The purpose of this article is to regulate outdoor signs of all types in all zoning districts. The regulation of outdoor signs is further intended to enhance the physical appearance of the City, to preserve scenic and natural beauty, to make the City a more enjoyable and pleasing community and to create an attractive economic and business climate. It is intended by this article to reduce sign or advertising distractions, thereby reducing traffic accidents, to reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over the public rights-of-way and to avoid the canceling out effect of conflicting adjacent signs. The primary purpose of this article is to permit the identification of uses permitted by this article.

This article covers the construction, erection and maintenance requirements for signs and outdoor display structures, with respect to safety, size and attachment or anchorage with respect to appearance and geographical location.

Required. A building permit shall be required for the erection, construction, or alteration of any sign, except as provided in this article, and all such signs shall be approved by the Building Inspector as to compliance with the requirements of the zoning district wherein such sign is to be located with the requirements of this article and with all applicable City sign regulations as set forth in the local building code as adopted by the City. All illuminated signs are subject in addition to the provisions of the local electrical code as adopted by the City and any permit fees required thereunder.

Application contents, requisites. A building permit can be obtained at the City Inspection Department and shall be completed by the applicant with the following information:

Issuance. If, upon examination of the submitted plans and other data, it appears that the proposed sign is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter, the Building Inspector shall issue a building permit. If the work authorized under a building permit has not been completed within six months after the date of issuance, the permit will be null and void.

Revocation. All rights and privileges acquired under this article are mere licenses revocable at any time, and all such permits shall contain this provision.

Unsafe, unlawful signs; Inspection Division authority. If the Building Inspector finds that any sign is unsafe or is a menace to the public or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of this article, she/he shall give written notice to the owner of said sign. If the owner fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with this article within 10 days after such notice, the sign shall be removed or altered by the Inspection Division at the expense of the owner. The Inspection Division may cause any sign, which is an immediate peril to persons or property, to be removed immediately and without notice.

No sign shall be erected, constructed and maintained until a permit for the sign has been issued by the Building Inspector, unless noted otherwise in this article; provided, however, no permit will be required for the following:

The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) of this section shall apply only to the requirement for a permit and shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a good and safe condition.

General definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Types of signs. The following words, terms and phrases regarding types of signs, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Sign terms. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article to describe signs, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Unless otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, no sign, except those placed and maintained by the City, county or state, shall be erected or placed in the public right-of-way nor be allowed to project into the public right-of-way. Signs erected on a building may not project more than two feet into the right-of-way.

No sign, unless otherwise permitted, shall exceed the maximum height limitations of the zoning district in which it is located. Lighting reflectors may project beyond the top or face of the sign.

No sign or other advertising structure, as regulated by this chapter, shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or which makes use of the word "stop," "look," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape or any window, door or opening used as a means of egress or for firefighting purposes or so as to prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof. No sign shall be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or be so placed as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.

Advertising signs indicating the direction of service clubs, churches, fraternal organizations and similar organizations are permitted in all zones, subject to the approval of the Planning Commission, provided such signs conform to the conditions established by such Commission to secure harmony with this article. Such sign must conform to size, location, etc., of the zone in which it is located.

Allowable stresses, materials and details of design. In all signs, the allowable stresses, materials and details of design shall, in the absence of specific requirements, conform to the following latest approved specifications:

Wind pressure resistance. All signs shall be designed to resist wind pressures as provided in the local building code as adopted by the City.

Nonconforming sign utilization. Existing nonconforming signs may not be utilized if their utilization would involve any of the following conditions:

Nonconforming sign removal procedure. Any nonconforming sign in any district ordered by the Building Inspector to be removed, neutralized or painted over shall be removed, neutralized, or painted over by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign is located within 90 days after written notification from the Department of Planning. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Inspection Department is hereby directed and authorized to cause the removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building or structure to which such sign is attached as billed by the City. If the owner of such property shall fail to pay such bill within 30 days after the bill has been rendered, the Planning Director shall report the failure to pay the bill to the City Council for collection as a single lot assessment against such property in accordance with the Charter.

Required. All signs, together with all their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in a proper state of preservation. The Building Inspector may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with this section.

Removal of obsolete signs. Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold on the premises shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found within 90 days after written notification from the Inspection Department. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified, the Inspection Department is hereby directed and authorized to cause the removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the property to which the sign is attached, as billed by the City. If the owner of such property shall fail to pay the bill within 30 days after the bill has been rendered, the Planning Director shall report the failure to pay the bill to the City Council for collection as a single lot assessment against the property.

