No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without conforming with the provisions of this section.

No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered unless a principal structure exists on the lot unless established done so by the City of Oak Creek on City-owned property.

Permitted sign types. Sign types marked as "P" in the table shall be permitted in the respective zoning district subject to all applicable regulations of this chapter.

Prohibited sign types. A blank space in the table indicates that sign type is not allowed in the respective zoning district.

Permanent and temporary signs requiring a permit. Sign types requiring a permit shall be permitted only after the issuance of a permanent or temporary sign permit as detailed in § 17.0803 of this chapter.

Sign area.

Height. No wall sign shall protrude above the highest roofline or the top of the parapet wall or mansard roof.

Projection. A wall sign shall not extend more than 12 inches from the wall of the building or structure to which it is attached and shall maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet.

Number of signs, single-tenant building.

Number of signs, multitenant building. Wall signs for multitenant buildings shall be approved as a Planned Sign Program as detailed in § 17.0609.

Sign copy. All sign copy featured on wall signs shall either be individually affixed letters, appear to be individually affixed letters, or be printed, etched, or otherwise incorporated directly on the sign's backing plate. Box signs shall be prohibited.

Other provisions.

Height.

Number of signs. A maximum of two single-tenant monument sign shall be permitted per lot and shall be displayed on different lot frontages.

Building address. The address of the building to which a single-tenant monument sign is associated shall be incorporated into the single-tenant monument sign. Sign area devoted to the address of the building shall not count towards the maximum single-tenant monument sign area permitted in § 17.0604(b)(1).

Location. Single-tenant monument signs shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines and rights-of-way, and outside of utility easements; shall not block points of ingress or egress; or be placed in any sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, vision clearance triangle, floodplain, or wetland.

Sign base. The base of single-tenant monument signs, including all structural components, shall not have a width less than the width of the sign face. The base of single-tenant monument signs shall be constructed from traditional, time and weather tested materials and techniques including masonry, stone, or similar high-quality materials in keeping with the materials and design of the principal building of the lot.

Landscape requirement. All single-tenant monument signs shall be required to plant and maintain a landscape area at the base of the sign. The minimum area of the landscape area shall be equal to the square footage of the sign area of the sign it serves.

Number of signs. A maximum of two multitenant monument sign shall be permitted per lot and shall be displayed on different lot frontages.

Building address. The address of the building to which a multitenant monument sign is associated shall be incorporated into the multitenant monument sign. Sign area devoted to the address of the building shall not count towards the maximum multitenant monument sign area permitted in § 17.0604(c)(1).

Location. Multitenant monument signs shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines and rights-of-way, and outside of utility easements; shall not block points of ingress or egress; or be placed in any sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, vision clearance triangle, floodplain, or wetland.

Sign base. The base of single-tenant monument signs, including all structural components, shall not have a width less than the width of the sign face. The base of single-tenant monument signs shall be constructed from traditional, time and weather tested materials and techniques including masonry, stone, or similar high-quality materials in keeping with the materials and design of the principal building of the lot.

Landscape requirement. All multitenant monument signs shall be required to plant and maintain a landscape area at the base of the sign. The minimum area of the landscape area shall be equal to the square footage of the sign area of the sign it serves.

Sign area. The maximum permitted sign area of awning or canopy signs shall be 30% of the face of the awning or canopy upon which the sign shall be printed or affixed. The area of the awning or canopy sign shall count towards the maximum amount of sign area permitted for wall signs.

Other provisions.

Public right-of-way encroachment. Projecting signs may encroach upon, extend, or project over a public right-of-way or easement. The property owner may be required to provide a release or hold harmless to the City prior to issuing permits for any such signs.

Number of signs. The number and placement of permitted on-site traffic directional signs shall be as necessary to assist in the safe movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on a property, as approved by the Community Development Director or their designee or the Plan Commission as a part of a planned sign program as detailed in § 17.0609.

Display period in nonresidential districts. The permitted display period of any temporary sign in nonresidential districts, with the exception of sidewalk signs and real estate post signs, shall be 14 continuous days. A maximum of three display periods shall be permitted per single-tenant building per calendar year. A maximum of one display period shall be permitted per tenant of a multi-tenant building per calendar year. The Community Development Director or their designee may grant a display period extension of up to 30 days. The Plan Commission may grant a display period extension in excess of 30 days.

