No sign shall be illuminated by other than electrical means.

The light from illuminated signs shall be directed and shielded in a manner that will not interfere with vehicular traffic or the enjoyment and use of adjacent properties.

No sign may be erected which flashes, rotates, has moving parts or messages generated by discrete lighting elements.

Internal illumination shall be permitted under the following circumstances:

Only indirectly illuminated signs shall be allowed in any residential district.

Internally illuminated plastic signs with dark-colored detachable letters shall be strictly prohibited in all districts.

Gas-filled light types (fluorescent) shall be allowed for indirect illumination and when placed in such a manner that the tubes are not exposed to view from any point along the roadway or sidewalk.

Rear-illuminated (backlit) awnings are prohibited.

All signs shall be erected and maintained in compliance with all applicable building code, and other applicable ordinances governing construction within the Township. In the event of conflict between this article and other laws, the most restrictive shall govern.

All signs shall be so placed as to not interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal; driver vision at any access point or intersection; or, pedestrian movement on any public sidewalk.

No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to obstruct firefighting or prevent free access to any door, window or fire escape.

Roof signs.

Signs containing flashing, intermittent or moving lights, digital/electronic signs, signs with moving or revolving parts, or reflecting parts which may distract drivers. This prohibition does not extend to those signs that give the time or temperature, provided that no other animated messages are displayed. Exceptions to this restriction may be permitted by the Planning Commission based upon good justification; for example, the historical significance of signage. Digital/electronic signs may be considered for the display of gas prices at automobile filling stations and on menu boards located outside of the Central Business District, but only through the special land use process.

Signs affixed to trees, rocks, shrubs or similar natural features, except, signs denoting a site of historic significance.

Signs which imitate traffic signals, traffic direction signs, or similar traffic control devices, and signs which make use of words, including but not limited to "Stop," "Look," "Danger," or any other words, phrases, symbols or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

Temporary signs mounted upon trucks, vans, or other wheeled devices, except for political signs. Signs permanently painted on, or, otherwise permanently displayed upon a vehicle, licensed and operating on the public streets and highways, identifying the owner's occupation or livelihood, shall be permitted.

Signs other than those erected by a public agency which are located within or overhang the public right-of-way or on public property, unless otherwise specified herein.

Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public health and safety due to inadequate maintenance.

Any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained.

Nameplates containing only a residents name and address, and not exceeding two square feet in size.

Political signs shall be permitted on all lots, regardless of zoning, provided such sign is located and placed with the permission of the owner or lawful occupant of the lot or parcel where such sign is located, and provided that such sign does not violate any other provision of this chapter. No more than one sign may be erected on a lot within the Township for each candidate and/or ballot proposal and all such signs shall be removed within five days following the election.

On-premises directional signs which indicate the direction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow on private property. Directional signs shall not exceed two square feet in size, shall contain no advertising, and may be illuminated.

Street numbers.

No hunting, no fishing, no trespassing signs unless less than two square feet in area and spaced no less than 100 feet apart.

Historical markers.

Signs in the interior of a building, with the exception of window signs.

Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his public duty, including but not limited to directional signs, regulatory signs, and information signs.

Names of buildings, dates of erection, monument citations, commemorative tablets, and the like, when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material or made of other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure.

Temporary on-premises farm product signs in only the AG Districts:

One ground sign shall be permitted per premises which has frontage on only one public road.

Two ground signs shall be permitted per premises which has frontage on two public roads (excluding I-275 frontage). One sign shall not exceed the area requirements set forth herein. The second sign shall not exceed 50% of the area requirements set forth herein.

A ground sign shall have a setback of 15 feet from a public road right-of-way and a setback distance equal to the height of the sign from all other property boundaries.

The standards set forth in §§ 530-134 and 530-141;

The size, shape, and topography of the property;

The relationship of the sign to neighboring properties and signs;

The relationship to and visibility from the public street where the property is located; and

Under no circumstance shall the sign in the I-275 interchange overlay district exceed 100 feet in height, nor shall the sign area exceed 300 square feet.

No wall sign shall be erected to extend above the top of the wall to which it is attached, nor extend beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached. Signs erected on the vertical portion of the mansard roof are considered to be wall signs.

All wall signs shall be safely and securely attached to the building by means of metal anchors, bolts, or expansion screws, and in accordance with the Building Code. In no case shall any wall sign be secured with wire, straps of wood or nails.

For buildings with distinct and separate uses, separate wall signs shall be permitted for each such use. However, the total allowable square footage shall not exceed the maximum allowable square footage specified for each district.

The standards set forth in §§ 530-134 and 530-141;

The size, shape, and topography of the property;

The relationship of the sign to neighboring properties and signs; and

The relationship to and visibility from the public street where the property is located.

One nonilluminated sign used for advertising a garage sale, rummage sale, estate sale or similar activity shall be allowed for a period not to exceed three consecutive days and shall not exceed two per year.

Up to three additional nonilluminated off-premises signs may be erected, provided they are not erected on utility poles and they comply with the time frame provisions of Subsection A(1) above.

Each sign shall be no more than six square feet in area and four feet tall.

