Monroe City Zoning Code

The City, finding it necessary to promote public safety and to foster an appealing cityscape, and in accordance with the General Plan, and for the general welfare, hereby desires to regulate signage within the City's limits.

The City Council finds that unregulated signage can be detrimental to public safety, that it can result in visual blight and negatively impact local property values, and that it can displace alternative land uses. Specifically, the City Council finds it necessary:

1. To promote the health and well being of the public, generally pedestrians and motorists, by minimizing obstruction, visual or otherwise, distraction, and related safety and traffic hazards within the City; and
2. To preserve and enhance the beauty of the City by minimizing visual clutter and regulating physical characteristics of and placement of signage within the City.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024

1. Signage shall be regulated within each zone of the City as set forth herein.
2. Signs shall be deemed either permanent or temporary.
3. All signage shall be reasonably secured and maintained so as to withstand normal weather conditions including, but not limited to, wind, rain, snow and so forth. Signs, whether temporary or permanent, shall be constructed and placed in such a way so as to preserve the public safety, preserve necessary sight corridors and clear vision triangles, and shall be maintained in such a manner so as to prevent disrepair and visual blight.
4. All signage shall be generally prohibited from being posted or left behind on public property, in any public right of way, on utility poles, historical markers, on publicly owned property, including trees, and on street and traffic signs with the following exceptions:
5. Where the city has traditionally allowed public property to be used as an open public forum, temporary noncommercial signage shall be allowed only if the signage is handheld or personally attended, and where said signage does not block public rights of way, disrupt the peace in an unlawful manner, incite to violence, or cause any other unlawful public disturbance.
6. Signage dedicated for government use including traffic signs, traffic lights, street signs, directional signs, public safety signs, advertising for community events, and related signage shall be exempt from the prohibition against signage in any public right of way or property.
7. Signage approved by the City as part of a special event permit.
8. Signage within the city-owned property between the road and sidewalk in front of private property shall be allowed only if placed by the City or another entity with authorization from the City. Such signage may also be allowed subject to the approval of the owner of the adjacent private property on which the City-owned property fronts, so long as the signage does not block public rights-of-way, or disrupt the peace in an unlawful manner, incite to violence, or cause any other unlawful public disturbance. A private property owner has the right to remove any signage within such City-owned property if the signage was not authorized by the City or the private property owner.
9. General Requirements: The following requirements apply to all signs:
10. Display Area: The display area of a two (2) faced sign with identical copy on both sides shall be counted as the display area of only one of the faces.
11. Sign Height: Sign height shall be measured as the plumb vertical distance from the top of the sign to the existing or finished grade below, whichever results in a lower height. If a sign is to be located on top of a berm that is being proposed as part of the sign application, the sign height may be measured from the top of the berm provided the berm is part of a larger landscape proposal and not just proposed to add height to the sign.
12. Clear Vision Triangle: A sign may not be placed in a "clear vision triangle", defined as follows: At intersections of alleys and driveways (this includes private driveways and adjacent private driveways), the triangle shall be defined by drawing a line between two (2) points that are a minimum of fifteen feet (15') from the intersection along the property lines. At intersections of public streets, the triangle shall be defined by drawing a line between the two (2) points that are a minimum of thirty feet (30') from the intersection along the property lines.
13. Safety: A sign may not be placed or located in such a way as to obstruct any fire escape or other egress or exit required for safety.
14. Discontinued Use: All signage shall be removed by its owner no later than thirty (30) days after a discontinued use. A “discontinued use” shall include the expiration of a permit, abandonment of the sign, or the happening of an event or sale for which the sign was posted. "Discontinued use" shall not include the involuntary destruction of a sign in whole or in part due to fire or other calamity unless the sign has been abandoned.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024

