The purposes of sign regulations are to:

(1)

Eliminate potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians.

(2)

Encourage sign design that blends and is harmonious with buildings and sites.

(3)

Encourage sign legibility through the elimination of excessive and confusing sign displays.

(4)

Preserve and improve the appearance of the city and create an attraction to nonresidents to come visit and trade within the Green River area.

(5)

Allow each business to clearly identify itself and its goods and services.

(6)

Safeguard and enhance property values and public and private investments in buildings and open space.

The following regulations shall apply to signs in all zoning districts.

(A)

Attached sign. Any sign posted, painted, constructed, or otherwise attached to the wall, facade, canopy, window, marquee or porch of any structure provided the sign does not extend above the highest point of the roof. A picture painted or drawn upon a wall or structure surface which contains no words or advertising intent is not considered a sign under this subsection.

(B)

Business sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such a sign is located or to which it is attached. Refer to Section 10.4 for specific requirements.

(C)

Courtesy signs. Signs that identify items such as credit cards accepted, menus, etc., and no more than four (4) square feet devoted to this purpose.

(D)

Directional or instruction signs. Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, with no advertising. Directional signs displayed by private owners shall be on private property.

(E)

Flags. Flags or insignia of any nation, state, county, city, religious, civic or educational institution, except flags used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.

(F)

Freestanding sign. A sign standing on the ground. Such signs are usually, but not necessarily, supported from the ground by one or more poles or posts on similar uprights with or without braces. Kiosks are considered to be freestanding signs.

(G)

Garage sale sign. A sign advertising the sale of used personal or household goods by a private individual, family, group or organization.

(H)

Governmental signs. Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including but not limited to, traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal devices or warnings at railroad crossings.

(I)

Deleted.

(J)

Identification signs. A permanent sign announcing the name of a subdivision, group housing project, church, school, park, planned shopping center, planned industrial center or public or quasi-public areas.

(K)

Instruction or directional signs. Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, with no advertising. Directional signs displayed by private owners shall be on private property.

(L)

Interstate commercial area. All commercially zoned properties located on the north side of Business Route 80, west of North Seventh West and east of North Fifth East.

(M)

Interstate commercial area sign. A freestanding sign situated on properties located on the north side of Business Route 80, west of North Seventh West and east of North Fifth East.

(N)

Joint directional sign. A sign used by three (3) or more businesses to identify all the tenants within a particular development.

(O)

Memorial/historical signs. Publicly-owned memorial tablets or historical signs.

(P)

Political signs. Sign(s) of any political party or sign(s) announcing the candidacy of any individual for nomination, providing that the sign(s) shall be removed within ten (10) days after the election for which the sign is intended. Refer to Section 10.7 for specific requirements.

(Q)

Portable sign. Any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or a structure on the premises it is intended to occupy.

(R)

Public signs. Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation; provided, that they do not exceed forty-eight (48) square feet.

(S)

Real estate sign. An on-premise[s] sign for the purpose of advertising the sale or lease, or the completion of the sale or lease, of real estate when erected or displayed on the property so advertised and removed within fourteen (14) days of sale or lease. No building permit is required.

(T)

Roof sign. Any sign erected upon a roof or parapet of a building or structure.

(U)

Sign. The word "sign" shall mean any device or display of letters, words, models, banners, flags, pennant, symbols or other representations which are in the nature of an announcement or advertisement or calls attention to a product, service, organization, person or event. The word "sign" does not include the flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit. Signs do not include the interior of buildings or the delineative elements thereof unless such background is lighted from within.

(V)

Small signs. Any sign with an area of one square foot or less.

(W)

Special event sign. A sign advertising only the name, time and place of any bona fide fair, carnival, festival, bazaar, horse show or similar event, when conducted by a public agency or for the benefit of any civic or charitable cause. Refer to section 10.6 for specific requirements.

(X)

Sponsor signs. A sign placed on the property of a local, state, federal, school district or nonprofit organization, and said sponsor sign represents a company or organization which has financially contributed to said entity. A sponsor sign to be placed on property owned by the City of Green River must be approved by the city council.

(Y)

Temporary sign. An impermanent sign for advertising or display, which is visible for a limited period of time not to exceed sixty (60) days in any twelve-month period. Refer to Section 10.9 for specific requirements.

