Montpelier City Zoning Code

SIGNS

§ 153.140 PURPOSE.

The purpose of this subchapter is to protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating signs of all types.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.010)

§ 153.141 EXEMPTIONS.

(A) Signs placed or erected by the federal, state, county and city, or special agency thereof, which are used primarily for regulatory and directory purposes shall be exempt for this subchapter.

(B) Signs painted on the outside walls of commercial buildings or merchandise pictures, models, products or services which are incorporated as an integral part of the window display shall be exempt from this subchapter.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.020)

§ 153.142 SIGN STANDARDS AND TABLE.

(A) Adult material signs. Advertisements for businesses selling adult materials shall be limited to non-illuminated, flat-face signs attached to the building face, shall contain no further description other than “adult material” and shall be not larger than six square feet. Any other signage shall be limited to the store name, which shall contain no obscene, indecent or immoral innuendo.

(B) Community service board for local advertisement. At some future date, the community may designate a place/places and board/boards for local advertisement to accommodate local advertisement of yard sales and other personal sales, events, benefits and other related activities. The location will be determined in compliance with minimum setback regulations.

(C) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs shall be limited to real estate and political signage on a general basis. Billboards and other off-premises signs shall require a conditional use permit.

(D) Signs extending over sidewalks. Signs extending over sidewalks shall be allowed in the CBD (Central Business District), shall not extend five feet beyond the building face and shall be at least 12 feet above the sidewalk, measuring from the bottom of the sign.

(E) Sidewalk signs. Sidewalk signs are not allowed in any zoning district except on a permit basis. Performance standards for sidewalk signs shall be as follows:

(1) Maximum size shall be 30 inches wide by 48 inches tall;

(2) Cannot block pedestrian traffic;

(3) Can be placed not closer than 20 feet to a side street, corner or any driveway; and

(4) Must be removed at the closure of the business day and for snow removal.

(F) Rooftop signs. Rooftop signs which exceed the highest point of a roof or parapet wall are prohibited.

(G) Other signs. All other signs not provided for herein shall be by conditional use only.

Description	Time Limit	Maximum Size	Maximum Height	Number Allowed	Permitted Zones
Commercial**	None	See formula below	30 feet	See formula below	Commercial zones
Construction	During active construction	20 square feet	8 feet	1 per building site	All
Home occupation *	None	6 square feet	8 feet	1 per residence	Residential zones
Institutional	None	60 square feet	8 feet	1 per frontage	C-1, C-2, CBD, LO
Political	60 days before and 14 days after election	9 square feet	8 feet	3 per building lot or building	All
Portable	120 days per calendar year	30 square feet	8 feet	1 per site	Commercial zones
Real estate	None	6 square feet	8 feet	1 per property	All
Notes to Table: Also see performance standards, home occupations. *Computation formula: The total square footage of all commercial signage per site shall not exceed 2.5 times the lineal feet of the building frontage, or 2 times the lineal feet of the building frontage plus 1.0 times the lot frontage exclusive of the building frontage, whichever calculation is greater. Frontage shall be the side of the building facing the street address for the business.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.030) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.143 ROOFTOP SIGNS.

(A) No sign shall be erected or maintained which, by use of lights or illumination, creates an unduly distracting or a hazardous condition to a motorist, pedestrian or the general public.

(B) Further, any illuminated signage shall be directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.040) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.144 SETBACKS.

All signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet, measured from the inside portion of the sidewalk and the portion of the sign nearest the sidewalk. In the absence of a sidewalk, then the sign shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from the property line measured from the portion of the sign nearest the property line. Signs in CBD are exempt from this restriction.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.050) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.146 SIGN FEES.

The fee for constructing, building or placing a sign up to 15 square feet is $25, and the fee for constructing, building or placing a sign over 15 square feet is $100.

(Ord. 611, passed 10-15-2008)

Montpelier City Zoning Code

SIGNS

§ 153.140 PURPOSE.

The purpose of this subchapter is to protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating signs of all types.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.010)

§ 153.141 EXEMPTIONS.

(A) Signs placed or erected by the federal, state, county and city, or special agency thereof, which are used primarily for regulatory and directory purposes shall be exempt for this subchapter.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.020)

§ 153.142 SIGN STANDARDS AND TABLE.

(C) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs shall be limited to real estate and political signage on a general basis. Billboards and other off-premises signs shall require a conditional use permit.

(E) Sidewalk signs. Sidewalk signs are not allowed in any zoning district except on a permit basis. Performance standards for sidewalk signs shall be as follows:

(1) Maximum size shall be 30 inches wide by 48 inches tall;

(2) Cannot block pedestrian traffic;

(3) Can be placed not closer than 20 feet to a side street, corner or any driveway; and

(4) Must be removed at the closure of the business day and for snow removal.

