The purpose of these sign regulations is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising signs and outdoor signs of all types. They are intended to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate and natural beauty of designated areas.

(`94 Code, § 1179.01)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)

   The regulations contained in this section shall apply to all signs and all zoning districts.

   (A)   Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting a light of constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights except clocks and time and temperature devices. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.

   (B)   Signs shall not be placed on the roof of any building except in cases where approved by Council when it is determined that a roof sign would be the only means of adequate identification.

   (C)   A sign or part thereof or any other advertising device shall not contain or consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving devices. Such devices, as well as strings of lights, shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention.

   (D)   Signs advertising goods and services not available on the premises are prohibited except as provided for in § 154.133.

   (E)   The property owner shall be responsible to construct and maintain all signs, including sign structures, etc., to be completely safe and free of hazard.

   (F)   A sign shall not be placed in or above any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs such as traffic-control signs and directional signs, projecting signs authorized by Council and signs with information directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property where authorized by Council.

   (G)   Signs with information directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, including entrance and exit signs, shall be permitted on any private property in any zoning district. Size and location shall be in accordance with 154.131.

(`94 Code, § 1179.02)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)

   The surface area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular, geometric form or combination of regular, geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not being advertising matter shall not be included in computation of surface area. A sign may have one or two opposite faces or sides, each having the permitted sign area. Signs having more than two faces or sides shall be reduced in size so that the total surfaces visible from any one direction shall not exceed the permitted sign area.

(`94 Code, § 1179.03)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   The following types of signs are prohibited and shall be removed, altered or repaired in accordance with the provisions of this chapter:

   (A)   Signs containing statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character;

   (B)   Signs containing or which are in imitation of, an official traffic sign or signal;

   (C)   Signs that are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner or illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic-control device or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal or create a traffic hazard;

   (D)   Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted;

   (E)   Signs or parts of signs that may swing or otherwise noticeably move as a result of wind pressure because of the manner of their suspension or attachment, except that real estate "for sale" signs, the bottoms of which are no higher than three feet above the ground, may swing if secured with closed eyelets or hinges in such a manner that the sign cannot become disconnected from the main support or anchoring mechanism;

   (F)   Signs located within a public right-of-way except where specifically authorized by Council; or

   (G)   Signs which have been erected or placed on a premise without obtaining a required permit.

(`94 Code, § 1179.04)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   The following signs shall be permitted in any zoning district without a permit:

   (A)   One sign advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premise upon which the sign is located, shall not exceed 32 square feet in area, except in all residential districts where the area of the sign including add-ons shall not be more than five square feet and is placed not less than eight feet back of the property line. Where the principal building is less than eight feet back of the property line, such sign may not be placed more than five feet in front of the principal building.

   (B)   One sign pertaining to a home occupation, as herein specified, shall be permitted, provided the sign is not over eight square feet.

   (C)   One bulletin board or sign for churches, libraries, museums or similar institutions provided it does not exceed 40 square feet in area and is placed not nearer than 20 feet from the front line nor eight feet from the side lot line, and does not obstruct the view across the corner of an intersecting street and is erected upon the premises of a church or similar institution for the purpose of displaying the name and activities thereof, or the service provided therein.

   (D)   One identification placard for multiple-family dwellings if it does not exceed 24 square feet in area and is placed not nearer than 20 feet from the front line, nor eight feet from the side lot line, and does not obstruct the view across the corner of intersecting streets.

   (E)   Political signs not exceeding six square feet in area, provided such signs shall be placed no earlier than 90 days before election day and removed within two weeks following election day.

   (F)   Garage sale, etc., signs not exceeding four square feet in area provided such signs are placed and removed within 24 hours of the sale date.

(`94 Code, § 1179.05)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   In a business or industrial district, each business or industry shall be permitted one wall sign for each 40 feet of the building facing a public street.

   (B)   The total area of a wall sign(s) for any single business or industrial enterprise shall not exceed three square feet per lineal foot of building facing a street with a maximum of 120 square feet each.

   (C)   Wall signs shall not extend into any street, sidewalk, alley or public thoroughfare for a distance greater than 12 inches, shall have at least nine feet clearance between the lower edge of the sign and the ground and fourteen and one-half feet clearance over any area used by motor vehicles.

   (D)   Wall signs made of glass shall not exceed twelve square feet when double strength glass is used and forty square feet when plate or wired glass is used.

   (E)   No wall sign shall be so erected as to cover the doors or windows of any building, or otherwise prevent free ingress and egress from any window, door or fire escape of any building.

