No person, firm or corporation shall hereafter erect, reerect, construct or structurally alter a sign or sign structure without a permit first having been issued by the Zoning Office.

Every application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by plans to scale, showing the dimensions of the sign, the structure supporting the sign, the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings or structures, the location of the building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected, the method of illumination, if any, and such other information as the Zoning Office shall require to show full compliance with this and all other laws and ordinances of the Town of Lowville.

Consent of the owner of the building, structure, or premises, if not the same as the applicant, must be shown.

The Zoning Office shall grant permits to all temporary signs that conform to the dimensional, locational, and construction requirements as herein stated. Any permanent sign application shall be referred to the Planning Board for architectural review if part of the site plan review process.

All permanent sign applications are subject to a fifteen-day review by the Zoning Office. All permits issued are subject to Town Board objection until 15 days after approval has been granted by the Zoning Office or Planning Board but not by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

All signage on the building, including but not limited to advertising, dealership, etc., shall be considered signage for any building as set forth below.

All roof signs are prohibited.

Monument signs are encouraged.

All signs must have landscaping of a minimum of 18 inches surrounding the sign.

All new plaza signs shall be reviewed by the Planning Board during site plan review. Each tenant in a plaza will be allowed one building sign and one roadside sign that must be contained within one common tenant freestanding sign. The Planning Board will determine the best location and size of the common tenant sign during site plan review. The Planning Board may review and determine permit applications if the sign is replacing an existing freestanding sign or common tenant sign. In no case shall a plaza sign in a commercial, business or traditional neighborhood zoning district exceed 48 square feet.

A single wall sign may be used to identify more than one on-premises establishment, such as a sign directory. For buildings with multiple tenants having storefronts only, the facade rented by the tenant shall be considered as wall area for a sign and must meet the wall sign standards in this article.

Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light of constant intensity.

No sign shall be placed or be directed so as to permit the sign illumination to be directed upon a public street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause a safety hazard, danger and or distraction to drivers or other persons.

No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of any pennant, ribbon, streamer, balloons, spinner or other similar moving, fluttering, or revolving device. Such devices shall be prohibited even if they have no message or logo on them. The said devices, as well as strings of lights, shall not be used for advertising or attracting attention whether or not they are part of the sign.

No sign or part thereof may rotate or move in any direction.

All permanent signs within the Town of Lowville must maintain a setback off any roadside right-of-way a minimum of 10 feet. All signs must maintain a minimum side yard setback of 10 feet. Any permanent freestanding sign must be at least 50 feet from any other. Proof of setback for right-of-way purposes must be proven by a copy of the deed filed in the County Clerks' office and submitted with the application.

No sign shall project into the public right-of-way nor be placed, painted or drawn upon trees, utility poles, light poles or standards.

The Town of Lowville will allow off-premises signs without a permit that are associated with community activities or any not-for-profit activity directing the public to such activity, provided that they do not exceed eight square feet in area and are not permanent. Temporary signs directing traffic to seasonal agricultural products less than 16 square feet in area will also be allowed without a permit. Such signs shall not be placed within a public right-of-way.

Any freestanding sign over 60 square feet will not be permitted in any place within the Town of Lowville except in shopping plazas as approved by the Planning Board.

Any off-premises and/or billboard sign placed on a highway will need the approval of the New York State Department of Transportation and proof of approval must be filed with the sign application.

For multiple residences or apartment developments, one sign advertising availability of residential units will be permitted not to exceed four square feet.

One freestanding sign that identifies the apartment complex or multiple-family residence will be allowed not to exceed 16 square feet in area or a monument sign not to exceed 18 square feet in area.

A fee schedule for permanent and temporary signs across all sign districts shall be established by resolution of the Town Board. Sign fees shall be reviewed periodically and may be amended by resolution of the Town Board.

Temporary signs not removed at the end of the permit period will cause the applicant to be charged $25 per day thereafter, as well as other enforcement provisions of this article.

