No sign permit is required for painting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign for which an approval has been granted under this chapter.

No sign permit is required for a change in name or business or for a change in the wording and/or graphics of an existing business of a preexisting sign for which an approval has been granted under this chapter so long as there is no change in the size, height, location, yard setbacks or illumination requirements of the approved sign.

All signs shall comply with the size, yard, design and construction standards and illumination requirements herein except as provided in § 250-39.

The Planning Board shall consider the relationship of each sign to the safety and convenience of the public. In considering a sign application, the Planning Board shall consider design criteria relating to sign location, size, proportions, scale, materials, texture, color, lettering and illumination in addition to the purposes and other criteria of this article.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following types of signs:

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following signs, provided each such sign meets the corresponding quantity, size, height, setback and placement specifications, illumination and time duration indicated:

Flashing signs, including any sign or device on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times when in use.

Exterior advertising signs and billboards (in regard to a billboard sign, except in the limited case where an off-premises multiple business directory sign is permitted in § 250-41.1D of this chapter).

Signs representing or depicting to any degree official traffic signs or signals.

Signs which emit noise, sounds or smoke.

Animated signs, whether by mechanical or electrical processes, including signs with balloons, beacons or search lights, strings of incandescent lights, festoons, flags, banners, streamers, spinners or other paraphernalia attached to or associated with such signs.

Signs of a prurient nature or advertising businesses, commodities or services of a prurient nature or any unlawful business or undertaking.

Illuminated signs outlining any part of a building, such as a gable, roof, sidewall or corner. A sign on which the illuminating source is visible to the public way or any property line.

Signs made of cardboard, paper or similar impermanent material, except as may be permitted pursuant to § 250-39.

Signs mounted on parked vehicles or trailers or other similar mobile advertising media where parked or located primarily to be visible from the street or adjacent properties.

Signs within a street right-of-way (except that which may be permitted per § 250-40.1D of this chapter) or signs which project over a street.

Signs obstructing traffic visibility. No freestanding sign shall be erected or maintained in the shaded area shown in Sketch A found in § 250-21C, as such shaded area relates to the intersection of two streets or to the intersection of a driveway with a street.

Signs with fluorescent or reflective paint or materials.

For any nonresidential establishment, one indirectly illuminated wall sign may be located on the building facade or hang within one foot of a facade from an overhang, with a maximum vertical dimension of two feet and a maximum horizontal dimension not to exceed 30% of the building facade length associated with each use or establishment or 15 feet, whichever is less. For a one-story building with a pitched roof, a roof sign may be permitted in lieu of an otherwise permitted wall sign (but not both), subject to the standards of wall signs as set forth in this chapter.

For any nonresidential establishment (site, use): one freestanding indirectly illuminated identification or directory sign not over eight square feet in area. The height of any freestanding sign shall not exceed six feet.

For any nonresidential establishment on a corner lot, at the discretion of the Planning Board, an additional sign, either a freestanding or wall sign, not to exceed four square feet in area, may be allowed. If freestanding, the subject lot shall include an access driveway on each street and the distance between the center line of such driveways at the street line shall be no less than 200 linear feet apart. In no event may one establishment have more than two freestanding signs. All other conditions for nonresidential signs apply.

Off-premises multiple business directory signs. One freestanding indirectly illuminated identification multiple business directory sign not over 10 square feet in area may be allowed within a Town street right-of-way at a gateway to each of the hamlets in the Town, subject to obtaining a license from the Town Board in addition to sign permit approvals from the Planning Board and Building Inspector.

Directional signs. No directional sign shall be more than three square feet in area. In locations with more than one directional sign, all such signs shall be affixed to a common standard and be graphically coordinated and arranged so as to present a neat and orderly appearance. Any such sign standard shall be designed to accommodate the later addition of further directional signs. Multiple directional signs shall be combined into one to avoid clutter to the maximum extent feasible.

No sign permit will be issued except in accordance with a sign permit approval or a site development plan approval. An application for a sign permit shall be made to the Planning Board, on forms prescribed by it, and shall contain the information specified in the rules and regulations adopted by the Planning Board. All applications shall be accompanied by the required fee in accordance with the Standard Schedule of Fees of the Town of North Salem.[1]

If there is no standing sign permit approval or standing site development plan approval, the applicant must submit an application to the Planning Board for either site development plan approval or sign permit approval, whichever is applicable. In the case of a sign which is not submitted as part of a site development plan, a sign plan for such sign shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Board. Upon the granting of a site development plan or a sign permit approval, a copy of the approved permit shall be transmitted to the Building Inspector.

The Building Inspector, upon receipt of a resolution of approval from the Planning Board for a sign permit, shall issue an administrative sign permit and a display sticker, which display sticker shall be prominently affixed to each sign and visible from the street on which the sign abuts.

Signs must be clearly accessory to the use or uses upon the same lot, and such signs and lighting must be shown to be essential to the conduct of the principal use upon the lot.

The size and content of the sign shall be the minimum essential for legibility and for the provision of information to patrons seeking the particular use described on such sign. Signs shall be a subordinate part of the site and adjacent streetscape.

The sign content shall clearly provide only the information necessary to identify the use upon the lot.

The sign shall not be confused with any traffic signal or other safety device, nor be composed of elements depicting in exaggerated size or grotesque style the use upon the lot. No sign shall be so arranged that it interferes with traffic through glare, lighting arrangement, or through blocking of reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks, or driveways.

The Planning Board may require that landscaping be used at the base of a freestanding sign if such landscaping will make the sign more compatible with the surrounding area.

Sign size measurement.

Sign placement, location.

Materials, architectural compatibility, legibility.

Illumination.

Street address identification. The property street number shall be included in all permitted freestanding signs. The street number shall be located at the top of the sign and shall be integrated into the overall design and sign area. The height of the street number lettering shall be a minimum of four inches. A maximum of 1/2 square foot of sign area devoted to the street address shall not count toward the maximum permitted sign area otherwise allowed.

Applicability.

Removal of certain signs. Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer identifies a use on the subject premises or is not being maintained shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found, within 10 days after written notification from the Building Inspector, and, upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign. Failure to comply with the notification of the Building Inspector shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

Dangerous signs. Should a sign be or become insecure or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe in the opinion of the Building Inspector, the owner thereof or person maintaining the same shall, upon receipt of written notice from the Building Inspector and, in any case, within five days thereafter, secure the same in a manner to be approved by the Building Inspector. If such order is not complied with, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such dangerous sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure or premises on which such sign is located. When any sign is in such dangerous condition as to be immediately dangerous to the safety of the public, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to take such action as in his opinion shall be necessary to protect the public or property.

Signs lacking a permit from the proper authority, which have been placed within any highway or street right-of-way, may be confiscated by the Town and may result in the issuance of a citation.

Nonconforming signs.

Maintenance, repair and replacement, removal.

Sign removal. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to remove or cause to be removed any sign which no longer identifies or ceases to identify an existing business conducted or product sold on the premises within two months from the time the related use/premises are vacated.