The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for the use of signage for all properties within the county. It is recognized that on premises signs and off premises signs, serve a vital communicative function by allowing residents and visitors alike to readily ascertain the availability and location of facilities that serve their needs. See subsection 10-1-4B of this title for definitions of terms used in this chapter. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   Except as otherwise provided in subsection B of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, enlarge, change the character of or move any sign in the county, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit from the zoning administrator in the manner set out in section 10-2A-2 of this title. A permit shall not be required to repaint, clean, repair or perform normal maintenance of the sign or sign structure.

   B.   The following signs are allowed without the need for a sign permit. These signs shall comply with all other requirements of this chapter.

      1.   Address numerals and identification signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area placed on the wall or fascia of a building (wall sign), on a window (window sign) or on a canopy or marquee (canopy sign/marquee sign).

      2.   Legal notices, directional signs and other signs established, or ordered, by any governmental agency.

      3.   Memorial signs and tablets displayed in cemeteries.

      4.   Real estate signs, auction signs or other such temporary signs.

      5.   On premises directional signs in areas zoned for commercial or industrial use if eight (8) square feet or less.

      6.   Political signs, banners and flags of government, religious, fraternal or civic organizations.

      7.   Interior signs. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

Each initial application for a sign permit shall be filed with the zoning administrator on such forms and for such fees as are published in the "county development manual" from time to time, prior to installation of a sign or modification of an existing sign face or sign structure. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   All sign permit applications shall be reviewed by the zoning administrator, who shall deny or grant such applications. Upon granting, the zoning administrator shall issue the sign permit.

   B.   No permit for a sign issued hereunder shall be deemed to constitute permission or authorization to maintain an unlawful sign nor shall any permit issued hereunder constitute a defense in an action to abate an unlawful sign.

   C.   Any sign permit issued by the zoning administrator shall be null and void and automatically revoked in the event that construction, installation or manufacture of the sign has not been commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the issuance of such permit. If work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of ninety (90) days any time after the work is commenced, the original permit shall become null and void. Thereafter, a new permit shall be obtained to complete the work, and a new permit fee shall be required.

   D.   Revocation shall not give cause to a right of total or partial reimbursement of permit fees paid.

   E.   Appeals may be taken from any determination of the zoning administrator pursuant to subsections 10-2B-2A and B of this title. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   Upon written notice to the sign owner, if known, or the owner of the lot upon which the sign is located or affixed, the zoning administrator shall have the authority to order the repair or removal of any sign which is defective, which is an illegal nonconforming sign, or which has been erected, installed, constructed, modified or maintained in violation of this chapter so as to constitute a nuisance or be dangerous to the public health and safety. In the event the person so notified should fail to comply with such an order within thirty (30) days of the date of such notice, that person will be subject to the penalties set out in subsections 10-2A-5A and/or B of this title.

   B.   The zoning administrator shall cause to be removed any sign that endangers the public health or safety, extends or projects into any public thoroughfare or right of way within the county, abandoned sign, dangerous or materially defective sign, or signs for which no permit has been issued. In the event of removal of a sign by the county, the owner of the sign or building or lot upon which the sign is located may be charged for the cost of removing such sign. Removal of a sign shall only take place after at least a five (5) day written notice stating the reasons for said violation or removal. Said notice shall state that if the sign is not removed or the violation is not corrected within said five (5) day or other notice period, the sign shall be removed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. All notices mailed by the zoning administrator shall be mailed to the owner of the lot on which the sign is located, to the owner of the sign and to the occupant of the lot, if any, if the identity and whereabouts of such persons can be determined. Otherwise, notice shall be mailed to such persons at the last known address and posted on the sign, on the building, on the lot or published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within the lines of any right of way, roadway or street or overhead the lines of any street or right of way unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulations of the county or by specific authorization of the county board.

   B.   No sign nor sign structure shall be erected at the intersection of any street or roadway in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any location where by its position, shape or color it may interfere with or obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.

   C.   Portable signs.

   D.   Roof signs, mansard signs unless they do not extend above the roofline of the roof.

   E.   No sign shall be attached to or painted on natural objects such as trees or rocks.

   F.   No persons shall park any motor vehicle on a right of way or on private properties, so as to be seen from a right of way, which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign for the purpose of providing advertisement of products or devices or directing people to a business activity located on the lot or off the lot. Licensed business vehicles containing typical business signage, actively used on a daily basis for business purposes, are exempt from this prohibition.

   G.   No person shall erect, construct, or maintain any sign upon any lot or building without the express consent of the owner or person entitled to possession of the lot or building or their authorized representative. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   Existing signs lawfully in existence on the effective date of this title, which do not conform to the provisions of this chapter shall be designated as nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign shall not be altered or moved unless it is made to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

   B.   A nonconforming sign shall lose its nonconforming use status if the sign is relocated or replaced or the structure or size of the sign is altered in any way except in compliance with these standards.

   C.   A nonconforming sign is subject to all requirements of this chapter regarding safety, maintenance and repair. If the sign suffers more than fifty percent (50%) appraised damage or deterioration, it must be brought into conformance with this section or removed. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   In the case of a sign placed within a frame, a marquee sign, projecting sign or other structure, sign area consists of the entire surface area of the sign on which copy could be placed. The structure or bracing of a sign, including the supports of monument signs not used for copy, shall not be counted as a part of the sign's message. Where a freestanding sign has two (2) or more display faces, the total area of all of the display faces which can be viewed from any single location shall be considered the sign face area.

   B.   In the case of a sign whose message is fabricated (such as an awning sign or canopy sign) together with the background which borders or frames that message, sign face area shall be the total area of the entire background.

   C.   In the case of a sign whose message is applied to a background, which provides no border or frame (such as individual letters to a building facade or awning), sign face area shall be the smallest area enclosed in a single rectangle.

   D.   The following illustration demonstrates how sign face area is measured. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   The overall height of a freestanding sign is measured from the top of the sign to the level of the roadway that the sign is intended to be viewed from.

   B.   No freestanding sign shall exceed fifty feet (50') in overall height nor exceed one and one-half (1 ½) times the maximum height of a structure permitted in the district, or the height of any building on the lot, whichever is less. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   Agricultural signs not exceeding thirty two (32) square feet are not regulated by this title.

   B.   Agricultural freestanding signs shall not exceed sixty four (64) square feet nor fifteen feet (15') in overall height. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   For one-family, two-family, three-family or four-family dwellings:

      1.   Wall signs not exceeding four (4) square feet are not regulated by this title;

      2.   Wall signs are not allowed to exceed eight (8) square feet;

      3.   Freestanding signs are not allowed to exceed sixteen (16) square feet nor five feet (5') in overall height.

   B.   For multi-family dwellings of five (5) or more units:

      1.   Wall signs not exceeding four (4) square feet are not regulated by this title;

      2.   Wall signs are not allowed to exceed forty (40) square feet;

      3.   Freestanding signs are not allowed to exceed thirty two (32) square feet nor eight feet (8') in overall height.

   C.   For institutional use, group developments or subdivisions:

      1.   Wall signs not exceeding four (4) square feet are not regulated by this title;

      2.   Wall signs are not allowed to exceed sixty (60) square feet;

      3.   Freestanding signs are not allowed to exceed sixty four (64) square feet nor twelve feet (12') in overall height. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)

   A.   Wall signs not exceeding four (4) square feet are not regulated by this title.

   B.   Freestanding signs shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet nor fifty feet (50') in overall height. (Ord. 06-05-002, 6-21-2005; amd. Ord. 2025-05-006, 5-22-2025)