Reduce signage that the City has determined to be a cause of unsafe traffic and visibility conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and passengers.

Protect pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and passengers from injury caused by the faulty and uncontrolled construction and use of signs within the City.

Protect pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and passengers from injury caused by distractions, obstructions, and hazards created by certain signs or by cluttered, distracting, or illegible signage.

Promote the public welfare, health, and safety of all persons using public thoroughfares and rights-of-way within the City of Monona in relation to the signage displayed thereon, or overhanging, or projecting into such public spaces.

Preserve the value of private property by assuring the compatibility of signs with surrounding land uses.

Assure that public benefits derived from expenditures of public funds for the improvement and beautification of public streets and other public structures and spaces are protected by exercising reasonable controls over character and design of signage.

Advance the aesthetic goals of the City throughout the community and ensure the effectiveness and flexibility in the design, creativity, or use of signage without creating a detriment to the general public.

Traffic control and other government messages located within a right-of-way.

Decorations that are incidentally and customarily associated with any national holiday or religious holiday, or with any community festival or similar event.

Art works, including but not limited to wall murals, which do not contain a commercial message, logo, or colors; and/or which contain pictorial representations referring to businesses, merchandise, products, or services of an exclusively historic nature of 50 years or older (meaning no longer offered as an active commercial enterprise).

Building colors and lighting which do not contain a commercial message or commercial logo.

Interior site signs located on the interior of the grounds of the Conservancy Zoning District and Public Facilities Zoning District, which are primarily oriented to persons within the grounds.

Interior building signs located on the interior of a building and not attached to or located within three feet of the inside of a window, which are primarily oriented to persons within the building.

Window displays of merchandise, pictures, or models of products or services incorporated in a window display, which are not directly attached to an interior or exterior window surface.

Vehicles that are licensed, operable, and parked in legal parking spaces, except where in violation of § 434-11 of the City of Monona Municipal Code.

Freestanding sign category. A sign permanently resting on or supported by a slab, pedestal, post, pylon, or any other form of base located on the ground. The sign must be designed of materials complementary to and harmonious with the building and site, and closely integrated with site landscaping. Freestanding signs shall not interfere with vehicle visibility or circulation. The footing and related supporting structure of a permanent freestanding sign including bolts, flanges, and brackets, shall be concealed by landscaping as approved by either the Plan Commission or Zoning Administrator, as appropriate pursuant to the review authority provided in § 480-86B(1). Said landscaping shall be encouraged to be diverse and colorful, and shall be continuously maintained to comply with the approved landscaping plan. There are the following types of freestanding sign types:

On-building sign category. A type of sign permanently affixed to an outside wall of a building and shall be made of durable all-weather materials. There are the following on-building sign types:

Pedestrian category. A sign attached perpendicularly to the face of a building and mounted above sidewalk level, and which is oriented and sized for visibility to nearby pedestrians rather than to motorists. See Table 480-70(1) for exact dimensional requirements of this category.[5] The sign shall be made of durable all-weather materials. The following pedestrian sign types are regulated by this article:

Daily notice sign category. A sign typically used to advertise daily specials, daily menu items, or on-site events that change on a daily basis, which usually includes changeable copy. This type of sign is often associated with restaurants, taverns, retail stores, and music venues. There are the following daily notice sign types:

Window sign category. A sign located within a building that is attached to the inside face of an exterior window. The following window sign types are addressed by this article:

Temporary board and banner sign category. A sign located outside of a building for a period not to exceed 28 calendar days in any six-month period. Such signs are often used for the purpose of informing the public of a sale or special offer. There are the following temporary board and banner sign types:

Temporary approved development sign category. A sign which is limited to display only during the active development of a building or plat. Mesh screens containing images and/or text are permitted only during this time period, but are not considered signs. There are the following temporary approved development sign types:

Prohibited temporary sign category. Exterior signs or similar eye-catching devices with the characteristics described in § 480-64E are prohibited at all times by this article.

