It is the intent of this chapter to:

• Establish rules and regulations to control and regulate all signs in the Town of Jamestown;

• Maintain a high degree of excellence in the quality of all signs;

• Prevent the proliferation of signs which cause visual clutter and disharmony; and

• Encourage a rational pattern of signs with regard to the area where such signs are located.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

No sign shall be erected without the issuance of a building permit by the zoning enforcement officer unless otherwise specified in this article 14. An application for a permit to erect a sign shall be made in writing upon forms prescribed and provided by the zoning enforcement officer, who may also require any drawings, descriptions, or plot plans of the sign and/or its location upon the lot, as may be reasonably necessary to administer the sign provisions of this article 14.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

The following signs do not require a building permit from the zoning enforcement officer and shall not be counted toward the maximum number of signs specified in section 82-1405 or section 82-1407. However, these signs are still subject to the design standards within this chapter unless specifically noted otherwise. Violation of applicable standards shall constitute a zoning violation and be addressed as such.

A.

One or more wall signs affixed to a place of residence and not to exceed in aggregate two square feet. Such sign or signs are traditionally used for building identification for a residence, home occupation or other legal use, nameplates, or historical plaques noting the date of construction or other such historical information but may be used for any other legal communication desired.

B.

Real estate signs advertising sale or rent, or signs naming the builder, architect, developer or engineer of a project in progress, placed on the premises, not exceeding eight square feet. All such signs must be removed within seven days of sale, rental, or completion of the project for which the sign was placed.

C.

Signs posted for the purposes of protecting public health and safety and deterring intentional or unintentional illegal activity. These signs may include, but shall not be limited to those prohibiting trespass, hunting and the like, signs warning of danger, such as high voltage, and necessary public utility signs. These signs shall not exceed two square feet in area.

D.

Normal displays of merchandise in windows shall not be considered signs.

E.

Temporary signs posted for the purposes of protecting public health and safety including, but not limited to, those that would direct traffic in the presence of potentially hazardous conditions and any other governmental signs erected by a public safety agency in the discharge of any governmental function. Illumination of such signs may deviate from the standards of section 82-1408 where such deviation is integral to the protection of public health and safety.

F.

Signs associated with historical places or points of interest and other such interpretive signs, erected by governmental authority or the like (such as the Jamestown Historical Society), not to exceed a total area of 12 square feet.

G.

Signs posted for the purposes of protecting public health and safety as related to the circulation of automobiles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Individual signs posted for this purpose shall not exceed an area of more than two square feet. Examples of these signs include, but are not limited to, those indicating entrance, exit or parking, erected on a premises for the direction of people and vehicles.

H.

Church, school, and public uses may have one ground sign, not to exceed a total area of 12 square feet. Public schools and other public uses may have, in addition, one wall sign that may run the horizontal length of the front façade of the building but not to exceed a vertical height of two feet. Where any of these signs are illuminated, illumination shall comply with section 82-1408.

I.

Standard gasoline or other fuel pumps bearing thereon any information required by state or federal law.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts, unless otherwise conditioned below:

A.

Animated signs. Temporary signs erected for the purposes of protecting public health and safety pursuant to section 82-1402 E may be animated where conducive to those purposes.

B.

Billboards.

C.

Interior-lighted signs.

D.

Posted signs.

E.

Roof signs.

F.

Trailer signs.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

Where any application for a special use permit includes the erection or alteration of a sign, the proposed sign shall be reviewed as part of that application by the zoning board of review.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

The total number of signs, including wall, window, awning, ground, projecting, and sandwich board signs shall not exceed three for any single commercial use on lots exceeding 10,000 square feet in size and two for any single commercial use on lots under 10,000 square feet in size, except for multiple uses on a single lot (see section 82-1405 G below).

The following signs may be erected in the CD, CL, and CW districts (except as noted):

A.

Wall sign. One or more wall signs are allowed per established business for each street frontage, not exceeding a total of 16 square feet in the aggregate.

B.

Window sign. Window signs permanently erected or maintained in the window of any building, which are visible from any public or private street or highway, are permitted provided such signs shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the area of said window.

C.

Ground sign or ladder sign. One ground sign or ladder sign, not to exceed five feet in height (as measured from the ground) or 20 square feet in area, shall be permitted for each lot. Such signs are permitted in the CL and CD Districts only.

D.

Projecting sign. Such signs will be restricted to one per business and are only allowed in the first layer (as described in article 11). The zoning enforcement officer shall require proof of adequate public liability coverage applicable to all signs extended over public property.

