The provisions of the sign regulations are intended to:

A.

Provide for business signs that retain the special character and economic advantages that rest largely on the quality of the town's appearance;

B.

Protect the public from hazardous conditions by prohibiting signs that are structurally unsafe, distract the vision of motorists, or compete with necessary traffic and warning signs;

C.

Ensure that signs are well-designed and contribute in a positive way to the town's visual environment, and help develop a distinctive image for the town;

D.

Bring nonconforming signs into compliance with these regulations.

(Ord. No. 291; § 5, 9-20-2016)

A.

"Banner sign" means a sign which is constructed of cloth, canvas, or similar material, easily folded or rolled up, but excludes paper and cardboard.

B.

"Billboard" means a free standing sign for the display of advertisements in public places, such as alongside Highways.

C.

"Commemorative sign" means a sign that is placed in commemoration of a person or event.

D.

"Ground sign" means the sign is wholly supported by a sign structure in the ground.

E.

"Illuminated sign" means any sign which is directly lighted such as neon tubing; externally lighted by spotlights; or internally lighted such as gas station signs.

F.

"Maintenance" means the replacing, repairing, or repainting of the sign structure, or renewing of copy that has been made unusable by ordinary wear and tear, weather or accident or obsolences.

G.

"Monument sign" means a freestanding sign attached to the ground by a base or support(s) designed as an architectural unit of the design.

H.

"Nonconforming sign" means any sign which was lawfully erected, constructed or placed on a lot or parcel prior to the adoption of these regulations or amendments thereto which no longer conforms to the sign regulations contained in this title.

I.

"Permanent sign" means any sign which is permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to any structure.

J.

"Premises" means the land, building or portion of the building occupied by the business or activity being conducted and sought to be advertised.

K.

"Principle building" means the building or structure that contains the primary use on a lot.

L.

"Portable sign" means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to any structure.

M.

"Projecting sign" means any sign projecting at a ninety (90) degree angle from the structure to which the sign is attached.

N.

"Sign" means a name, identification, image, description, display or illustration which is affixed to, painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, facility, service, event, attraction, person, institution, organization or business and which is visible from any street, right-of-way, sidewalk, alley, park, or other public property. Customary displays of merchandise or objects and material without lettering placed behind a store window are not signs or parts of signs.

O.

"Sign area" means the entire area of a sign.

P.

"Sign setback" means the required minimum distance horizontally between a property boundary or edge of back of curb and any part of a sign or sign structure.

Q.

"Sign structure" means any supports, uprights, braces, or framework of a sign.

R.

"Temporary sign" means any sign, banner, or similar device that may be erected for a temporary period.

S.

"Window sign" means any sign placed inside or upon a window facing the outside of the building.

(Ord. No. 291; § 5, 9-20-2016)

The following signs shall be non-illuminated, except temporary holiday decorations, and are allowed as long as they are properly maintained in accordance with these regulations and cannot be placed on town property:

A.

Commemorative signs. One commemorative sign per premises that does not exceed a maximum area of four square feet in all zoning districts.

B.

Construction signs. One temporary construction sign per premise that does not exceed a maximum area of four square feet in all districts. Such signs shall be removed within seven days following the completion of the project.

C.

Election signs. Any sign relating to a candidate, issue, proposition or other matter to be voted upon by the electors of the town that does not exceed a maximum area of four square feet in all zoning districts, but may not be placed on town property. Such signs shall not be erected more than thirty days prior to an election and shall be removed within seven days following the election.

D.

Real estate signs. Temporary signs indicating the availability for sale, rent, or lease of a specific lot, or building, which do not exceed a maximum area of four square feet for residential properties, or a maximum area of sixteen square feet area for nonresidential properties, are located on the property advertised by the sign, and limited to one such sign per street frontage. Such signs shall be removed within seven days following sale or rental of the subject property.

E.

Temporary event signs. Any banner, poster or advertisement, to promote special events that does not exceed a maximum area of sixteen square feet, provided that such signs are posted no more than fourteen days prior to the event and are removed within seven days after the event.