   (F)   Each wall sign erected, hung or suspended or permitted under the terms of this chapter shall be securely fastened to a building or other structure upon the premises owned or occupied by the applicant and amply supported vertically and horizontally to prevent falling from its own weight or from wind pressure, and to prevent the same from becoming a hazard to persons using the public street or sidewalk in the vicinity of the sign. No sign as herein referred to, shall be suspended from or supported by a cornice or coping but shall be anchored to the supporting walls of the building.

(`94 Code, § 1179.06)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   In a business or industrial district, each business or industry shall be permitted one projecting sign for each face of the building facing a public or private street.

   (B)   Projection of a projecting sign shall not exceed six feet measured from the face of the main building, shall not exceed 30 square feet in size, shall not be closer than 24 inches from the face of curb or edge of pavement and shall have at least nine feet between the lower edge of the sign and the ground and fourteen and one-half feet over any area used by motor vehicles.

   (C)   Projecting signs shall be not less than five feet from the side property line or division wall between different occupants.

   (D)   No projecting signs shall contain an area of glass in excess of nine square feet when plate or wired glass is used.

(Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   In a business or industrial district one ground sign for each 40 feet of building facing a public or private street shall be permitted for each business or industrial establishment in lieu of a projecting sign. This sign may be located within ten feet of the right-of-way of any street or highway. The maximum area of such sign shall not exceed 30 square feet and the height shall not exceed 20 feet above grade level at the street right-of-way line. Ground signs placed more than ten feet back of the street property line however, may be increased in size ten square feet in area and five feet in height for each additional five feet of setback up to a maximum of 100 square feet in area and 40 feet in height above the grade level.

   (B)   One ground sign serving a group of five or more business establishments in business and industrial districts and placed at least twenty feet back of the property line shall be permitted on each street serving such group of businesses in lieu of individual ground signs. The maximum area of such a ground sign shall not exceed 100 square feet for five business establishments, but may be increased in size by ten square feet for each additional business up to a maximum of 200 square feet. Such signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height for 100 square foot signs with an additional one foot added to height permitted with each additional ten square feet of sign area up to a maximum of 40 feet in height.

   (C)   All ground signs shall have at least 12 feet clearance between the grade level at the street right-of-way line and the lower edge of the sign when located within ten feet of the right-of-way of any street or highway. Such sign shall be supported by a single column, the diameter of which shall not exceed 12 inches, or twin columns not exceeding four inches in diameter.

   (D)   Any part of any ground sign shall be not less than 50 feet from any residential district.

(`94 Code, § 1179.08)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   Signs placed on or above the roof of any building shall not be permitted except by approval of Council as a variance when it is determined by Council that a roof sign would be the only means of adequate identification and when the following regulations are complied with.

   (B)   No signboard shall be placed on the roof of any building so as to prevent the free passage from one part of the roof to any other part or interfere with any opening thereon. No signboard shall project beyond the edge of the roof in any direction and if over four feet in height shall be so constructed as to leave a clear space of at least six feet between the roof level and the lowest part of the sign and at least five feet clearance between the vertical supports. Every roof sign over four feet in height shall be set back at least five feet from the face of any front, rear or sidewall.

   (C)   If the roof sign is illuminated, lighting reflectors may project six feet beyond the building line.

   (D)   Signs shall be designated to withstand a wind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot of area subject to such pressure.

   (E)   Roof sign structures may be erected upon fireproof buildings to a height of not exceeding 50 feet above the roof and upon nonfireproof buildings to a height not exceeding 30 feet above the roof level.

   (F)   For signs over four feet above the roof, the portion of such structure covered and exposed to wind pressure shall not exceed one-third the total area thereof. All such signs shall be thoroughly secured to the building upon which they are installed, erected or constructed by iron or metal anchors, bolts, supports, chains, stranded cables, steel rods or braces.

   (G)   In no case shall any roof sign for any single business or industrial enterprise exceed three square feet per lineal feet of occupied building frontage with a maximum of 150 square feet.

   (H)   Roof signs when approved shall be in lieu of wall signs.

(`94 Code, § 1179.09)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   In all districts each premise or establishment may have one temporary or portable sign not exceeding 50 square feet in area announcing special public or institutional events, including the opening of a new business and including the erection of a building displaying the name of the architect, builders or contractors, erected for a period not to exceed sixty days plus the event or construction period, but in no case longer than 24 months.

   (B)   Portable or temporary signs including trailer-mounted signs and balloons are prohibited within 100 feet of a residential district.

   (C)   Small advertising signs as permitted in § 154.130 shall not be considered portable or temporary signs.

(`94 Code, § 1179.10)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)

   (A)   In business and industrial districts four small freestanding or portable advertising signs, not exceeding 12 square feet each in area shall be permitted for each business or industrial establishment.

