The following regulations are provided to maintain the attractiveness and orderliness of the appearance of the Village and to protect the public safety.

ADVERTISING SIGN: Any sign, including the supporting structure, which directs attention to a business, service, or activity not conducted upon the premises, or a product not offered or sold upon the premises where such a sign is located.

ATTACHED SIGN: A sign permanently affixed to the exterior surface of a building. No attached sign shall project further than twelve inches (12”) from said building.

BANNER: A type of sign. If it is not more than 16 square feet, it shall not be counted against the allowable sign area for a property. If it is greater than 16 square feet, it shall. (amd Ord. 11-30, 1-3-12)

BACK-TO-BACK SIGN: A structure with two (2) parallel and directly opposite signs with their faces oriented to opposite directions. Back-to-back signs may be separated by not more than four feet (4’). A back-to-back sign shall constitute one sign.

BUSINESS SIGN: A sign, including any supporting or framing structure, which directs attention to a business or profession conducted upon the premises or to a commodity, service, or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises on which the sign is located.

FREE-STANDING SIGN: Any sign permanently erected on a free-standing framework supported and affixed by one or more uprights or braces in or upon the ground.

ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs, or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes.

PERSON: Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.

PORTABLE SIGN: Any sign not classified as an attached or free-standing sign or a vehicle sign or a banner. (amd. Ord. 07-03, 5-7-07; amd. Ord. 11-30, 1-3-12)

SIGN AREA: The area encompassed within the shortest line drawn around the perimeter of the display, message, or wording, including all letters and designs which are part of the sign; including border and trim, but excluding bases, aprons, supports, and other structural members; whichever is greater. The total allowable sign area for a property includes the total of both business and advertising signs. The terms “sign area” and “gross sign area” are used interchangeably. (amd. Ord. 99-36, 11-15-99)

VEHICLE SIGN: A sign located on a vehicle or trailer. (Ord. 07-03, 5-7-07)

No sign, outdoor advertising structure, or display of any character shall be permitted except in conformity with the following regulations. A building permit is required for erection, construction, placement, or replacement of any sign to be permanently attached to a building or to be permanently erected as a free-standing sign.

1. No illuminated business or advertising sign shall be of such brightness or shall flash, scintillate, or move as to create hazardous or annoying glare. Time and temperature or message signs not otherwise prohibited under this regulation will be allowed, provided they do not create hazardous or annoying glare.
2. No business or advertising sign shall be so located as to materially impede or so illuminated as to interfere with the effectiveness of any traffic control device or obstruct a motorist’s view at any street or highway intersection or any railroad sign or signal at any railroad crossing.
3. Signs posted or displayed by a public agency or official or by a person giving giving legal notice, and signs erected or maintained by a public agency or official, or required by law to be displayed by a public utility for directional warning or informational purposes are not subject to the regulations of this Chapter.
4. No business or advertising sign shall be pasted or painted directly on the surface of any wall or roof.
5. No sign shall be permitted to be placed on a fence in any residential district.
6. No sign shall be permitted to be placed on a fence in any commercial or industrial district unless said fence meets setback requirements for a sign in that zoning district.
7. Temporary signs, including those related to a particular one-time event, are allowed without a permit and are subject to the following:
   1. Temporary signs do not count against the total signage otherwise allowed on a lot.
   2. Temporary signs on aproperty where the activity is occurring shall not exceed thirty two (32) square feet unless a more restrictive size is specified in this paragraph. All other temporary signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.
   3. Temporary signs shall not be on the property more than ninety (90) days before the event or seven (7) days after the event has ended.
   4. Permission of the property owner msut be obtained for any temporary sign.
   5. Temporary signs shall not be placed on any right of way street, sidewalk, driveway or other property.
   6. Temporary signs shall not obstruct a motorist's view on any street or intersection.
   7. The display of any such temporary sign shall be limited to two (2) nonconsecutive thirty (30) day periods per calendar year. Any sign which is displayed for more than a thirty (30) day period, or for more than two (2) nonconsecutive periods of thirty (30) days or less, shall not be considered a temporary sign but shall be a permament sign, except as otherwise permitted in this Section.
8. Signs indicating the time and place of meetings of civic organizations are permitted on the main entry roads into town, provided only one sign structure is utilized to accommodate all such notices on each major entry road.
9. Portable signs are allowable only under the following conditions:
   1. The sign area shall not exceed thirty two (32) square feet, and any one face shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.
   2. A portable sign cannot be illuminated.
   3. A portable sign may be located only in districts zoned B-1, B-2, or B-3. (Ord. 83-16, 9-6-83)
   4. Only one (1) portable sign per business location shall be allowed. The location where the portable sign is displayed must be on the same lot where the business is located. (Ord. 84-8, 9-4-84)
      