City-required sign category. A sign category that includes signs that the City finds essential in order to protect the public health, safety, and/or welfare. Specifically, these signs are used to facilitate the following public purposes: to deliver mail; to identify property addresses for the provision of emergency services such as fire or rescue service; to identify the management of rental properties for the provision of emergency services; to impose parking limitations or warnings against trespass; and, to facilitate traffic flow where a safe path to a destination is not evident. There are the following City-required sign types:

Optional miscellaneous sign category. A sign category that facilitates placemaking, particularly related to officially-recognized historic places, officially-designated neighborhoods, and conveying information for the general public. Metal plaque and institutional information signs are only permitted through official government action, including designation of historic places or the presence of public facilities. There are the following optional miscellaneous sign types:

Yard sign category. A sign category that is intended to accommodate a wide variety of sign purposes (common examples of yard signs are, but not limited to the following: garage sale signs, for-sale signs, political signs, "slow down for kids" signs, etc.), needed on a temporary basis. Such signs are freestanding and mounted on one or two stakes or posts and do not have footings. All yard signs must be placed on-premise. See on-premise sign locations in Figure 480-70(5) and 480-70(6). The following yard sign types are addressed by this article:

Abandoned sign. Any sign remaining in place on a site or a portion of a site (such as a single tenant in a multitenant building) that has been vacant, closed, or otherwise unoccupied for a period of 90 consecutive days.

Advertising vehicle sign. A vehicle, trailer, or other piece of equipment which contains any sign, which is unlicensed and/or inoperable, and which is parked on a public right-of-way or in a location that is not an active work site so as to be seen from a public right-of-way.

Beacon/search beacon sign. Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same site as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.

Board sign. A sign that is temporarily placed on the ground and is made of rigid material.

Bulletin board sign. A freestanding sign located on-site containing changeable copy.

Dangerous, deteriorated, or dilapidated signs. Signs which are an imitation of or resemble in shape, size, copy or color an official traffic sign or signal or which block traffic visibility or which, through age, neglect or weather, are determined to be unsafe by the Zoning Administrator.

Feather sign. A sign consisting of a piece of vertically elongated, flexible material such as cloth or vinyl which is affixed to a single pole driven in the ground.

Flashing/scrolling/animated sign. A sign having lights or illumination which flashes, scrolls, moves, rotates, twinkles, blinks, flickers, varies in intensity of color, or uses intermittent electrical pulsations. Electronic message signs meeting the definition and requirements of § 480-67 of this article shall not be considered flashing, scrolling, or animated signs.

Floodlighted signs. Reflection illuminated signs whose light source is positioned so that 25% or more of light intensity directly from the light source is visible from a public right-of-way by vehicular traffic or whose light source is visible from residential property.

Inflatable sign. A sign capable of being filled with and expanded by air or other gas, including animated or "dancing" inflatable signs.

Mobile/portable sign. A sign mounted on a frame or chassis designed to be easily relocated, including unlicensed or inoperable vehicles and/or trailers. Licensed and operable business vehicles, trailers, or other pieces of equipment shall not be considered mobile or portable signs.

Off-premise advertising sign. A sign which directs attention to activity that is not conducted upon the site where the sign is displayed. Off-premise advertising signs include billboards.

Roof sign. A sign displayed above the eaves or cornice of a building.

Building frontage. The width of the building facade that fronts a public street, highway, or interstate.

Business/tenant frontage. The portion of a building frontage occupied by a single tenant space having a public entrance within the building frontage. For businesses located on the interior of a building without frontage, the building elevation providing customer access shall be considered the business frontage.

Copy. Words, letters, numbers, figures, designs, or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign.

Changeable copy. Sign copy that may be changed manually to provide different information such as boards with changeable letters, bulletin boards, and chalkboards.

Customer entrance. The entrance that the public can use when an establishment is open to the public.

Electronic message sign. See § 480-67.

Elevation, building. The view of any building or other structure from any one of four sides regardless of the configuration or orientation of a building. No building shall be treated as having more than four building elevations. Each elevation will generally be identified as a north, south, east or west building elevation.

External illumination. The lighting of an object from a light source located a distance from the object.