1. Removal Required: The Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff  is authorized to require removal of any sign, in accordance with this section.
2.  Notice: Before bringing action to require removal of any sign, the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff shall give written notice to the owner of the sign or the owner or lessee of the premises on which such sign is located if the owner of the sign is unknown. The notice shall comply with §10-9a-213 of Utah State Code (as amended) and shall state the violation charged and the reasons and grounds for removal, specifying the deficiencies or defects and what repairs, if any, will make the sign conform to the requirements of this chapter. The notice shall also specify that the sign must be removed or made to conform with the provisions of this chapter within the notice period, that the responsible party may request a hearing with the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff to discuss the notice or request additional time to remove or reconstruct the sign, and shall state that removed signs must be claimed from the City within three (3) days after removal or be destroyed without further notice. Service of notice shall be made personally to the responsible party, or by certified mail addressed to the responsible party at the address specified in the permit, on the county records, or the last known address of the responsible party.
3. Notice Period: Prior to enforcement, the notice period for removal or conformance of permanent signs shall be fifteen (15) days and temporary signs shall be three (3) days. The responsible party shall comply with the notice within such notice period or shall submit a written request for an informal hearing with the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff explaining why the sign conforms to the provisions of this chapter or why additional time is necessary to remove or reconstruct the sign.
4. Hearing: Upon written request by the responsible party, the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff shall meet with the responsible party to review the requirements of this chapter, the non-compliance of the sign, and the steps required to bring the sign into compliance. Upon a finding of good cause, the City may extend the period for the removal or reconstruction of the sign to bring it into compliance.
5. Prosecution: If the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located has not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff that the sign is conforming, the sign has been removed, or the sign has been brought into compliance with the provisions of this chapter by the end of the notice period and any extended period for compliance, the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff shall first submit an order for removal by the City, and if necessary, due to inability to access the sign for removal, submit the violations to the City Prosecutor for prosecution. If the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located removes the sign, any and all prosecution charges shall be dropped.
6. Re-erection: Re-erection of any sign or substantially similar sign on the same premises after a notice of violation has been issued shall be deemed a continuation of the original violation.
7. Removal Of Temporary Signs: The Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff or authorized designee may remove any illegal temporary sign which is maintained or re-erected after the expiration of the notice period and any extension, if the responsible party has been issued a notice of violation at least once before for the same violation involving the same or similar sign. In such circumstances, the responsible party shall be notified within two (2) business days of the reason for the removal and the location from which the sign was removed.
8. Removed signs shall be made available for the responsible party to pick up for three (3) calendar days. After that time, removed signs will be destroyed.
9. Safety Hazard: Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the Zoning Administrator or designated City Staff may cause the immediate removal, following notice to the owner of the sign or the property on which it is located of any unsafe or defective sign that creates an immediate hazard to persons or property.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024

1. Freestanding Signs Under Five Feet in Height. Attached freestanding signs five feet (5’) or less in height shall meet the following requirements:
2. Number. There may be one such sign for each frontage of the property, plus one additional sign for each one hundred (100) foot increment of said frontage in excess of one hundred (100) feet. Said signs shall be placed no closer than fifty (50) feet apart. In the case of a parcel of property having multiple occupations with a common front­ age, the frontage shall be deemed to be that of the entire commonly used parcel of property and not the frontage of the individual business or occupations.
3. Freestanding Signs Over Five Feet in Height. Attached freestanding signs over five feet (5’) in height shall comply with the following provisions:
4. Number. There may be one such sign on each street frontage and one additional sign for any portion of each such frontage in excess of two hundred (200) feet. The size of any such additional sign shall be determined by counting as frontage that portion of each frontage which is in excess of two hundred (200) feet.
5. Height. No such sign shall exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height.
6. Projection. No such sign shall project over a property line, nor more than five feet into any required front yard.
7. Wall Signs and Painted Wall Signs. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every wall sign and painted wall sign in a commercial zone shall comply with the following requirements:
8. Number. There may be two such signs for each building face. No building shall be deemed to have more than four building faces.
9. Height. No part of any such sign shall extend above the top level of the wall upon, or in front of, which it is situated.
10. Thickness. No such sign, including any light box or structural part, shall project more than twelve  (12) inches from the face of the part of the building to which it is attached. 
11. Projecting Signs. Projecting signs in commercial zones shall comply with the following requirements:
12. Area. No projecting signs shall exceed five thousand one hundred (5,100) square feet in area.
13. Number: There may be no more than one projecting sign for the front of each business establishment.
14. Height. No projecting sign shall project more than five feet from the front line of the building, nor any closer than two feet to the curb and gutter.
15. Roof Signs. Roof signs in commercial zones shall comply with the following requirements:
16. Number. There shall be no more than one such sign for the roof of each business establishment.
17. Height. No part of any such sign shall extend more than five feet above the highest point of the roof.
18. Projection. No part of any such sign shall project beyond the front line of the building.
19. Support. No roof sign shall be erected in such a manner that there is any visual support.
20. Animation. No part of any such sign shall have any animation.
21. Off-Premises Signs-Billboards. 
22. Billboards shall be permitted in any non-residential zoning districts adjacent to UDOT controlled roads. Signs located along or adjacent to highways shall also comply with UDOT standards.  
23. Billboards along highways must be located within two hundred feet (200') of the highway centerline, measured to the billboard pole. Billboards within the city must be in compliance with  this title and the Utah Outdoor Advertising Act as found in  §72-7-5 of Utah State Code (as amended). 
24. Height. The maximum height of an off premises sign shall be thirty five feet (35’). 
25. Size. Billboards shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet in size. 
26. Billboards must be located at least at least one thousand (1,000) linear feet from any other billboard located on the same side of the street, and at least five hundred (500) linear feet from an interstate exchange, as measured from any part of the billboard to the nearest portion of any other off-premises sign or off-premises electronic display sign or to the nearest right-of-way line of the interchange.
27.  The Planning Commission may approve a monument sign that contains an electronic message board if the following findings can be met:
28. That the electronic component of the sign shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the surface area of the sign;
29. That the electronic component will only display information associated with the business(es) represented by the monument sign; and
30. That the electronic component is simple in nature and does not include bright or flashing lights or images that are distracting or harmful to vehicles or pedestrians or neighboring uses. The City Staff may require electronic components be shielded and/or dimmed or timed based on daylight and business hours to avoid reasonably anticipated detrimental effects of the sign on adjacent properties, vehicles, and persons.
31. Lighting: Signs may include lighting provided that the lighting shall not create light pollution beyond the sign area.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024

The following signs shall be permitted in residential zones throughout the City.

