The purpose of this chapter is to eliminate excessive and confusing sign displays that create potential hazards to motorists, pedestrians, property, and to provide a communication system by establishing requirements for the location, size, height, and lighting of signs that will be compatible with adjoining land uses, architecture, and landscape, and that will help prevent clutter and litter, and will preserve and improve the aesthetic values and visual qualities of the city.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-1; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all signs located in the city which are regulated under this title.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-2; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Certain words and phrases in this chapter, including sign types, are defined in HCC chapter 10-3.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-3; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

1. Generally. Signs shall not be erected, raised, moved, placed, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, or altered unless in conformity with the regulations set forth in this chapter.
2. Nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign shall not be reconstructed, raised, moved, placed, extended, enlarged or altered, unless the sign is changed so as to conform to applicable provisions of this title.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-4; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

The following provisions shall be used to interpret and apply the provisions of this chapter in addition to other applicable provisions of this title.

1. Intervening streets. Lots divided by public streets shall not be deemed to be adjacent.
2. Limitations. The sign requirements contained in this chapter are declared to be the maximum allowable.
3. Prohibited signs. Signs not specifically allowed by this chapter shall be prohibited, including, but not limited to, A-frame, snipe, and pedestal signs.
4. Conflicts. If a provision of another ordinance conflicts with a provision of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-5; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

1. Intent. It is not the intent of this chapter to allow commercial speech to a greater extent than noncommercial speech.
2. Substitution of sign copy. Any sign allowed under this chapter may contain lawful noncommercial sign copy that occupies the entire sign area or any portion thereof, and may be substituted for, or be combined with, a commercial message. Sign copy may be changed at will at any time without any additional approval or permitting, provided the sign is not prohibited and complies with applicable requirements of this chapter.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-6; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Signs allowed shall be as shown in chart 10-27 of this section.

CHART 10-27. SIGNS ALLOWED BY ZONES 

Illumination may be built into or attached to signs listed above when:

1. Lighting is allowed in the specific zone;
2. Development occupies more than 500 feet continuous frontage on the street the sign will face and the sign is more than 200 feet from a lot where an illuminated sign is not permitted.

Flat signs that face a dwelling on adjacent property may not be illuminated. Property divided by a public street is not adjacent.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-7; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017; Ord. No. 2023-14, exh. A(10-27-7), 7-12-2023)

No sign shall be located on publicly owned land or within street rights-of-way, including, but not limited to, handbills, posters, advertisements, or notices fastened, placed, posted, painted, or attached in any way upon any curbstone, lamp post, utility pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, rock, sidewalk, or street, except signs erected or permitted by the city or an authorized public agency.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-8; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

1. Comprehensive sign plan. When an application for the first land use permit on a lot (building permit, site plan, or conditional use permit) is submitted to the city, the application shall include a comprehensive sign plan for all existing, proposed, or future signs on the lot.
2. Permit required. No person shall erect, alter, repair, relocate, or modify any sign without first obtaining a sign permit and a building permit for such work as provided in HCC 10-5-12 unless no permit is required.
3. No permit required. A sign permit shall not be required for yard signs.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-9; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Following the issuance of a sign permit to construct a permanent sign, a temporary mobile sign may be placed on the lot for which the sign permit is issued. The mobile sign shall be removed upon inspection and approval of the permanent sign or upon expiration of 60 days after issuance of the sign permit, whichever first occurs. Mobile signs shall not employ animated, flashing, or intermittent lights.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-10; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Electronic signs are permitted subject to the following limitations:

1. Where allowed. Electronic signs shall be allowed only in the commercial, mixed use, and manufacturing zones.
2. Location.
   1. Electronic signs which are not part of a monument sign or an installation where any portion of the electronic sign is six feet above finished grade shall not be permitted within 500 feet of the nearest boundary line of a parcel located in a residential zone.
   2. Electronic signs which are part of a monument sign or an installation less than six feet above finished grade, and the display is parallel to a residentially zoned property, are not permitted within 150 feet of the corresponding lot line of the subject property.
   3. Electronic signs within 150 feet of Mountain View Corridor (MVC) or an arterial road, where the digital display is six feet above finished grade, shall not be within 225 feet of a residential dwelling which is parallel to the sign face.
   4. Electronic signs located within an outdoor advertising corridor, as defined in U.C.A. 1953, § 72-7-502, shall comply with all regulations of HCC chapter 10-10, U.C.A. 1953, title 72, ch. 7, pt. 5 (U.C.A. 1953, § 72-7-501 et seq,) and UAC r933-2.
3. Size. The changeable sign copy of an electronic sign shall not exceed 75 percent of the sign area, and the remainder of the sign shall be of a permanent character as otherwise required under this chapter.
4. Malfunctions. Any electronic sign with electrical or lighting components operating in an erratic, broken, or damaged fashion shall have a default mechanism to turn off the sign within 24 hours of a reported malfunction.
5. Brightness.
   1. Sign illumination levels for digital signs shall never, at maximum display intensity, exceed 0.3 footcandle over ambient lighting conditions when measured at the distance based on the formula of the square root of the product of the area of the display multiplied by 100.
   2. All permitted electronic signs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and is programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions, or that can be adjusted to comply with the 0.3 footcandle measurements. The applicant shall submit a photometric matrix (showing the dispersal in footcandles) showing that the sign meets all the requirements of this Code.
6. Dwell time and transitions.
   1. The inclusion of text or video that flashes, scrolls, appears to flash, or strobes is prohibited.
   2. Images shall have a minimum eight-second dwell time.
   3. Transitions between images shall be no less than three seconds. In order to better regulate changing images, a fade-in and fade-out transition must be used. The fade-in and fade-out prevents a dark image from transitioning abruptly to a light image and vice versa, thus creating a flash or strobe-like effect.
   4. Digital signs installed within 150 feet of Mountain View Corridor or an arterial road shall have image dwell times of eight seconds or more, and the actual message rotation is accomplished in three seconds or less. Transitions must be done in a manner where the transition between images have similar background colors and brightness. Digital signs within 150 feet of Mountain View Corridor or an arterial road are not subject to subsection (G) of this section.
7. Frequency of changes. An electronic sign on which sign copy changes more than four times per minute (once every 15 seconds) shall be deemed an animated sign and is prohibited.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-11; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017; Ord. No. 2022-15, 4-13-2022)

