Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, signs, as defined in § 154.004 of this chapter, where permitted, shall comply with the following requirements.

      (1)   Dynamic signs are allowed as conditional uses in the C-1 Zoning District.

      (2)   Dynamic signs are allowed in the C-2, I-1, I-2, C-4, C-5, GT and I/C Zoning Districts and in the C-3 Zoning District if they are located outside of the Main Street Area District as described in § 154.142(E).

      (3)   Dynamic displays may occupy no more than 66% of the sign area.

      (4)   Dynamic signs are not allowed in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 districts or in the Main Street Area District of the C-3 Zoning District, except as described in division (O)(14) below.

      (5)   There shall be no dynamic signs within 100 feet of a residential zoning district.

      (6)   There shall be no dynamic signs in the front setback area within 20 feet of a street intersection (as measured from intersecting right-of-way lines), except where lighting for such sign is indirect or diffused and in no way constitutes a traffic hazard.

      (7)   No dynamic sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape, movement or color interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign, signal or which otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.

      (8)   Dynamic signs shall not cause direct glare, nor become a distraction.

      (9)   Dynamic displays shall have a minimum display or loop time of six seconds before the display changes.

      (10)   A display of time, date or temperature must remain for at least the minimal allowable display time for the district in which it is located before changing to a different display, but the time, date or temperature information itself may change no more often than once every three seconds.

      (11)   The lamp wattage and luminance level in candelas per square meter (Nits) shall be provided at the time of permit application.

      (12)   Dynamic signs shall not exceed 5,000 Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset and shall not exceed 500 Nits between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise.

      (13)   Dynamic displays must be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one position if a malfunction occurs. The displays must also be equipped with a means to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the sign owner must immediately stop the dynamic display when notified by the city that it is not complying with the standards of this section.

      (14)   Dynamic signs which inform the public of time and/or temperature, as well as messages that consist of public announcements and the like, of a non-advertising nature are allowed in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 Zoning Districts. The dynamic signs in these districts shall be scrolling in nature with no flashing or other similar special effects. These signs shall have a black background with a singular color of lettering and/or numerics. The characters used shall be standard letters and numbers only.

(2004 Code, § 154.136) (Ord. 01-296, passed 8-14-2001; Ord. 10-0661, passed 10-12-2010; Ord. 17-776, passed 9-12-2017) Penalty, see § 154.999

         (a)   Portable/temporary signs are allowed by permit. Portable/temporary signs may not be displayed for more than seven days and must be removed immediately after the event advertised. A deposit (amount to be determined by City Council ordinance) is required and will be returned only if the sign is removed within seven days of the permit date. The applicant must reclaim the deposit when the sign is removed. If the sign remains after seven days, the city will utilize the deposit to remove the sign.

         (b)   Portable/temporary signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way, be flashing, have moving parts or be fastened to any pylon or light pole.

         (c)   Portable/temporary sign permits will not be issued to a property more than three times within a calendar year.

These signs shall be removed if construction of subdivision improvements is not in progress on the plat within 60 days following the date of the sign erection or as soon as 80% of the lots are developed and sold;

      (3)   Civic and religious organizations and other permitted non-residential uses. One illuminated or non-illuminated identification sign or bulletin board not to exceed a total of 40 square feet in area for the following uses: public schools, parochial schools, colleges, public libraries, museums, social and recreational buildings, parks, playgrounds, hospitals, sanitariums, charitable and religious institutions, churches, cemeteries and governmental office buildings;

         (a)   Within the C-1 Neighborhood Convenience Commercial District, the square footage of sign space per lot shall not exceed two square feet per front foot of building. The least width of a lot for purposes of this section shall be the front. No individual sign surface shall exceed 50 square feet. Two or more smaller signs may be arranged and integrated so as to cause a sign surface not exceeding 100 square feet. No sign shall extend in height more than two feet above the highest outside wall or parapet of any principal structure.

         (b)   Within the C-2 Automotive Service Commercial District, the aggregate square footage of sign space per lot shall not exceed four square feet per front foot of building. No individual sign surface shall exceed 100 square feet.

         (c)   1.   Within the C-4 and I/C Districts, name plate signs and business signs are permitted; provided, the aggregate square footage of sign per lot shall not exceed the sum of four square feet perfront foot of building. On corner lots, two front footage calculations are allowable provided both sides contain a major building entrance. The maximum height of a freestanding sign shall not exceed 27 feet.

