(A)   The purpose of this subchapter is to regulate the size, height, number, location, illumination and construction of signs permitted in the various districts of the municipality.

   (B)   Conditions within the various zone districts that necessitate the regulation of signs include:

      (1)   Conflicts between traffic-control signs and signals and various private signs resulting in vehicular and pedestrian safety problems.

      (2)   Signs are sometimes placed in locations or constructed in a manner that creates a danger to the public during periods of high winds or inclement weather.

      (3)   The uncontrolled use of signs defeats the sign’s informational or advertising functions as competitors escalate sign size and expense in an effort to fairly attract attention.

      (4)   The uncontrolled use and proliferation of signs create visual pollution that destroys the beauty of the municipality the attractiveness of commercial areas and the ability of the public to safely and quickly interpret the intended message.

(Ord. 887, § 6.1, passed - -)

   (A)   The sign standards of this subchapter shall be regulated by zone districts as shown on the municipality zone district map(s).

   (B)   If this code is amended to include a zone district not presently included in this code, no sign shall be permitted unless:

      (1)   By a written interpretation of the Zoning Board of Appeals the new zone district is similar to an existing zone district; or

      (2)   Additional sign regulations for the new zone district are included in the amendment.

(Ord. 887, § 6.2, passed - -)

   (A)   The light from any illuminated sign shall be so shaded, shielded or directed that the light intensity or brightness shall not be objectionable to surrounding areas and the light rays shall not spill over the property lines into a residential zone except by indirect reflection.

   (B)   No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color. Beacon lights are not permitted. This section is not intended to prevent signs showing time and temperature exclusively.

   (C)   Neither the direct, nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.

   (D)   No exposed lamps or bulbs which exceed 15 watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulbs, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.

(Ord. 887, § 6.3, passed - -)  Penalty, see § 155.999

   All signs shall be measured as shown in Figure 3 of Appendix C. Measurements shall include all of the area contained within the square shown in Figure 3 and only structural supports shall be excluded in computing total allowable sign area. Only one side of any double facing sign shall be considered in the total sign area permitted for any building, use or lot, provided that the same message appears on both faces of the sign.

(Ord. 887, § 6.4, passed - -)

   No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole.

(Ord. 887, § 6.5, passed - -)  Penalty, see § 155.999

   (A)   Permitted signs may be anywhere on the premises, except as restricted by § 155.208(A) or if ground mounted, the top shall not be over five feet above the ground and, if wall mounted, shall be flush mounted and shall not project above the roof line. Lighting, if used, shall be white.

   (B)   A sign not exceeding two square feet in area shall be permitted, per dwelling unit. The sign per dwelling shall indicate only the name of the occupant and may include the address.

   (C)   For multiple dwellings one additional sign totaling six square feet in area shall be permitted. The additional sign area permitted for multiple dwelling shall only be for identification of the building.

(Ord. 887, § 6.6, passed - -)

   These sign regulations shall apply to all business zone districts except as specifically exempted.

   (A)   Content. Signs allowed in this zone shall be identity signs only; however, they may include a changeable marquee provision.

   (B)   Wall signs. Any business use may be permitted a wall sign for each side of a building fronting a public street. Wall signs shall not project more than one foot from the building wall and copy shall run parallel (horizontal) with the wall.

   (C)   Size. Maximum permitted wall sign area shall be one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage on a street to a maximum of 300 square feet on individual street frontages (see § 155.313)

   (D)   Free standing signs. Free standing signs shall be permitted in all business districts.

   (E)   Clearance and height. An area ten feet in height, except for structural members, shall be maintained clear of obstruction under any free standing sign to increase pedestrian safety and to create a clear field of vision to recognize the location of streets and commercial entrances and exits. Free standing signs may not exceed 30 feet from ground elevation except as increased by variance approval.

   (F)   Location. Any sign may be located anywhere on the premises unless locations are given herein and provided the regulations of § 155.208(A) are met, and:

      (1)   No sign shall intrude into any public right-of-way and structural supports shall be at least ten feet from any public right-of-way line except as approved.

      (2)   Any sign shall be at least ten feet above a sidewalk and 15 feet above driveways or alleys.

      (3)   Signs may be on the vertical faces of marquees. The bottom of marquee signs shall be no less than ten feet above the grade at any point. No part of the changeable copy shall project above or below the vertical marquee face.

   (G)   Computation. The maximum allowable area for any free standing sign shall be based on the following formula:

 

 

   (H)   Incidental signs. Signs indicating services, products, prices, trade information, or other information not including product advertising are incidental signs.

      (1)   No products or product containers or signs shall be closer to a public right-of-way line than ten feet.

      (2)   All incidental signs shall be wall signs or shall be on a permanently installed structure. If incidental signs are wall signs their area in square feet shall be subtracted from the total area permitted for wall signs. Other incidental signs are deemed free standing and their area in square feet shall be subtracted from the total area permitted for free standing signs.

(Ord. 887, § 6.7, passed - -)

   (A)   Size. For each industrial establishment one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage on a public street is permitted. Free standing and wall sign requirements are the same as in the business zones except the maximum total area of all permitted signs shall not exceed 300 square feet.

   (B)   Location. Requirements shall be the same as for business zones.

   (C)   Content. Signs permitted in this zone shall be identity signs only.

