for test for flammability of plastics over 0.050 inch in thickness (D635-44), burn no faster than two and one-half (2 1/2) inches per minute in sheets of 0.060-inch thickness.
Any flasher, blinker, animation, banner, clock or other object designed or intended to attract the attention of the public to an establishment or to a sign.
Any sign not attached to a building.
Semi-Illuminated Sign. Any sign which is uniformly illuminated internally over its entire area, including the area of the sign, by use of electricity or other artificial light.
Indirectly Illuminated Sign. Any sign which is partially or completely illuminated at any time by an external light source which is so shielded as to not be visible at eye level.
Fully Illuminated Sign. Any sign which is illuminated by an external or internal light source which is visible.
A sign which guides or directs pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or a sign in conjunction with a drive-through window, which may be mounted on the ground, on a building or in connection with a detached sign.
Any sign attached flat against the marquee or permanent sidewalk canopy of a building and not extending above the roof line.
An identification sign which rises from the ground and generally has no clearance under it.
A sign, including billboards and poster panels, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, activity or product sold, conducted or offered off the premises where such sign is located.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, activity or product sold, conducted or offered on the premises where such sign is located.
A sign that is not permanently affixed to one (1) location and has the capability of being moved from one site to the next.
Any sign extending more than one (1) foot from the face of the building to which it is attached or which extends more than one (1) foot above the roof line.
A sign which extends above a roof or parapet wall of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by said roof.
Any words, letters, numerals, figures, devices, designs or trademarks by which information is made known to the public.
The area of a sign set out in these regulations shall mean the area encompassed by the perimeter of the sign. The area of the sign shall be computed from the area enclosed by the perimeter upon which the letters, logo, etc., are placed, except that when individual letters, logo, etc., are mounted individually and directly upon a building surface without change in the color or appearance of the surface background, the area of the sign shall be deemed to be the rectangle or other geometric form that encompasses the letters, logo, etc. Lettering may be placed on two (2) sides of a sign structure.
Any sign of a material such as cardboard, paper, pressed wood, plastic or metal which is attached to a fence, tree, utility pole or temporary structure or any sign which is not securely fastened to a building or firmly anchored to the ground.
A sign directing traffic to amenities such as clubhouse or swimming pool within the subdivision.
A detached sign identifying the subdivision located at one (1) or more of the subdivision entrances.
A sign of cloth or other combustible material, with or without a frame, which is usually attached to the outside of a building on a wall or store front for a limited period of time, such as a banner or a sign which is not permanently attached to the ground, building or other load-bearing structure, such as a portable sign, balloon or animation.
A display attached to the underside of a marquee or canopy and protruding over public or private sidewalks or rights-of-way.
A sign attached to or erected against an exterior wall of a building or structure, which projects not more than twelve (12) inches from a wall and presents only one (1) face with advertising copy to the public and does not extend above the roof line.
C.
Sign Types Permitted — Zone Restrictions. Permitted signs in each zoning district are as follows:
1.
District "A."
a.
One (1) unilluminated sign not larger than thirty-two (32) square feet in area and not to exceed twenty (20) feet in height pertaining to the sale, lease or identification of the premises upon which it is located or to the sale of products raised thereon.
b.
Not more than two (2) on-premises, unilluminated or indirectly-illuminated subdivision entrance markers per street with a maximum sign area of thirty-two (32) square feet and a maximum sign height of four (4) feet. When a structure is used to support a sign, total area and height of the structure shall not exceed forty-eight (48) square feet and six (6) feet, respectively. The structure of a subdivision entrance marker forms the outside shape and includes any frame, border or base that forms an integral part of the display.
c.
One (1) unilluminated subdivision amenity sign shall be allowed within the subdivision; it shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area and shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height.
d.
Churches and other institutional uses may display one (1) unilluminated, semi-illuminated or indirectly illuminated detached sign showing names, activities and services therein. The sign shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in area and shall have a setback of ten (10) feet from any property line.
2.
Districts "R-1," "R-1A," "R-1B, "R-1C" And "R-2." Signs as permitted in Subsections 400.300(C)(1)(c) and (d) of District "A."
3.
District "R-3" And "R-4."
a.
Signs as permitted in Subsections 400.300(C)(1)(c) and (d) of District "A."
b.
A multi-family development shall be permitted not more than one (1) unilluminated wall sign per building with a maximum sign area of twelve (12) square feet. In addition, a multi-family development shall be permitted one (1) unilluminated or indirectly illuminated detached sign for each entrance of the development. Such sign shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height and thirty-two (32) square feet in area. Said sign shall be maintained on private property no closer than ten (10) feet to any property line.