1. Multiple uses on one lot. When more than one use occupies a lot, the frontage may be used to calculate the sign size for one ground or projecting sign for all uses on the lot. The total sign area may then be divided between the uses. There may be any number of flat or wall signs, provided the total area of such signs does not exceed the percentage of wall area coverage allowed.
2. Use of lot line. A lot line which abuts a non-access freeway, road, street, or right-of-way may not be used in computing sign area.
3. Sign area calculation. In computing sign area, only one side of a back-to-back or double-faced sign shall be computed when signs are parallel or diverge from a common edge by an angle of not more than 45 degrees. The area of signs that do not have a frame or a separate background shall be computed on the basis of the least rectilinear line with a maximum of eight sides, triangle, or circle large enough to frame sign copy. Sign areas in the shape of a sphere, prism, cylinder, cone, pyramid, square, or other such shapes shall be computed as one-half of the total surface area.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-12; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

1. Lot with less than minimum required frontage. When a lot has frontage that is ten percent less than the minimum required by the zone in which the lot is located, the planning commission may allow a sign on the lot that has more sign area than allowed by the regulations set forth in this chapter, provided the planning commission approves a conditional use permit for the sign modification and finds the modification is:
   1. Consistent with the purpose of this chapter; and
   2. In architectural harmony with development on the lot and other buildings and uses adjacent to the development.
2. Limitation. Notwithstanding subsection (A) of this section, no sign modification shall deviate from the required standard by more than 25 percent.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-13; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

The height of ground signs, except as otherwise specified in this chapter, shall be measured from the grade at the lot line of the yard in which the sign is located and shall not exceed the height allowed in the zone in which the sign is located.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-14; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

All signs shall bear the imprint of the sign owner and sign erector in plain and public view.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-15; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

No ground or roof sign shall be located within 200 feet of a single-family dwelling unless the sign is separated from the dwelling by a street that is at least 60 feet wide.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-16; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Signs shall comply with the following location standards:

1. No obstruction. Signs shall not be erected in a manner that allows any portion of the sign to interfere with any fire escape, fire exit, or standpipe, or obstruct any required stairway, door, ventilator, or window.
2. Utility clearance. Signs shall not be erected or maintained which have less horizontal or vertical clearance from communication and electrical power lines than as prescribed by applicable law or regulations.
3. Minimum clearance. Signs shall not be erected in a manner that any portion of a sign extends over a public or private walkway with a minimum clearance of less than ten feet.
4. Visibility at intersections. Signs shall not be placed within the clear view of an intersection except as permitted by HCC 10-29-51.
5. Traffic hazards prohibited. Signs shall not be erected at the intersection of any streets or driveways in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision, or at any location where by reason of the sign's position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal device, or make use of the words "stop," "drive-in," "danger," or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters in a manner that may interfere with, mislead, or confuse vehicle operators.
6. Lighting beyond property. Lighted signs shall not be installed in a manner that permits the light to unreasonably annoy or interfere with the use of nearby property. The community development director shall consider the validity of any alleged violation of this subsection. If such light is determined to be in violation, the director shall require the owner of the light to take appropriate corrective action. Action taken by the community development director may be appealed to the appeal authority as provided in HCC 10-5-24.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-17; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Signs shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good condition, including the replacement of defective parts, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required to maintain the sign. No permit is required to maintain or service a sign.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-18; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

Signs relating to a business which has closed or relocated shall be removed or the sign copy removed within 30 days of closure or relocation.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-19; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

To the extent that use and development of land subject to this chapter includes any matter governed by other applicable regulations set forth in this title, such regulations shall apply in addition to the requirements of this chapter.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-20; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

The provisions of this chapter may be enforced as provided in HCC chapter 10-7.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-21; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)

The provisions of this chapter shall be severable as provided in HCC 10-1-13.

(Code 2023, § 10-27-22; Ord. No. 2017-54, 12-13-2017)