   5. The height of a portable sign cannot exceed five feet (5’). (Ord. 07-31, 9-4-07)
10. Except for low silhouette business signs, no free-standing sign shall be established closer to the street than one-half (1/2) the setback required under the appropriate zoning classification. No portion of any business sign may be placed on or extended over the right of way line of any street or highway, except for one foot (1’) of flush signs where existing buildings have no front or side yards. One (1) low silhouette sign per business may be located within the required landscaped yard, provided it is not closer to the proposed right of way line than onehalf (1/2) the appropriate landscaped yard requirement and provided it complies with the obstructions to visibility requirements of Section 10-4-3(l). A low silhouette sign shall not exceed four and one-half feet (4 1/2’) in height. (amd. Ord. 00-04, 5-15-00)
11. All signs shall be maintained in good and safe structural condition. The painted portions of signs shall be periodically repainted and kept in good condition. Illuminated signs shall be kept in proper working order.
12. The general area in the vicinity of any sign on undeveloped property must be kept free and clear of sign materials, weeds, debris, trash, and other refuse.
13. Advertising signs shall not be established at any location having principal frontage on any street within three hundred feet (300’) of any property which is used for public park, public school, church, city hall, or public museum having principal frontage on the same street or within three hundred feet (300’) of any residential zone abutting the business or industrial zone when such sign face would face into the residential zone.
14. No outdoor advertising sign or part thereof shall be located on any property without the consent of the owner, holder, lessee, agent, or trustee.
15. Removal of Signs: The sign face shall be removed and replaced with a blank face on any sign which for sixty (60) consecutive days has directed attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution or business which is no longer in operation or existence. All structural supports, braces poles and framework shall be removed from any sign which without regard to the blank face has for five (5) years directed attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution or business which is no longer in operation or in existence. The owner of the premises on which the sign is situated and any person with a present possessory interest in said premises shall be jointly and separately responsible for compliance with all provisions of this section. All signs shall be maintained free from cracks; broken or missing panels; broken or missing supports, braces, poles or framework; and in good and ordinary operating condition at all times. (amd. Ord. 01-24, 10-5-01; amd. Ord. 17-05, 6-5-17; amd. Ord. 17-28, 12-4-17)
16. Except where otherwise specifically stated herein, any sign in existence on the effective date of this Title which does not comply with the provisions of this Title may continue in existence as a matter of right and may be maintained and repaired pursuant to the provisions of Title 10, Chapter 4, Section 2(A) of this Code.
17. An on premises sign erected by a business, which may include the name or logo of an establishment, directing the public or providing information, but not containing advertising, are allowable subject to the following conditions.
    1. No setback is required.
    2. They shall not exceed a height of four feet (4’).
    3. Six (6) square feet per sign is allowed. The square footage is not to be included in computing the total general allowable sign area for the property. (Ord. 99-36, 11-15-99)
    4. No permit is required for such signs.
       
18. Inflatable Signs are allowed for a period of one (1) week per thirty (30) day period. (Ord. 99-36, 11-15-99)
    
19. 
    
    
    
    
    
    A motor vehicle or trailer shall not be parked or maintained on any property if the vehicle or trailer is being used primarily as a stationary sign. A vehicle or trailer shall be deemed to be used primarily as a stationary sign if it is not used in the ordinary course of transportation and is left in substantially the same location for more than seventy-two (72) consecutive hours with the principal purpose of displaying a commercial advertisement visible from a public street or adjacent property. This section shall not apply to (1) Vehicles actively used in the daily operations of a business lawfully conducted on the same property, (2) Vehicles temporarily parked while making a delivery or service call; or (3) Vehicles or trailers bearing only noncommercial messages. For purposes of this section, “commercial advertisement” means any message that proposes a commercial transaction.
    
20. Free standing signs up to a maximum height of 75 feet are expressly allowed in the territory shown on the following map. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/municipalcodeonline.com-new/morton/ADC/files/ordinance/1630004132_Ordinance 22-05 - Map of Interstate Corridor.pdf

The following sign regulations shall pertain to all residential districts:

1. Residential Signs Within Residential Districts:
   1. Single-Family Or Two (2)-Family Dwellings: For each dwelling, nameplates and identification signs indicating the name and address of the occupant are permitted, providing the sign area does not exceed two (2) square feet. On a corner lot, nameplates or identification signs shall be permitted for each dwelling on each street side.
   2. Multi-Family Dwellings: For each residential building, one (1) identification sign indicating only the name and address of the building and the name of the management is permitted, providing the sign area does not exceed sixteen (16) square feet. Such signs shall not be closer than eight feet (8’) to any other zoning lot. On a corner lot, identification signs shall be permitted on each street side.
      
   3. Project Identification: A residential project having a number of buildings shall be permitted one (1) additional sign with the name of the project only on each street. The sign area shall be no greater than thirty two (32) square feet. Such signs may not be closer than sixteen feet (16’) to any other zoning lot.
   4. Height: No attached sign shall exceed one (1) story in height or fourteen feet (14’) above the curb level, whichever is lower. No free-standing sign shall exceed seven feet (7’) in height.
2. Nonresidential Signs Within Residential Districts:
   1. Lots and buildings in residential areas not being used for residential purposes are subject to the following restrictions: One (1) identification sign with sign area not to exceed sixty (60) square feet is permitted. No one (1) face shall be greater than thirty (30) square feet. Such signs may not be closer than eight feet (8’) to any other zoning lot. On a corner lot, identification signs shall be permitted on each street side.
   2. Illuminated signs in all R-1 and R-2 residential districts are prohibited except for church bulletins and educational institutions. Illuminated time and temperature or automated language signs are prohibited in all residential districts. (amd. Ord. 99-36, 11-15-99)
   3. Nonconforming business uses may have exterior signs with sign area not to exceed twenty four (24) square feet. (Ord. 83-16, 9-6-83)
   4. (Rep. by Ord. 84-3, 6-18-84)
   5. Parking Areas: Signs designating parking area entrances or exits are limited to one (1) sign for each such entrance or exit, with sign area not exceeding two (2) square feet each. One (1) sign shall be permitted per parking area designating the conditions of use or identity of such parking area and limited to a sign area of nine (9) square feet.
   6. Agricultural Products: Temporary signs advertising the sale of agricultural products grown or produced on the property with sign area not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet are permitted.
   7. Height: No attached sign shall exceed one (1) story in height or fourteen feet (14’) above the curb level, whichever is lower. No free-standing sign shall exceed seven feet (7’) in height.
   8. Commercial signs relating to real estate sales are subject to the following restrictions:
      1. There shall be no more than one (1) sign per zoning lot, except that on a corner lot, one (1) sign shall be permitted for each street side. No sign may exceed four and one-half feet (4 1/2') in height nor be placed closer than eight feet (8') to any other zoning lot. Sign area shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet. Such signs meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall not require a permit.
      2. An open house sign relating to real estate sales/lease shall not be more than nine (9) square feet in area per side may be placed for directional signs from Friday until the following Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in a public way with permission of the owner of the property abutting the right of way. Such signs meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall not require a permit.
      3. Signs advertising the rental, sale, or lease of the property on which the sign is located may be placed on the subject lot when the property is offered for rental, sale, or lease and shall be removed from the subject lot within not more than fifteen (15) days following the sale, lease, or rental of the subject property. Such signs shall not require a permit.
      4. Barker signs, provided that they do not exceed a size of eighteen (18) square feet and are not used for a period of time exceeding four (4) consecutive days, shall not require a permit. They shall not be used in such a manner as to impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or constitute a safety hazard.
         
