There is a significant relationship between the manner in which signs are displayed and public safety, and the stability of the economic value of adjoining property. The reasonable display of signs is necessary as a public service and to the conduct of competitive commerce and industry. The regulations in this Chapter establish minimum standards for the display of signs in direct relationship to the functional use of property and to the intensity of development as permitted within the zoning districts which are provided in this Title.

For the purpose of this Title, signs are classified according to their function as follows:

   A.   Ground sign.

   B.   Wall sign.

   C.   Roof sign.

   D.   Projecting sign.

   E.   Advertising sign (billboard).

   F.   Pole sign.

No sign shall be permitted unless it is in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter and the requirements of the zoning district in which the sign is located.

Permits are issued by the Zoning Official and are required for all signs. Fees for sign permits are established by the Village Board.

Any sign or sign structure lawfully existing or under construction at the time of the adoption of this Title, or of a later amendment, but whose location or use does not conform with that required or permitted in the regulations herein, shall be known as nonconforming. Nonconforming signs shall be registered with the Zoning Official.

   A.   Unsafe And Unlawful Signs: If the Zoning Official shall find that any sign is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this Chapter, he shall give written notice to the person to whom the zoning certificate has been issued. If he fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within ten (10) days after such notice, such sign may be removed or altered to comply with the Zoning Official at the expense of the zoning certificate issuee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Zoning Official shall refuse to issue a zoning certificate to any such party or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The Zoning Official may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to property to be removed summarily and without notice.

   B.   Maintenance And Repair: Every sign, including, but not limited to, those signs for which no permits or permit fees are required, shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural material condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, painting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of said sign. The Zoning Official shall require compliance with all standards of this Code. If the sign is not made to comply with adequate safety standards, the Zoning Official shall require its removal in accordance with this Chapter.

   C.   Removal Of Obsolete Signs: Any sign which does not advertise a bona fide business conducted or a product sold, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or property owner upon which said sign may be found within ten (10) days after written notification from the Zoning Official. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Zoning Official may cause removal of such sign, and any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the owner of the property to which such a sign is attached.

   D.   Alterations: No display sign or outdoor device shall be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated, except in conformity with the provisions of this Title, the repainting, changing of parts and preventative maintenance of signs shall not be deemed to be alterations if performed by the sign permit holder.

   A.   No sign shall block any required accessway or window.

   B.   Signs advertising the premises for sale or lease may be permitted, not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet, except as provided in each district.

   C.   Signs advertising acreage of over twenty (20) acres for sale or lease shall be permitted on the premises, not to exceed thirty two (32) square feet.

   D.   No sign shall be attached to a tree, utility pole or existing sign.

   E.   No handbill shall be attached to any structure unless it is part of a permitted sign.

   F.   The following signs are exempt from the regulations of this Section, except as provided in subsections A. and D. herein:

      1.   Memorial signs and tablet displays on private property, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area.

      2.   Address numerals and signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area and bearing the names of the occupants of the premises.

      3.   Governmental flags, insignia and signs when not used for commercial purposes.

      4.   Legal notices.

      5.   Governmental traffic and parking signs.

In all districts, unless otherwise noted, the following signs are permitted in accordance with the regulations set forth herein:

   A.   Sign Projections:

      1.   No sign shall project beyond the property line into the public way, except for signs installed by public governmental agencies and except within the C-1 Traditional Downtown District.

      2.   No sign shall project beyond the property line into another property, unless proper easements or agreements are in place to allow this to occur.

   B.   Highway and directional signs subject to the following:

      1.   All signs shall be made and installed in accordance with the specifications of the Village, Kankakee County or the Illinois Department of Transportation.

      2.   Only signs permitted shall be signs announcing the location of, or directing traffic to, given locations which include, but are not limited to the following:

         a.   Service areas for automobiles, food, lodging or camping.

         b.   Public and quasi-public areas.

         c.   Business districts.

   C.   Signs accessory to parking area, subject to the following:

      1.   Area And Number: Signs designating parking area entrances or exits are limited to one sign for each such exit or entrance and to a maximum size of four (4) square feet each.

      2.   Height: No sign shall project higher than ten feet (10) above the established average grade of the parking area.

   D.   In cases where residential and commercial zoning area adjacent to each other, no sign shall show toward or be directly visible from the adjacent residential district.

   E.   Temporary Mobile Signs: In all commercial and industrial districts, the use of one mobile sign shall be permitted and limited to no more than twenty one (21) days in a year on the same premises. Each use shall be subject to a permit. Each sign shall be subject to all applicable regulations within each district.

