Minnesott Beach City Zoning Code
SIGNS
§ 151.245 PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this subchapter to permit signs of a commercial, industrial and residential nature in districts that have appropriate uses and to regulate the size, placement, and design of signs intended to be seen from a public right-of-way. The sign regulations in this chapter are not intended to censor speech or to regulate viewpoints, but instead are intended to regulate the adverse secondary effects of signs. The sign regulations are especially intended to address the secondary effects that may adversely impact aesthetics and traffic and pedestrian safety. This subchapter is not intended to extend its regulatory regime to objects that are not traditionally considered signs for the purpose of government regulations.
(Ord. passed 2-10-2009, § 12.1; Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 2)
§ 151.246 GENERAL PROVISIONS.
All signs within the jurisdictional area shall be covered by these regulations and shall be erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. Only those signs that are listed in this subchapter shall be erected within the jurisdictional area of this subchapter.
(A) Traffic safety. No sign shall be erected or continued that:
(1) Obstructs the line of sight at intersections or along a public right-of-way;
(2) Would tend by its location, color or nature to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signs or signals, or would tend to be confused with a flashing light of an emergency vehicle; and
(3) Uses admonitions such as “stop,” “go,” “slow,” “danger” and the like, which might be confused with traffic directional signals and signs.
(B) Maintenance.
(1) Whenever a sign becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or the public, the Zoning Administrator shall order that the sign be made safe or removed. A period of ten days following receipt of the order by the person, firm, or corporation owning or using the sign shall be allowed for compliance.
(2) Temporary signs.
(a) Temporary banner signs must be removed after three months.
(b) All other temporary signs must be removed after 12 months.
(3) Discontinued signs must be removed within 60 days from the date of discontinuance.
(C) Construction prohibited. No sign shall be attached to or painted on any telephone pole, light pole, telegraph pole or other human-made object not intended to support a sign or any tree, rock or other natural object.
(D) Illumination.
(1) Illumination devices such as, but not limited to, floor or spot lights shall be so placed and shielded as to prevent the rays of illumination there from being cast on neighboring buildings or vehicles approaching on public right-of-way from any direction.
(2) Temporary signs may not be illuminated.
(E) Prohibited signs. The following signs are specifically prohibited, unless otherwise specified in this subchapter:
(1) Any sign that copies or imitates an official sign or purports to have official status.
(2) Beacons.
(3) Windblown signs.
(4) Pennants.
(5) Canopy signs.
(6) Animated signs.
(7) Portable signs.
(8) Any sign that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to any building.
(9) Discontinued signs, including all structural, support, and other related elements.
(10) Signs made wholly or partially of highly reflective material, so as to generate a contrast between the sign and adjacent surfaces or the surrounding area.
(11) Signs on roofs.
(12) Signs erected or lighted in such a manner or in such a location as to obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic signal, notice, or control device.
(13) Feather signs.
(14) Neon signs.
(15) Electronic changeable message signs.
(16) Digital signs.
(17) Intermittent signs.
(18) Flashing signs.
(19) Any sign which emits a sound, odor, or visible matter.
(20) Snipe signs.
(21) Holographic display signs.
(22) Moving signs.
(23) Scrolling signs.
(24) Signs attached to or painted on trees, rocks, or natural features.
(Ord. passed 2-10-2009, § 12.2; Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 3)
§ 151.247 SIGN ADMINISTRATION, FILING PROCEDURE AND PERMITS.
(A) Administration. The Zoning Administrator shall only issue a permit for the erection or construction of a sign which meets the requirements of this subchapter.
(B) Filing procedure. Applications for permits to erect, hang, place, paint or alter the structure of a sign shall be submitted on forms obtainable from the Zoning Administrator. Each application shall be accompanied by a plan showing the following:
(1) The area of the sign;
(2) The size, character, general layout and designs proposed for painted displays;
(3) The method and type of illumination;
(4) The location proposed for the signs in relation to property lines, zoning district boundaries, right-of-way lines and existing signs; and
(5) If conditions warrant it, the Zoning Administrator may require additional information as will enable him or her to determine if the sign is to be erected in conformance with these regulations.
(6) The applicant for a temporary sign permit shall deposit a sum in accordance with the approved town fee schedule with the Zoning Administrator to ensure proper removal of the temporary sign when its purpose ceases to exist or when the permit period expires, whichever is the shorter period of time. The deposit shall be returned to the applicant upon the satisfaction of the requirements for removal.
(Ord. passed 2-10-2009, § 12.3; Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 4)
§ 151.248 SIGNS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT.
(A) Temporary signs. Temporary signs measuring nine square feet or smaller may be erected, hung, or placed without a permit but must otherwise follow the regulations in this subchapter.
(B) Municipal signs. Signs erected, hung, or placed by the Town of Minnesott Beach do not require permits.
(C) Zoning and subdivision jurisdiction boundaries.
(Ord. passed 2-10-2009, § 12.4; Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 5)
§ 151.249 SIGNS WHICH REQUIRE A PERMIT.
No sign except those listed in § 151.248 shall be erected, hung, placed, or structurally altered without a permit from the Zoning Administrator. The following signs shall be erected, hung, placed or structurally altered only after the Zoning Administrator has issued a permit and the minimum requirements for the signs are met.
(A) Principal use signs.
(1) Each principal use sign shall require a permit.
(2) Principal use signs may be illuminated.
(3) Principal use signs shall meet the setback requirements set forth elsewhere in this subchapter.
(B) Outdoor advertising signs.
(1) Outdoor advertising signs are herein regulated in the interest of promoting traffic safety, safeguarding health and community appearance, prohibiting the overcrowding of land and protecting the character of the area in which they are located. In general, it is intended that outdoor advertising signs be regulated to permit standard size signs, to protect the character of the area wherein outdoor advertising signs are located and to conserve property value in these areas, and that outdoor advertising signs be located away from adjoining properties and nearby buildings to prevent damage from wind toppled signs.
(2) In addition:
(a) No outdoor advertising sign may exceed 32 square feet. Extensions or cutouts are not allowed. The area of an outdoor advertising sign is measured by finding the area of the minimum imaginary rectangle or square of vertical and horizontal lines, which fully enclose the sign, excluding supports and/or the base of the sign;
(b) The maximum height of outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed ten feet;
(c) The minimum spacing requirement of outdoor advertising signs shall be 1,000 feet apart on one side of the street;
(d) Outdoor advertising signs shall be set back a distance equal to the minimum setback requirements for the district in which they are located. In districts without setback requirements, these signs shall be at least ten feet from any right-of-way line or property line and 50 feet from the center of any road intersection;
(e) An outdoor advertising sign may be illuminated;
(f) Outdoor advertising signs shall require a permit;
(g) The backs of all structures shall be painted in a neutral color to blend with surrounding areas; and
(h) Shrubbery may be planted around sign bases.
(Ord. passed 2-10-2009, § 12.5; Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 6)
§ 151.250 SIGN SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.
(Ord. passed 2-10-2009, § 12.6; Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 7)
§ 151.251 NON-CONFORMING SIGNS.
Any permanent conforming sign existing prior to May 30, 2023, which becomes non-conforming by the application of the provisions of this subchapter, shall have one year to bring such sign into conformance with these provisions. The non-conforming sign shall not be enlarged, extended, or altered except that the change may make the sign become conforming to this code. Temporary signs that were conforming prior to May 30, 2023, which become non-conforming by the application of this subchapter, shall have three months to make only such alterations as will make the sign conforming.
(Ord. passed 5-30-2023, § 8)