Facade. See "elevation."

Height of sign. The vertical distance from the average ground level at the base of the sign to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. See § 480-74B for the measurement of sign height.

Maintain. Maintaining the existing appearance of the sign; replacing the sign face or the supporting structure with identical materials, colors, and messages; changing the message of a marquee sign; or changing the face of an off-premise advertising sign (billboard).

Lighting, ambient. Illumination in which the only light that falls onto the sign come from sources that are available naturally (e.g., sunlight, moonlight) or from artificial lighting sources used for other purposes in the vicinity of the sign (e.g., street lights, lighting installed for other purposes or sites)

Lighting, backlit. Illumination that is arranged in such a way that the light is cast from behind the sign to the eyes of the viewer. Often, the lighting element is unshielded but concealed behind individual freestanding letters, creating a silhouette effect.

Lighting, gooseneck. Illumination resulting from light emitted directly from a shielded light fixture located at the top of the sign and angled downward onto the sign face. The light fixture is attached to a curved neck which is often flexible, allowing the user to position the light source onto the sign face.

Lighting, internal. Illumination emanating from a lighting element that is located behind the sign face and which is completely enclosed.

Lighting, neon. Glass tube lighting in which a gas and phosphors are used in combination to create a colored light. Neon lighting is not considered internal lighting as defined in Subsection F(15) above.

Sign area. The entire face of a sign, including the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display but not including any supporting framework. See § 480-74D.

Plat phase. The collection of lots, rights-of-way, and outlots located within the perimeter boundary of a final plat and intended to be developed concurrently.

Site. A site shall include all lots that are contiguous, under unified single ownership and intended to remain under unified single ownership under the jurisdiction of this article. A site may also be determined to be a portion of a single lot where multiple building are present or more than one building contains separate businesses (approved by the City). For the purposes of this article, the site shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator.

Sign face. The area or display surface used for the message.

Temporary sign. A sign or advertising intended to be displayed for a certain limited period of time. If a sign display area is permanent, but the message displayed is subject to periodic changes, that sign shall not be considered as temporary. A mobile or portable sign shall not be considered a temporary sign or used for such a purpose. Refer to Figure 480-70(2) and Figure 480-70(4) for rules related to temporary signs.[9]

Three-dimensional signs. Signs that have a depth or relief on their surface. Where a sign consists of one or more three-dimensional objects (i.e., balls, cubes, clusters of objects, sculpture or statue-like trademarks), fitting within the smallest simple geometric shape (rectangle, circle, or triangle), the sign area shall be measured as their maximum projection upon a vertical plane. See § 480-74D(5).

Window. The total area within a single window pane.

All parcels on the Map must directly face U.S. Highway 12/18 (the Beltline), excluding parcels zoned Conservancy.

Electronic message signs shall only be permitted with a Plan Commission approved conditional use permit for an institutional information sign.

In addition to the setback requirements of this article, no electronic message sign shall be permitted unless the message element is not visible from any property within a single-family or two-family Zoning District.

Electronic message signs may only be integrated into the design of institutional information signs.

Messages and nontext images shall not change appearance more than once every 10 seconds, and transitions between messages shall be via instantaneous change. Use of electronic message signs for images, text, or lighting that change appearance in a manner not permitted above shall be considered flashing, scrolling, or animated signs, which are prohibited per § 480-64E(7).

Electronic message signs shall be equipped with photosensitive equipment which automatically adjusts the brightness and contrast of the sign in direct relation to the ambient outdoor illumination.

Electronic message signs shall comply with the lighting requirements of Chapter 480, Attachment 2.

Electronic message signs shall be maintained so as to be able to display messages in a complete and legible manner.

Fuel price signs shall not be separate signs, but rather shall be integrated into the design of a permitted sign, described in § 480-64A and in Figure 480-70(1).[1]

Fuel price signs may be illuminated, per the lighting requirements of Chapter 480, Attachment 2.

Fuel price signs may contain changeable copy.

All prices posted on fuel price signs shall remain in effect for at least 24 hours after they are posted, per Wis. Stat. § 100.18(8).

