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Owasco Town City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XVII

Signs

§ 150-112 Purpose and intent.

The regulations of this article establish standards for signs. The Town recognizes the need for signs to identify businesses and properties within the community. The Town also recognizes that signs are an important element of the physical environment which serve to express the individuality of the business as well as the character of the community. Sign regulations are established to help ensure individual expression, attractive community character, and protect and enhance the Town's historical, residential, and rural character.
All signs shall comply with all the regulations contained herein, irrespective of whether or not approval is required. Any and all signs not expressly permitted in this article are prohibited.

§ 150-113 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated.
Any sign designed to direct attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than upon the same lot.
Any visual message incorporated into an awning attached to a building.
A sign with or without characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations applied to cloth, paper, flexible plastic, or fabric of any kind with only such material for backing.
A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted or to products sold upon the same lot. A "for sale" sign or a "to let" sign relating to the lot on which it is displayed shall be deemed a "business sign."
A sign where the supporting frame or structure is permanent and only the letters, displays, or illustrations thereon are changeable or temporary.
Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, architects, and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site where the sign is placed, together with other information included thereon.
The term defining a banner that is typically within a parking lot or along a public or private thoroughfare or street with a noncommercial copy decorative display. For example: seasons of the year or holidays for appearance and appeal to the public.
An electronic message board used as a sign with a fixed or changing display/message composed of a series of lights that may be changed through electronic means that meets the sign regulations of this Article.
Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, which is mounted on a pole, and used as a symbol of government, political subdivision, institution, cause, event, group, activity, business, or other similar entity. This definition does not include the use of flags for advertising such as, but not limited to, pennants, streamers, and air-induced figures.
Any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity or color at all times when in use.
Any sign designed to give forth any artificial light or designed to reflect such light deriving from any source which is intended to cause such light or reflection.
A sign that directs attention to a person, business, profession, product, home occupation, or activity not conducted on the same lot.
A sign that directs attention to a person, business, profession, product, home occupation, or activity conducted on the same lot. A "for sale" sign, relating to the lot on which it is displayed shall be deemed an "on premises" sign.
Any structure or part thereof or any device attached to a structure or painted or represented on a structure which shall display or include any letter, word, model, banner, flag, pennant, insignia, device, or representation used as or which is to be in the nature of an announcement, direction, or advertisement. A "sign" includes any billboard, pennant, announcement, or symbol designed to inform or attract the attention of persons not on the premises on which the "sign" is located. A "sign" does not include temporary real estate "for sale," A-shaped signs, political campaign signs, or paper posters announcing temporary events, provided that such are not in excess of four square feet (length by width).
Items such as, but not limited to, balloons, flags, or streamers used to draw attention to a temporary sign.
A person holding an advertising or similar promotion sign for a business and using movement, including but not limited to, holding, rotating, spinning, or walking, to attract attention to the general public.
A sign affixed to or applied on the wall or roof of a principal structure.
Any sign not attached to a principal structure that either has its own support or is affixed to various existing uprights or suspended by cable, rope, or similar device.
An attached of freestanding sign, banner, pennant, or advertising display on the premises of what the temporary sign is advertising as required and limited to be displayed as regulated by this article, for display, sales, specials, special events, promotions, holidays, auctions, business grand openings, and signs advertising the lease or vacancy of commercial space or residential units. Symbols, figures, balloons, and other similar items shall be interpreted as temporary signs.
A type of temporary sign including but not limited to yard sale signs, political signs, and real estate signs.

§ 150-114 Administration.

Signs requiring a permit. Unless otherwise provided by this article, all signs regulated herein shall require a sign permit. All signs must comply with all the regulations of § 150-115, irrespective of whether a sign permit is required. Any sign erected without securing a required sign permit and approval of such shall be considered an illegal sign for the purposes of this chapter.
Planning Board review. Prior to issuance of a sign permit, the Code Enforcement Officer shall forward all sign permit applications listed below to the Planning Board for review and approval. In addition to the provisions of this chapter, the Planning Board may set additional general guidelines with respect to size, location, and installation.
Freestanding permanent signs. All on-premise freestanding permanent signs.
Attached permanent signs. Permanent signs attached to the principal structure and greater than six square feet in area. Permanent signs attached to the principal structure and six feet or less in area may be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer without Planning Board review.
Temporary signs. Temporary signs greater than six square feet in area. The applicant shall deposit with the Town Clerk $1 per square foot of the total signs displayed (total single-sign area times total number of signs). Said deposit fee may be adjusted by resolution of the Town Board. This deposit shall be refunded upon removal of signs or shall be used by the Town to defray the cost of removing the signs. No temporary sign shall be posted earlier than 30 days prior to the advertised activity, and the signs shall be removed immediately following the activity's conclusion.
Exemptions. The following signs are allowed without a sign permit and are exempt from Planning Board review and Code Enforcement Officer approval.
Official federal, state, county, or Town signs and signals.
Flags.
Traffic control device on private property.

§ 150-115 General regulations.

Area of signs.
The area of a sign shall include all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether opened or enclosed, on which they are displayed. Supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself shall not be included.
The area of a sign painted on or applied to a building shall include all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs or symbols, together with any associated backing.
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, the area shall be that of the smallest rectangle or other shape which encompasses all the letters, design, and symbols.
In computing the square foot area of a double-faced sign, the area of one side only shall be counted.
Height. No sign shall exceed a maximum height of 10 feet.
Location.
No sign shall overhang or be located within a public street or right-of-way.
No sign shall be located within 15 feet of any side property line.
No sign shall be located nearer the property boundary than 1/2 the required front yard setback.
No sign shall be located on a roof or shall extend above the roofline.
No sign shall project more than 12 inches perpendicular from any wall.
No sign shall be constructed with movable or moving parts or with flashing, animated, or directly illuminated parts of any type. However, signs may be indirectly illuminated.
All permanent signs shall be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition and repair.
On property that abuts on more than one street, one permitted sign may be erected on each street frontage.
No permanent off-premise signs shall be permitted.
Home occupation signs shall be attached to the principal structure.

§ 150-116 Regulations for existing nonconforming signs.

Nonconforming signs shall be kept painted and/or in good repair, but such refurbishing shall not result in a sign of larger dimensions than the existing sign.
Nonconforming signs, once removed, shall not be replaced.