In all residential districts the following classes of signs are permitted in accordance with the regulations set forth herein:

   A.   Nonflashing, nonillumination accessory signs.

      1.   Name plates and identification signs, subject to the following:

         a.   Area:

            (1)   For one- and two-family dwellings, there shall be not more than one name plate, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area for each dwelling unit indicating the name or address of the occupant or a permitted occupation.

            (2)   For multi-family dwellings, apartments and for buildings other than dwellings, a single identification sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area may be displayed.

            (3)   In connection with the construction or remodeling of a building there shall be permitted one sign not exceeding thirty two (32) square feet in area, on corner lots two (2) such signs may be permitted. All signs shall be removed within two (2) weeks after occupancy permits are granted for the structure indicated.

         b.   Height: No sign shall project higher than ten (10) feet above ground level.

         c.   Location: No sign shall be located closer to the adjoining street than one-half (1/2) of the required setback distance.

      2.   For sale and rent signs, subject to the following:

         a.   Area And Number: There shall not be more than one such sign per zoning lot, except that on a corner lot, two (2) signs, one facing each street shall be permitted. No sign shall exceed nine (9) square feet in area.

         b.   Location: No sign shall be located closer to the adjoining street than one-half (1/2) of the required setback distance.

         c.   Height: No sign shall project higher than five (5) feet above the ground level.

   B.   Nonflashing signs, church bulletins, subject to the following.

      1.   Area And Number: There shall be not more than one sign per zoning lot, except that on a comer lot two (2) signs, one facing each street shall be permitted. No sign shall exceed forty eight (48) square feet in area.

      2.   Location: No sign shall be located closer than one-half (1/2) of the required setback distance to any street.

      3.   Height: No sign shall project higher than twelve (12) feet above the ground level.

All signs on a zoning lot shall conform to a homogenous signage system which has been submitted to the Village at the time of erection of the first sign on the lot. In all commercial districts, the following signs shall be permitted on a zoning lot, subject to the requirements set forth herein:

   A.   On ground or pole sign subject to the following:

      1.   Area: No sign shall have a surface area exceeding thirty two (32) square feet per face, to a maximum of sixty four (64) square feet, including all sides and faces of the sign. The sign post or other material used to support the sign shall not be included in the calculation for sign area. However, any attached or support that could appear to function as signage shall be included in the calculation for sign area, as determined by the Zoning Official.

      2.   Height: No part of any sign or standard shall exceed a height greater than twenty (20) feet above the grade at the sign base. Where the sign is placed at the top or side of a berm, the height of the sign shall be determined from the base of the berm.

      3.   Illumination: No illuminated sign shall be of the flashing or intermittent type, except devices denoting the time and temperature and traveling messages. Traveling message unit devices denoting the time and temperature and other information may be permitted.

      4.   Signage System: When multiple signs will be appropriate for a zoning lot, all signs shall conform to a signage system which has been recorded with the Village Zoning Official prior to the erection of the first sign on each zoning lot.

      5.   No more than a total of one pole or ground sign per zoning lot shall be permitted for individual establishments located within a building that contains three (3) or more establishments.

      6.   No pole or ground sign shall be located closer than fifty (50) feet to any other ground or pole sign.

   B.   Signs for integrated planned business developments in single ownership and management or under unified control, subject to the following:

      1.   Area: No ground or pole sign shall have a surface area exceeding sixty four (64) square feet per face, to a maximum of one hundred twenty eight (128) square feet total, including all sides and faces of the sign. The sign post or tower material used to support the sign shall not be included in the calculation for sign area. However, any attachment or support that could appear to function as signage shall be included in the calculation for sign area, as determined by the Zoning Official. No more than one integrated planned business development sign may be permitted on parcels less than two and one-half (2 1/2) acres in area.

      2.   Height: No part of any sign or standard shall exceed a height greater than twenty (20) feet above the grade at the sign base. Where the sign is placed at the top or side of a berm, the height of the sign shall be determined from the base of the berm.

      3.   Location: All signs shall be located entirely within the zoning lot on which the use to which it pertains is located.

      4.   Illumination: No illumination sign shall be of the flashing or intermittent type, except devices denoting time and temperature and traveling messages. Traveling message unit devices denoting the time and temperature and other information may be permitted. These message unit devices shall be attached and subordinate to the permitted sign. Said devices shall be included in the calculation for sign area. The message for these devices shall not flash in an obtrusive manner or create a nuisance, as determined by the Zoning Official. No rotating beam, beacon or illumination device resembling an emergency light or public traffic signal shall be permitted.