The rules for permanent business signs are located in Figure 480.70(1).

The rules for temporary business signs are located in Figure 480.70(2).

The rules for permanent miscellaneous signs are located in Figure 480.70(3).

The rules for temporary miscellaneous signs are located in Figure 480.70(4).

The rules for on-premise sign locations are located in Figure 480-70(5) and 480-70(6).[2]

Signage for all Planned Community Development projects shall be permitted per the base zoning district and may be granted flexibility through the Planned Community Development process.

The height of a freestanding sign shall be measured from the average ground level adjacent at the base of the sign to the top of the highest attached component of the sign, or from the centerline grade of the nearest adjacent public road, if such information is supplied with the permit application and confirmed by the Zoning Administrator, whichever is higher.

The average ground level is defined as the average elevation within a three-foot radius of the sign on the ground upon which the sign supports are placed, except when the sign supports rest upon a berm or other area elevated above the surrounding ground. In such cases, the average elevation of the base of such berm or other area shall be considered as the ground level.

In the case of a freestanding sign (including three-dimensional objects), sign area shall include the total sign area(s) that can be viewed from any single vantage point (i.e., for a typical freestanding sign that faces two directions, only the largest sign face visible from any single vantage point shall count toward the total permitted sign area).

For signs comprised of letters and related copy surrounded by one or more sign background colors on a single panel, frame, or cabinet, the sign area shall be measured as the smallest single rectangle enclosing the entire sign message and any and all background color areas. See Example 1 in Figure 480-74(2).

For signs comprised of individual letters and related copy surrounded by one or more sign background colors on individual panels, sign area shall be measured as the smallest single rectangle enclosing the entire sign message and any and all background color areas. See Example 1 in Figure 480-74(2).

Groupings of related smaller signs shall be counted as one sign. In such cases, sign area shall be measured as the smallest single rectangle enclosing the individual signs and any and all background color areas. See Example 2 in Figure 480-74(2).

For signs comprised of one or more three-dimensional objects (i.e., balls, cubes, clusters of objects, sculpture or statue-like trademarks), fitting within the smallest simple geometric shape (rectangle, circle, or triangle), the sign area shall be measured as their maximum projection upon a vertical plane. See Figure 480-74(1) below.

No freestanding sign listed under § 480-64(A)(1), on-building sign listed under § 480-64(A)(2), order board sign under § 480-64(A)(4)(b), on-site warning sign under § 480-64(C)(1)(c), on-site directional sign under § 480-64(C)(1)(d), or institutional information sign under § 480-64(C)(2)(a) shall be erected, installed, or constructed without the granting of a permit from the Zoning Administrator or Plan Commission in accordance with the provisions of this section. Any exception to these provisions must receive approval from the Plan Commission.

No pedestrian sign under § 480-64(A)(3), menu board sign under § 480-64(A)(4)(a), window sign under § 480-64(B)(1), temporary board and banner sign under § 480-64(B)(2), or metal plaque sign or flag sign under § 480-64(C)(2) shall be erected, installed, or constructed without the granting of a permit from the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the provisions of this section.

No pylon or marquee signs under §§ 480-64(A) and 480-64(B) shall be erected, installed, constructed, or maintained without the structural support being designed by a licensed professional engineer and approved by the Building Inspector as in compliance with the Building Code of the City. All frames and supports shall be of metal and designed to withstand pressure as provided in § 480-92.

For signs requiring a permit in Subsection A(1), above, this section shall apply and be construed to require a permit for a change of copy on any sign or for any conversions or changes in the sign structure.

This section shall not apply to repainting or re-facing with the same sign copy, cleaning, repair, or other normal maintenance of the sign or sign structure.

No new permit is required for signs which are in place as of the effective date this article, and such signs may remain as legal nonconforming signs. Any alteration or relocation of such signs shall conform to the requirements of this article. Refer to § 480-94 for rules pertaining to nonconforming signs.

Any sign permit granted hereunder shall not be assigned or transferred to any other sign, including a modified sign face or modified sign structure.