Signs erected without a permit will incur a penalty as specified in § 250-53.[1]

Every sign not conforming to the regulations of the district in which it is located at the time of adoption of this article shall be a nonconforming use.

A nonconforming sign may not be altered, rebuilt or resumed except in conformity with the regulations for the district in which it is located.

A nonconforming sign, representing a use that has ceased for a consecutive period of 12 consecutive months, may not be altered rebuilt or resumed unless in conformity with this article.

A nonconforming sign may be continued subsequent to adoption of this article but the sign shall not be changed in any manner that increases its nonconformity.

Nothing in this article shall be deemed to prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any nonconforming sign declared unsafe by a duly designated official.

A nonconforming sign, when destroyed by fire or Act of God, may not be rebuilt or resumed unless in conformity with this article.

Whenever an area is transferred from a zone of one classification to a zone of a different classification, or amendments are adopted which change regulatory measures governing signs, the above regulations shall apply to nonconforming signs created by such transfer.

Any business within said district may have a freestanding sign that is architecturally complimentary to the building it is representing.

All signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any roadside right-of-way and 10 feet from a side yard lot line.

Any freestanding sign shall not exceed eight feet in height and a maximum of 12 square feet in area. No sign may be located as to create visual obstruction or distraction.

Monument signs shall be no more than 18 square feet in area and must be located at ground level.

LED signs shall be prohibited.

Plaza signs shall be limited to 32 square feet to maintain the character of the area.

All signs shall have an eighteen-inch perimeter surrounding the sign landscaped appropriately.

Two-sided signs perpendicular to the roadway are encouraged.

LED or other energy giving bulbs are encouraged.

One freestanding sign not exceeding four square feet or one monument sign not exceeding six square feet with a maximum height of eight feet shall be permitted for residences with an approved business or professional activity conducted on premises.

Community institutions, such as places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs or societies, may erect on such premises one freestanding sign not exceeding 12 square feet or one monument sign not to exceed 18 square feet.

Recreational areas, golf clubs, ski areas, farms, and other commercial or public facilities permitted by this chapter shall be permitted one freestanding sign not exceeding 12 square feet or one monument sign not to exceed 18 square feet.

Agricultural uses may be allowed one freestanding sign not exceeding eight square feet or one monument sign not to exceed 12 square feet.

Interior illuminated signs shall be prohibited.

All signs shall have an eighteen-inch perimeter surrounding the sign landscaped appropriately.

Two-sided signs perpendicular to the roadway are encouraged.

Temporary signs are allowed within all zones with a permit from the Zoning Office. Temporary signs may be a maximum of 12 square feet in area. Banners or signs constructed of a fabric material are allowed if securely fastened to a permanent surface or sign structure, otherwise banners are prohibited. Maximum height on all temporary signs shall be eight feet.

All other temporary signs may be permitted if dimensional, locational, and construction requirements are met for the zone that applies. Said signs will be granted a time limit of 30 consecutive days. A business may have a temporary sign for a total of 60 days per year.

Temporary A-frame signs shall not exceed eight square feet in area per side. Said signs must be no more than four feet from the building and can only be used during business hours. One said sign will be allowed per tenant in a plaza containing more than one commercial entity. No sign shall be permitted in any roadside right-of-way. An annual permit will be issued for each sign upon approval of the Planning Board.

Temporary roadside signs must be separated a minimum of 50 feet from each other.

Temporary signs may be permitted in conjunction with a special event for a period not to exceed one week.

Temporary signs announcing the event must be freestanding and located so as not to create a visual obstruction and may not be attached to utility poles, street signs, or existing structures in the right-of-way.

Not-for-profit, charitable, civic and similar organizations that do not have a permanent sign may be permitted to place a temporary sign for a special event for a period of 30 days, provided they meet the restrictions as set forth in this article.

All signs shall comply with applicable regulations of the New York State Building Code.

All electrical signs shall be constructed in accordance with the standards of the National Electric Code. An electrical certificate shall be supplied prior to issuance of a certificate of compliance when electrical connections are made to a sign.

