Kodiak Island Borough
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
17.180 Signs
*For statutory provisions regulating outdoor advertising, see AS 19.25.
17.180.010 Description and intent.
The intent of this chapter is to regulate signs so that they will not, by reason of their size, location, construction, or manner of display, endanger the public health, safety, or general welfare. It is further intended that this chapter will regulate signs in such a way as to support and complement the purposes and intent of this title as well as the economic growth of the community.
A. Zoning compliance is not required for the installation of signs unless a building permit or variance is required for the sign.
B. Excluded from regulation are: flags, window displays, traffic and road signs. [Ord. FY2023-13 §2, 2023; Ord. 92-05 §2, 1992; Ord. 90-32 §2, 1990; Ord. 81-58-O §1, 1981. Formerly §17.60.010].
17.180.020 Residential zoning districts.
A. In residential zoning districts the following signs are permitted:
1. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area for the purpose of identifying the name of the occupant and/or the occupant’s home occupation.
2. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area for the purpose of advertising the sale or lease of a building or property.
3. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area for the purpose of identifying nonconforming uses.
4. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area or:
square foot area of sign = (sq. ft. of lot x 100) / (87,120 sq. ft.)
but not exceeding 100 square feet in area for the purpose of identifying a permitted nonresidential use, housing project, or subdivision. Such a sign may be located on any lot in the development area.
5. One sign not exceeding 16 square feet in area for the purposes of advertising the construction, contractor(s), or financing of a construction project. The sign is permitted only upon issuance of a building permit and must be removed within 30 days following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
B. Signs in residential districts may be located anywhere on the lot which they are intended to serve as long as they do not create an obstruction to traffic and they may not exceed six feet in height, measured from grade, at the point of installation.
C. No flashing signs are permitted in any residential district. An illuminated sign, if back-lighted by fluorescent tubes encased in a plastic light diffuser, can be operated between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. in support of a permitted nonresidential use. Illuminated signs operated at other times, by other means, or serving other uses in the residential zone are not permitted. “Illuminated” means a sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting by lights on or in the sign or directed towards the sign. “Flashing sign” means any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever. [Ord. 92-05 §2, 1992; Ord. 90-32 §2, 1990; Ord. 81-58-O §1, 1981. Formerly §17.60.020].
17.180.030 Nonresidential zoning districts.
In all nonresidential zoning districts any number, type, or location of signs are permitted, subject to the following:
A. No flashing signs are permitted within 300 feet of any residential zoning district unless shielded from the residential zoning district.
B. The maximum height of any sign is limited to the maximum building height of the zoning district in which the sign is located.
C. All signs shall be located on the same lot as, or any adjoining/abutting lot in common ownership as, the principal building or use which they are intended to serve. They may be located anywhere on the lot as long as they do not create an obstruction to traffic.
D. The maximum square footage of all signs for a developed lot shall not exceed 25 percent of the square footage of that building face fronting on the public street which the sign will face.
E. The maximum square footage of a sign erected on vacant property (e.g., advertising the property for sale) is 32 square feet. [Ord. 92-05 §2, 1992; Ord. 90-32 §2, 1990; Ord. 81-58-O §1, 1981. Formerly §17.60.030].
17.180.010 Description and intent.
The intent of this chapter is to regulate signs so that they will not, by reason of their size, location, construction, or manner of display, endanger the public health, safety, or general welfare. It is further intended that this chapter will regulate signs in such a way as to support and complement the purposes and intent of this title as well as the economic growth of the community.
A. Zoning compliance is not required for the installation of signs unless a building permit or variance is required for the sign.
B. Excluded from regulation are: flags, window displays, traffic and road signs. [Ord. FY2023-13 §2, 2023; Ord. 92-05 §2, 1992; Ord. 90-32 §2, 1990; Ord. 81-58-O §1, 1981. Formerly §17.60.010].
17.180.020 Residential zoning districts.
A. In residential zoning districts the following signs are permitted:
1. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area for the purpose of identifying the name of the occupant and/or the occupant’s home occupation.
2. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area for the purpose of advertising the sale or lease of a building or property.
3. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area for the purpose of identifying nonconforming uses.
4. One sign not exceeding six square feet in area or:
square foot area of sign = (sq. ft. of lot x 100) / (87,120 sq. ft.)
but not exceeding 100 square feet in area for the purpose of identifying a permitted nonresidential use, housing project, or subdivision. Such a sign may be located on any lot in the development area.
5. One sign not exceeding 16 square feet in area for the purposes of advertising the construction, contractor(s), or financing of a construction project. The sign is permitted only upon issuance of a building permit and must be removed within 30 days following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
B. Signs in residential districts may be located anywhere on the lot which they are intended to serve as long as they do not create an obstruction to traffic and they may not exceed six feet in height, measured from grade, at the point of installation.
C. No flashing signs are permitted in any residential district. An illuminated sign, if back-lighted by fluorescent tubes encased in a plastic light diffuser, can be operated between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. in support of a permitted nonresidential use. Illuminated signs operated at other times, by other means, or serving other uses in the residential zone are not permitted. “Illuminated” means a sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting by lights on or in the sign or directed towards the sign. “Flashing sign” means any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever. [Ord. 92-05 §2, 1992; Ord. 90-32 §2, 1990; Ord. 81-58-O §1, 1981. Formerly §17.60.020].
17.180.030 Nonresidential zoning districts.
In all nonresidential zoning districts any number, type, or location of signs are permitted, subject to the following:
A. No flashing signs are permitted within 300 feet of any residential zoning district unless shielded from the residential zoning district.
B. The maximum height of any sign is limited to the maximum building height of the zoning district in which the sign is located.
C. All signs shall be located on the same lot as, or any adjoining/abutting lot in common ownership as, the principal building or use which they are intended to serve. They may be located anywhere on the lot as long as they do not create an obstruction to traffic.
D. The maximum square footage of all signs for a developed lot shall not exceed 25 percent of the square footage of that building face fronting on the public street which the sign will face.
E. The maximum square footage of a sign erected on vacant property (e.g., advertising the property for sale) is 32 square feet. [Ord. 92-05 §2, 1992; Ord. 90-32 §2, 1990; Ord. 81-58-O §1, 1981. Formerly §17.60.030].