The owner or tenant may request all such signs at one site be included under one permit.

The Zoning Administrator shall review and approve, conditionally approve, or deny all monument signs, on-building, order board, on-site warning, on-site directional, or institutional information signs, and all signs accompanying changes in use or new use which must receive approval of a zoning permit. The Plan Commission shall review and approve, conditionally approve, or deny all pylon signs. Signs requiring an exception and those which would require approval of a comprehensive signage plan for a site or sites which will have more than one sign viewed together as part of a group of signs shall be reviewed and approved, conditionally approved, or denied by the Plan Commission. This may be required with a zoning permit for change of use or a sign permit. All signs which require approval of a sign permit by the Zoning Administrator or Plan Commission shall be reviewed according to the following evaluation factors:

The Plan Commission may grant special exception to this article upon demonstration of due cause. Every applicant for a special exception to the sign district requirements shall submit a written statement to the Plan Commission which explains the reason for the request and how it meets the evaluation factors.

The name, address, phone number, and email address of the applicant.

The name of the business or land use the proposed sign will serve.

The name, address, phone number, email address, and signature of the property owner.

The name, address, phone number, and email address of the sign contractor.

The property's zoning designation.

The property's current land use or uses for the entire subject property, including all indoor and outdoor areas.

An aerial photograph or approved site plan for the subject property. If a site plan was not previously required or approved, a site plan for the subject property with requirements as determined by the Zoning Administrator shall be provided. At a minimum, the site plan shall include the following:

Payment of the sign permit fee, as established from time to time by the Common Council.

A written statement that all temporary signs will be removed per the limits.

Any other information that may reasonably be requested by the Zoning Administrator for the purpose of application evaluation.

Any existing or proposed sign on property abutting a state highway, United States highway, or interstate highway shall comply with all required approval from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

The Zoning Administrator shall review the application to ensure it is complete per the requirements of Subsection B, above.

In cases where no other review or approvals are required under this article, the Zoning Administrator shall review said application for compliance with Subsection D, below, and shall, in writing, either approve or deny said sign permit.

When a proposed sign is associated with any development that requires a site plan, a sign permit shall not be granted prior to the approval of a site plan. In such cases, the Zoning Administrator shall review said application for compliance with Subsection D, below, and shall schedule the item on the appropriate meeting agenda(s) or action by the body with recommending or approval authority, the Zoning Administrator shall approve or deny said sign permit based on such recommendation or action.

Denial of a sign permit shall not result in total or partial reimbursement of permit fees paid.

A granted sign permit shall expire, and shall be null and void, if the sign is not attached or erected within 180 days after the issuance of the sign permit.

Whether the sign is designed, constructed, installed, or maintained in such a manner that it does not endanger public safety or traffic safety.

Whether the sign is in compliance with all provisions of the City of Monona Municipal Code and Building Code, including those related to traffic safety, traffic visibility, sign setbacks, and structural integrity.

A sign permit may be revoked if the applicant has failed to comply with the provisions of this article or any conditions that may have accompanied the permit at the time of issuance. Revocation requires written notice by either the Zoning Administrator for Zoning Ordinance violations or the Building Inspector for Building Code or other construction code violations.

In the event that construction, installation, or manufacture of a sign for which a permit has been issued has not commenced within 180 days from the date of the issuance of such permit, said permit shall be null and void and automatically revoked. If work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 90 days any time after the work is commenced, the original permit shall become null and void. In such cases, a new permit shall be obtained to complete the work and a new permit fee shall be required.

Any sign subject to a revoked permit shall be removed by the licensee, sign owner, or property owner within 45 days of such revocation.

Revocation shall not result in total or partial reimbursement of permit fees paid.

If the Zoning Administrator determines that any sign exists in violation of this article, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the sign permit holder or the owner of the property on which the sign is located. Said notification shall indicate that such violation shall be corrected within 60 days of receipt of said notice on penalty of automatic revocation of any sign permit, and that removal of the sign by the City may occur at the expense of the owner of the property.