4.
Districts "RO" And "CB."
a.
Each office building shall be permitted not more than two (2) unilluminated or semi-illuminated wall signs, provided such signs shall indicate only the name of the building or establishments housed therein. No such sign shall have an overall area exceeding five percent (5%) of the area of the wall upon which it is mounted.
b.
In lieu of one (1) of the above wall signs, each office building shall be permitted one (1) detached sign, provided such sign shall indicate only the name of the building or establishments housed therein. Such sign shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height and ten (10) square feet in area and shall be set back ten (10) feet from each side property line and five (5) feet from the front property line.
c.
Each establishment or firm housed within an office building is allowed one (1) unilluminated, semi-illuminated or indirectly illuminated projecting, marquee or under canopy sign not exceeding three (3) square feet in area.
d.
Not more than two (2) on-premises, unilluminated or indirectly illuminated subdivision entrance markers per street with a maximum sign area of thirty-two (32) square feet and a maximum sign area height of four (4) feet. When a structure is used to support a sign, total area and height of the structure shall not exceed forty eight (48) square feet and six (6) feet, respectively. The structure of a subdivision entrance marker forms the outside shape and includes any frame, border or base that forms an integral part of the display.
5.
Districts "C-1," "C-2," "C-3," "M-1" And "M-2." Unless otherwise provided, signs in these districts may be unilluminated, semi-illuminated or indirectly illuminated.
a.
Each business or commercial establishment shall be permitted not more than three (3) wall or marquee signs provided the total area of signs on a facade shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total area of that facade.
b.
In lieu of one (1) of the above wall or marquee signs, one (1) projecting sign or under canopy sign shall be permitted.
c.
In lieu of one (1) of the above attached signs, one (1) detached sign shall be permitted for each freestanding commercial building. It shall be set back not less than five (5) feet from the front property line and shall be set back from side property lines a distance not less than one-half (1/2) of the height of the sign. The maximum height of the detached sign shall be forty (40) feet, except in "M-1" and "M-2" zoning signs may be fifty (50) feet high. The gross area of detached signs shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet in "C-1" and "C-2" zoning and seven hundred (700) square feet in "C-3," "M-1" and "M-2" zoning.
d.
In lieu of one (1) detached sign, one (1) unilluminated, semi-illuminated or indirectly illuminated roof sign shall be permitted. A roof sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet above the roof and in no case shall the total height of the building and sign exceed the maximum allowable height for the zoning district. Roof signs shall not exceed the size limitations of detached signs.
e.
A shopping center designed as one (1) unified entity and consisting of one (1) or several buildings, either attached or freestanding, shall be permitted one (1) detached sign identifying the entire center. All other signs in the center shall consist of wall, projecting, under canopy or marquee signs. The maximum height of the shopping center detached sign shall be twenty-five (25) feet.
f.
Incidental signs are subject to the approval of the Planning Officer and shall not exceed nine (9) square feet in area.
g.
Off-premises signs shall be permitted only along I-70:
(1)
Off-premises signs shall be allowed in zones "C-1" through "M-2," inclusive, shall be allowed only on private property, and shall be set back from any building or property line a distance, measured from the front and back faces of the sign, equal to the height of the sign.
(2)
Off-premises signs shall be separated by at least one thousand four hundred (1,400) feet.
(3)
All off-premises signs shall comply with size requirements as specified by the Missouri State Highway Department.
(4)
The maximum height of off-premises signs shall be forty-five (45) feet.
h.
Not more than two (2) on-premises, unilluminated or indirectly illuminated subdivision entrance markers per street with a maximum sign area of forty-eight (48) square feet and a maximum sign height of six (6) feet. When a structure is used to support a sign, total area and height of the structure shall not exceed seventy-two (72) square feet and nine (9) feet, respectively. The structure of a subdivision entrance marker forms the outside shape and includes any frame, border or base that forms an integral part of the display.
D.
Permits And Fees.
1.
Permits Required.
a.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign in the City, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit from the City.
b.
Permits shall not be required under the following conditions:
(1)
Replacing or altering changeable copy on theater marquees, billboards and similar signs.
(2)
Painting, repairing, cleaning or maintaining of a sign shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a permit unless a structural change is made or the alteration and painting is being done due to a change in ownership of the business or premises.
2.
