Hull City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signage
§ 410-7.1 Signs, billboards and other projections.
The term sign as used in this article shall be held to include signs, outdoor advertising, billboards, poster boards, letters, words, models, devices, symbols, trade-marks and shall include every kind of structure that is arranged, designed or used as an advertisement, announcement, or for direction. See Article II, § 410-2.2 for definitions.
A.
Permits. Signs, ground signs, roof signs, wall signs, pole signs, projecting signs, marquee signs, electric signs, grouping of letter or words, poster boards, billboards, when exceeding an area of 3 1/2 square feet face surface of the sign, shall not be erected, constructed or altered, except as provided by this code, and until a permit is obtained from the Building Commissioner. No permit shall be granted until an application has been properly presented with plans and specifications accompanying the application, showing the intended location, dimensions, materials to be used, weight, details of the sign construction, all of which shall have been approved by the Building Commissioner. No portable or temporary sign shall be placed upon any property unless a permit is first obtained and must be removed by the applicant within the time limit set forth in the permit.
B.
Exemptions.
(1)
Real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet in area, advertising real estate for sale or for rent when placed upon the property to be sold or rented may be erected without a permit from the Building Commissioner, provided that only one such sign is placed upon the property to be sold or rented.
(2)
No permits are required for signs on a public carrier or for municipal, state or federal buildings, nor for construction signs and similar signs used in connection with and during construction operations, or any temporary signs used for public fund-raising or political purposes when removed within 30 days.
(3)
Portable signs set up for warning the public of a dangerous condition shall not require a permit, however, such a sign shall be removed as soon as the conditions have been remedied.
C.
Public Ways. Signs and advertising devices to be erected over a public way shall first have the approval of the Select Board Members before a permit for the erection of such sign is granted.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 6C]
D.
Locations
(1)
Logo type, trade-marks or other distinctive arrangements of a trade name may be constructed upon parapets without spacing the letters if the area occupied on the parapet does not extend over 50% of the length of the side of the building upon which it is placed.
(2)
A sign, no more than one square foot gross area, may be displayed in a single family area.
(3)
Illumination of all signs shall be controlled so as not to shine upon the window of any residence within 100 feet distance of such sign. Where business zones abut a residential zone, the location of any sign shall be at least 10 feet away from such boundary line of any residential zone.
E.
Non-Conforming. Signs that are abandoned, dilapidated or illegible, or do not indicate the current use or service provided shall be prohibited and shall be removed by the property owner within one-year from the date of the issuance of the violation.