      5.   Signage for individual establishments within the center may be permitted on the integrated planned business development sign. However, signage for individual establishments placed on said sign shall be included in the calculation for the permitted area of the sign.

   C.   All On-Premises Signs are subject to the following:

      1.   Business Identification Sign: One individual business identification sign shall be allowed for each separate individual business establishment specifically to identify the name, location and nature of the business which shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the area of the front face of any one individual business establishment, or exceed sixty four (64) square feet in area, whichever is less.

      2.   Area: The total gross area of a sign or signs on the front or rear wall of a principal building shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the area of the front face (including doors and windows) of the principal building, or exceed sixty four (64) square feet in area, whichever is less. The gross area of a sign or signs on a side wall of a principal building shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the area of the side wall (including doors and windows) of the principal building, or exceed sixty four (64) square feet in area, whichever is less.

      3.   Location: The sign or signs may front on the front, side or rear wall or walls of the principal building.

      4.   Projection: Signs suspended from any building shall not project more than two and one-half (2 1/2) feet beyond the wall of the building. Its location and arrangement shall be subject to approval by the Zoning Official.

      5.   Height: No sign shall project higher than fifteen (15) feet above curb level, and in no case shall a sign project higher than four (4) feet above the roof line. The bottom of such signs shall not be less than seven (7) feet above the finished grade of the sidewalk.

      6.   Illumination: No illumination sign shall be of the flashing or intermittent type, except devices denoting the time and temperature. Traveling message unit devices denoting the time and temperature and other information may be permitted. These message unit devices shall be attached and subordinate to the permitted sign. Said devices shall be included in the calculation for sign area. The messages on these devices shall not flash in an obtrusive manner or create a nuisance, as determined by the Zoning Official. No rotating beam, beacon or illumination device resembling an emergency light or public traffic signal shall be permitted.

      7.   Signs On Marquees, Canopies And Awnings: Restrictions imposed hereinafter on the projection of signs across property lines into the public way shall not apply to signs located on marquees, or canopies; provided, that any sign located on a marquee or canopy shall be affixed flat to the surface thereof; and, further, no sign shall extend vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of said marquee or canopy, except that individual, freestanding letters may project to a height onto exceeding thirty (30) inches above the same. Restrictions imposed herein on the projection of signs across property lines into the public way shall not apply to signs located on awnings; provided, that any sign located on an awning shall be affixed flat to the surface thereof, shall be nonilluminated and nonflashing and shall indicate only the name and address of the establishment on the premises. Further, no such sign shall extend vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of said awning.

      8.   Advertising signs (billboards) require a special use permit.

         a.   No advertising sign (billboard) shall be closer than one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet to another.

         b.   No advertising sign (billboard) shall be located within six hundred (600) feet of any residential districts.

   D.   Signs Accessory To Automobile Service Stations: The following signs accessory to automobile service stations are permitted.

      1.   Racks for the orderly display of cans of engine oil for convenience in dispensing said oil may be located on or at the ends of pump islands (limit of two (2) to each island).

      2.   Two (2) open, portable tire racks (not more than seven (7) feet in height, including signs, and six (6) feet in length) on coasters for the purpose of displaying new tires, shall be permitted for each gasoline or tire service station.

      3.   Items for sale on the premises may be openly displayed within ten (10) feet of the principal building. Products may be displayed under group island canopies or between pumps within the area of the pump island base.

      4.   A sign may be painted on the inside and outside front face of the enclosed tire rack, but shall not be painted on the sides or rear.

In the industrial district, the following signs are permitted on a zoning lot, subject to the requirements set forth hereinafter:

   A.   All signs permitted in the commercial districts.

   B.   Advertising sign (billboard) require a special use permit.

      1.   No advertising sign (billboard) shall be closer than one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet to another.

      2.   No advertising sign (billboard) shall be located within six hundred (600) feet of any residential districts.

   C.   No illuminated signs shall be of the flashing or intermittent type.

It is recognized that from time to time signs will be needed to exceed the standards set forth in the Chapter. Permits for such signs shall be treated as a special use.

In the Agriculture Districts, the following signs are permitted on a zoning lot, and shall be treated as a special use, subject to the following requirements as set forth hereinafter:

   A.   All signs permitted as provided for in Section 10-11-7-3A.