Papillion City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXXVII
Signs
§ 205-253 Purpose.
The sign regulations provide standards for communicating information in the environment of the City of Papillion and its jurisdiction. The regulations recognize the need to protect public health, safety and welfare; to maintain the City's attractive appearance; to provide for adequate business identification, advertising and communication of information; and to encourage the fair enforcement of sign regulations.
§ 205-255 General sign and street graphics regulations.
A.
Compliance. Each sign or part of a sign erected within the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Papillion must comply with the provisions of this chapter and of other relevant provisions of the City of Papillion's Municipal Code.
B.
Resolution of conflicting regulations. This chapter is not meant to repeal or interfere with enforcement of other sections of the City of Papillion's Municipal Code. In cases of conflicts between Code sections, state or federal regulations, the more-restrictive regulations shall apply.
C.
Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:
(1)
Signs painted on or attached to rocks, trees or other natural objects.
(2)
Signs or sign structures which resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or devices, which mislead or confuse persons traveling on public streets or which create a traffic hazard.
(3)
Signs on public property or public rights-of-way, unless specifically authorized by the appropriate public agency.
(4)
Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing the clear view of pedestrians or vehicles or which obscure official signs or signals.
(5)
Abandoned signs. Any abandoned sign must be removed within six months of the date of abandonment.
(6)
Portable signs, including signs painted, mounted or printed on parked vehicles and trailers that are repeatedly parked in or around a specific location that causes them to have the function of a sign.
(7)
Signs that are not clean or in substantial good repair or are not affixed to a sound structure.
(8)
Signs advertising activities that are illegal under federal, state or local laws and regulations.
D.
Exempt signs. The following signs are permitted in any zoning district subject to § 205-255G and are exempt from other provisions of this chapter:
(1)
Bulletin boards for religious assembly or school uses, provided that they have a maximum sign area of 20 square feet and are not located in a required sign setback.
(2)
Real estate signs related to the lot or development on which such signs are located.
[Amended 5-3-2016 by Ord. No. 1719]
(3)
Official signs authorized by a government or governmental subdivision which give traffic, directional or warning information.
(4)
Public flags.
(5)
Seasonal decorations for display on private or public property.
(6)
On-premises construction signs.
(7)
Temporary signs for grand openings or special events, per the requirements of § 205-255E(1) below.
(8)
Works of graphic art painted or applied to building walls which contain no advertising or business identification messages.
(9)
Residential signs under two square feet in size.
(10)
Neighborhood or subdivision identification signs under 50 square feet.
(11)
Street numbers.
(12)
Signs which are not visible from a public right-of-way, private way or court or from a property other than that on which the sign is installed.
(13)
Directional or informative signs.
E.
Temporary and civic signs.
(1)
Temporary or portable signs for grand openings, sales and special events are permitted in commercial and industrial zoning districts or for a civic use in any district, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
Such signs are located on private property and do not cause a sight obstruction at street or driveway intersections.
(b)
The size of such signs does not exceed the limitations set forth in Table 205-262.
(c)
No more than two such signs are permitted at any single premises.
(d)
Temporary or portable signs may be present at any single premises for a maximum of seven consecutive days and not more than 30 days per year.
(e)
Inflatable signs and figures are considered temporary signs.
(2)
Temporary signs for nonprofit civic campaigns or events, political campaigns or other noncommercial events are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from permitting requirements, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
Such signs are installed no earlier than 45 days before the date of the event or election and removed no later than 15 days after the date of the event or election.
(b)
The maximum size of such signs is 10 square feet when located in any residential, O Office and LC Limited Commercial Zoning District and 100 square feet in any other zoning district.
(3)
Signs painted on vehicles and placed in a stationary location on a repetitive basis so as to function as fixed signs are considered temporary signs and are subject to the restrictions of this section.
F.
Buffer yards. No sign other than on-premises directional signs shall be placed within any buffer yard required by Article XXXV, Landscaping and Screening Regulations, except buffer yards adjacent to intervening major streets.
G.
Vision-clearance area. No sign may project into or be placed within a vision-clearance area defined by a triangle with legs of 40 feet from the point at which the curbs or edges of two intersecting streets, private ways, or courts or an intersecting street, private way, or court and driveway meet.