(Z)

Time/temperature and/or date sign. A sign which identifies the time, temperature and/or the date.

(AA)

Window sign. A sign painted on, applied or attached to, or located within three (3) feet of the interior of a window and can be seen from the exterior of the structure, excluding merchandise in a window display.

(Ord. No. 99-5, § 1, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 00-10, § 1, 9-19-00; Ord. No. 06-01, § 4, 3-7-06)

(A)

Sign permits:

(1)

Permits required. After the effective date of this ordinance, no signs shall be enlarged, relocated, changed, modified, or erected until a permit for same has been obtained in accordance with this division. Temporary, special event and political signs are exempt from this permitting requirement.

(2)

Design drawings/maps. Every application for such a permit shall include a site plan and elevation drawing, scaled and dimensioned, including the following information:

a.

Existing and proposed buildings or structures.

b.

Location of signs.

c.

Property lines.

d.

Parking areas.

e.

Elevation of signs showing dimensions and square footage area.

f.

Sign height.

g.

Type of illumination, if any.

h.

Details of sign construction and attachment.

(B)

Construction requirements:

(1)

Compliance with applicable codes. In addition to complying with the provisions of this ordinance, all signs shall be constructed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Uniform Building Code and the National Electrical Code.

(2)

Auxiliary specifications:

a.

No sign shall be constructed which obstructs required exits, windows, door openings or wall openings intended as a means of ingress or egress, including emergency ingress and egress.

b.

No sign shall be erected which will interfere with any opening required for ventilation.

c.

All signs and their supporting structures shall maintain clearance and not interfere with surface and underground facilities and conduits for water, sewage, gas, electricity or communications equipment or lines. In addition, the placement of all signs shall not interfere with natural or artificial drainage or surface or underground water.

d.

No sign shall be erected which will interfere with any existing sign.

(3)

Illumination: All signs permitted by this ordinance may be illuminated; provided, that the provisions of this section are complied with.

a.

Electrical provisions. All signs in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall be subject to the applicable provisions in the National Electrical Code.

b.

Illumination of buildings, structures and areas:

1.

The use of unshielded lighting, including incandescent light bulbs hung or strung on poles, wires or any other type of support, to illuminate buildings, structures, outdoor sales or outdoor storage areas is prohibited except:

i.

Those that are used in conjunction with Christmas tree sales as permitted by the temporary use regulations in Chapter 9;

ii.

On a temporary basis for areas in which carnivals, fairs or other similar activities are held; and

iii.

On a temporary basis as otherwise determined appropriate by the building inspector.

c.

Illumination of buildings and signs. A building, structure or sign may be illuminated. All lighting for this purpose shall not project onto adjacent property. No sign or building lighting shall create a traffic hazard.

(4)

Required setbacks:

a.

Freestanding signs. A freestanding sign may be located in any required yard.

b.

Corner lots. On corner lots, except in a B-2 zoning district, no sign shall be located within the restricted triangle area formed by the three (3) points established:

1.

The intersection of the property lines at the corner.

2.

By measuring twenty (20) feet back from this intersection on each property line.

(5)

Computation of sign area: Sign area shall be calculated as follows:

a.

Attached, projected and marquee signs:

1.

The area of an attached sign where the sign consists of letters, numerals or symbols painted on or affixed to a wall shall be the entire area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the message delineated by the letters, numerals or symbols.

2.

The area of an attached or suspended sign where the letters, numerals or symbols are on a sign surface which is hung or affixed to a structure shall be the total area of the hung or affixed surfaces. If a sign has two (2) or more display faces, the area of all faces and all non-contiguous surfaces is included in determining sign area.

3.

The background area of a sign shall not be included in the sign area only when such background is an integral part of the design of the building.

b.

Freestanding signs. The area of a freestanding sign shall be the area of a rectangle, the sides of which completely enclose the sign, excluding structural supports. The area shall include the sum total of the areas of all surfaces. All display faces shall be measured in computing total sign area.

c.

Multi-sided signs. Signs constructed back-to-back, with faces in approximately parallel planes (such as both sides of a single panel), shall count as only one sign both in number and area. All other signs having multiple faces, including cylinders, shall have all surfaces included in the calculations for sign area.