            2.   Gas station signage shall be limited to a calculation equal to two square feet per front foot of lot, but in no case shall exceed 250 square feet of aggregate signage. Corner lots may use both sides in the calculation if each side has a major site entrance, but in no case shall exceed the maximum.

         (d)   Within any I-1 and I-2 Industrial Districts, name plate signs and business signs are permitted provided the aggregate square footage of sign space per lot shall not exceed the sum of four square feet per front foot of lot of this type, with the maximum allowable being 600 square feet.

         (e)   Where a building does not cover the full area of the property, signs may be freestanding or group supported. A minimum of 40 feet of lot frontage shall be required to permit a freestanding sign. The maximum size of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 80 square feet per sign side.

            1.   You must contact the Planning and Zoning Department at the city to apply for a permit.

            2.   The banner must meet the definition in § 154.004 of this chapter.

            1.   A banner may describe an event, sale or promotion taking place.

            2.   A banner is not intended to replace permanent building signage.

            3.   Three banner permits will be allowed per year.

            4.   Each banner will be allowed for no more than 15 days.

            5.   Banners must be removed when the 15-day permit is expired.

            6.   Banners are not allowed in public right-of-way or off-premise from primary

business.

            7.   Single-day event banner signs for non-profit organizations are exempt from the

banner sign ordinance.

            1.   Permits may be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Department at the city.

            2.   The form must be completed and signed by the business owner.

            3.   The application must be approved and signed by the Planning Department before the banner may be displayed.

            4.   The banner sign ordinance will take effect on 4-19-2011. All banners must comply with the regulations at that time. No “grandfathering” is permitted.

            1.   The applicant has contacted the Planning and Zoning Department at the city to apply for a permit.

            2.   The sandwich board must meet the definition in § 154.003 of this chapter.

            1.   A sandwich board may describe an event, sale, special, hours or promotion taking place.

            2.   A sandwich board is not intended to replace permanent building signage.

            3.   Sandwich boards are available for use during every month of the year.

            1.   Permits may be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Department at the city.

            2.   The form must be completed and signed by the business owner.

            3.   All necessary paperwork must be turned in to and signed by the Planning Department at least one week prior to the first day of display.

            4.   The cost of the permit application shall be determined by City Council ordinance.

            5.   A sketch of the sandwich board dimensions, content and location of the sandwich board must be attached to the application.

            6.   The application must be approved and signed by the Planning Department before the sandwich board may be displayed.

            7.   Each business owner is responsible for attaching a copy of the approved permit to the sandwich board. Sandwich boards without permits will be disposed of at owner’s expense. Only one sandwich board sign is allowed per business and is not transferable.

            8.   The sandwich board sign permit would be valid for one calendar year beginning January 1, and ending December 31. (For example, if the permit is acquired in July 2002, it would expire 12-31-2002.)

            9.   The sandwich board ordinance will take effect on 6-1-2003. All sandwich boards must comply with the regulations at that time. No “grandfathering” is permitted.

            10.   Business owners must sign a disclaimer for use of the public right-of-way which indemnifies the government of any liability, if the sign is to be located in the right-of-way.

            11.   The business owner must provide yearly certificate of insurance which covers liabilities for the signage placement area. The city must be a named insured on the policy.

            1.   The sandwich board may be up to seven square feet in size per side.

            2.   The sandwich board may only take up three feet of sidewalk, and shall not be set in the middle of the sidewalk if in the C-3 area.

            3.   The sandwich board may only be displayed during regular business hours.

            4.   Sandwich boards must be weighted down or removed if winds gust to 20 mph.

            1.   A copy of the sandwich board permit must be attached to the board.

            2.   City staff may move/remove sandwich boards for municipal purposes (for example, snow removal, traffic issues, maintenance and the like).

            3.   The sandwich board must be removed over night to prevent theft or vandalism. The boards must also be removed if there is any snow accumulation. (The board may not be replaced until the snow is removed.)

         (a)   Within the Main Street area, name and business signs are permitted; provided, the aggregate square footage of sign per lot shall not exceed the sum of two square feet per front linear foot of building. On corner lots, the allowable square footage on the side exposure will be the same as the front; provided that, side contains a major building entrance. Where the sign consists of any combination of individual letters, panels, numbers, figures, illustrations, logos or of a line or lines, to form display or sign, the area of the sign shall be computed using the outside dimensions of the various words, figures, numbers or illustrations composing the entire sign. For multi-faced signs, each face shall be measured, except in the case of a sign with two identical sides.

