No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a permit from the Zoning Administrator except those signs excepted in NCC 13.08.1020 and without being in conformity with the provisions of this article. The sign shall also meet all the structural requirements of the building code.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-100)

All signs are prohibited in all residential, conservancy and agricultural districts except the following:

1. Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment announcing without display or elaboration only the name and occupation of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet in height and ten feet in length.
2. Real estate signs not to exceed six square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
3. Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two square feet located on the premises.
4. Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed eight square feet in area located on the premises.
5. Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure.
6. Official signs such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information and notices.
7. Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the Plan Commission for a period not to exceed 30 days.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-101)

Signs are permitted in the C-1, C-2 and I-1 Commercial and Industrial Districts, subject to the following restrictions:

1. Signs prohibited in public ways. No sign shall be placed upon, over, or within any public way except for signs projecting from a business structure (wall) which is located on the front property line. Said projecting signs may not extend more than six feet from the building or be within two feet of the back of the curb, and shall be a minimum of eight feet above the sidewalk grade. Signs in conflict with these provisions shall be removed and permits revoked as provided in Wis. Stats. Ch. 86.04.
2. Lighting. No sign shall be illuminated by intermittent, rotating or flashing lights.
3. Termination of a business. At the termination of a business, commercial or industrial enterprise, all signs shall forthwith be removed from the public view. Responsibility for violation shall reside with the property owner, according to the latest official tax roll listings.
4. Wall signs. Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of building shall not extend more than six inches outside of a building's wall surface, shall not exceed 200 square feet in area for any one premises, and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean centerline street grade, nor extend above the parapet or top of walls.
5. Projecting signs. Projecting signs shall comply with Subsection (a) of this section and not exceed 40 square feet per side. Such signs shall not be located within three feet of any side yard and be a minimum of 15 feet above a driveway or alley.
6. Ground/pole signs. Ground or pole signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height above the mean centerline street grade and shall not be located within ten feet of a front property line (right-of-way) excepting where the minimum distance from grade to the bottom of the sign is ten feet or more; such signs may be within the ten-foot setback provided they do not overhang the right-of-way and provided the pole does not exceed 12 inches in diameter. (The area from three feet above grade to ten feet above grade shall be unobstructed and open to vision). Ground/pole signs shall not exceed 150 square feet per side. Only one ground/pole sign shall be permitted for each street frontage abutting a property. Such signs shall not be placed within the 25-foot vision triangle on corner lots.
7. Roof and window signs. Roof mounted signs shall not exceed ten feet in height, shall meet all yard and height requirements for the district in which they are located, and shall not exceed 200 square feet on all sides for any one premises. Window signs shall be placed only on the inside of commercial buildings and shall not exceed 25 percent of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed.
8. Representations. All signs shall advertise, promote, or represent only establishments, goods, or services located, sold or manufactured within 100 feet.
9. Combination signs. Combination of any of the above signs shall meet all the requirements for the individual sign.
10. Number of signs. No more than one business or industrial sign shall be permitted on the front facade of any business or industrial building, excluding window signs. Only one business or industrial sign shall be permitted on each side or rear wall of a business or industrial building.
11. Directional signs. Necessary directional ground signs, not exceeding four square feet in area, will be permitted. Permission to erect such signs must be obtained from the Common Council.
12. Lighting glare. Business and industrial signs may be internally lighted or illuminated by a hooded reflector; provided, however, that such lighting shall be arranged to prevent glare, and no sign shall have lighting of an intermittent or varying intensity. Animated signs, or signs having moving parts, or signs which may be mistaken for traffic signal devices, or which diminish the visibility or effectiveness of such traffic signal devices are prohibited.
13. Obstruction of openings. Any sign so erected, constructed or maintained as to obstruct or be attached to any fire escape window, door or opening used as means of ingress or egress, or for firefighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation is prohibited.
14. Street intersections. No sign or advertising device shall be erected or maintained at the intersection of streets in such a manner as to obstruct clear vision of the intersection.
15. Height. No sign shall be erected above the roof line of a building or more than 30 feet from the ground.
16. Billboards. Billboards, outdoor advertising signs and any business or industrial signs not located on the same property as the business or industry advertised, shall not be permitted in any district.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-102; Ord. No. 07-97-1, 7-21-1997)

Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices. No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or to 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 so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-103)

Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this article may be continued although the use, size, or location does not conform with the provisions of this article. However, it shall be deemed a nonconforming use or structure; and the provisions of Article VII of this chapter shall apply.

(Code 1991, § 13-1-104)