North Adams City Zoning Code
SECTION 7
SIGN REGULATIONS.
[Ord. of 1-12-2016]
7.1.
Signs excluded from regulation: The following signs, as defined in Section 13, are exempt from the provisions of this article:
7.1.1.
Signs not exceeding two square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and that are not of a commercial nature, such as:
7.1.2.
Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a government body, including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional or regulatory signs.
7.1.3.
Flags, pennants or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization.
7.1.4.
Signs not exceeding four square feet in area directing and guiding traffic on private property and that bear no advertising matter.
7.1.5.
Church bulletin boards, church identification signs and church directional signs that do not exceed 24 square feet in area.
7.1.6.
Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently registered motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs.
7.1.7.
A sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, erected by any fraternal, civic, religious or service organization or club announcing its presence in the City of North Adams and the time and place of its regular meeting or special event.
7.1.8.
Signs in lawful existence as of the effective date of this section.
7.2.
General requirements:
7.2.1.
No sign shall be placed or worded, designed, colored or illuminated so as to obscure or distract from signs regulating traffic.
7.2.2.
No sign shall be located so as to obstruct vision at the corners of intersected streets.
7.2.3.
Signs are not to be illuminated or placed in such a manner as to create a hazard to pedestrians or to motor vehicle traffic. No lights shall be allowed which can blind or otherwise interfere with the safe operation of any other vehicles.
7.2.4.
Wherever site plan approval is required (see Section 12.4 of this ordinance), it will include review and approval of sign location, size and illumination.
7.2.5.
No off-site sign or billboard shall be erected in a residential zone. An off-site sign or billboard may be erected in other zones only by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
7.2.6.
No sign shall contain any moving, flashing or animated lights, or lights of varying intensity, or visible moving or movable parts. This provision shall not prohibit marquees advertising motion pictures or theatrical performances.
7.2.7.
No sign shall be erected, displayed or maintained on any rock, tree or utility pole.
7.2.8.
All signs, together with their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in safe condition. The owner of the premises on which a sign is erected shall be responsible for keeping such sign and premises around it safe, neat and clean condition. The Building Inspector may order the removal of any signs that are not maintained or erected in accordance with the provisions of this section.
7.2.9.
Freestanding signs, as defined in Section 13, may not be more than 14 feet above the ground at the highest point of the sign. There must be a minimum elevation rise to the bottom of the signage of eight feet from street elevation. Such sign shall not be located closer than 15 feet to any street line.
7.2.10.
Upon termination of any business which has employed a sign, that sign shall be removed by the property owner within 90 days of the closure of the business. Two extensions of three months each may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Any subsequent business shall employ signs which conform to this section.
7.2.11.
No sign shall be erected or maintained with any lighting or control mechanism which causes radio or television interference.
7.2.12.
Roof signs may be authorized by a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals subject to the following conditions:
(1)
The need for a roof sign shall be clearly stated on the basis that the general configuration and location of the building requires such a sign to inform the general public of the business carried on within the building.
(2)
Any applicant for a roof sign must provide the Zoning Board of Appeals with pictures, sketches and/or drawings establishing the relative size and configuration of the sign in relation to the building.
(3)
The top of a roof sign shall not exceed 20% of the height of building over the top of the building and shall in no case exceed six feet. The length of the sign display surface area shall be limited to 1/2 of the horizontal dimension of the wall above which the sign is located with a minimum of 10 feet permitted.
(4)
Only one roof sign is permitted for any building, and its areas shall not exceed 25% of the maximum permitted sign area.
7.2.13.
Naked or unshaded incandescent or fluorescent electric light bulbs shall not be allowed by themselves or as part of any sign, except as part of holiday season decorations or community events or celebrations, or unless they are contained within the sign as internal illuminations.
7.3.
Signs permitted in all districts: The following signs may be placed upon any lot within the City of North Adams:
7.3.1.
One temporary nonilluminated sign, as defined in Section 13, not exceeding five square feet in area, advertising the sale or lease of the premises, or advertising renovation or repairs being performed by tradesmen.
7.3.2.
One nonilluminated marker not to exceed two square feet in area identifying an historic building.
7.3.3.
Accessory signs directing traffic to entrances or exits from the building or parking area, provided that:
(1)
No freestanding directional sign exceeds two square feet in area, or is placed higher than three feet above the ground;
(2)
No such sign is closer than 10 feet to a lot line;
(3)
The number of such signs is limited to the minimum needed to give clear directions;
(4)
The sign bears no advertising matter.
7.3.4.
Temporary signs not exceeding 16 square feet in area, erected by a fraternal, civic, religious or service organization or club. Such signs shall not be erected for a period of more than 30 days prior to the first day of the event and removed within seven days of the last date of the event, unless, by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, permission is given for such sign(s) to remain for a longer period of time.
7.3.5.
Signs located in windows; the total of all window signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area or 15% of the area of the window in which it is located, whichever is less.
7.3.6.
Temporary nonilluminated political signs not exceeding four square feet in area, displayed during the period of time between the deadline for the filing of nomination papers for the office being sought by the candidate and one week after the election date.
7.3.7.
Signs indicating an establishment is open or closed, including flags.
7.3.8.
Temporary signs, not exceeding six square feet in area announcing a sale, at a commercial establishment, provided that such sign is in place for less than 30 days.
7.4.
Signs related to commercial activities:
7.4.1.
Permitted by right. The following types of signs advertising commercial business and services may be placed upon a lot in the City of North Adams as follows:
(1)
Within a B-1, B-2, CBD, S-1, I-1, or AP-1 District the total area of all signs may be at least 16 square feet or two square feet per linear foot of frontage of the building, but not to exceed 200 square feet. The total area of all signs for a building fronting on two streets may be at least 32 square feet or two square feet per linear foot of frontage, not to exceed 200 square feet. In no case shall standing signs aggregate more than 25% of the maximum sign area permitted.
[Ord. of 10-22-2019]
(2)
Within all other districts, one primary sign not exceeding eight square feet in area and one secondary sign not exceeding three square feet.
(3)
Within a district allowing for a shopping center use, the total area of all signs may be at least 16 square feet per individual tenant or two square feet per linear foot of frontage of each individual tenant, but not to exceed 200 square feet per individual tenant.
7.4.2.
Permitted by special permit. The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a special permit for signs larger than those permitted by right in Section 7.4.1 above, or for signs announcing the name of a subdivision development, a multifamily housing development or a shopping center, if the Board finds that said signs meet the following design criteria:
(1)
The proposed signs will be considered with the character and use of the areas in which they are placed.
(2)
Every sign will have appropriate scale and proportion in its design and in its visual relationship to buildings and surroundings.
(3)
Every sign has been designed as an integral architectural element of the building and the site to which it principally relates.
(4)
The proposed colors, materials and illumination of every sign proposed is restrained and harmonious with the building and the site to which it principally relates.
(5)
The number of graphic elements on each sign has been held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's major message and is in proportion to the area of the sign face.
(6)
Each sign will not compete for attention.
7.4.3.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may grant a special permit equal in size to any existing permanent sign whose renewal is made a condition of the special permit.
7.4.4.
Any request for more than four signs per lot for a use other than a shopping center shall require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.