Inspection required. Every sign is subject to a periodic inspection by the Building Inspector to ascertain whether the sign is secure and whether it is in need of repair.

Painting required. The owner of any sign shall have the sign and all supports properly painted regularly and kept in good condition, unless they are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust.

Property maintenance. Any person occupying any vacant lot or premises by means of a ground sign or billboard sign shall be subject to the same duties and responsibilities as the owner of the lot and premises with respect to keeping the lot and premises clean, sanitary, inoffensive and free and clear of all obnoxious substances and unsightly conditions on the ground in the vicinity of such ground sign or the premises for which he or she may be responsible.

Portable signs shall be allowed only in nonresidential districts, except on church or school properties.

The property owner and/or occupant and the sign lessor must obtain a building permit before the date of sign placement for approval. This must state the date of placement and removal and shall be accompanied by a plot plan showing the property and placement of the sign in relation to streets, drives, walks, buildings, etc. Setbacks shall be the same as that for ground signs pursuant to district requirements.

The portable sign may be used for a period not exceeding 30 consecutive days.

Placement of a portable sign must be on private property, shall not be in the right-of-way, and shall not interfere with any vision clearance, traffic flow, sidewalk, and such. Signs shall not obstruct parking spaces of automobile or pedestrian travel lanes in parking lots.

No flashing lights, oscillating lights, flashing arrows or other intermittent operation will be allowed within 100 feet of an intersection. Lighting shall not be confused with traffic control devices and shall not cause distraction to vehicle drivers at any location.

The portable sign may only identify the business conducted on the property plus one of the following:

The portable sign must be removed on the date stated and cannot be stored on the property unless covered in the rear yard or in a building.

The electrical hookup must be in conformity with the current electrical code as adopted by the City and approved by the Electrical Inspector.

All portable signs shall be anchored or weighted to prevent overturning.

The portable sign shall not exceed 60 square feet or six feet in height.

Permits for a portable sign will be issued only three times per year per property (as defined by Assessor's office records of ownership), including shopping malls and multi-tenant establishments. For a building with multiple tenants there shall only be one portable sign per property at any given time.

Inflatable signs are considered portable signs. They must be securely fastened down to prevent them from blowing away. Permits are not required for inflatable signs during the week of the Port Huron to Mackinac Sailboat Race. These signs need not meet height or size requirements and may extend over a roofline by more than three feet. Such signs may be located solely on or overhang onto the private property for which the sign serves.

Signs such as any paper, cardboard, or plastic signs used for window display such as sale signs; help wanted signs; festoon signs such as banners, flags, etc., shall all be considered temporary signs. See the definition of temporary signs in § 52-814.

Sandwich board-style signs less than 18 inches wide and 36 inches in height may be used on private property during daylight hours but must be removed at the end of the business day and stored within the building. No more than one sign per property address is allowed. Sandwich board-style signs must be freestanding and not worn by humans or attached to vehicles, ferries, appurtenances, or animals. Permits shall not be necessary for any temporary signs of less than 24 square feet and displayed in the window from inside the building. Any temporary sign located outside the building shall be limited to less than 24 square feet and shall be limited to one per street frontage. Any temporary sign over 24 square feet and located outside of the building shall be considered a portable sign and shall require a permit and be limited to the rules of § 52-819.

Temporary signs shall be securely but not permanently attached to the building of which it serves.

Temporary signs shall only be allowed in nonresidential districts.

No temporary sign shall be erected so as to extend over or into any public right-of-way, street, alley, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare. No temporary sign shall be erected so as to project over any wall opening or so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape. Such sign shall not endanger persons or property or obstruct the view of traffic or traffic signals.

Temporary signs shall not be erected for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.

Any temporary sign that is illuminated or electric shall be installed pursuant to the current local electrical code as adopted by the City, and the necessary electrical permits shall be obtained.

Temporary business signs shall only advertise goods, services, facilities, events or attractions pertaining to the principal use of the premises where located.

Temporary signs shall only be allowed on the building or in the window and may not be attached to any accessory building, pole, fence, stanchion, or freestanding frame placed on the premises.

Not more than one ground sign may be erected accessory to any single building, structure, or shopping center regardless of the number of separate parties, tenants or uses contained therein. However, when any single building, structure, or shopping center is located on a parcel of land that abuts on two or more streets, it may have two or more ground signs, one sign per street frontage, subject further to the use restrictions in this section.

No ground sign for which a permit is required shall be erected of combustible materials, unless the face is constructed of sheet metal or other approved facing materials.