3. Advertising signs are not permitted within Residential Districts: advertising copy or structures are prohibited in any residential district.
4. One (1) commercial construction sign not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet is permitted for a time period no longer than necessary to complete the activity to which it refers. If the sign refers to more than one (1) activity, then the activity completed shall apply with respect to the time the sign may exist.
5. Flagpoles within Residential Districts are subject to the following regulations:
   1. No flagpole shall exceed a height of twenty-five feet (25').
   2. Flagpoles may only be erected in the front or rear yard.
   3. No flagpole shall be erected within the front or rear of a utility easement.
   4. The minimum setback from any public right of way, street, or sidewalk of any flagpole shall be equal to or greater than the height of the flagpole.
   5. No variance shall be granted for flagpoles.
   6. Flags displayed on a lawfully erected flagpole in accordance with this Section shall not be regulated as signs. However, banners, pennants, or other pieces of fabric or material, whether or not they contain words, logos, or designs, that are displayed in a manner intended to function as an advertising device shall be regulated as signs under this Chapter and not as flags. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to regulate the message or content of any flag. Regulations shall apply only to the size, number, height, and placement of flagpoles, and to whether the display is functioning as a flag or as a sign.

The following sign regulations shall pertain to business districts:

1. Sign Uses Permitted In Residential Districts Permitted In Business Districts: The regulations covering permitted signs within residential districts shall also apply in business districts. No Advertising Signs are permitted in B-1 districts except as follows:
   
   1. They are allowable on a property which is adjacent to the property for which the advertising sign pertains to, provided the property which the advertising sign is placed on has frontage on a public street, and further provided that there is an easement for ingress and egress over the property fronting the street to the adjacent property. This exception applies only in the case where the property for which the advertising sign pertains to, does not have any street frontage.
   2. The allowable sign area for all free standing signs shall not be increased as a result of the allowance of an advertising sign. (Ord. 04-42, 12-6-04)
2. Business Signs In B-1 Districts: In B-1 Districts, business signs are permitted subject to the following conditions:
   1. Area Of Attached And Free-Standing Business Signs: The gross area in square feet of all signs attached to the wall of a building shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the wall area to which they are attached or of which they are a part. The gross area of all free-standing signs shall not exceed one (1) square foot of area per each lineal foot of frontage on the zoning lot.
   2. Height: No sign shall exceed twenty feet (20’) in height and shall in no case extend above the roof line. However, free standing signs up to a maximum height of 75 feet are expressly allowed in the territory shown on the map in Section 10-9-4(U).
   3. Integrated Retail And Office Buildings Or Complexes: For integrated retail and office building complexes with more than one (1) building in single ownership or under unified control, one (1) additional free-standing business sign other than those provided for in the B-1 District above shall be permitted subject to the following:
      1. Content: Such signs shall indicate only the name and location of such center and the name and type of business of each occupant of the center.
      2. Area: The gross area of the additional sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot per each lineal foot of frontage and in no case more than one hundred fifty (150) square feet.
      3. Height: Such additional free-standing sign shall not exceed twenty feet (20’) in height above the curb level.
3. Business Signs In B-2 And B-3 Districts: In B-2 and B-3 Districts, business signs are permitted subject to the following conditions:
   1. Sign Area For Attached Business Signs: The gross area in square feet of all attached signs shall not exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the wall area to which they are attached or of which they are a part.
   2. Sign Area For Free-Standing Business Signs: The gross area in square feet of all free-standing business signs shall not exceed one (1) square foot per each lineal foot of frontage of the zoning lot.
   3. Height: No attached business sign shall extend above the roof line. No free-standing business sign shall exceed thirty feet (30’) in height above the curb line. . However, free standing signs up to a maximum height of 75 feet are expressly allowed in the territory shown on the map in Section 10-9-4(U). (amd. Ord. 15-03, 6-1-15)
      
