For the purpose of this subchapter SIGN AREA shall mean the area of the one imaginary square or rectangle which would completely enclose all the letters, parts or symbols of a sign. (See App. B, Figures 3 and 4)

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86)

   Any sign not expressly permitted in this subchapter shall be deemed prohibited.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86) Penalty, see § 152.999

   Within the limitations and restrictions as further provided in this subchapter, the total area of all signs which an establishment is permitted to display shall be computed according to the following formula:

      Two square feet of sign area per one foot of street frontage;

provided, however, that no establishment in any district shall display more than 100 square feet of sign on any street front.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86; Am. Ord. 1197, passed 8-26-19)

   (A)   Except as specifically provided otherwise in this subchapter, if an establishment has frontage on two or more streets, each side having such frontage shall be considered separately for purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of this subchapter. However, the area allowance for signs shall not be aggregated so as to permit such establishment to display on any one frontage a greater area of signs than would be permitted by application of the formula set forth above.

   (B)   The side of an establishment adjacent to an off-street parking area shall not be deemed frontage unless the establishment has no other frontage.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86)

   (A)   No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free access or egress from any door, window, fire escape or driveway.

   (B)   No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that it interferes with, obstructs the view of, or is likely to be confused with any authorized traffic-control device.

   (C)   Every sign shall be designed and constructed in conformity with any applicable provisions of the adopted Building Code.

   (D)   Every sign shall be maintained-in a neat and attractive condition by its owner. The sign supports shall be kept painted to prevent rust or deterioration.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86) Penalty, see § 152.999

   Illumination of signs is permitted, subject to the following requirements:

   (A)   No sign shall employ red, yellow or green lights in such a manner as to confuse or interfere with vehicular traffic.

   (B)   No sign other than those providing time and temperature information shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.

   (C)   The light from any illuminated sign shall be shaded, shielded, or directed so that it creates neither a nuisance to adjacent property nor a traffic hazard.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86) Penalty, see § 152.999

   Every sign that revolves, rotates or mechanically moves in any manner is prohibited.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86) Penalty, see § 152.999

   (A)   A nonconforming sign means any lawfully-erected sign or billboard that does not conform to one or more provisions of this subchapter or any amendment thereto.

   (B)   Any nonconforming sign that does not pose an imminent peril to life or property may lawfully remain subject to all the restrictions on the enlargement, alteration, relocation or reconstruction of nonconforming structures set forth in §§ 152.205 through 152.216; provided as follows:

      (1)   Merely changing the message displayed on a nonconforming sign shall not be construed as a prohibited alteration;

      (2)   Whenever any sign is nonconforming solely because it is appurtenant to a nonconforming commercial/industrial use located in the Agricultural District or in any residential district, the sign shall be treated in the same manner as it would be if it were appurtenant to a commercial/industrial use located in any business district or in the Industrial District.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86; Am. Ord. 744, passed - -)

   Except as specifically noted otherwise, henceforth, the following signs and street graphics are strictly prohibited throughout the village.

   (A)   Mobile/portable marquees.

   (B)   Pennants, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners or similar devices.

   (C)   Signs attached to trees, fences or public utility poles, other than warning signs posted by government officials or public utilities.

   (D)   Defunct signs, including the posts or other supports therefor, that advertise or identify an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises where such sign is located.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86) Penalty, see § 152.999

   Any sign or other street graphic enumerated in this section that complies with the indicated requirements is permitted in any district of the village. Such signs or street graphics shall not be debited against the displaying establishment's sign area allowance (See § 152.137).

   (A)   Construction signs identifying the architects, engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, and/or announcing the character or purpose of the building, but not advertising any product. Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area, shall be confined to the site of the construction, and shall be removed within 14 days after the intended use of the project has begun.

   (B)   Real estate signs, indicating the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which they are located. Such signs on residential property shall not exceed four square feet; on other property such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet. Not more than one real estate sign per street front shall be erected on any lot. Such signs shall be removed within seven days of the sale, rental or lease.

   (C)   Political signs, announcing candidates seeking public/political office and/or political issues and other pertinent information. Not more than one such sign shall be erected on any lot or premises. In the Agricultural District and in any residential district, political signs shall not exceed 16 square feet; in other districts, such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. Political signs shall be removed within seven days after the election to which they pertain, by the party(s) responsible for their erection.

   (D)   Garage sale signs advertising a garage or yard sale to be held on private residential property. Such signs shall not exceed four square feet, and shall not be posted for longer than five days.

   (E)   Public interest signs and street banners publicizing a charitable or nonprofit event of general public interest. In the Agricultural District and in any residential district, public interest signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. Public interest signs and street banners shall be permitted only for 14 days before and seven days after the event.

   (F)   Governmental, public and directional signs, such as traffic control signs; railroad crossing signs; legal notices; signs indicating the location of underground cables; no trespassing signs; no parking signs; signs indicating the entrances and exits of parking lots; signs indicating the location of public telephones; restrooms, and the like; and so forth.