Ground signs shall be required to be set back from the property line in accordance with the building setback requirements for a particular district unless noted otherwise within this article. No ground sign shall be located with the public right-of-way.

Ground signs shall be adequately supported to resist dead load and the wind load acting in any direction on the sign as specified in the current local building code as adopted by the City.

No ground sign shall exceed 200 square feet in area. A billboard is not considered a ground sign under this article.

If a ground sign projects over an area of vehicular traffic, it shall have a ten-foot clearance above grade; over pedestrian traffic an 8 1/2-foot clearance.

Wall signs attached to exterior walls shall be safely and securely attached pursuant to local building code regulations. No wall sign shall be entirely supported by an unbraced parapet wall. Wall signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in surface area per building face unless otherwise stated.

For signs on shopping or office centers, or cluster commercial buildings, one business wall sign not exceeding 100 square feet per storefront shall be permitted. The anchor store(s) may have one sign per storefront that shall not exceed 200 square feet in area.

Awnings which display advertisement shall be allowed in any nonresidential district. They shall be considered a type of accessory sign when there is an advertising display on the awning. Such display may consist of lettering, a logo, picture, etc.

Sign permits are required for any awning with an advertising display.

The awning must be securely attached to the face of a building, and it must be entirely supported by the building.

Collapsible awnings erected on the face of a building, which are located near or on the street right-of-way line, may project not more than four feet into the public right-of-way and must be a minimum of 7 1/2 feet above grade level at the lowest point. Noncollapsible awnings must not project more than two feet into the right-of-way.

When an awning is used for signage or advertising purposes, only the rectangular area containing the logo and lettering shall be considered a sign and shall be in conformance to all signage regulations regarding size, etc.

No awning shall overhang onto adjacent private property.

Any awning which is illuminated shall require an electrical permit and shall be installed pursuant to the City electrical code.

All electrical equipment used in connection with signs shall, in addition to specific requirements of this article, be installed in accordance with the City electrical code.

All illuminated signs or any illuminated building trim shall be arranged to prevent glare into adjacent residential districts and shall not be of such brightness as to cause glare that is hazardous to pedestrians or auto drivers.

All spotlights shall be diffused or shielded to not shine on other properties.

There shall be no flashing, oscillating or intermittent type of illuminated sign or display in any residential district or within 100 feet of any residential district, except that such signs shall be permitted adjacent to a residential district when mounted along the face of a building which does not face such residential district.

All projecting signs for which a permit is required shall be constructed of noncombustible materials approved by the Building Inspector for this purpose. Such signs shall be securely attached to the building to which it is hung, pursuant to local building code requirements. No staples or nails shall be used to secure any projecting sign to any building.

Chains and wire ropes and their attachments shall be galvanized or of corrosive-resistant material. Metal supports and braces shall be painted.

A projecting sign shall overhang entirely on the property which it services. It shall not overhang into public rights-of-way by more than two feet or adjacent private property at all.

The maximum distance a sign can project out from the building to which it is attached is four feet over private property. If a sign projects over an area of pedestrian traffic, it shall have an eight-and-one-half-foot clearance, and over vehicular traffic the sign shall be a minimum of 8 1/2 feet from the ground below. A clearance level shall be posted on the sign when hanging over vehicular traffic areas.

Swinging signs shall be permitted as accessory signs when attached to the wall of a building in any nonresidential district, subject to the following conditions:

Marquee signs constructed of noncombustible material may be attached to the face of the sides and front of a marquee, and such signs may extend the entire length and width of the marquee, provided such signs shall be at least 8 1/2 feet at their lowest level above the sidewalk level. Marquee signs may also be attached to or hung from a marquee and, when hung from the bottom of a marquee, shall be at least 8 1/2 feet at their lowest level above the sidewalk level. No such sign shall extend outside the line of the marquee.

The total distance the marquee and marquee sign together can hang into the right-of-way is two feet.

Materials. Every roof sign shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, including the uprights, supports and braces, except that the ornamental molding, battens, cappings and nailing strips, platforms and the decorative trimmings may be constructed of combustible materials. Outside the first or inner fire zone, roof signs constructed of combustible materials will be permitted, provided the maximum height above grade shall not exceed the limits of height set forth in the building code for noncombustible buildings in the particular zone in which the sign is located.

Projection. No roof sign shall project beyond the exterior wall, but if illuminated lighting reflectors may project beyond the face of the sign.

Space between roof and sign. When necessary for fire protection, roof signs shall be so constructed as to leave a clear space, except for the structure supporting the sign, not less than one foot between the roof and the lowest part of such sign.