§ 205-256 Basic design elements for signs.
A.
Wall signs and graphics. Wall signs and graphics are subject to the following general regulations:
(1)
A wall sign shall not extend more than 30 inches from the wall or frame to which it is attached.
(2)
A wall sign must be parallel to the wall to which it is attached.
(3)
A wall sign may not extend beyond the corner of the wall to which it is attached; except where attached to another wall sign, it may extend to provide for the attachment.
(4)
A wall sign may not extend beyond its building's roofline.
(5)
A wall sign attached to a building on its front property line may encroach upon the public right-of-way by no more than 18 inches. Such a wall sign shall provide minimum clearance of eight feet six inches.
(6)
For the purpose of calculating permitted sign area pursuant to this chapter, signs painted on the walls of buildings shall be considered wall signs.
(7)
Where permitted, canopy signs are counted as wall signs when calculating total permitted sign area.
B.
Projecting signs and graphics. Projecting signs and graphics are subject to the following general regulations:
(2)
A projecting sign may be no closer than two feet from the vertical plane of the inside curbline.
(3)
Each projecting sign must maintain at least the following vertical clearances:
(a)
Eight feet six inches over sidewalks; except that a canopy may reduce its vertical clearance to seven feet six inches.
(b)
Ten feet outside of parking areas or driveways but within three feet of such areas; or within 50 feet of the right-of-way lines formed by a street intersection.
(c)
Fourteen feet over parking lots.
(d)
Eighteen feet over alleys or driveways.
(4)
No projecting sign extending three feet or more from a property line may be located within 22 feet of any other projecting sign extending three feet or more from a property line.
(5)
Projecting signs must minimize visible support structure and may not expose guy wires, cables, turnbuckles, angle iron or other similar external support structures.
C.
D.
Roof signs. Roof signs are subject to the following regulations:
§ 205-257 Other design elements.
A.
Illumination. Lighting, when installed, must be positioned in such a manner that light is not directed onto an adjoining property or onto a public street or highway.
B.
Marquees and marquee signs. Signs placed on, attached to or constructed on a marquee are subject to the maximum projection and clearance regulations of projecting signs.
C.
Banners.
D.
Clocks. For the purposes of this chapter, clocks are not considered a moving sign.
E.
Electronic identification or advertising signs or electronic information signs. When visible from a public right-of-way, electronic identification or advertising signs and electronic information signs shall have a refresh rate of not less than five seconds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any premises within the Community Commercial District or General Commercial District with street frontage on a marginal access street where the right-of-way for said street directly abuts the HWY 370 right-of-way shall have a refresh rate of zero seconds, except that video imagery and bright flashing imagery is prohibited. General animation and scrolling text is permitted for electronic identification or advertising signs and electronic information signs with a refresh rate of zero seconds. The maximum sign area of electronic identification or advertising signs and electronic information signs shall not exceed 50% of maximum permitted sign area, unless such of electronic identification or advertising sign or electronic information sign is an I-80 Corridor pole sign. I-80 Corridor pole signs shall be subject to a sign area adjustment pursuant to § 205-264.
[Amended 2-7-2012 by Ord. No. 1633; 7-3-2018 by Ord. No. 1804]
§ 205-258 Specific regulations and application for zoning districts.
This article sets forth regulations and design standards for signs and graphics for each zoning district. Under this chapter, on-premises and off-premises signs are subject to the same regulations and requirements.
§ 205-259 Method of measurement for regulators.
A.
Maximum permitted sign area. The maximum permitted sign area for a premises is set forth as a numerical limit or as a function of the frontage of the premises on a street or private way. For properties with frontage on more than one street or private way, the total frontage shall be calculated as the longest frontage, plus 1/2 the length of all additional frontages.
B.
Sign area.
(1)
Sign area includes the entire area within the perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the sign, excluding any structure essential for support or service of the sign or architectural elements of the building.
(2)
The area of double-faced signs is calculated on the largest face only.
(3)
The sign area for ground signs, monument signs and architectural sign bands is calculated as the area enclosing the extreme limits of the copy only.
(4)
In the case of individual letters mounted to a wall, only the total area of the letters themselves is included within the sign area.
C.
Height. The height of a sign is measured from the average grade level below the sign to the topmost point of the sign or sign structure.
D.