(Ord. 887, § 6.8, passed - -)

   Signs listed in this section shall be permitted in any zone district on private property, shall not require a permit but are subject to the general requirements of this subchapter. These signs are classified as identity signs.

   (A)   Construction signs. Construction signs which identify the architects, engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with construction, but not including any advertisement of any product and signs announcing the character of the building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended, during the construction period, to a maximum area of 16 square feet for each firm. The signs shall be removed within 14 days of the beginning of the intended use of the project or as individual subcontracts expire, whichever is sooner.

   (B)   Real estate. Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of residential property may be four square feet, and may be 16 square feet for other property provided they are on the premises for sale, rental or lease. Such signs shall be removed within seven days of the sale, rental or lease.

   (C)   Political campaign. One sign per premises of up to 32 square feet on nonresidential property may be permitted announcing candidates for public office. In residential or agricultural areas or districts political campaign signs of up to 16 square feet, one per premises, may be permitted. These signs shall be confined within private property and removed within seven days after the election for which they were made.

   (D)   Street banners. Street banners advertising a public entertainment or event, if approved by the Administrative Official and only for locations designated by the Administrative Official during and for 14 days before and seven days after the event.

   (E)   Yard signs. Signs commonly regarded as “garage or yard sale” signs shall be permitted only on private property and shall be restricted to a maximum area of four square feet. The sign shall be dated when posted and shall be removed seven days after posting.

   (F)   Charitable signs. Other signs publicizing a charitable or nonprofit event of general public interest shall be permitted only on private property and shall be restricted to a maximum area of four square feet in residential zones and 32 square feet in business or industrial zones. Such signs shall be permitted for 14 days before and seven days after the event.

   (G)   Public signs. Signs in the public interest, erected on the order of a public officer in the performance of his or her public duty, such as safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, memorial plaques, signs of historical interest and the like shall be permitted when notification is given to the Administrative Official.

   (H)   Institutional. Signs setting forth the name or any simple announcement for any public, charitable, educational or religious institution located entirely within premises of that institution, up to an area of 24 square feet. If ground mounted, the top shall be no more than six feet above ground level (see § 155.208). Such signs concerning announcements shall be permitted no more than 14 days before and seven days after such event.

   (I)   Integral. Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure.

   (J)   Private traffic directions. Signs directing traffic movement onto a premise or within a premise, not exceeding three square feet in area for each sign may be permitted. Horizontal signs on and flush with paved areas are exempt from these standards.

   (K)   Home occupations. Signs not exceeding two square feet in area for urban home occupations attached flat against the building, stationary and not illuminated, announcing only the name and occupation of the resident are permitted.

   (L)   Vehicles. Signs on vehicles of any kind, provided the sign is painted or attached directly to the body of the original vehicle and does not project or extend beyond the original manufactured body proper of the vehicle excepting magnetic signs not extending more than  inch may be permitted.

   (M)   Subdivision entrance. Subdivision entrance signs not to exceed six square feet of sign area not including decorative mounting, which shall not exceed five feet in height, shall be non-illuminated, non- pole mounted and so located as not to create a safety hazard at intersections may be permitted.

(Ord. 887, §§ 6.9 - 6.22, passed - -)  Penalty, see § 155.999

   (A)   Any sign existing in violation of this section shall be removed, altered or repaired in accordance with the provisions of this code within three months after the date of passage of this code.

   (B)   Prohibited are signs which:

      (1)   Contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character, such as will offend the public morals or decency.

      (2)   Contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal.

      (3)   Are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal.

      (4)   Advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located.

      (5)   Move in any manner or have a major moving part.

      (6)   Include, contain, or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings, or light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices. These devices when not part of any sign are similarly prohibited, unless they are permitted specifically by other ordinances.

      (7)   May swing or otherwise noticeably move as a result of wind pressure because of the manner of their suspension or attachment.

(Ord. 887, § 6.23, passed - -)  Penalty, see § 155.999

   All signs shall display, in a place conspicuous to inspectors, a tag approved by the Administrative Official and containing such pertinent data as he or she may designate such as name of owner, date of erection and size in square footage.

(Ord. 887, § 6.24, passed - -)  Penalty, see § 155.999

   All signs and components thereof shall be kept in good repair and in safe, neat, clean and attractive condition.

(Ord. 887, § 6.25, passed - -)  Penalty, see § 155.999

   The Administrative Official may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this code. He or she shall give 30 days notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure or premises on which such sign is located, to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. The Administrative Official may remove a sign immediately and without notice if, in his or her opinion, the condition of the sign is such as to present an immediate threat to the safety of the public.

(Ord. 887, § 6.26, passed - -)

   An owner or lessee of a sign in violation of this code may appeal the violation notice issued by the Administrative Official by filing a written appeal form in the office of the Administrative Official (see § 155.336). The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hear the appeal in accordance with their usual procedure.

(Ord. 887, § 6.27, passed - -)

   (A)   Requirements. No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the Administrative Official, except as otherwise provided herein. Where electrical permits are required, they shall be obtained at the same time as the sign permit.

   (B)   Application. The permit application shall contain the location of the sign structure, the name and address of the sign owner and of the sign erector, drawings showing the design and location of the sign and such other pertinent information as the Administrative Official may require to insure compliance with the codes and ordinances of the municipality.

   (C)   Nullification. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of the permit. Permit fee shall not be refunded.

(Ord. 887, §§ 6.28 - 6.30, passed - -)