1. Single property identification sign containing only the address of the property and a personal name.
2. The sign may not exceed four (4) feet in height or eight (8) feet in width.
3. The sign may not advertise a business or commercial activity other than home occupations.
4. The sign will not include any flashing or neon lights excluding holiday lighting. 
5. Nameplates or signs indicating the existence of a home occupation.
6. Within any zone home occupation signs are allowed. Home occupation signs must be attached to the home.
7. Signs shall not exceed  thirty-two (32) square feet.
8. Temporary signs.
9. Residential development entrance signs. A sign may be placed at the entrance of a residential subdivision, planned residential urban development or manufactured home park advertising the name of the development or subdivision.
10. The sign must be within the boundary of the development that is named on the sign.
11. A maximum of two entrances may have signs placed at them.
12. Signs must be set back ten (10) feet from any property line or public right-of-way.
13. Signs proposed to exceed (5) feet in height and ten (10) feet in width shall require approval by the City.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024

Campaign signs shall meet the following requirements:

1. Posting on public right-of-way. It shall be lawful for any person to post a campaign sign in the area between the sidewalk and curb and gutter of any public street except that no sign over two feet (2’) in height may be placed in any clear view area. No campaign sign may be attached to any utility pole within a public right-of-way. No campaign sign may overhang the travel way or sidewalk in a public right-of-way.
2. Prohibition. The placement of any campaign sign within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any building where a polling place is located is prohibited. "Polling place" shall mean the physical place where ballots and absentee ballots are cast.
3. Posting time limits. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to remove a campaign sign within five (5) days after the election for which the sign was posted. In the event there is a primary election, the campaign sign removal shall not be required until five (5) days after the main election for which the primary election was held.
4. Limitation of size of campaign signs. In any agricultural or residential zone, said campaign sign shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in aggregate on or in front of any parcel.  Said signs shall not exceed six feet in height. Said sign shall not be erected in such a manner as to constitute a roof sign. In commercial and industrial zoning districts, campaign signs shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in aggregate on or in front of any parcel and shall not exceed twelve feet (12') in height.
5. Removal of illegal campaign signs. The City or its authorized agents are authorized to remove any campaign sign found posted within the corporate limits of the City when such sign is in violation of the provisions of this section. For the purpose of removing campaign signs, the City or its authorized agents are empowered to take all steps necessary to remove the unauthorized sign including but not limited to enlisting the aid or assistance of any other department of the City and to secure legal process to the end that all such signs shall be expeditiously removed from any property where posted.
6. Notice. Upon discovery, the City or its authorized agents shall immediately notify by telephone the candidate, committee, or person responsible for the posting of any sign in violation of this section, indicating the location of the sign and that the sign must be removed within five (5) working days. If the address or phone number of the person responsible for the violating sign is not known the sign shall be removed under the provisions as set forth in subsection (5) of this section.
7. Storage and return. If after the five (5) day notice has been given under subsection (6) above, any campaign sign has not been removed, the City or its authorized agents shall remove said campaign sign and keep a record of the location from which the sign was removed. The sign shall be stored  in a safe location for at least thirty (30) days. The City or its authorized agents shall return any campaign sign upon the payment of the fee provided in subsection (8) below.
8. Removal of sign charge. The City shall be entitled to receive the sum of five dollars ($5.00) for every campaign sign removed by the City or its authorized agents to cover the expense of removal, notice, and storage. In cases where unusual effort is needed to remove a sign the City may seek additional reimbursement to cover the full expense of such efforts.
9. Person(s) responsible. In a campaign for elective office, the candidate for such office shall be deemed the person responsible for the posting of campaign signs, unless the candidate first notifies the City Recorder of another person who is responsible. In such case, the candidate shall provide the name, address, telephone number, and signed consent of such other responsible person. In a campaign regarding a ballot measure, the president of the committee supporting or opposing such ballot measure shall be deemed responsible, unless said person first notifies the City Recorder of some other person responsible, in the manner described above. The candidate, or in the case of a ballot measure, the committee president, or other responsible person if so designated, shall be liable to pay any fees or costs for the removal and storage of illegal signs, as set out herein. Further, such candidate, committee president, or other designated person, shall be subject to prosecution for any violation of this chapter.
10. Illegal signs, public nuisance. Campaign signs in violation of this section are hereby declared to be public nuisances, and may be abated as such by the City. The collection of removal fees shall not preclude the City from prosecuting any person for violating this chapter.
11. Appeal. Any person deemed responsible under this Section shall have a right to appeal any civil penalty levied under Subsection (8) to the City Council.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024

A violation of this chapter is punishable as a class B misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) when a person fails to alter or repair or remove an illegal sign after notice of a violation.

HISTORY:

Ord. 3-1-2024, 4/9/2024