Compatible with the zoning regulations as set forth in this chapter.

Designed, constructed, installed and maintained in such a manner that they do not endanger public safety or traffic safety.

Legible, readable, and visible in the circumstance in which they are used.

Respectful of the reasonable rights of others and of other advertisers whose messages are displayed.

Definitions adopted for reference in this article are as follows:[1]

Zoning districts referenced in this article are:

Name, address, and telephone number of the sign owner, the property owner where the sign is or will be located, and the sign contractor involved in the project.

Identification of the subject location of the sign including zoning district.

Clear and legible scale drawings with description and nominal dimensions of the proposed sign, the construction, size dimensions, and kind of materials to be used in such structure.

A site plan showing the building on the premises upon which the structure is to be erected and maintained together with location, size, and types of existing signs on the premises where the proposed sign is to be located.

Such other information as the Sign Inspector may require to show full compliance with this chapter and all other applicable laws of the City of Lancaster.

Signature of the applicant and owner, if not the applicant.

Fee receipt for required permit fees.

Appeals may be filed in accordance with § 455-85 of this chapter.

The Sign Inspector's failure to either formally grant or deny a sign permit within 45 days of the date an application meeting the requirements of this article is filed shall be cause for appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

All signs shall comply with the provisions of this chapter and the additional construction standards hereinafter set forth.

All ground and roof sign structures shall be self-supporting structures and permanently attached to sufficient foundations.

Electric service to ground signs shall be concealed wherever possible.

Any ground sign or projecting sign within 25 feet of an intersection or 15 feet of a driveway, measured from the point of intersection with a right-of-way, shall maintain a minimum of 10 feet between the bottom of the sign and grade at the right-of-way line or shall be not more than three feet in height.

Canopy signs shall maintain a minimum vertical distance between the bottom of the sign and the grade at the right-of-way line of eight feet.

Projecting signs may extend not further than eight feet from the building to which they are attached, nor shall there be less than 10 feet from the bottom of the projecting sign to grade.

A sign may extend closer not than two feet to the vertical plane of the street curb or, if no curb exists, not more than eight feet beyond the vertical plane of the Official Map right-of-way line. No sign structure may be located in the right-of-way.

A roof sign shall be a conditional use in the district in which it is requested and shall not be granted without Plan Commission approval.

The gross area of permanent window signs shall not exceed 33% of the gross window area of any given building facade.

Any sign location that is accessible to vehicles shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 16 feet.

No sign facing a residential zoned district shall be closer than 25 feet to that district line.

Every sign, including but not limited to those signs for which permits are required, shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times, including replacement of defective parts, painting (except where a weathered or natural surface is intended), repainting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of said sign.

The Sign Inspector shall require compliance with all standards in this article. If the sign is not maintained to comply with the standards outlined in this article, the Sign Inspector shall require its removal in accordance with this article.

Abandoned signs. At the termination of a business, commercial or industrial enterprise, all signs shall, within 60 days, be removed from the public view. If more than 60 days are needed, an extension may be requested by applying to the Plan Commission. Responsibility for violation shall reside with the property owner, according to the latest official tax roll listings. If the owner fails to remove the sign, the Sign Inspector shall give the owner 60 days' written notice to remove said sign. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the City of Lancaster may cause removal to be executed, the expenses of which will be assessed to the tax roll listing of the property on which the abandoned sign is located.[1]

Deteriorated or dilapidated signs. The Sign Inspector shall cause to be removed any deteriorated or dilapidated signs under the provisions of § 66.0413, Wis. Stats.

Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this article may be continued, although the use, size, or location does not conform to the provisions of this article; however, they shall be deemed nonconforming uses or structures and the provisions of Article X of this chapter shall apply.

Maintenance and repair. Nothing in this article shall relieve the owner or user of a legal nonconforming sign or the owner of the property on which the sign is located from the provisions of this article regarding safety, maintenance and repair of signs.

The following signs shall be prohibited within the City of Lancaster:

Business and industrial signs may be internally lighted or illuminated by a hooded reflector; provided, however, that such lighting shall be arranged to prevent glare and no sign shall be lighted by a lighting of intermittent or varying intensity. Animated signs, or signs having moving parts, or signs which may be mistaken for traffic signal devices or which diminish the visibility or effectiveness of such traffic signal devices are prohibited. Any sign with lighting detrimental to traffic visibility or safety is prohibited.

Advertising vehicles. No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way property or on private properties so as to be seen from a public right-of-way which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business activity located on the same or nearby property or any other premises.