Display period for real estate post signs. The permitted display period of a temporary real estate sign in any zoning district shall be 90 continuous days. A maximum of two display periods shall be permitted per property per calendar year. The Community Development Director or their designee may grant a display period extension of up to 30 additional days per permit. The Plan Commission may grant a display period extension in excess of 30 days.

Sign area.

Height. No wall-mounted banner sign shall protrude above the highest roofline or above the top of the parapet wall or mansard roof.

Number of signs. A maximum of one wall-mounted banner sign shall be permitted per lot frontage.

Location. Wall-mounted banner signs shall be affixed to a building.

Projection. Wall-mounted banner signs shall be affixed flat against the building to which they are mounted.

Other provisions.

Sign area. The maximum permitted sign area of real estate post signs shall be 32 square feet.

Height. The maximum permitted height of a real estate post sign shall be six feet.

Number of signs. A maximum of two real estate post signs shall be permitted per lot and shall be displayed on different lot frontages.

Location. Real estate post signs shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines, rights-of-way, and outside of utility easements; shall not block points of ingress or egress; or be placed in any sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, vision clearance triangle, floodplain, or wetland.

Other provisions.

Sign area. The maximum permitted sign area of sidewalk signs shall be 10 square feet.

Height. The maximum permitted height of a sidewalk sign shall be four feet.

Number of signs. A maximum of one sidewalk sign shall be permitted per lot frontage of a single-tenant building or unit of a multitenant building.

Location.

Duration of display. The display of sidewalk signs shall only be permitted during the operating hours of the use to which the sign is associated and shall be brought indoors during non-operating hours.

Sign area. The maximum allowed sign area of a window sign shall be 25% of the square footage of the window on which the sign shall be located.

Other provisions.

Location. Yard signs shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines and rights-of-way, and outside of utility easements; shall not block points of ingress or egress; or be placed in any sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, vision clearance triangle, floodplain, or wetland.

Other provisions.

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.

Signs shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or opening designated by the Fire Department; and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape unless authorized by the Fire Chief.

Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility, nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare or impair driver visibility upon public ways.

Signs may be illuminated but nonflashing.

Signs shall not be revolving or animated.

Signs in residential districts shall not be internally illuminated.

No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered in the FW Floodway District or in any area impacted by the floodfringe, floodplain, or by wetlands.

Off-premise signs are not permitted in any district.

Pole/pylon signs are not permitted in any district.

Roof signs are not permitted in any district.

No vehicles bearing permanently affixed signs shall be parked on public right-of-way, public property or private property in any commercial district for a period which exceeds three days. All vehicles displaying permanently affixed signs shall be currently licensed, operable, parked on the property of the business owning or leasing the vehicle, and in the parking area furthest from any street right-of-way, so as to minimize the effects of additional signage on the property, except for vehicles actively in transport, or in the specific act of receiving or delivering merchandise or rendering a service.

Outline lighting is not permitted in any district.

The following content is prohibited without reference to the viewpoint of the individual speaker:

The narrow classifications of content that are prohibited by this subsection are either not protected by the United States or Wisconsin Constitutions, or are offered limited protection that is outweighed by the substantial governmental interests in protecting the public safety and welfare. It is the intent of the Common Council that each subsection of this subsection be individually severable in the event that a court of competent jurisdiction were to hold one or more of them to be inconsistent with the United States or Wisconsin Constitutions.

The area of the sign devoted to the electronic message board shall not exceed 50% of the sign area of which it is a part or 50 square feet, whichever is more.

The area of the sign devoted to the electronic message board shall be part of, not in addition to, the maximum permitted sign area.

The electronic message format shall conform to the following requirements:

All electronic message boards shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and is programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions.

The illumination of an electronic message board shall not exceed the color temperature maximums established in § 17.0509.

Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant. Location of building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the planned sign program shall apply.

Name of person, firm, corporation, or association developing the planned sign program.

Written consent of the owner or lessee of the building, structure, or land to which the proposed planned sign program is applicable.

Scale drawing of all signs included in the planned sign program indicating the dimensions, the materials to be used, the type of illumination, if any, and the method of construction and attachment. Said drawings shall be drawn at a scale no smaller than 1/8 inch equals one foot and shall be prepared, signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer when required by the Building Commissioner or a designee.

A scale drawing indicating the location and position of all signs included in the planned sign program in relation to nearby buildings or structures. Said drawing shall be at a scale no smaller than one inch equals 50 feet.