Granite Shoals City Zoning Code
§ 40-24
Signs.
(a)
Jurisdiction.
The provisions of this section shall apply within the city limits, and within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city. All signs erected within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Granite Shoals shall be erected in accordance with the standards imposed for property inside the city limits. A sign shall not include numbers indicating the address of a residential structure or signs erected by a governmental entity in compliance with applicable law.
(b) Allowable Banner Billboard Construction sign Damaged sign Detached sign District Electronic sign(1) (2) (3) Externally illuminated sign Ground clearance Internally illuminated sign Nonconforming sign On-premises sign Permit Portable sign Real estate sign Sign Sign height Tacked sign Temporary sign Unattached sign Wall sign
Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
means permissible to do.
means a sign intended to be hung without frames. Flags of governmental jurisdiction and flags carrying the emblem of a business or institution are not to be considered banners for the purpose of this section.
means a commercial sign that is designed for changeable copy, within fixed sign face, that will be used to display any good, service, brand, slogan, message, product, or company not located on the same site (or property) as the billboard.
means a sign temporarily placed on a construction site identifying the project, and/or owner, developer, contractor, or architect, and may include other information regarding the project. A construction sign shall be limited to no more than eight square feet.
means a sign, which is unsafe, unsecured, disfigured, or broken.
means an on-premises sign that is not a wall sign.
means zoning district of the City of Granite Shoals, Texas wherein the regulations of this section are uniform.
means any sign for which the text, letters, numbers, pictures, or symbols forming the informational portion of the sign consists of flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, including any LED screen or any other type of video display. This definition does not include:
Signs that have internal or indirect illumination that is kept stationary or constant in intensity or color at all times when such sign is in use;
Any government sign located on government property; or
Any government sign located within the right-of-way that functions as a traffic-control device and that is described and identified in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic-Control Devices.
means a sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source which is detached from the sign.
means the distance between the bottom of the sign and the average established ground level below [the] sign.
means a sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source as an integral part of the sign. This includes but is not limited to neon type signs.
means a sign that does not conform to the regulations of this section, but which was placed or constructed in accordance with city ordinances existing at the time of its placement or construction.
means a sign located on the property where the goods or services it advertises are sold or provided.
means a written authority or warrant.
means a sign which may be carried, wheeled, or moved about.
means a sign which is used to offer property for sale or lease.
means any letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, or devices designed, intended or used to advertise or inform including the frame or mounting structure.
means the vertical distance between the highest part of the sign or its supporting structure, whichever is higher, and the average established ground level beneath the sign, unless curb elevation is higher than the ground level, in which case the height shall be measured from curb level.
means a sign made of any material when such sign is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or other objects, and the advertising matter appearing thereon is not applicable to the use of the premise upon which or adjacent to the area at which such sign is located.
means a sign which is to be used for only a limited time.
means a portable sign which is easily carried, wheeled, or moved about without having to detach the sign from a secure anchoring device. Such signs are considered to be unattached if they can reasonably be expected to be blown about in high winds that may cause injuries to pedestrians or become traffic hazards.
means a sign mounted permanently to the structure.
(c)
Signs permitted by district.
(1)
The following signs shall be permitted in all residential districts:
a.
Churches may display a permanent sign without a sign permit. Such sign shall be limited to 36 square feet and shall be no higher or wider than eight feet. Any such sign located closer than 25 feet to any street right-of-way shall have a minimum clearance of nine feet from the finished grade with a maximum height not to exceed 20 feet. There shall be no projections over public property, rights-of-way or easements.
b.
During construction of a building, one unilluminated sign shall be allowed without a sign permit. Such sign shall be removed immediately upon completion of the building, or upon expiration of the building permit.
c.
A person having a legal home based business may display a commercial sign such as a name plate on the face of the building or porch. It shall be attached directly to and parallel to the face of the building or porch. It shall not exceed one square foot in area and shall not be internally illuminated, but may be externally illuminated. A permit is required. No other commercial sign shall be mounted or displayed on any residential unit.
(2)
The following signs are permitted in a mobile home park district:
a.
An on-premises sign advertising the mobile home park. The sign shall be a permanent sign of not more than 36 square feet in total area and no higher or wider than eight feet. A permit is required.
b.
All permanent signs located closer than 25 feet to any street or highway right-of-way shall have a minimum ground clearance of nine feet and a maximum height of 20 feet. Signs and supporting structures will be of sound construction and of a permanent nature, advertising products and services sold only at that location. There shall be no projections over public property, rights-of-way or easements.
(3)
The following signs are permitted in all nonresidential districts:
a.
Each business may have one wall sign. This sign may not extend above the roof line of the building, nor may it extend horizontally beyond the wall to which it is attached.
b.
Each business may have one detached sign located on the business premises. The total area of this sign shall not exceed 115 square feet, shall be no wider than eight feet, and shall have a maximum height of 33 feet from the normal grade elevation measured at the street on which the business is located to the highest part of the sign or the structure on which the sign is placed. There shall be no projection over public property, rights-of-way or easement.
1.
The one allowed detached sign on a property with frontage on FM 1431 may be an electronic sign if the electronic sign satisfies the following requirements:
c.