Construction signs. Two construction signs per construction site, not exceeding 32 square feet in area each, confined to the site of construction. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days after completion of construction or prior to occupancy, whichever is sooner.

Direction and instructional non-electric signs which provide instruction or direction and are located entirely on a property to which they pertain and do not exceed eight square feet each in area and do not in any way advertise a business. This includes, but is not limited to, such signs as those identifying rest rooms, telephone, parking areas, entrances, and exits.

Nonilluminated emblems or insignias of any nation or political subdivision or profit or nonprofit organization, less than 10 square feet in area.

Government signs. Government signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his public duty.

Home occupation signs. Signs associated with a home occupation as defined in this chapter, provided that such signs are nonilluminated signs that do not exceed eight square feet in area and have been approved by the Plan Commission.

House numbers and name plates. House numbers and name plates not exceeding two square feet in area for each residential, commercial, or industrial building.

Interior signs. Signs located within the interior of any building or structure which are not visible from the public right-of-way. This does not, however, exempt such signs from the construction, maintenance and safety sections of this article.

Memorial signs and plaques. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection which are cut into masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of a building or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material, which do not exceed four square feet in area.

No trespassing or no dumping signs. No trespassing and no dumping signs not to exceed four square feet in area.

Public notices. Official notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of their duties.

Public signs. Signs required as specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.

Political signs. Political signs are signs used in connection with a local, state, or national election or referendum. Political signs may be displayed in front, side, and rear yards on a premises in any zoning district only during the following times: commencing with the filing of nomination papers of the candidate for public office with the appropriate governmental office in charge thereof or the placement of an issue on an election ballot and terminating 14 days after the election for the position or issue which is the subject of the referendum.

Real estate signs. One real estate sales sign on any lot or parcel, provided such sign is located entirely within the property to which the sign applies and is not directly illuminated, nor shall said sign be located in any vision triangle.

Temporary window signs. In business, commercial, and industrial districts, the inside surface of any ground floor window may be used for attachment of temporary signs. The total area of such signs, however, shall not exceed 50% of the total window area, and signs shall not be placed on door windows or other windows needed to be clear for pedestrian safety. Such signs may not be posted for a period of longer than 30 days.

On-premises symbols or insignias. Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.

On-premises temporary signs. Temporary signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, education, or religious organizations, provided that such signs are posted not more than 30 days before said event and removed within five days after the event.

Vehicular signs. Truck, bus, trailer, or other vehicle, while operating in the normal course of business, which is not primarily the display of signs.

Neighborhood identification signs. In any zone, a sign, masonry wall, landscaping, or other similar material and feature may be combined to form a display for neighborhood or subdivision identification, provided that the legend of such sign or display shall consist only of the neighborhood or subdivision name, that it shall not be located within a vision triangle and that it shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

Subdivision or development signs. A temporary sign in any zoning district in connection with the marketing of lots or structures in a subdivision or development subject to the following restrictions:

Banners and other promotional devices. Banners, pennants, searchlights or balloons shall not be used on a permanent basis. The use of such promotional devices shall require a special permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.

Over the street banners. Unlighted event banners for civic events, not exceeding 120 square feet in area, are permissible over a street by special permit from the Zoning Administrator after presentation of specifications to the Zoning Administrator and proof of insurance.

Residential districts. R-A Residential-Agriculture, R-1 Single-Family Residential, R-2 One- and Two-Family Residential, R-3 Multifamily Residential and manufactured home parks.

C-2 Central Business District. Also see § 455-55 of this article for general design requirements.

Commercial and industrial zoning districts, C-1 General Business and I General Industry. Also see § 455-55 of this article for general design requirements.

Shopping center signs shall be subject to the following restrictions and regulations:

Off-premises signs are permitted subject to the following restrictions and regulations:

Planned Unit Development District. Signage in a planned unit development shall be controlled by the provisions in the plan for the business development, as adopted by the City Plan Commission, but shall not exceed the signage restrictions for the surrounding geographical area.

Violation or failure to comply with the provisions of this article shall be and hereby is declared to be unlawful.

Any sign erected, altered, moved or structurally modified without a permit or altered with a permit but in violation of the provisions of this article shall be removed at the owner's expense or brought into compliance within 30 days of written notification by the Zoning Administrator. In the event that the owner does not remove said sign or bring said sign into compliance, the Zoning Administrator may order removal, the expenses of which will be assessed to the tax roll listing of the property on which the noncomplying sign is located. Compliance within 30 days shall also require the payment of double the fees required under § 455-51 of this article.

This section shall not preclude the City of Lancaster from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or remove a violation of this article, including issuance of a citation for violation hereof.