(Ord. No. 291; § 5, 9-20-2016)

The following types of signs or lighting of signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:

A.

Any flashing or moving signs or signs with moving lights.

B.

Any floodlighting of signs that spill over onto adjoining property or shine into the eyes of motorists.

C.

Any sign that obstructs any door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or openings intended to provide ingress or egress for any building.

D.

Any attached sign projecting above the roof line of a structure.

E.

Any billboards.

F.

Portable signs on town property.

(Ord. No. 291; § 5, 9-20-2016)

A.

Home occupation signs. Permitted in R1, R2, R3 residential districts and commercial districts, in which home occupations are permitted with the intent to identify a home occupation. A home occupation is limited to one non-illuminated sign not to exceed a maximum area of four square feet and mounted flat against the wall of the principal building.

B.

Nonresidential uses located in R1, R2 and R3 zone may be identified or advertised by a sign not exceeding a maximum area of thirty two square feet at a height not to exceed the main ridge line of the principle building.

C.

Canopy or awning signs. All lettering shall not exceed a maximum area of four square feet.

D.

Freestanding ground signs. Permitted in neighborhood commercial and commercial districts and intended to identify individual business, retail shop, office, gallery or other commercial structure. The sign must be located on the premises of the use being advertised, and does not include easements of any kind on town property or similar adjacent parcels of land. The sign shall not exceed a maximum area of fifty square feet and at a height not to exceed the main ridge line of the principal building or thirty-five feet, whichever is less. Externally or internally lighted signs are permitted.

E.

Wall signs. Permitted in neighborhood commercial and commercial districts and are intended to identify individual businesses, retail shop, office, gallery or other commercial structure. Signs that lay flat against the building may not exceed a maximum area of fifty square feet and at a height not to exceed the main ridge line of the principal building. The wall sign must be located on the premises.

F.

Projecting signs. Signs that project from the building may not exceed a maximum area four square feet and may not project more than three feet from the building wall. Any sign projecting over town property must have town board approval. The sign must be located so that it does not interfere with town use, impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or create a traffic or safety hazard or other nuisance. Proof of insurance with the town as an additional insured will be required.

G.

Portable signs. No portable sign is allowed on town of La Veta property in any zone. Signs may be placed on private property to identify or advertise only one activity or use conducted upon or related to the premises. No more than one sign per business. The sign must be located so that it does not interfere with town use, impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or create a traffic or safety hazard or other nuisance. The sign may not exceed a total area of sign of eighteen inches wide by forty-eight inches high.

H.

Directory signs for retail shopping in business centers. One freestanding ground sign is permitted in the commercial district with the intent to list and locate all merchants within the center for pedestrian or internal automobile traffic. The maximum sign area shall not exceed fifty square feet and at a height not to exceed the main ridge line of the principal building. Sign must be located on the premises. Non-illuminated or internally illuminated signs are permitted.

I.

Marijuana signs.

1.

All signs for medical and/or retail marijuana establishments must conform to Ordinance No. 277, La Veta Municipal Code, Section 9.16.112, Signage and with state medical and recreational requirements and regulations, M 110 Series, R 1100 Series, Signage, Marketing and Advertising.

(Ord. No. 291; § 5, 9-20-2016)

A.

Design submittals. All signs and sign plans in all zoning districts shall meet design criteria and standards as follows and must be submitted to the town hall for review by the La Veta town board.

1.

Signs must be harmonious with the town scale, and the location, configuration, design, materials and colors must be harmonious with the existing signs on surrounding buildings on the street.

2.

Signs must be harmonious with building scale, and should not visually dominate the structure to which it belongs.

3.

Quality materials that compliment the building materials shall be used.

4.

The sign and its supporting structure should be in harmony architecturally, and in harmony in color with the surrounding structures.

5.

Lighting should be of no greater wattage than is necessary to make the sign visible at night, and should not create a disability glare. Freestanding and monument signs up-lighting with spotlights is permitted, but shall minimize the effects of lighting on the night sky.