   (G)   Institutional signs identifying a public, charitable, or religious institution. Such signs shall be located on the premises of such institution, shall not obstruct the vision of motorists, and shall not exceed 24 square feet.

   (H)   Integral signs carved into stone or inlaid so as to become part of the building, and containing such information as date of erection, name of building, and memorial tributes.

   (I)   Home occupations signs identifying only the name and occupation of the residents. Home occupation signs shall not be illuminated, and shall not exceed four square feet.

   (J)   Subdivision entrance signs identifying a residential subdivision or apartment complex. Such signs shall contain no commercial advertising, and shall not exceed 20 square feet.

   (K)   House numbers and/or name of occupant signs located on the lot to which the sign applies. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet for single-family dwellings nor six square feet for multiple-family dwellings.

   (L)   Signs located in the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings, provided such signs are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by the patrons or residents of such buildings.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86; Am. Ord. 744, passed - -)

   (A)   Agricultural and residential districts. On or after the effective date of this chapter, no sign other than those listed in § 152.144 shall be erected in the Agricultural District or in any residential district.

   (B)   Business and industrial districts. No establishment located in any business district or in the Industrial District shall display on any street front a total area of sign in excess of the allowance derived by application of the formula set forth in § 152.137. Additionally, signs in any business district or in the Industrial District shall conform to the requirements indicated in the divisions (B)(1) through (6) below.

      (1)   Flush-mounted signs. No flush-mounted (wall) sign shall:

         (a)   Project more than 18 inches from the wall or surface to which it is attached; or

         (b)   Extend above the roof line of the building to which it is attached.

      (2)   Window signs. Signs permanently (that is, longer than 30 days) mounted in display windows shall be debited against the sign area allowance of the particular establishment; window signs mounted for shorter periods shall not be debited.

      (3)   Projecting signs. No establishment shall display more than one projecting sign on any street front. No projecting sign shall:

         (a)   Project above the roof line of the building to which it is attached; or

         (b)   Extend below a point eight feet above the ground or pavement; or

         (c)   Project over a driveway or beyond the curbline of any public street; or

         (d)   Project more than four feet from the building to which it is attached; or

         (e)   Exceed 16 square feet in area.

      (4)   Canopy or marquee signs. Signs mounted flush on any canopy or marquee shall be considered flush-mounted (wall) signs, and shall meet the requirements of division (B)(1) of this section. Signs suspended beneath a canopy or marquee shall be considered projecting signs, and shall meet the requirements of division (B)(3) of this section.

      (5)   Freestanding signs. No establishment shall display more than one freestanding sign on any street front. Freestanding signs, whether mounted on the ground or post mounted, shall comply with the following regulations:

         (a)   No part of any freestanding sign shall intrude into any public right-of-way. No part of any freestanding sign that extends below a point ten feet above the ground or pavement shall be located closer than ten feet from the public right-of-way line.

         (b)   The area of any freestanding sign, calculated in accordance with § 152.137, shall not exceed 100 square feet.

         (c)   When attached to its structural supports, no part of any freestanding sign shall extend more than 20 feet above the ground or pavement.

         (d)   The length or width of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 12 feet.

      (6)   Billboards. Billboards (and other off-premises advertising signs) are strictly prohibited in every district except the Industrial District. No billboard shall:

         (a)   Be stacked on top of another billboard;

         (b)   Be located closer than 25 feet to any lot line or any public right-of-way;

         (c)   Be located closer than 500 feet from any other billboard on the same side of the roadway;

         (d)   Extend more than 20 feet above the ground or pavement; or

         (e)   Exceed 300 square feet in area.

      (7)   Roof-mounted sign. Roof-mounted signs will be allowed on the roofs of buildings provided they:

         (a)   Do not extend higher than the highest point of the roof they are attached.

         (a)   Each tenant having a grade-level, public entry from a commercial street, or a side street contiguous with the subject property, or which faces a driveway or parking lot located between the street and the building, is entitled to one wall sign.

         (b)   Wall sign area, as computed by § 152.137, is restricted to two square feet of sign face per lineal foot of tenant frontage on a commercial street.

         (c)   Maximum sign area per tenant is restricted to 100 square feet.

(Ord. 491, passed 6-16-86; Am. Ord. 744, passed - -; Am. Ord. 1197, passed 8-26-19)

   Any person, firm or corporation wishing to erect any sign other than those expressly permitted by § 152.144, shall first secure a Certificate of Sign Compliance.

   (A)   The Zoning Administrator shall order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this part, by giving seven days notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or to the owner of the building, structure or premises on which the sign is located.

   (B)   Such notice shall require the owner to remove the sign or bring it into compliance, at the owner’s expense.

   (C)   The Zoning Administrator will remove a sign immediately, or have the sign removed, without notice, and at the owner’s expense, if the said sign is attached to a public utility pole, street sign, or located on the public right-of-way; or if the said sign is in violation of this Part and is advertising an event which is set to occur before the provisions of this section could normally be enforced; or if, in his opinion, the condition of the sign presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public.