Exemptions. A permit will not be required for the following listed signs. These exemptions, however, shall apply only to the requirement of the permit and shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility for its erection, maintenance and appearance.
a.
Construction project signs with a maximum size of seventy-two (72) square feet.
b.
Agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial acreage or commercial and industrial structure "for sale" or "for rent" signs. Maximum size shall be thirty-two (32) square feet.
c.
Residential structure "for sale" or "for rent" signs with a maximum size of six (6) square feet; it must be removed upon completion of the project or within ten (10) days after sale or letting of the property.
d.
Political signs subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
Maximum size six (6) square feet in Districts "R-1," "R-1A," "R-1B, "R-1C," "R-2," "R-3" and "R-4."
(2)
Maximum size sixteen (16) square feet in agricultural, commercial and industrial areas.
(3)
Shall be placed back of the property line.
(4)
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner who gives permission for the use of his or her property for such signs or the political party for the political event or political candidate to have these signs removed not later than five (5) days after the election or event and they shall not be erected earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the election or event to which they pertain.
(5)
There shall be no political signs on any public utility pole, fence post, fences, trees or sides of buildings.
e.
Traffic or other municipal or informational signs, legal notice, railroad crossing signs, danger, warning and such temporary, emergency or non-advertising signs necessary for traffic control or as may be approved by the Board of Aldermen.
f.
Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other metal.
g.
Signs inside buildings, inside windows or painted on windows or on glass portions of doors of buildings.
3.
Application For Permit. Application for a permit shall be made to the City upon a form provided and shall be accompanied by written approval of the property owner, site plans and specifications as may be required.
4.
Permit Fees. Every applicant, before being granted a permit hereunder, shall pay a fee to the City based upon the fee schedule used for building permits.
5.
Inspection. As soon as a sign has been erected, the permittee shall notify the Building Inspector who shall inspect such sign and approve the same if it is in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. The Building Inspector may, from time to time as he or she deems, inspect all signs or other structures regulated by this Chapter, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are secure or whether they are in need of removal or repair. If the sign does not comply with the provisions of this Chapter, the Building Inspector shall notify the applicant, in writing, of such non-compliance and give the applicant ten (10) days, or less if the Building Inspector determines a hazardous situation exists, to comply.
6.
Permit Revocable At Any Time. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this Chapter or any amendments thereto are mere licenses revocable at any time. Installation shall be completed within six (6) months after date of issuance of the sign permit.
E.
Additional Regulations.
1.
Maintenance. All signs, together with all their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in a proper state of preservation. The Building Inspector may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings.
2.
Prohibited Signs.
a.
Snipe signs are not permitted on the public right-of-way or on any utility poles or posts and may be removed by the Building Official.
b.
It shall be unlawful for any person to display any real estate advertisements or signs which recite that real property is to be used for purposes or will be zoned for land uses in the future, when in fact such real estate is not presently zoned for such purposes.
c.
It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
d.
Attention-attracting devices, electrical signs and illuminated signs, which are an annoyance to residential neighborhoods or may impair night vision or are a hazard to traffic or interfere with or conflict with traffic signals, whether inside or outside the building, are prohibited.
e.
It shall be unlawful to post or erect any sign on utility poles, governmental signs, public rights-of-way or any other public property except those placed by agencies of the Federal, State or local government.
3.
Engineering Design And Materials.
a.
Wind Pressure Resistance. All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure of not less than twenty-five (25) pounds per square foot.
b.
Except as specifically provided elsewhere, all permanent signs, sign structures and non-structural trim shall be constructed of approved combustible or non-combustible materials.
c.
No sign which obstructs sight lines at elevations between two (2) feet and eight (8) feet above the curb or pavement surface shall be located within the sight distance triangle at any driveway or intersection. See Section 400.220(C).
d.
Obstruction Of Egress, Openings, Ventilation. A sign shall not be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door or other opening; or so as to prevent free passage from one part of the roof to any other part thereof. A sign shall not be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or shall not be so placed as to interfere with an opening which is required for legal ventilation.
e.
Letters, figures, characters or representations in cutout or irregular form maintained in conjunction with, attached to or superimposed upon any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure.
f.
Illuminated Signs. Illuminated signs produced in quantity (other than signs custom-built for specific locations) shall be constructed in accordance with the "Standards for Electric Signs (U.L. 48) of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc." and bear the label of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
g.
Electrical Signs. All electrical signs, either temporary or permanent, shall be connected to permanent electrical service installed according to the requirements of the National Electrical Code. All wiring for newly constructed detached signs shall be underground, unless this is determined to be prohibitive by the Building Official.
h.