In addition to the detached sign permitted in subsection (b), a business may add one additional sign for the purpose of displaying the price of goods or services offered for sale at the business, which may include the price of various grades of fuel offered for sale at the business. An additional pricing sign under this paragraph must satisfy the following requirements:
d.
All permanent signs located closer than 25 feet to any street or highway right-of-way shall have a minimum ground clearance of nine feet and a maximum height of 33 feet. There shall be no projection over public property, rights-of-way or easements. No signs shall project over property lines. All signs and supporting structures will be of sound construction and of a permanent nature, advertising products and services sold only at that location.
e.
During construction of a building, one unilluminated construction sign shall be allowed. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon completion of the building, or upon expiration of the building permit.
(d)
Temporary signs permitted by district.
Temporary signs shall be permitted subject to the following:
(1)
Any sign, poster or advertisement put up under a permit granted pursuant to this section shall:
a.
Not remain for a period of more than 45 consecutive days.
b.
Not to exceed 36 square feet in area.
c.
If a permit is required, display the permit number issued for said sign(s) in the lower left hand corner of said sign.
d.
Be constructed so as to have its own support structure.
e.
Be fabricated of materials designed to withstand the elements for the permitted time period.
f.
[Reserved.]
(2)
Allowable temporary signs.
The following temporary signs shall be authorized upon application and issuance of a permit by the city:
a.
Temporary signs advertising the opening or relocation of a business.
b.
Temporary signs advertising special events.
c.
Banners and other temporary signs attached and parallel to a wall of the structure.
d.
Banners above public streets or highways in such locations as may be approved by the code compliance officer.
e.
Garage sale signs, or similar signs, advertising a temporary event.
(3)
Except as otherwise permitted herein, no sign shall be constructed, placed or installed unless a permit for such sign is issued by the city.
(4)
All temporary signs must be removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the expiration of the permit.
(e)
Damaged signs.
Damaged signs must be repaired or removed within 30 working days following the date of notice to repair given by the code compliance officer, to the party responsible for such sign. Such 30-day period shall be extended provided that a bona fide work order bearing a delivery date for repairs is submitted to the code compliance officer within a 30-day period. The 30-day period shall be extended until seven days after the day shown on the work order.
(f)
Temporary sign during sale or lease of real property.
(1)
Signs advertising real property for sale or lease may be placed on the real property which is for sale or lease without a sign permit. The face of such temporary signs shall not exceed five square feet on each side including sign riders such as “price reduced,” “waterfront,” “sale pending,” etc. A second sign not to exceed five square feet is permitted on the shoreline.
(2)
Each sign must be constructed so as to have its own support structure and must be made of materials calculated to withstand the weather.
(3)
Signs may be in place for as long as the property is offered for sale. Signs must be removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the property is leased or sold.
(4)
This type sign does not require a permit.
(g)
Nonconforming signs.
Any sign not in compliance with the provisions of this section shall be considered to be nonconforming.
(1)
Nonconforming temporary signs.
All such signs must be removed within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived.
(2)
Maintenance and replacement of nonconforming permanent signs.
a.
Ordinary maintenance of all signs, except nonconforming signs, is allowed without the necessity of obtaining a permit. Ordinary maintenance shall mean the refurbishment of signs as they exist with no substantial alteration. Replacement or reconstruction of any part of any sign is not ordinary maintenance.
b.
Nonconforming signs which have been damaged, blown down or otherwise destroyed or dismantled for any purpose other than maintenance operations, may be replaced only if the cost of repairing the sign does not exceed 60 percent of the market value cost of erecting a new sign of the same type at the same location. Evidence of the cost of repair market value and cost of erection of a new sign shall be submitted to the code compliance officer at the time of application for the repair permit but such evidence shall not be conclusive of the code compliance officer’s decision in issuing or not issuing a repair permit. The property owner may appeal the code compliance officer’s decision to the city manager.
(h)
Prohibited signs.
All other signs not expressly permitted are prohibited, including but not limited to the following:
(1)
Billboards.
(2)
Tacked signs.
(3)
Electronic signs, except as specifically permitted by this section.
(5)
Signs exceeding 20 feet in sign height.
(6)
Multiple signs may not be arrayed together so as to violate the size restriction stated herein.
(7)
Signs in the city right-of-way.
(8)
Signs that emit a noise.
(i)
Temporary signs during election.
A property owner may display one or more temporary signs on private property without a permit if the sign satisfies the following requirements:
(1)
Is not more than eight feet high;
(2)
Has an effective area less than thirty-six square feet;
(3)
For any property located in a nonresidential zoning district (GB-1 GB-2, or I), is located on the property for a period of no more than ninety (90) days prior and nor more than forty-eight (48) hours after an election involving candidates for a federal, state, or local office that represents the area in which the property is located or that involves a measure on the ballot of an election within the area;
(4)
Is not illuminated;
(5)
Does not have any moving elements; and
(6)
Meets all other city ordinance requirements that do not conflict with this subsection.
(Ordinance 409-B adopted 6/–/07; Ordinance 409-C, sec. II.G, adopted 8/13/08; Ordinance 640, sec. 2, adopted 3/25/14; Ordinance 644, sec. 2, adopted 6/10/14; Ordinance 655, sec. II, adopted 12/2/14; Ordinance 731 adopted 4/24/18)