   (B)   Such small advertising signs shall not exceed eight feet in height and shall not be located closer to any street right-of-way than ten feet or the established building line, whichever is less. In no case shall any sign be located in any public street or alley right-of-way.

   (C)   Such small advertising signs shall only advertise products, services or activities located on the premises in which the sign is located. Price information is permitted on such signs.

   (D)   Trailer-mounted signs are not considered small advertising signs and are not permitted for the use as such.

(`94 Code, § 1179.11)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   In all districts all parking lots having spaces for four or more cars or drive-in type car service may have traffic direction or guidance signs, including entrance and exit signs. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area and shall only display directional information and conditions of use and shall not extend more than three feet above the drive, street or sidewalk or otherwise obstruct visibility.

(`94 Code, § 1179.12)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   Trailer-mounted signs or similar portable signs are prohibited in all zoning districts except as permitted in § 154.129.

(`94 Code, § 1179.13)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   Off-premise signs contain information about goods, services, uses, businesses, persons, subjects, etc. not relative to the premises upon which the sign is located and shall be:

      (1)   Directional: used for traffic direction only, containing only the principal name of a premise and the direction to same; or

      (2)   All others including billboards.

   (B)   Off-premise signs, other than directional shall be permitted only in business and industrial districts.

   (C)   All off-premise signs shall be approved by the Planning Commission. In making their determination, the Commission shall consider visibility, obstruction of view of adjacent uses, other signs in the area, location, size, etc. plus any additional matters which the Commission feels appropriate.

   (D)   Directional off-premise signs of less than 20 square feet may be located up to ten feet from the street property line. Larger signs shall be located one-half the building setback distance, but no closer than 20 feet.

   (E)   The maximum display area of a sign shall be 300 square feet, and the maximum height shall be 25 feet.

   (F)   Such signs shall not be located so as to interfere with the visibility and safe operation of vehicles or pedestrians entering or leaving the premise or intersecting streets or crosswalks.

   (G)   Such signs shall not be located within ten feet of any lot line or within 100 feet of a residential district on the same street.

   (H)   Such signs shall conform to all appropriate sections of this chapter except in conflict with this section and limitations based upon buildings and number of signs.

   (I)   Seat benches, trash containers, telephone booths, bus shelters, vehicles, vending machines and similar devices containing off-premise signs shall be exempt from these provisions except Planning Commission approval.

(`94 Code, § 1179.14)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   All structural requirements shall be in accordance with applicable codes, shall be constructed to withstand a windstress of 30 pounds per square foot and shall be as approved by the Building Inspector. However, the owner is responsible to construct and maintain all signs so as to render them safe to persons, property and traffic.

(`94 Code, § 1179.15)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   Permits.

      (1)   Signs shall not be required to have a permit when a proposed sign is considered and approved along with a request for an occupancy certificate or building permit or is listed in § 154.124. In other cases, only the following types of signs shall be required to have a sign permit:

         (a)   Wall signs to be erected after the adoption of these sign regulations;

         (b)   Projecting signs to be erected after the adoption of these sign regulations;

         (c)   Ground signs to be erected after the adoption of these sign regulations;

         (d)   Roof signs to be erected after the adoption of these sign regulations; and

         (e)   Off-premise signs to be erected after the adoption of these sign regulations.

      (2)   Signs listed in § 154.124, portable, temporary or traffic directional signs, etc. shall not be required to have a permit.

      (3)   The Building and Zoning Inspector shall have the authority to determine the need for a permit where these regulations do not specifically address the case.

      (4)   A permit shall become void if the work for which the permit was issued is not completed within six months of the date of the permit.

(`94 Code, § 1179.16)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)

   (B)   Fee.  Fees for sign permits shall be $10 for each sign for which a permit is required.

(`94 Code, § 1179.17)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92; Am. Ord. 23-97, passed 7-8-97)

   All signs and sign structures, including their supports, anchors, guys, etc., shall be kept properly painted and/or galvanized and generally maintained in a proper state of preservation and safety. The Building and Zoning Inspector may order the removal of any sign which is not maintained in accordance with these conditions.

(`94 Code, § 1179.18)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)  Penalty, see § 154.999

   Council shall have the authority to permit a variation in the sign requirements in any zoning district where there are unusual and practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in complying with such requirements, provided that any such variation shall not unreasonably affect any adjoining property or the general welfare and further provided that the purpose and intent of the sign requirements not be diminished any more than is reasonably necessary to permit the variation.

(`94 Code, § 1179.19)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)

   Existing signs which were constructed in accordance with all applicable regulations in effect at the time of construction may remain or be reconstructed at the same location and be of the same size, provided they are continually maintained in accordance with § 154.136.

(`94 Code, § 1179.20)  (Ord. 4-93, passed 2-9-92)