The following type signs shall have a seal of a registered engineer or registered architect affixed to the plans: attention-attracting devices, detached signs, electrical, illuminated, marquee, portable, poster panel, projecting and roof. In addition, the following standards will apply:
(1)
Projecting Signs.
(a)
Projecting signs shall not project more than five (5) feet six (6) inches beyond the face of the building. Projecting signs shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet above the level of any sidewalk from the bottom of the sign. Any projecting sign within twenty-five (25) feet of a street or alley intersection shall be a minimum of fourteen (14) feet above the sidewalk from the bottom of the sign.
(b)
All projecting signs shall be rigid mounted, shall be supported by strong steel brackets attached to walls of buildings with through bolts, expansion bolts or other equally secure methods, and shall be braced and held firmly in place with soft iron or steel cables or chains of adequate strength. All such supports shall be attached to walls of buildings with expansion bolts or equivalent method.
(c)
Projecting signs which are permitted to extend above parapet walls may be attached to brackets fastened to roofs by means of through bolts but shall not be attached to any part of the wall above a point of bearing of the roof joists or rafters.
(2)
All Roof Signs.
(a)
All roof signs shall be secured by or bear upon masonry bearing walls, columns, girders or roof joists. No roof sign shall be erected in a manner which prevents or tends to prevent free passage from one part of the roof to any other part thereof. Spider webs and A-frame structural members shall be prohibited.
(b)
Roof signs located on flat roofs shall allow a minimum clear open space of six (6) feet from the roof to the lowest point at the bottom of the face of the sign and there shall be a minimum space of five (5) feet between adjacent vertical supports.
(3)
Wall signs shall be securely fastened to a masonry wall by means of anchors, bolts, expansion screws or similar connectors. A wall sign which is attached to a wall of wood may be anchored with wood blocks used in connection with screws and nails.
(4)
Under canopy signs of greater than four (4) square feet shall be rigidly mounted and there shall be eight (8) feet six (6) inches clearance between the base of any rigidly mounted under canopy sign and the sidewalk. There shall be a minimum clearance of seven (7) feet six (6) inches between the base of any non-rigidly mounted under canopy sign and the sidewalk.
(5)
Detached signs shall be supported with a maximum of two (2) poles, uprights or supports.
F.
Temporary Signs. Temporary signs may be permitted for special events, new ownership, grand openings for business or organizational use, special events, including sales.
1.
Duration Of Permits. Except as specifically otherwise provided elsewhere in this Section, permits for temporary signs shall be valid for ninety (90) days from date of issuance.
2.
Permits Renewable. Permits for temporary signs may be renewed a maximum of one (1) time for a maximum of one hundred eighty (180) days.
3.
Number Of Permits. Except as specifically otherwise provided elsewhere in this Section, only one (1) temporary sign permit may be issued at any one time for any business, industry or shopping center. The total number of days per year which a temporary sign may be displayed at any business, industry or shopping center shall be one hundred eighty (180) days.
4.
Construction. Construction of temporary signs shall meet the same engineering design and materials standards as for permanent signs.
5.
Size. Except as specifically otherwise provided elsewhere in this Section, size of temporary signs shall not exceed the size of signs permitted for permanent signs of similar permitted construction and location within the same zoning district.
6.
Location. Temporary signs shall be erected entirely on private property and shall not be erected in locations which would conflict with Section 400.300(E)(3)(d) through (e), except as specifically otherwise provided elsewhere in this Section.
7.
Off-premises temporary signs will be allowed in all zones except residential zoning districts. Written approval must be given to the City by the land owner where the sign is to be located and the sign cannot be larger than four (4) feet by eight (8) feet.
8.
Off-premises temporary signs must have directions to the business or an arrow pointing the way to their business.
9.
A permit fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) is required for off-premises temporary signs and a fifty dollar ($50.00) refundable deposit.
10.
Sales and special events to permit businesses that would like to advertise an upcoming special event or sale.
a.
May be a sign or banner but not to exceed four (4) feet by eight (8) feet.
b.
May be in place no more than fourteen (14) days prior to the event or sale and must be removed the day following the event or sale.
c.
Must have written consent from the property owner where the sign or banner is to be placed.
d.
Pay a permit fee of ten dollars ($10.00).
G.
Appeals. Appeals to Sections of this Chapter for interpretation of engineering or structural standards shall be to the Board of Adjustment.