(6)

Computation of allowable sign area for uses with more than one street frontage: Signs may be located on any side of the building involved, but the total sign area on any one side of the building may not exceed the area permitted on the basis of that frontage considered independently of other frontages.

(C)

Sign removal. A sign which constitutes a safety hazard to the public shall be repaired or removed.

(D)

Existing signs. Signs existing on the effective date of this ordinance shall be considered legal, however compliance with Section 10.3(C) must be satisfied.

(Ord. No. 99-5, § 2, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 00-10, § 2, 9-19-00)

(A)

Permitted signs. The following sign types are permitted within any commercially zoned property. Size and location standards are to be found in Table 10.1 below.

(1)

Attached signs.

(2)

Awning signs:

a.

Height: Awning signs shall be installed so to provide a minimum clearance of eight (8) feet above the walkway.

(3)

Freestanding signs:

a.

More than one street frontage. A freestanding sign is permitted for each street frontage of the lot, and is located adjacent to that frontage. Signs shall not obstruct the sight distances necessary for traffic safety.

b.

Clearance. Vertical clearance over a vehicular or traffic area shall be fourteen (14) feet above the ground surface. Clearance over a pedestrian area shall be at least ten (10) feet above the sidewalk.

(4)

Projecting signs:

a.

Distance/size. Signs projecting over public property do not project more than forty-eight (48) inches from the face of the building and the maximum total area for any such sign is the lesser of:

i.

One square foot of sign area for each linear foot of frontage, or

ii.

Twelve (12) square feet per sign per sign face.

b.

Clearance. Projecting signs have a minimum clearance above the sidewalk of ten (10) feet.

c.

Number. No more than one projecting sign is maintained on the face of a building.

(5)

Time/temperature/date signs.

(6)

Window signs. A sign painted on, applied or attached to, or located within three (3) feet of the interior of a window and can be seen from the exterior of the structure, excluding merchandise in a window display.

(B)

Signs requiring both a sign permit and a conditional use permit: The following signs are permitted only when in conformity with the stated conditions:

(1)

Moving and flashing signs. Signs which flash, revolve, rotate, swing, undulate or otherwise attract attention through the movement or flashing of parts, including automatic electronically controlled copy changes, or through the impression of movement or flashing, require a special use permit.

(2)

Roof signs. Signs located on any part of the roof of any structure or which extend beyond the highest point of the roof may be permitted. These signs require special use permits.

(C)

Prohibited signs: It is not the intent of this ordinance to prohibit or unduly restrict the ability of an establishment to advertise. However, there are some sign applications that are not deemed to be appropriate for the City of Green River. The following signs are generally not permitted:

(1)

Signs located on public property.

(2)

Signs on parked vehicles. Signs placed on vehicles and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property are not permitted. However, this is not in any way intended to prohibit signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and trailers, such as lettering on motor vehicles, where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer.

(3)

Signs on trees. Signs which are attached to trees or other living vegetation are not permitted.

(4)

Signs which imitate traffic-control devices. Signs which imitate, interfere with, obstruct the view of or can be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or other device.

(D)

Illumination: All signs permitted by this section may be illuminated.

(E)

Size and height requirements: All freestanding and attached signs permitted by this section shall conform to the requirements of Table 10.1 herein.

(1)

For the purpose of this section, the term setback as used in Table 10.1 shall mean that distance between the nearest front-street curb and the sign.

(2)

For the purpose of this section, the height of the sign shall be measured from the ground surface to the top of the sign face.

(3)

All other terms shall have the same meaning as used elsewhere in this ordinance.

TABLE 10.1 SPECIFIC REGULATIONS BY ZONE

TABLE 10.1 NOTE: Unless otherwise shown, all signs shall provide ten (10) feet of vertical clearance for pedestrian traffic and fourteen (14) feet of vertical clearance for vehicular traffic.

(Ord. No. 99-5, § 3, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 00-10, § 3, 9-19-00; Ord. No. 04-01, § 3, 1-20-04)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 06-01, § 5, adopted Mar. 7, 2006, repealed § 10.5, which pertained to home occupation signs and derived from Ord. No. 99-5, § 4, adopted Aug. 17, 1999.