         (b)   Signs shall be positioned so that they are an integral design feature of the building, which means that signs shall help define and enhance the architectural features of the building and shall be placed so that they do not destroy architectural details such as, but not limited to, stone arches, glass transom panels or decorative brickwork.

         (c)   No sign shall be placed to project above the roof or parapet wall line of a building except by conditional use permit.

         (d)   Signs may be placed only in the horizontal lintel sign space or within window glass, or on the awnings. In buildings that do not have a traditional lintel sign area, signs shall be placed no higher than 36 inches above the building openings.

         (e)   Wall signs shall not extend more than 24 inches from an exterior wall surface and shall not cover more than 15% of that business’s wall. Projecting signs are allowed. Projecting signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area, projecting more than four feet into the public right-of-way and shall not be lower than eight feet above the public sidewalk. No sign shall create any traffic sight hazard.

         (f)   All signs are to be placed within 60 days of the issuance of the sign permit and be kept in good repair and avoid a weather condition resulting in illegibility, missing parts or words and the like.

         (g)   Marquees, canopies and awnings. Signs attached to a marquee shall not extend beyond the vertical surface of the marquee. No sign shall be placed on the roof of a marquee. Only the name of the owner and business conducted on the premises may be placed on any awning or canopy. Internally lighted awnings or canopies are not permitted. Awnings and canopies must be made of canvas or a similar product, plastic awnings are prohibited. Awnings shall not project more than four feet into the public right-of-way and not be lower than eight feet above the public sidewalk, unless they are retractable.

         (a)   External illumination of signs is permitted. Lighted signs shall emit a continuous white light that prevents direct light from shining onto the street.

         (b)   Backlit plastic panel signs are not permitted. Backlit individual letters are permitted.

         (c)   Exposed external conduit wiring is not permitted.

         (d)   Neon or similar lighting meeting all other ordinance requirements is permitted. Neon or similar lights shall emit a continuous light.

            1.   The applicant must contact the Planning and Zoning Department at the city to apply for a permit.

            2.   The banner must meet the definition in § 154.004 of this chapter.

            1.   A banner may describe an event, sale or promotion taking place.

            2.   A banner is not intended to replace permanent building signage.

            3.   Three banner permits will be allowed per year.

            4.   Each banner will be allowed for no more than 15 days.

            5.   Banners must be removed when the 15-day permit is expired.

            6.   Banners are not allowed in public right-of-way or off-premise from primary business.

            7.   Single-day event banner signs for non-profit organizations are exempt from the banner sign ordinance.

            1.   Permits may be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Department at the city.

            2.   The form must be completed and signed by the business owner.

            3.   The application must be approved and signed by the Planning Department before

the banner may be displayed.

            4.   The banner sign ordinance will take effect on 4-19-2011. All banners must comply with the regulations at that time. No “grandfathering” is permitted.

(2004 Code, § 154.137) (Ord. 01-296, passed 8-14-2001; Ord. 03-334, passed 4-8-2003; Ord. 03-338, passed 4-8-2003; Ord. 06-0433, passed 7-11-2006; Ord. 11-0666, passed 4-26-2011; Ord. 22-832, passed 10-11-2022) Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   Revolving and flashing signs. Signs which revolve or flash or consist of lights which revolve or flash allowed only if they conform to § 154.141(O) of this chapter;

   (B)   Signs imitating official signs. Signs which imitate an official traffic sign or signal or which contain the words “stop”, “go slow”, “caution”, “danger”, “warning” or similar words;

   (C)   Confusing signs. Signs which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic-control device; or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal; or which obstruct the view in any direction at a street or road intersection;

   (D)   Signs advertising terminated businesses. Business signs which advertise an activity, business or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located. Where the owner or lessor of the premises is seeking a new tenant, these signs may remain in place for not more than 60 days from the date of vacancy;

   (E)   Right-of-way. Business or advertising signs which are placed on a municipal, county or state right-of-way;

   (F)   Other temporary signs. Signs which are pasted or attached to utility poles, trees, fences or other signs.

(2004 Code, § 154.138) (Ord. 01-296, passed 8-14-2001; Ord. 03-338, passed 4-8-2003; Ord. 10-0661, passed 10-12-2010) Penalty, see § 154.999