6.

Name and address of property owner and a letter of consent from the owner of the building or property, if the applicant is not the owner.

7.

Name, address and telephone number of the applicant and the applicant's signature.

B.

Requirements for a sign permit. It shall be unlawful for the owner, manager, or occupant of any property located within the town of La Veta to erect, maintain, or permit the erection or maintenance of any sign without first obtaining a sign permit through the following procedure:

1.

An application for a sign permit shall be filed with the building inspector and shall contain the following information.

a.

Scale drawing of the site plan, specifications, elevation and method of construction of the sign and its supports, showing proposed dimensions, materials, and colors, and the type, intensity and design of the sign's illumination.

b.

A plot plan showing the location of the sign on the property. If the sign is to be attached to the face of the building, the plot plan shall also show the outline of the building, the physical address and legal description of property where sign will be located;

c.

Name and address of property owner or a letter of consent from the owner of the building or property, if the applicant is not the owner.

d.

Name, address and telephone number of the applicant and the applicant's signature;

2.

The fifty dollar fee for the sign permit shall be tendered with the application.

3.

When retail shopping centers, business centers, or other commercial centers are to be developed or redeveloped, the commercial development permit application must address size, height, design, lighting, color, materials, and type and method of construction to insure that all signage within the center is designed in a harmonious, consistent, and compatible manner.

C.

Measurement. In determining the sign area, the following procedure shall be used:

1.

For signs involving individual letters which are placed flat against the facade of a building or which are to be supported on individual standards and which will be freestanding, the area of said sign shall be considered to be that of a single rectangle or square encompassing all of the letters used to convey the message of the sign, and shall include the open space between letters of words within that squared rectangle. The height of the letters shall be measured on the upper case letters.

2.

For signs, either freestanding or facade mounted, with background material, the area measurement shall be determined by the area of the entire sign, including background material.

3.

For all two-faced free standing or projecting signs, the area measurement shall be determined by measurement of one face of the sign only. No sign shall have more than two faces.

4.

The height of any sign shall be determined by the distance between the topmost portion of the sign or the structure supporting the sign and the elevation of the ground at the base of the sign.

D.

Illumination requirements. For the protection of the town's appearance and to minimize light pollution and traffic hazards caused by glare, illuminated signs shall be subject to the following restrictions and limitations:

1.

Any light used for the illumination of a sign shall be shielded so that the beams or rays of light directly will not shine directly onto surrounding areas.

2.

Neither the direct nor the reflected light source shall create a traffic hazard or distraction to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.

E.

. Maintenance and notice to repair or remove. No person shall fail to maintain a sign on such person's premises, including any sign that does not require a sign permit in good condition at all times. The code enforcement officer shall inspect and may order the painting, repair, alteration, or removal of a sign that constitutes a hazard to safety, health or public welfare because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or obsolescence. If the sign is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of this sign code, the code enforcement officer may declare it a public nuisance and may require that the owner of the sign or the owner of the property where the sign is located to repair or alter the sign to bring it into conformity with the requirements.

F.

Penalties. Failure to comply with building permit requirements and La Veta Municipal Code, Title 18, may be issued a penalty ranging from twenty-five dollars to three hundred dollars per day, each day may be considered a separate offense.

G.

Nonconforming signs. Any nonconforming sign which existed, except those signs described in prohibited signs, prior to the adoption of ordinance of this sign code, use may be continued subject to the following provisions:

1.

No such sign shall be enlarged or altered in such a manner as to increase its nonconformity.

2.

If any such sign or the nonconforming portion thereof be destroyed by any means or removed for any reason, voluntary or otherwise, it shall not be reconstructed or reassembled except in accordance with this chapter.

3.

If any such sign should, for any reason, be removed from its present location, it shall conform to the requirements hereof for the zone district in which it is located after it is moved.

4.

Any sign that advertises a discontinued business service, or activity shall be removed within ninety days following the cessation of the business.

(Ord. No. 291; § 5, 9-20-2016)