Ogdensburg City Zoning Code
§ 30-513
SIGNS.
A.
General Provisions.
1.
No signs shall be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises unless specifically permitted herein.
2.
No billboards hall be erected or replaced.
3.
No sign having a message which in and of itself is lewd and licentious or advocates an act in violation of any municipal, County, State of Federal law is permitted.
4.
No signs shall be erected, altered or replaced which are not in accordance with the standards established in this chapter.
5.
No sign except traffic signs and those of a duly constituted governmental body shall be erected with the street right-of-way, nor shall any sign be placed on any property without the consent of the property owner.
6.
No permit shall be issued to erect an exterior sign on any property containing a nonconforming sign or signs, until such time as the nonconforming sign or signs have been removed.
7.
No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, or other signs or windows of the building on which they are located.
8.
No signs shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles, but shall be free-standing or attached to buildings in an approved manner.
9.
No sign shall be erected so as to project over the property line or emit any sound, odor or other nuisance beyond the property line or above 20 feet.
The erection of any sign shall require a sign permit from the Borough Zoning Officer unless specifically exempted herein or unless the sign has been approved by the Planning Board as part of an approved site plan or subdivision application for development. Additionally, all signs shall require a construction permit from the Construction Official unless specifically exempted herein.
The applicant shall file for the Sign Permit by paying a fee of $5 to the Zoning Officer, on behalf of the Borough, and by providing the Zoning Officer with the necessary information from which to determine whether the subject sign meets the terms of this chapter. Within 15 days after the filing for the permit, the Zoning Officer shall either issue or deny the permit. If denied, the Zoning Officer shall indicate in writing the reason(s) for such denial; provided, however, that should the Zoning Officer have particular questions regarding any particular application, the application may be referred by the Zoning Officer to the Planning Board for review and comment prior to action by the Zoning Officer. Once the Zoning Permit has been issued, the Construction Official may issue a construction permit as may be necessary, after the required review and approval.
B.
Animated, Flashing and Illusionary Signs.
Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.
C.
Height.
No free-standing or attached sign shall be higher than 20 feet except that no sign shall exceed any lesser height if particularly specified.
D.
Free-Standing Signs.
Free-standing signs shall be supported by one or more columns or uprights which are firmly imbedded in the ground. Exposed guy wires, chains or other connections shall not be a support of a free-standing sign.
E.
Illuminated Signs.
Illuminated signs shall be arranged to reflect the light and glare away from adjoining streets and adjacent residential districts. No sign with red, green, blue or amber illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location. Illuminated signs shall not be erected in residential districts.
F.
Information and Direction Signs.
Street number designations, household name plates, postal boxes, "private property," "no hunting," on-site directional and parking signs and warning signs are permitted in all zoning districts but are not considered in calculating sign area. No such sign(s) shall exceed six square feet in area, and such sign(s) shall not require either a sign permit or a construction permit.
G.
Maintenance.
Signs and, in the case of permitted free-standing signs, the mounting area on the ground level beneath the sign, must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated or unsightly.
H.
Political Signs.
Political signs temporarily giving notice of political campaigns shall be located on private property and shall be set back at least 10 feet from all side property lines and shall not exceed 32 square feet in area in nonresidential zones. Signs shall be permitted within 45 days prior to any municipal, County, State or national election and shall be removed within five days after the election. All such signs do not need either a sign permit or a construction permit.
I.
Real Estate Signs.
Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or portion thereof shall be located on private property and, if not attached to the building, shall be set back from all street lines at least five feet. Signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. All such signs shall be removed at the expense of the advertiser within 30 days after the termination or completion of the matter of business being advertised. "Sold" signs shall be permitted between the signing of the contract of sale and the date of the legal closing. All real estate signs do not require either a sign permit or a construction permit.
J.
Sign Area.
The area of a sign shall be measured around the edges of a framed or enclosed sign or by the area utilized by isolated words and/or symbols, including the background whether open or enclosed, but said area shall not include any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.
K.
Signs With Two Exposures.
Such signs shall be measured for area by using the surface of one side of the sign only. Both sides may be used.
L.
Wall Fascia or Attached Signs.
Wall fascia or attached signs shall be firmly attached to the exterior wall of a building and shall not project more than 15 inches from the building.
M.
Window Signs.
Interior window signs shall not be considered in computing the allowable signs provided, however, that such interior signs shall not exceed 25% of the total window area. Permitted window signs shall not require a sign permit or a construction permit.
N.
Flag of United States of America.
The flag of the United States of America may be displayed in all zones and does not need either a sign permit or a construction permit, except that all permanently installed poles used to display the flag shall require a construction permit, which permits shall not require a fee.
O.
Non-Profit Organization Event Signs.
Temporary signs announcing an event sponsored by a non-profit organization shall not require a construction permit. Said signs may be displayed for a period not to exceed two weeks, after which it shall be the responsibility of the nonprofit organization to promptly remove each of said signs.
P.
Prohibited Signs.
Unless specifically permitted in this chapter, all other signs, whether of a permanent or temporary nature, shall be prohibited.
Q.
Street Signs.
Street signs shall be of the type, design and standard approved by the Planning Board, or Governing Body, as the case may be. The location of the street signs shall be determined by the Borough, but there shall be at least two street signs furnished at each intersection. All signs shall be installed free of visual obstruction.