   4. Integrated Retail And Office Buildings Or Complexes: For integrated retail and office buildings or complexes with more than one (1) building in single ownership or under unified control, one (1) additional free-standing business sign, other than those provided for in B-2 and B-3 Districts above, shall be permitted subject to the following:
      1. Content: Such signs shall advertise only the name and location of such center and the name and type of business of each occupant of the center.
      2. Area: The gross area of all signs shall not exceed one (1) square foot per lineal foot of frontage and in no case more than three hundred (300) square feet.
      3. Height: Such additional free-standing sign shall not exceed thirty feet (30’) in height above the curb level.
4. Advertising Signs In B-2 And B-3 Districts: Advertising signs in B-2 and B-3 districts are prohibited. (Ord. 99-21, 9-7-99)
5. Signs Advertising the Sale, Lease, or Rental of Real Estate Within Business Districts: There shall be no more than one (1) sign per zoning lot, except that on a corner lot, one (1) sign shall be permitted on each street side. The sign area shall not exceed sixty four (64) square feet nor shall the sign exceed seven feet (7’) in height. Such signs shall be removed from the subject lot within not more than fifteen (15) days following the sale, lease, or rental of the subject property. Such signs do not require a permit. Barker signs, provided they do not exceed a size of eighteen (18) square feet and are not used for a period of time exceeding four (4) consecutive days, shall not require a permit. Barker signs shall not be used in such a manner as to impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or constitute a safety hazard.
6. One (1) construction sign not exceeding thirty two (32) square feet is permitted for a time period no longer than necessary to complete the activity to which it refers. If the sign refers to more than one (1) activity, then the activity completed last shall apply with respect to the time the sign may exist. Permits are not required for signs meeting the requirements of this paragraph.
7. Flagpoles within Business Districts are subject to the following regulations:
   1. No flagpole shall exceed a height of thirty-five feet (35').
   2. Flagpoles may only be erected in the front or rear yard.
   3. No flagpole shall be erected within the front or rear of a utility easement.
   4. The minimum setback from any public right of way, street, or sidewalk of any flagpole shall be equal to or greater than the height of the flagpole.
   5. No variance shall be granted for flagpoles.
   6. Flags displayed on a lawfully erected flagpole in accordance with this Section shall not be regulated as signs. However, banners, pennants, or other pieces of fabric or material, whether or not they contain words, logos, or designs, that are displayed in a manner intended to function as an advertising device shall be regulated as signs under this Chapter and not as flags. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to regulate the message or content of any flag. Regulations shall apply only to the size, number, height, and placement of flagpoles, and to whether the display is functioning as a flag or as a sign.

The following sign regulations shall pertain to business and advertising signs within industrial districts:

1. Business signs in I-1 and I-2 Districts are permitted subject to the following conditions:
   1. Sign Area For Attached Business Signs: The gross area in square feet of all attached business signs shall not exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the wall area to which they are attached or of which they are a part.
   2. Sign Area For Free-Standing Business Signs: The gross area in square feet for a free-standing business sign shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet per sign face.
   3. Height: No attached business sign shall extend above the roof line. No free-standing business sign shall project higher than thirty five feet (35’) above the curb level.
2. Advertising signs in the I-1 and I-2 Industrial Districts are permitted subject to the following conditions. (Ord. 99-21, 9-7-99)
   1. The maximum area for any one (1) sign facing shall be one hundred fifty (150) square feet, inclusive of any border and trim, but excluding the base or apron, supports, and other structural members. The maximum area permitted for advertising signs attached to a wall is limited to twenty five percent (25%) of the surface of the walls which they are attached or of which they are a part.
   2. Height: No advertising sign may exceed thirty-five feet (35’) in height. However, free standing signs up to a maximum height of 75 feet are expressly allowed in the territory shown on the map in Section 10-9-4(U).
   3. No advertising sign may be attached to the roof of a structure.
      
   4. Spacing:
      1. On all streets and highways within the jurisdiction of this Title, no advertising sign may be established within one thousand three hundred twenty feet (1320’) of any other advertising sign, measured on the same side of the street.
      2. The minimum distance between structures shall be measured along the nearest edge of the pavement between points directly opposite the center of the signs along each side of the highway and shall apply only to structures located on the same side of the street or highway.
3. Signs Advertising the Sale, Lease, or Rental of Real Estate Within I-1 and I-2 Districts: There shall be no more than one (1) sign per zoning lot, except that on a corner lot, one (1) sign shall be permitted on each street side. The sign area shall not exceed sixty four (64) square feet nor shall the sign exceed seven feet (7’) in height. Such signs shall be removed from the subject lot within not more than fifteen (15) days following the sale, lease, or rental of the subject property. Such signs do not require a permit. Barker signs, provided they do not exceed a size of eighteen (18) square feet and are not used for a period of time exceeding four (4) consecutive days, shall not require a permit. Barker signs shall not be used in such a manner as to impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or constitute a safety hazard.
4. One (1) construction sign not exceeding thirty two (32) square feet is permitted for a time period no longer than necessary to complete the activity to which it refers. If the sign refers to more than one (1) activity, then the activity completed last shall apply with respect to the time the sign may exist. Such signs meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall not require a permit.
5. Flagpoles within industrial districts shall be subject to the following regulations:
   1. No flagpole shall exceed a height of thirty-five feet (35').
   2. Flagpoles may only be erected in the front or rear yard.
   3. No flagpole shall be erected within the front or rear of a utility easement.
   4. The minimum setback from any public right of way, street, or sidewalk of any flagpole shall be equal to or greater than the height of the flagpole.
   5. No variance shall be granted for any flagpole.
   6. Flags displayed on a lawfully erected flagpole in accordance with this Section shall not be regulated as signs. However, banners, pennants, or other pieces of fabric or material, whether or not they contain words, logos, or designs, that are displayed in a manner intended to function as an advertising device shall be regulated as signs under this Chapter and not as flags. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to regulate the message or content of any flag. Regulations shall apply only to the size, number, height, and placement of flagpoles, and to whether the display is functioning as a flag or as a sign.

1. Definitions: Whenever the following words or terms are used in this section, they shall have the meanings herein subscribed to them unless the content makes such meaning repugnant thereto:
   
   MURAL: The word “mural” shall mean a painting or graphic art or combination thereof applied to an exterior wall or applied to a substrate which is attached to an exterior wall, which is not used or intended to be used as an advertising device for any goods produced or sold, services rendered, or business conducted, and does not contain any brand name, product name, or abbreviation of the name of any product, company, profession or business, any logo, trademark, trade name or other commercial message, or any political or religious message or endorsement prohibited by the First Amendment.
   
   GRAFFITI: The word “graffiti” shall mean unauthorized inscribing, spraying of paint, or making symbols using chalk, dye, ink, paint, spray paint or similar materials on public or private places, structures, or other surfaces.
   
   PUBLIC BODY: The words “public body” shall mean any body politic and corporate, including but not limited to counties, townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school districts, and all other municipal corporations.
2. Permitted Murals: Public bodies shall be permitted to install and display murals which meet all of the requirements of this section. No murals shall be installed, displayed or owned by any individuals or entities other than pubic bodies.
3. Regulations on Permitted Murals: No mural shall be permitted except in compliance with the following requirements:
   1. Murals may be installed in the B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts. Murals shall not be permitted in the R-S, R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4 zoning districts. Murals may not in any zoning district be applied or installed upon a building which is used exclusively for residential purposes.
      
   2. Murals shall not be installed or displayed upon the exterior façade of any building except a building owned by a public body or a building owned by a private party but for which the public body has obtained a license agreement, lease, or other similar instrument which grants the public body the right to use the portion of the building upon which the mural is to be installed and displayed by the public body.
   3. Murals shall only be permitted on the side or rear walls of buildings. In the event, however, a building has frontage along more than one public street, murals may be installed on a façade of the building which fronts a public street so long as the façade does not contain the primary means of ingress and egress for the building, as determined by the Village of Morton.
   4. The lighting of murals shall be designed and installed in a method and manner which shall minimize the effects of the mural lighting on neighboring properties.
   5. Graffiti shall not be considered a mural and shall not be permitted.
   6. Murals shall not contain any material characterized as “obscene” as defined by Section 6-2-18 of the Village Code.
   7. No part of the mural shall extend above the roof line.
   8. A mural shall not extend more than 6 inches from the plane of the wall upon which it is installed or to be affixed.
4. Content Selection: Public bodies who desire to install and display a mural pursuant to this Ordinance shall be responsible for taking all necessary steps, and making all necessary arrangements to commission, purchase, license or own the artistic content of the mural. Each public body which installs and displays a mural pursuant to this ordinance shall be responsible for the content of the art subject to the limitations contained in this section. Multiple public bodies may cooperate on a single mural project.
5. Administrative Review Process: Art murals shall not be installed without first obtaining a permit from the Village of Morton Director of Planning and Zoning. If an application is denied by the Village of Morton Director of Planning and Zoning the applicant may appeal such denial to the Village Board. All applicants must submit the following information for any mural permit to be considered:
   1. Building elevation drawn to scale, and one 8.5" x 11" reduction suitable for photo copying, that identifies:
      1. The façade on which the mural is proposed;
      2. The location of existing and proposed murals;
      3. The mural dimensions;
      4. The height of the mural above grade; and
      5. The location and angle of direction for all lights for the mural.
   2. Written description of the type of mural (painted, mosaic, etc.) and details showing how the mural is affixed to the wall surface.
   3. If a mural is to be constructed on a building other than one owned by the public body which is requesting the permit, the public body shall produce with the application for a mural permit such documents as may be necessary to evidence the license, lease, or other agreement in place between the public body and the private property owner which permits the public body to install a mural on the proposed façade.
   4. No fee is required for approval of a mural.
      
   5. A mural permit shall only be granted to public bodies. Private parties shall not be eligible to receive a mural permit.
6. Expiration, Maintenance, and Alterations:
   1. Expiration: If the mural is not completed within six months of issuance of a mural permit, the permit is void, and no further work on the mural may be done at the premises until a new permit has been secured.
   2. Maintenance: Building owners are responsible for ensuring that a permitted mural is maintained in good condition and is repaired in the case of vandalism or accidental destruction. Muralists and building owners are encouraged to consider protective clear top coatings, cleanable surfaces, and/or other measures that will discourage vandalism or facilitate easier and cheaper repair of the mural if needed.
   3. Alterations to the mural area may be allowed but must be approved by obtaining new permit through the process described in Section 10-9-8(D).
   4. Grandfather Clause: Any displays constituting murals under this Section currently in existence at the time of approval of this ordinance shall be deemed to be allowed under this ordinance. Any material alterations, other than routine maintenance, to such a mural would be subject to the provisions herein. (Ord. 19-03, 6-4-18)
      

The provisions of the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 as now in force or as may be amended from time to time shall apply where applicable notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Chapter.

If any section, subsection, subparagraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Chapter or any part thereof, or application thereof to any person, firm, corporation, public agency, or circumstance, is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Chapter or any part thereof. It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent of the Board of Trustees that this Chapter would have been adopted had such unconstitutional or invalid provision, clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part thereof not then been included.

The provisions of Title 10, Chapter 10, Section 5 of the Morton Municipal Code shall apply to any violations of this Chapter. (Ord. 83-16, 9-6-83)