If notification is sent and the violation is not corrected within 60 days, the Zoning Administrator shall revoke the permit for any sign which is in violation of this article. It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator to cause removal of such sign.

The expense of removing such sign shall be charged to the owner of the property on which the sign is located. If the owner fails to pay such expense within one month of being billed therefore, or has not made arrangement for payment satisfactory to the City Attorney, then such expense shall be charged against the property as a special charge pursuant to § 66.0627 of the Wisconsin Statutes, as may be amended from time to time.

Any sign illegally placed in a public right-of-way shall be subject to immediate removal and confiscation without notice by the Zoning Administrator.

No sign shall be erected at any location where it may, by reason of its position, shape, color or design, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, nor shall such sign make use of words such as "stop," "look," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse users of streets or highways.

No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs such as windsocks, motorized signs, pennants, and streamers shall be permitted. This shall not apply to banner signs as defined in § 480-64B(2).

No signs shall project above the building parapet or eave, or be mounted on or extend above the roof, if attached to the building.

No flashing, scrolling, or animated signs shall be permitted. Flashing is defined as changing more than once within a ten-second time interval.

No signs shall be mounted to an unlicensed trailer or other unlicensed vehicle.

No beacons or search beacons shall be permitted.

No billboards or off-premise advertising signs shall be permitted.

No abandoned signs shall be permitted. See § 480-64E(1).

No illuminated sign shall be permitted unless the illumination of the sign is so designed that the lighting element is not visible from any property within a single-family, two-family, or multifamily Zoning District.

No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.

No sign shall be placed in a manner that would impede vehicular or pedestrian safety, or impede access or visibility. Signs shall meet the requirements of § 480-9.

No private sign shall be attached to or painted on any natural feature (e.g., tree or rock), fence, fire hydrant, public utility pole, public light pole, or traffic regulatory structure, unless otherwise authorized by the Director of Public Works.

Signs must be placed on-premises which includes location on-site or within the right-of-way adjacent to the site's street frontage (outside of the vision triangle). They must be in a location approved by staff through a revocable occupancy permit granted by the City.

No person shall: paste, tape, staple, or otherwise fasten any paper or other material to, nor paint, stencil, or otherwise write or color any object, vegetation, or pavement located within any street right-of-way; nor shall any of such object, vegetation, or pavement be defaced in any manner. The only exception to these restrictions is that painting may be allowed on curbs when approved by the Common Council.

Legal nonconforming signs may be maintained. Legal nonconforming signs include signs that were erected under the authority of proper sign permits prior to the adoption date of this article or if no sign permit was required by applicable law at the time the sign was originally constructed.

Nonconforming signs shall not be altered or moved to a new location without being brought into compliance with the requirements of this article. See Subsection C(1), below, for what would constitute an alteration of a sign.

When the principal structure located on the site undergoes a change that requires a conditional use permit, Planned Community Development, or building permit exceeding $100,000, all nonconforming signs shall be brought into conformance with the provisions of this article or shall be removed.

For the purpose of this section, alteration of a sign is considered to be any change to the sign's frame, supporting structure, lighting, material, height, location, or any other alterations as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

Altering a sign does not include maintaining the existing appearance of the sign; changing the appearance of the sign face; replacing the sign face or the supporting structure with identical materials, colors, and messages; or changing the message of a marquee.

A tenant sign which comprises part of multiple businesses may be replaced to accommodate a new tenant sign without triggering the need to bring the entire project identification sign, or any of its parts, into compliance with the provisions of this article.

After 60 days, nonconforming signs shall lose their legal nonconforming status.

After 60 days, the owner of the property shall take the following action regarding any permanent or temporary business signs and/or sign structures associated with the vacant building, portion of a building, or site located on the property. At the property owner's option, the property owner shall do one of the following: remove all such signs and structures, or replace the face of such signs with a blank sign face. If the property owner is granted an extension under Subsection A(3) below, the requirement shall not apply during the extension period.

An extension allowing signs and/or sign structures associated with vacant buildings, portions of buildings, or sites to remain on the property for an additional six-month time period after the original 60 days have lapsed may be granted under the following conditions: