The following regulations shall apply to all permitted signs in the City of Liberty.

600.1 A permit shall be required for the erection, alteration, or reconstruction of any sign intended for view from the public right-of-way unless otherwise noted, and shall be issued by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with Article VIII of this Ordinance. Sign permits are $25.00. Religious and non-profit organizations are exempt from a fee.

600.2 Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not permitted to become dilapidated. Signs are made of a ridged material. Banners are made of a flexible material.

The following signs are prohibited in the City of Liberty:

601.1 Signs Imitating Warning Signals. No sign shall display intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, nor shall any sign use the words "stop," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might mislead or confuse the driver of an automobile.

601.2 Signs Within a Street or Highway Right-of-Way. Except as herein provided, no sign whatsoever, whether temporary or permanent except traffic signs and signals and information signs erected by a public agency, is permitted within any street or highway right-of-way.

601.3 Certain Attached and Painted Signs. Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, and telephone or other utility poles or signs painted on or attached to rocks or other natural features or painted on the roofs of buildings are prohibited.

601.4 Fluttering Ribbons and Banners. Flutter ribbons and banners and similar devices are prohibited, except the flags of governments and their agencies (except as noted in Section 607.3).

601.5 Roof Signs. Attached, mounted, or painted on a roof structure are prohibited. This does not pertain to signs attached to or printed on a fascia.

601.6 Projections Signs. Are prohibited on a building.

601.7 Stick In the Ground Signs.

601.8 Off Premises Signs. Off premises signs including billboards are prohibited in the City of Liberty.

(Ord. No. 2021-09, § I, 11-8-2021)

A permit is not required for the following types of signs in any Zoning District.

602.1 Traffic, directional, warning, or information signs authorized by any public agency.

602.2 Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or government office.

602.3 One non-illuminated "for sale," "for rent," or "for lease" sign not exceeding six (6) feet in area in residential districts and twenty (20) square feet in other than residential districts and located not less than ten (10) feet back from the street right-of-way line, unless attached to the front wall of a building.

602.4 Entrance, exit and instructional signs, so long as they do not exceed four (4) square feet in area, are no higher than three (3) feet above adjacent pavement and contain no advertisement.

602.5 Identification signs indicating the name and street number or owner or occupant of a parcel, so long as such signs do not exceed four (4) square feet of copy area.

602.6 Bulletin boards, which are defined as temporary signs which primarily display the name of a non-commercial place of public assembly and announce the upcoming events of that organization. To not require a permit, such a sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet of copy area or five (5) feet in height. Signs of this type shall be restricted to one (1) per parcel for a maximum of thirty (30) days.

602.7 Signs identifying projects under construction which denote the name of the project, the architect, engineer, contractor, owner, etc., so long as such signs do not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in residential districts, or thirty-two (32) square feet in non-residential zones, are not illuminated, and are removed within seven days of completion of the project. There is one sign allowed per parcel.

602.8 Signs attached or integrated into a gasoline pump, automatic bank teller machine, or drive through component of a fast food restaurant, which give operational instructions to users, the price of the product, the brand name of the product, or descriptive information about the product. Signs cannot be attached to the building.

602.9 Signs inside of the glass of any building.

The following regulations apply to the following specified types of signs:

603.1 Wall Signs. Signs on the walls of a building (including signs attached flat against the wall, painted wall signs and projecting signs) shall meet the following requirements:

a)

Signs on the Front Surface of a Building. The total area of signs on the exterior front surface of a building shall not exceed fifteen (15%) percent of the front surface of the building, so long as the figure does not exceed the total amount of sign area permitted within the Zoning District where the sign or signs are to be located.

b)

Signs on the Side and Rear Surface of a Building. The total area of signs on a side or rear surface of a building shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the exterior side or rear surface of the building, respectively, so long as this figure does not exceed the total amount of sign area permitted within the Zoning District where the sign or signs are to be located.

603.2 Subdivision Entrance Signs. One (1) or two (2) signs shall be permitted at each entrance of a residential subdivision, provided that such signs do not exceed a total of Thirty Two (32) square feet at any subdivision entrance. Provided further that such signs shall have a maximum height of six (6) feet. If illuminated, only indirect lighting shall be permitted.

603.3 Private Directional Signs. Signs indicating the location and direction of premises available for or in the process of development, but not erected upon such premises, and having inscribed thereon the name of the owner, developer, builder, or agency, may be erected and maintained, provided:

a)

the size of any such sign is not in excess of thirty two (32) square feet.

b)

not more than one (1) such sign is erected for each five hundred (500) feet of street frontage.

603.4 Freestanding Sign. Freestanding signs shall meet Building Code structural provisions and UL (Underwriter's Laboratories) electrical requirements.

603.5 Political Campaign Signs.

a)

Political campaign signs shall be permitted in compliance with the regulations included herein. Such signs shall not count in the number of signs permitted calculations or sign area permitted calculations included in Section 607.1(b) of this ordinance and shall be permitted in any zoning district. Such signs shall conform with all other provisions of this and all other applicable ordinances of the City of Liberty.

b)

Usage of a political campaign sign by any candidate or supporters of any issue shall require issuance of a Political Campaign Sign Permit by the City of Liberty.

c)

Political campaign signs shall be permitted in any zoning district but shall not exceed a maximum of 25 signs per candidate town wide.

d)

Permits for political campaign signs shall not exceed a period commencing from (45) forty-five days prior to the date of the election through the seventh day after the last date upon which that candidate's name or that issue appears on a ballot for a primary, runoff, general or special election.

e)

To secure a political campaign sign permit, the applicant must pledge to remove all political signs within seven days after the expiration of the political campaign sign permit. The property owner's permission must be granted for the placement of any political sign on private property. The placement of such sign on the public right-of-way, or the attachment of any such sign to a tree, fence post, or utility pole is prohibited.

f)

The size of any such sign is not in excess of six (6) square feet, and not in excess of three (3) feet in length.

