All signs and billboards shall be maintained in a neat and presentable condition and in the event their use will cease, they shall be removed within 30 days and the surrounding area restored to a condition free from refuse and debris. 

   1.   Sign Placement Permit.  All temporary, illuminating, flashing, portable signs must secure a sign placement permit from the City Clerk, allowable only in commercial and industrial/manufacturing districts and valid for a maximum time limit of 72 hours.  Such permit will not be renewed to the same person or business for 14 days.  The 14-day period is calculated from the first day as written on the sign placement permit.

   2.   Agricultural Districts.  In an Agricultural District the following signs are permitted:

      A.   Name plates not to exceed a three square foot area.

      B.   Church or public bulletin boards.

      C.   Temporary signs advertising the lease or sale of the premises, not to exceed 32 square feet in area.

      D.   Bulletin boards and signs pertaining to the lease, hire or sale of a building or premises, or signs pertaining to any material that is grown or treated within the district; provided, however, such signs shall be located upon or immediately adjacent to the building or in the area in which such materials are treated, processed or stored.

   3.   Residential Districts.  In a Residential District the following signs are permitted:

      A.   Name plates not to exceed three square feet.

      B.   Church or public bulletin boards.

      C.   Temporary sign advertising the lease or sale of the premises not to exceed 12 square feet in area.

      D.   Facilities, other than single-family dwellings, normally required to provide an attractive R-l residential area may illuminate signs, bulletin boards and name plates only with indirect, not-intermittent lights that do not exceed 60 watts.

      E.   Signs for home occupations, and signs attached to a residence not exceeding six square feet in area.

   4.   Commercial Districts.  The following signs are permitted in all Commercial Districts:

      A.   Signs permitted in the residential districts.

      B.   Any exterior sign shall pertain only to a use conducted within the building and be integral or attached thereto.  No sign may project over any street line (back of curb) or extend more than six feet over any building line whether fixed to the building or any other structure.  In no case shall any sign project more than four feet above the roof line, and the total area of all signs pertaining to the business conducted in a building shall not exceed two square feet in area for every lineal foot occupied by the front of the building displaying such sign, but not to exceed lot frontage.  Where the lot adjoins an R District, the exterior sign shall be attached flat against the building and shall not face the side of the adjacent lot located in the R District, however, this does not apply to the side of the building which is opposite that side adjoining the R District.

      C.   One post sign or business identification sign; provided, however, said post sign shall not have a surface area of greater than 40 square feet on any one side thereof and no more than two sides of a post sign shall be used for advertising purposes.  The bottom of said post sign or surface area thereof shall not be less than 12 feet above the sidewalk or above the surface of the ground upon which it is erected, and the total vertical dimension of 12 feet or horizontal dimension of said sign shall not be greater that seven feet.  Total maximum height of said sign shall not be over 24 feet.  The term “post sign” as herein defined shall not be deemed to include any sign advertising the trade name, merchandise or service of any person, firm, or corporation who pays a consideration for the privilege of placing, maintaining, or using any portion of said sign to the owner or occupant of the premises upon which said sign is erected or placed.  Said post sign shall not extend over street right-of-way lines nor otherwise obstruct or impair the safety of pedestrians or motorists.

   5.   Manufacturing Districts.  All signs allowed within the Commercial District are allowed with the Light and Heavy Manufacturing Districts.

   6.   Outdoor Advertising Signs.  In all districts where permitted, signs shall be set back from the proposed right-of-way line of any State or federal highway, any major City thoroughfare so designated by the Official Major Street Plan, and from the right-of-way line of any other street or highway.  Signs erected in a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision of streets, alleys or driveways or erected, designed or positioned to interfere with, obstruct, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device which may mislead or confuse traffic shall not be permitted in all zoning districts.  No sign shall be permitted which faces the front or side lot line of any lot in any R Residential District used for residential purposes within 100 feet of such lot lines, or which faces any public parkway, public square or entrance to any public park, public parochial school, church, cemetery or similar institution, within 300 feet thereof, unless said sign is a single-faced wall (fascia) sign which is parallel to its supporting wall and not extending more than 12 inches from the wall.