All freestanding signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 20 pounds per square foot of surface area.

All signs, including wall-mounted signs, shall be securely anchored and shall not swing or move in any manner.

All signs, sign finishes, supports and electrical work shall be kept clean, neatly painted, and free from all hazards, such as but not limited to faulty wiring, and loose supports, braces, guys and anchors.

All signs shall be maintained in a condition that will enhance or maintain the aesthetic quality of the surrounding neighborhood.

No sign shall be erected or maintained in a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or distract the attention of the driver of any vehicle by reason of position, shape or color thereof.

No sign shall be erected or maintained that could be confused as a traffic sign, signal, or controlling device.

Wall signs shall not extend beyond the ends or over the top of the walls to which attached.

Wall signs shall not extend more than six inches from the face of the buildings to which attached except for some electrical wall signs which are allowed 14 inches.

One wall sign per establishment shall be permitted unless that establishment has street frontage on more than one side, in which case one wall sign will be permitted for each side of the structure that has street frontage but must not exceed the total square footage allowed for the establishment.

The total area for wall signs shall not exceed the lesser of one square foot per linear foot of building frontage occupied by the establishment or 100 square feet for commercial or industrial uses.

No permanent freestanding sign may be located less than 50 feet from any other freestanding sign.

No freestanding sign shall be more than 18 square feet in area. No sign shall exceed eight feet in height above finished grade. Other sign district height restrictions may apply.

No freestanding sign shall extend into or over the public right-of-way or any property lines.

If a sign authorized under any such permit has not been completed, erected or placed within one year from the date of the issuance thereof, such permit shall become null and void, but may be renewed within 30 days of the expiration thereof for good cause shown and upon payment of an additional fee[1] as set forth in the fee schedule.[2]

If a sign authorized under any such permit has been completed, erected or placed other than in conformance with all terms and conditions of the application and permit, the Planning and Zoning Department shall give written notice to the owner of the sign, building, or premises to which it is attached, specifying the violation and directing conformance. The sign shall thereupon be conformed to the permit or removed within 10 days from the date of such notice. In the event that the sign is not conformed or removed in 10 days, the Planning and Zoning Department shall revoke the permit and such sign shall be removed by the owner, or upon order of the Town Board, by the Planning and Zoning Department with the owner paying all removal costs.

All rights and privileges acquired under the provision of this section are mere licenses and, as such, are revocable for cause by the Town. All permits issued pursuant to this section are hereby subject to this provision.

Absentee business. Any permanent sign which advertises a business or operation no longer conducted on the premises shall be removed by the owner of the premises upon which said sign is located. Written notice shall be provided by the Zoning Office to the owner of the premises to remove said sign within 90 days. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Zoning Office shall remove or cause to be removed said sign, and shall cause to be assessed against the property all costs and expenses incurred.

Temporary signs erected without a permit on private property will be granted three days for removal after notice is received by the business or landowner. Any sign located in a public right-of-way (ROW) may be removed immediately without notice.

If the Zoning Office finds that any sign or other advertising structure regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or is in violation of the construction and maintenance provisions of this chapter, they shall give written notice to the permitted agent thereof. Any sign that is unsafe, insecure, or in any way endangers the public shall be reported to the owner of the premises upon which such sign is located. If said sign is not repaired in 10 days, the Zoning Office shall revoke the permit, if any, and may cause said sign to be removed in the manner provided in above. If the permitted agent fails to remove or alter the structure to comply with the standards within 10 days after such notice, such sign shall be removed or altered to comply with this article at the expense of the permitted agent or owner of the property upon which it is located.

The Zoning Office shall refuse to issue a permit to any permitted agent who refuses to pay costs so assessed.

Any sign which is an immediate peril to the health or safety of persons or property is to be removed summarily and without notice. Any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure or lot to which such sign is attached.

Any sign that has been illegally placed within a public right-of-way may be removed summarily and without notice. Any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure or lot to which such sign is attached.