(A)

Number of signs and requirements. Regardless of the status of conformity of all other on-premise[s] signs, up to two (2) special event signs shall be allowed to be displayed without first obtaining a permit, provided:

(1)

Size of signs. Each sign is no greater than thirty-two (32) square feet per sign face nor exceeds an aggregate gross surface area of sixty-four (64) square feet.

(2)

Display period. Special event signs shall not be displayed more than thirty (30) days consecutively.

(3)

Prohibited display. Pennants, streamers, balloons and other gas-filled devices without advertising may be displayed simultaneously with special event signs, but at no other times.

(Ord. No. 99-5, § 5, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 00-10, § 4, 9-19-00)

Political signs. Sign(s) of any political party or sign(s) announcing the candidacy of any individual for nomination, are allowed to be displayed without obtaining a permit, provided:

(A)

That the sign(s) do not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet;

(B)

That the property owner has consented to the placement of the sign(s) on their property; and

(C)

That the sign(s) are removed within ten (10) days after the election for which the sign is intended.

(Ord. No. 99-5, § 6, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 00-10, § 5, 9-19-00)

Excluded Signs: The following shall be deemed to be excluded from the definition of sign for purposes of this chapter:

(A)

Small Signs. Any sign with an area of one square foot or less.

(B)

Governmental Signs. Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal devices or warnings at railroad crossings.

(C)

Public Signs. Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation; provided, that they do not exceed forty-eight (48) square feet.

(D)

Memorial/Historical Signs. Publicly owned memorial tablets or historical signs.

(E)

Directional or Instruction Signs. Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, with no advertising. Directional signs displayed by private owners shall be on private property.

(F)

Danger or Warning Signs.

(G)

Address Numbers.

(H)

Courtesy Signs. Signs that identify items such as credit cards accepted, menus, etc., and no more than four (4) square feet devoted to this purpose.

(I)

Flags. Flags or insignia of any nation, state, county, city, religious, civic or educational institution, except flags used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.

(J)

Sponsor Signs. A sign placed on the property of a local, state, federal, school district, or non-profit organization, and said sponsor sign represents a company or organization which has financially contributed to said entity. A sponsor sign to be placed on property owned by the city must be approved by the city council.

(Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 4-19-94; Ord. No. 99-5, § 7, 8-17-99)

(A)

Impermanent signs used for advertising or display purposes, shall be allowed without first obtaining a permit, provided they are visible for brief periods of time not to exceed sixty (60) days in any 12-month period, unless otherwise specified.

(1)

"A"-frame or sandwich board signs. "A"-frame, or sandwich board, sidewalk or curb signs are allowed to be displayed without first obtaining a permit, provided the signs:

(a)

Do not exceed an area of ten (10) square feet per side;

(b)

Do not impede pedestrian or motor vehicle traffic; and

(c)

Are removed nightly, although "A"-frame or sandwich board signs are not subject to the restriction that they may only be used for sixty (60) days in any 12-month period.

(2)

Banners and pennants. Banners, pennants, streamers, balloons and other gas-filled figures, are allowed to be displayed without first obtaining a permit, provided they are in conformance with the requirements found in Section 10.6, special event signs.

(3)

Portable signs. Portable sign(s) are allowed to be displayed without first obtaining a permit, provided:

(a)

That the sign(s) are temporary or for a special event, and are in conformance with the requirements found in Section 10.4 (E);

(b)

That the sign(s) are located on private property with the owner's consent;

(c)

That the sign(s) are limited in number to one sign per zoning lot, and are no larger than thirty-six (36) square feet in area; and

(d)

That the sign(s) are displayed for no more than sixty (60) days in any 12-month period.

(4)

Garage sale signs. Garage sale signs are allowed to be displayed without first obtaining a permit, provided:

(a)

That the sign(s) do not exceed an area of four (4) square feet per side;

(b)

That the sign(s) are displayed no more than three (3) days prior to the start of the sale and are removed within twenty-four (24) hours after the sale; and

(c)

That the sign(s) are located on private property with the owner's consent.

(Ord. No. 00-10, § 6, 9-19-00)