(F) Rooftop signs. Rooftop signs which exceed the highest point of a roof or parapet wall are prohibited.

(G) Other signs. All other signs not provided for herein shall be by conditional use only.

Description	Time Limit	Maximum Size	Maximum Height	Number Allowed	Permitted Zones
Commercial**	None	See formula below	30 feet	See formula below	Commercial zones
Construction	During active construction	20 square feet	8 feet	1 per building site	All
Home occupation *	None	6 square feet	8 feet	1 per residence	Residential zones
Institutional	None	60 square feet	8 feet	1 per frontage	C-1, C-2, CBD, LO
Political	60 days before and 14 days after election	9 square feet	8 feet	3 per building lot or building	All
Portable	120 days per calendar year	30 square feet	8 feet	1 per site	Commercial zones
Real estate	None	6 square feet	8 feet	1 per property	All
Notes to Table: Also see performance standards, home occupations. *Computation formula: The total square footage of all commercial signage per site shall not exceed 2.5 times the lineal feet of the building frontage, or 2 times the lineal feet of the building frontage plus 1.0 times the lot frontage exclusive of the building frontage, whichever calculation is greater. Frontage shall be the side of the building facing the street address for the business.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.030) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.143 ROOFTOP SIGNS.

(A) No sign shall be erected or maintained which, by use of lights or illumination, creates an unduly distracting or a hazardous condition to a motorist, pedestrian or the general public.

(B) Further, any illuminated signage shall be directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.040) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.144 SETBACKS.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.050) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.146 SIGN FEES.

The fee for constructing, building or placing a sign up to 15 square feet is $25, and the fee for constructing, building or placing a sign over 15 square feet is $100.

(Ord. 611, passed 10-15-2008)

Montpelier City Zoning Code

SIGNS

§ 153.140 PURPOSE.

The purpose of this subchapter is to protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating signs of all types.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.010)

§ 153.141 EXEMPTIONS.

(A) Signs placed or erected by the federal, state, county and city, or special agency thereof, which are used primarily for regulatory and directory purposes shall be exempt for this subchapter.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.020)

§ 153.142 SIGN STANDARDS AND TABLE.

(C) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs shall be limited to real estate and political signage on a general basis. Billboards and other off-premises signs shall require a conditional use permit.

(E) Sidewalk signs. Sidewalk signs are not allowed in any zoning district except on a permit basis. Performance standards for sidewalk signs shall be as follows:

(1) Maximum size shall be 30 inches wide by 48 inches tall;

(2) Cannot block pedestrian traffic;

(3) Can be placed not closer than 20 feet to a side street, corner or any driveway; and

(4) Must be removed at the closure of the business day and for snow removal.

(F) Rooftop signs. Rooftop signs which exceed the highest point of a roof or parapet wall are prohibited.

(G) Other signs. All other signs not provided for herein shall be by conditional use only.

Description	Time Limit	Maximum Size	Maximum Height	Number Allowed	Permitted Zones
Commercial**	None	See formula below	30 feet	See formula below	Commercial zones
Construction	During active construction	20 square feet	8 feet	1 per building site	All
Home occupation *	None	6 square feet	8 feet	1 per residence	Residential zones
Institutional	None	60 square feet	8 feet	1 per frontage	C-1, C-2, CBD, LO
Political	60 days before and 14 days after election	9 square feet	8 feet	3 per building lot or building	All
Portable	120 days per calendar year	30 square feet	8 feet	1 per site	Commercial zones
Real estate	None	6 square feet	8 feet	1 per property	All
Notes to Table: Also see performance standards, home occupations. *Computation formula: The total square footage of all commercial signage per site shall not exceed 2.5 times the lineal feet of the building frontage, or 2 times the lineal feet of the building frontage plus 1.0 times the lot frontage exclusive of the building frontage, whichever calculation is greater. Frontage shall be the side of the building facing the street address for the business.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.030) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.143 ROOFTOP SIGNS.

(A) No sign shall be erected or maintained which, by use of lights or illumination, creates an unduly distracting or a hazardous condition to a motorist, pedestrian or the general public.

(B) Further, any illuminated signage shall be directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.040) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.144 SETBACKS.

(Prior Code, § 17.60.050) Penalty, see § 153.999

§ 153.146 SIGN FEES.

The fee for constructing, building or placing a sign up to 15 square feet is $25, and the fee for constructing, building or placing a sign over 15 square feet is $100.

(Ord. 611, passed 10-15-2008)