All signs located within the right-of-way shall require a county permit, or they will be removed by Wayne County.

All such signs may be posted no more than 24 hours before the sale and shall be removed within four hours following the sale.

No more than one portable sidewalk sign shall be permitted per business that is located on the ground floor.

The sign shall be removed when weather conditions create potentially hazardous conditions.

The maximum area of a portable sidewalk sign is six square feet per side with no dimension greater than four feet (not counted towards total sign area), with a maximum of two faces per sign.

The sign shall be located directly in front of the building it represents. The sign shall also be located on the building side of the sidewalk in such a manner that it is not in the pedestrian clear path of travel area.

The sign shall not unreasonably interfere with the view, access to, or use of adjacent properties.

The sign should be of durable materials that complement the materials of the building such as overlay plywood painted with enamel paint, stainless or other weather-resistant steel, laminate plastic, slate chalkboard, or marker board. The lettering may be permanent or temporary.

Paper signs, wind-activated items (such as balloons, windsocks, and pinwheels), and nonrigid changeable areas shall not be used as or attached to a sign.

The sign shall have no sharp edges or corners. All surfaces shall be smooth and be free of protruding tacks, nails and wires. All parts, portions, and materials of a sign shall be kept in good repair. The display surface shall be kept clean, neatly painted, and free from rust, corrosion, and graffiti. No glass, breakable materials, or attached illumination shall be allowed.

No sign shall be permitted referring to off-premises locations.

The primary colors of such signs shall be compatible with the colors of the buildings within the area.

Sidewalk signs shall be removed daily at the close of business hours.

Sidewalk signs within the road right-of-way shall require approval by the applicable agency.

In all districts, the Zoning Administrator may allow a new business, as part of its startup phase, to use a one-time-only temporary sign for up to a forty-five-day period. All temporary signs permitted under this provision shall otherwise comply with all requirements pertaining to height and area for the zoning district in which the sign is located.

Permission to display a promotional banner or sign for civic or charitable activity may be authorized by the Zoning Administrator. Appropriate conditions can be placed on the granting of the permit, including but not limited to duration, size, location, etc.

Within the CBD, B-1 and B-2 Districts, one promotional banner is permitted per premises for a duration not to exceed two weeks and no more than four times per year. Only those businesses with direct pedestrian access from the public right-of-way shall be permitted to have a promotional banner. The temporary promotional banner shall not exceed 20 square feet in area. Neither the height nor the width of a temporary promotional banner shall exceed 10 feet. Temporary promotional banners shall not be located in a public right-of-way, must be affixed to the principal building of the business and shall be located and designed to avoid interference with or distraction to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

All promotional banners which are not properly maintained shall be removed at the order of the Zoning Administrator.

All other promotional banners (i.e., streamers, flags, etc.) are strictly prohibited.

In all zoning districts, one nonilluminated ground sign shall be permitted to advertise individual lots, land or buildings for rent, lease or sale (including weekend open house signs), provided that such signs are located on the property intended to be rented, leased or sold. Corner lots are permitted to have two signs. Such signs shall not exceed an area of six square feet and a height of four feet in all residential districts (RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, RM and MHP), and an area of 32 square feet and a height of 12 feet in all other districts.

In all zoning districts, one nonilluminated ground sign shall be permitted listing persons or firms connected with construction work being performed. Corner lots are permitted to have two signs. Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and a height of 12 feet.

For all residential projects involving the sale of individual lots and/or dwelling units, one nonilluminated freestanding sign shall be permitted per each entrance to the project advertising the sale of such lots and/or dwelling units (including weekend open house signs). Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and a height of 12 feet.

For all residential projects involving the rental or leasing of dwelling units, one nonilluminated freestanding sign shall be permitted per each entrance to the project advertising the rental or leasing of such units (including weekend open house signs). Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and a height of 12 feet.

All signs advertising the rental, lease or sale of a property or dwelling unit shall be removed within 48 hours after the property is no longer available for rent or lease, closing on the sale or completion of construction work.

All weekend open house signs may be posted no more than 24 hours before the open house and shall be removed within four hours following the open house.

All signs located within the right-of-way shall require a county permit or they will be removed by Wayne County.

All permitted real estate signs shall otherwise comply with all other standards for freestanding signs set forth in this article.

For a residential dwelling within an established neighborhood in Huron Township, no more than two freestanding signs shall be permitted.

For a new development in Huron Township with multiple dwellings being listed for sale, no more than three freestanding signs shall be permitted. However, additional freestanding signs may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator when circumstances exist that are unique to the property and not self-created. Approval for the additional signs shall be for up to six months, at which time another permit would have to be sought.

Such signs shall not exceed an area of six square feet and a height of four feet.

All signs located within the right-of-way shall require a county permit or they will be removed by Wayne County.

All such signs may be posted no more than 24 hours before the open house and shall be removed within four hours following the open house.

All permitted weekend open house real estate signs shall otherwise comply with all other standards for freestanding signs set forth in this article.