E.

Awning or canopy sign. A single awning or canopy structure may include one awning or canopy sign for each business located on the premises.

F.

Sandwich board.

1)

No more than one sandwich board shall be allowed per business, per lot.

2)

Sandwich boards that are to be located on a lot which abuts a residential zoning district shall be required to comply with the side yard and rear yard setbacks of that residential zoning district.

3)

Sandwich boards shall be placed on the lot of record for that business and shall not be placed in public rights-of-way without a permit. See section 82-1406 below.

4)

Sandwich boards shall not exceed 24 inches in width or 40 inches in height.

5)

Sandwich boards shall only be allowed to be displayed during hours of business operation. Signs shall be removed and stored so that they are not visible when the business is closed.

6)

Sandwich boards shall be properly secured, weighted, placed, and used in a manner so as to not cause harm to the public.

7)

Sandwich boards shall not be permanently anchored, attached or chained to a pole, utility pole, newspaper box or other structures or appurtenances.

8)

Sandwich boards shall not contain any electrical components nor have any moving parts.

G.

Signs for multiuse commercial establishments. A single lot containing more than one commercial use as an identifiable group shall be allowed one wall, ground or ladder sign for all commercial uses on the lot, up to 20 square feet in area. Additionally, one wall-mounted sign shall be allowed for each separate commercial use, each sign not to exceed 12 square feet in area.

H.

Temporary commercial signs. Temporary signs, banners, posters and special promotions, except posters intended for window display, are prohibited for commercial uses. Sandwich boards are not considered temporary commercial signs.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

The town council shall have sole discretion as to the suitability of all signs erected, or to be erected on town-owned property, under lease of private enterprise, or otherwise. Any person wishing to place a sign on or over town property shall make a request for such to the town council. All said signs shall conform to the existing sign code. This provision shall include sandwich boards, and other signs which are customarily placed on the public sidewalks.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

Regulations for residential districts are as follows:

A.

Customary home occupations, including bed and breakfast. Other than any sign for which a permit is not required per section 82-1402, one single or double faced ground or projecting sign installed perpendicular to the façade, to identify premises of a permitted customary home occupation or bed and breakfast, shall be permitted provided such sign does not exceed two square feet in area. Any such projecting sign may only be located within the first layer (as described in article 11).

B.

Shared unnamed driveway or private road. One ladder-type sign is permitted for group listings of any residential properties sharing an unnamed driveway or private road.

C.

Real estate development and subdivision. Any sign related to long-range property development or subdivision will comply with the standards of the Town of Jamestown's Subdivision and Land Development Regulations.

D.

Subdivision entrance signs. Permanent signs at major entrances to residential developments designed to identify such developments shall be permitted provided such signs do not exceed 15 square feet in area.

E.

Temporary residential signs. Temporary signs, banners, posters and special promotions, except posters intended for window display, will be permitted by right. The content of such signs has no bearing on the requirements of this section, but such signs traditionally include notices for special events, yard sales, political signs, or other signs expressing the views of the property owner(s). Any property may display such signs up to 12 square feet in cumulative area, with no one sign being larger than four square feet. No such sign shall be displayed for more than 45 days. Sandwich boards are not considered temporary residential signs.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

The light from any sign component shall be so shaded, shielded or directed, or shall be maintained at a sufficiently low level of intensity and brightness that it shall not adversely affect neighborhood premises nor the safe vision of operators of vehicles moving on public roads and highways. All lighted signs and advertising lights shall be so shaded, shielded or directed that they shall not reflect or shine on or into residential structures to an extent that would adversely affect them, nor into the sky.

Sodium-vapor type lighting is prohibited.

Neon signs (fluorescent paint or gaseous tube illumination) are permitted provided that:

• Such signs are placed in the window of commercial establishments;

• Such signs do not exceed three per establishment (this is in addition to the total limit on signs for commercial uses in the opening paragraph to section 82-1405);

• The area of such signs does not exceed 25 percent of the window area of any window in which they are placed.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

Any sign in existence prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived which does not meet the requirements of this chapter shall be considered a nonconforming sign. Any alteration of a nonconforming sign (other than routine maintenance) shall require that the sign conform to this article 14.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))

The components of all signs shall be kept in good repair, clean, neatly painted, and free from all hazards so as to not endanger the public health or safety. If the zoning enforcement officer deems any sign to be faded, torn, broken, or in general disrepair, the sign will be considered in violation and must be removed, repaired or replaced.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))