Setback. The setback of a sign is measured from the property line to the supporting frame, mast, pole or base of the sign.
§ 205-260 Permitted sign types by zoning district.
A.
Table 205-260[1] sets forth the sign types permitted within each zoning district of the City of Papillion. Under this chapter, on-premises and off-premises signs are subject to the same regulations and requirements.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 205-260 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
Civic uses located within AG or residential districts may apply for a special use permit to allow signage per CC requirements.
§ 205-261 Auxiliary design elements.
Table 205-261[1] sets forth auxiliary design elements permitted within each zoning district of the City of Papillion.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 205-261 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 205-262 Maximum permitted sign area.
The maximum sign area permitted within each zoning district of the City of Papillion is established by the table below.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 205-262 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 205-263 Permitted signs by number, dimensions and location.
Table 205-263 is included at the end of this chapter.
§ 205-264 I-80 Sign Corridor adjustments.
[Added 7-3-2018 by Ord. No. 1804[1]]
A.
Area of application. The I-80 Sign Corridor applies to an area within the City of Papillion's zoning jurisdiction described as 660 feet on either side of the right-of-way of Interstate 80 as measured from the edge of such right-of-way and perpendicular to the center line.
B.
Adjustments to sign regulations permitted. Adjustments to the sign regulations for any premises that is located in whole or in part within the I-80 Sign Corridor are permitted pursuant to this section, provided that such premises is within a Community Commercial District, General Commercial District, Limited Industrial District, or General Industrial District.
C.
Pole sign permitted. In addition to its total permitted sign area, each premises that is located in whole or in part within the I-80 Sign Corridor may have one I-80 Corridor pole sign, subject to the following conditions:
(1)
The maximum sign area of such I-80 Corridor pole sign shall be 200 square feet.
(2)
The maximum height of such I-80 Corridor pole sign shall be 45 feet.
(3)
No portion of any I-80 Corridor pole sign shall be located within 300 feet of any portion of any other I-80 Corridor pole sign or within 150 feet of any other detached sign on the same or adjacent premises, regardless of when such other I-80 Corridor pole sign or other detached sign was constructed.
(4)
No I-80 Corridor pole sign shall be located within 300 feet of any premises within any agricultural or residential zoning district.
(5)
Up to 100% of the maximum sign area of such I-80 Corridor pole sign may consist of an electronic identification or advertising sign or an electronic information sign.
(6)
Each I-80 Corridor pole sign shall be subject to all other regulations for detached signs or graphics set forth in this article.
§ 205-265 General permit procedures.
A.
Applicability. Any installation, modification or expansion of any sign which is not exempt from the provisions of this article shall be subject to the following permit procedure prior to installation.
B.
Maintenance of valid sign permit. The owner of a property containing signs requiring a permit under this chapter shall at all times maintain in force a sign permit for such property. Sign permits shall be issued for individual zoned lots. A sign permit may be revoked if the sign is not maintained in good condition.
C.
Sign permit applications. All applications for sign permits shall be submitted to the Building Department in accordance with application specifications established by the City.
D.
Application fees. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by any applicable fees, which shall be established by the City Council from time to time by resolution.
E.
Action. Within 10 working days of the submission of a complete application for a sign permit, the City shall either:
F.
Permit expiration. If a sign is not constructed in accordance with an approved permit within six months of the date of approval, such permit shall lapse.
G.
Assignment of sign permits. A current and valid sign permit shall be freely assignable to a successor as owner of the property or holder of a business license for the same premises.
§ 205-266 Nonconforming signs.
[Amended 7-3-2018 by Ord. No. 1804]
A.
All permanent signs in place and lawfully established on the effective date of this chapter shall be considered as legal nonconforming signs. The copy of such a sign may be changed from time to time, provided that the sign area shall not be enlarged beyond the sign area in existence on the effective date of this chapter.
B.
Any nonconforming sign, including any structure other than a building to which the sign is attached or adhered, which presently is or becomes structurally damaged or deteriorated or is altered by more than 50% of its replacement cost shall be either removed or altered so as to comply with this article.
C.
For business centers preexisting on the effective date of this chapter which do not conform to the total permitted sign area provisions of this article, individual signs must be replaced, modified or substituted within 15 years of the effective date of this chapter.