Illumination devices shall be so placed and so shielded that rays therefrom or from the sign itself will not be directly cast into any residential district, sleeping room in any district, or in the eyes of an automobile driver. All illumination devices and wiring shall be installed in a permanent and safe manner.

No signs, except as otherwise provided, shall exceed the height limit of the district in which they are located.

606.1 Permitted Signs and Conditions. The following types of signs are permitted in LR, MR, MH, RM-8 and RM-16 Districts:

a)

Signs for which permits are not required.

b)

For multiple family dwellings, group dwellings, and for buildings other than dwellings, a single non-illuminated business identification sign or bulletin board not exceeding thirty two (32) square feet in area. Such sign or bulletin board shall be set back not less than ten (10) feet from any street right-of-way line.

c)

Subdivision signs and private directional signs, under the provisions of Subsections 603.2 and 603.3.

d)

Political campaign signs, in accordance with Section 603.5.

e)

One (1) non-illuminated professional or business name plate not exceeding three (3) square feet in area mounted flat against the wall of a building in which there is conducted a permitted home occupation.

607.1 Permitted Signs and Conditions.

A)

All signs permitted in residential districts are permitted in commercial and industrial districts.

B)

All freestanding signs shall be of either a berm of [or] a solid base design.

C)

The height of a freestanding monument sign shall be measured from the finished grade elevation at the edge of the adjacent public roadway.

D)

Sign lighting shall be positioned so that no light shines on adjacent streets and roadways or properties.

E)

Neon banding shall not be incorporated within or around the sign.

F)

One freestanding monument sign is allowed for a parcel of land containing a single business or use, and this sign shall:

(1)

Be limited to one (1) freestanding sign monument; sign assembly a maximum of sixty (60) square feet in area (to be included in the total allowable sign area) may be incorporated into the freestanding monument sign;

(2)

Be located on the premises of the business to which it refers;

(3)

Be setback ten (10) feet from any public road right-of-way and property line and may be located in a buffer yard;

(4)

Be a maximum of fifteen (15) feet above the finished grade elevation at the edge of the adjacent public roadway;

(5)

Be a maximum of twenty (20) feet in width;

(6)

Not restrict visibility to vehicular or pedestrian traffic;

(7)

Be permanently mounted to the ground.

G)

One (1) freestanding monument sign is allowed for a parcel of land containing more than one business or use, and this sign shall:

1.

Be limited to one (1) freestanding monument sign assembly or structure;

2.

Be located on the premises of said business;

3.

Be set back ten (10) feet from any public right-of-way and property line and may be located within a buffer yard;

4.

Be a maximum of fifteen (15) feet above the finished grade elevation at the edge of the adjacent public roadway;

5.

Be a maximum of one-hundred and twenty (120) square feet in total area;

6.

If containing one (1) area for changeable copy or an electronic message board; this area is to be incorporated within the main sign area, and be included as part of the total allowable sign area. The area for changeable copy or electronic message board a maximum of twenty-four (24) square feet;

7.

Be permanently mounted to the ground;

8.

Not restrict visibility to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

607.2 Portable or A Frame Signs.

a)

Definition: A mobile sign that is mounted on a trailer-type frame or portable wood or metal frame not permanently attached to the ground.

b)

Usage of portable signs shall conform to permitting requirements in Section 600.1, construction and maintenance requirements in Section 600.2.

c)

If a portable sign is to be illuminated it shall be in compliance with the National Electrical Code. Utilization of an above ground electric extension cord is expressly prohibited.

d)

Portable signs shall not exceed a maximum size of thirty-two (32) square feet. A Frame signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet per side.

e)

One (1) portable sign, in addition to the number of signs permitted under Section 607.1 of this ordinance, may be used by a licensed business, institution, or civic organization for a maximum of up to sixty (60) days the first calendar year. Utilization of a portable sign under this provision shall require the issuance of a Sales Event Sign Permit by the City of Liberty. The City Council of Liberty is hereby authorized to establish a fee for the Sales Event Sign Permit. Any sign permitted under this provision shall conform to all requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and all applicable ordinances of the City of Liberty.

607.3 Temporary Use of Fluttering Ribbons and Banners. Fluttering ribbons and banners may be used by a licensed business, institution, or civic organization for a maximum of up to sixty (60) days the first calendar year. Utilization of fluttering ribbons or a banner under this provision shall require the issuance of a Special Event Sign Permit by the City of Liberty. The City Council of Liberty is hereby authorized to establish a fee for the Special Event Sign Permit.

607.4 Religious and non-profit organizations may receive a permit from the Zoning Administrator provided that it does not impair the intent of the sign ordinance.

608.1 Permitted Signs and Conditions. The following types of signs are permitted in MH Districts:

a)

Signs, illuminated or non-illuminated, not to exceed a combined total sign area of one hundred twenty (120) square feet per Mobile Home Park.

609.1 General. Applications for sign permits shall include a sketch of the sign to show:

• Size

• Shape

• Materials to be utilized

• Copy

• Illumination

• Location on building, if attached

609.2 Detached Signs. In addition, permit applications for detached signs shall be accompanied by a plot plan or sketch of the site, to show:

• The location of the sign

• Scale

• Dimensions of parcel lines

• Height of the sign

• Any support structure to be utilized