Not more than three billboards may be located per linear mile of highway regardless of the fact that such billboards may be located on different sides of the highway. The linear mile measurement shall not be limited to the boundaries of Huron Charter Township where the particular highway extends beyond such boundaries. Double-faced billboard structures (i.e., structures having back-to-back billboard faces) and V-type billboard structures having only one face visible to traffic proceeding from any given direction on a highway shall be considered as one billboard. Additionally, billboard structures having tandem billboard faces (i.e., two parallel billboard faces facing the same direction and side by side to one another) or stacked billboard faces (i.e., two billboard faces facing the same direction, with one face being directly above the other) shall be considered as one billboard. Otherwise, billboard structures having more than one billboard face shall be considered as two billboards and shall be prohibited in accordance with the minimum spacing requirement set forth in Subsection B(2) below.

No billboard shall be located within 1,000 feet of another billboard abutting either side of the same highway.

No billboard shall be located within 300 feet of a residential zoning district and/or existing residence. If the billboard is illuminated, this required distance shall instead be 500 feet.

No billboard shall be located closer than 75 feet from a property line adjoining a public right-of-way or 10 feet from any interior boundary lines of the premises on which the billboard is located.

No billboard shall be on top of, cantilevered or otherwise suspended above the roof any building.

A billboard must be constructed in such a fashion that it will withstand all wind and vibration forces that can normally be expected to occur in the vicinity. A billboard must be maintained so as to assure proper alignment of structure, continued structural soundness and continued readability of message.

The Planning Commission may consider a digital/electronic sign for automobile filling stations as a special land use. In review of the special land use, the Commission shall consider the standards as set forth in § 530-11 and the following:

The Planning Commission, in its sole discretion, may approve up to two menu boards upon determination that it is integral to the nature of the business.

Each menu board shall not exceed seven feet in height.

One menu board (in stacking lane) shall not exceed 16 square feet and the other (at the speaker) shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.

The area of the menu board is exclusive of the structures framing.

All menu boards shall be single-sided.

No menu board may be located within the required front yard and between 20 feet and 40 feet from any parcel perimeter.

Only up to four square feet of the menu board shall include digital/electronic signage.

The Planning Commission may consider a modified sign area, subject to the following:

Lettering used on manual changeable copy signs directed to local or collector streets shall not exceed three inches in height.

Lettering used on manual changeable copy signs directed to secondary or major arterial streets shall not exceed least six inches in height.

Lettering used on manual changeable copy signs directed to pedestrians shall be at least two inches in height.

No more than two signs per use shall be permitted.

The size of an off-premises directional sign shall not exceed two square feet in size.

The height of an off-premises directional sign shall be no less than three feet nor exceed six feet. However, variations in height may be granted by the Planning Commission to accommodate vehicular visibility to avoid obstruction to visibility.

Illumination shall not be permitted.

Permission of the property owner where the proposed sign is to be located must be provided.

If a structure within the Township has been designated a State Historical Site or listed in the National Register of Historic Places, then a marker designating that fact, obtained from the appropriate state or federal agency, shall be permitted in addition to any other sign or signs which may lawfully be placed on the structure or the property on which the structure is located.

Anyone wishing to place a historic marker on a structure or property shall complete and file a sign permit application with the Zoning Administrator. No fee shall be charged for a historic marker application. The Zoning Administrator shall review and approve all such applications, but always reserves the right to send the request to the Planning Commission for their consideration.

Window sign means any sign, excluding the posting of hours of operation and/or street and building address, which is painted or mounted onto a window pane, or which is hung directly inside the window with the purpose or effect of identifying any premises from the sidewalk or street.

Window signs shall not exceed more than 30% of each window area in which they are displayed.

Nontemporary signs hung inside windows shall be made of clear materials, including but not limited to transparent plastic, with lettering painted or attached to them, with all hours of operation, credit card and address signs being exempt.

Window signs do not require sign permits, nor count in the calculation of total building signage permitted.

Permanent and/or illuminated window signs require a permit and application.

No mural may be placed on any building or structure that includes nonconforming signs.

Only one wall, facade, or surface of a building or structure may be used for a mural.

A wall, facade, or surface that is used for a mural pertaining to the business on which it is located shall be counted as one sign. A mural will count towards the total wall signage allowed for the business; however, the Planning Commission in its sole discretion may permit murals of larger size. Larger murals shall be permitted when determined to demonstrate at least one of the following:

The owner of record of the building or structure on which the proposed mural is to be placed shall, in writing, consent to the placement of said mural on the property, and shall agree to restore the wall, facade or surface upon which the mural is placed to its prior existing condition if and at such time the mural is not maintained by the applicant. The permit application shall include a statement detailing the applicant's plans for the maintenance of the mural.

In the review of the special land, use the Planning Commission shall grant approval only if the following criteria are met:

The name, address, and telephone number of the owner or persons entitled to possession of the sign and of the sign contractor or erector.

The location by street address of the proposed sign structure.

Complete information as required on application forms, including a site plan and elevation drawings of the proposed sign, caption of the proposed sign, and such other data as are pertinent to the application.

Plans indicating the scope and structural detail of the work to be done, including details of all connections, guy lines, supports and footings, and materials to be use.

The application, including all required information, for an electrical permit if the sign will have an electrical connection.

A statement of valuation.