Supports and anchorage. Supports and anchorage shall be provided as follows:

Projection. No roof sign in any district shall project more than three feet above the building's roofline.

A billboard structure may be single or double faced, but any double-faced billboard structure shall have advertising surfaces of equal size and shape. For the purpose of this article, the following types of billboards shall be considered double-faced billboards:

Each face of a single- or double-faced off-premises (billboard) sign structure shall be allowed an advertising display area of not more than 300 square feet.

No off-premises sign shall be constructed unless it is 500 feet from the nearest existing off-premises sign on the same side of the road.

No off-premises sign shall be constructed unless it is more than 150 feet from residentially zoned property.

All off-premises signs shall be erected on structural steel frames anchored to the ground by concrete piers. The framework shall be designed to resist wind pressure over the panel area of 80 pounds per square foot. Panels should be metal. Trim or border around the panels may be constructed of wood.

No sign shall exceed the maximum height limitations of the district in which it is located. Where it can be shown that topography of the adjacent building would hamper visibility of a sign, the Zoning Board of Appeals can rule on a height variation.

If illuminated, conventional paper or vinyl printed off-premises signs shall be bottom-lit, and such lighting shall be designed to illuminate the sign face only. Hours of illumination shall be limited to dusk to dawn. LED, light-emitting diode, or digital billboards are allowed per the following regulations:

The location of any sign to be relocated shall be approved by the Planning Department prior to construction. If at any time a sign becomes damaged, including support posts, it may not be replaced. Upon removal of a sign, the number of remaining signs shall serve as the total number allowed. At no time can the number of permitted off-premises sign faces, including LED or digital billboards, in the City exceed 60, which is the number of existing signs as of January 1, 2007, on file with the Planning Department.

The face of a billboard may be replaced. When replacing the face of a permitted off-premises sign with a new sign, the square footage of the new sign face must be 300 square feet or less, regardless of the size of the former sign.

Off-premises signs or billboards are only allowed in the C-1, M-1, and M-2 Zones.

For each dwelling unit, one nameplate sign displaying the street name and number and name of the occupant, not exceeding one square foot in area. No building permit is required for any such signs.

For permitted principal uses other than dwellings and for permitted uses after special approval, except state licensed care facilities in a residential dwelling, one bulletin or announcement board not exceeding 12 square feet in area. No sign so permitted shall be located nearer to the front lot line than 1/2 the required front yard setback nor nearer the side lot line than the required side yard setback.

In the multiple-family districts, one ground or wall sign indicating the name of the multiple-housing development in addition to individual dwelling nameplates. Such signs indicating the name of the multiple-housing development shall not exceed 48 square feet in area. See permanent subdivision signs in Subsection (6) of this section.

Signs shall be illuminated only by continuous indirect white light and shall not contain any visible moving parts.

Signs advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease when located on the building or land intended to be sold, rented or leased, provided they are used only during the construction of a building or the offering for sale, rent or lease of real estate and provided such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. Not more than one such sign per building or parcel of land shall be permitted on each street upon which the building or parcel of land fronts. No building permit shall be required for such signs. Real estate signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way.

Permanent subdivision signs which indicate the name of the subdivision or multiple-housing development are allowed on private property, not in the public right-of-way. Signs on private property shall obtain a building permit after receiving a special permit from the Planning Commission. A scaled drawing shall be submitted showing the elevation of the sign indicating the size, layout, color and materials to be used. A site plan shall also be included indicating the location of the sign in relationship to property lines, streets, sidewalks, and utilities. Such signs shall follow the requirements of ground signs and shall be limited to one per entrance to the development. The sign shall not exceed 48 square feet in area or six feet in height. This includes any pillars, posts, or other supporting devices. These signs shall not interfere with visibility in regard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and final location shall be at the discretion of the permitting agent if the following rules would cause interference at the particular site: At the intersection with a major thoroughfare, placed at the entry drive of the development, the sign shall be set back a minimum of 30 feet from the curb of the major street and 10 feet from the sidewalk. Subdivision or multifamily housing development signs may be located in the required front yard setback, provided they meet the above criteria. Permanent signs of this nature shall not indicate properties for sale. See temporary subdivision signs in Subsection (7) of this section.

Temporary subdivision signs not exceeding 100 square feet in area may be permitted subject to their approval by the Planning Commission for a twelve-month period, subject to renewal, provided such signs conform to the conditions established by the Planning Commission to secure harmony with this chapter and there are buildings or home sales continuing in the subdivision being advertised. These temporary signs shall be located only on private property.

Any sign permitted in residential districts.

Accessory signs pertaining to the business or service being conducted on the premises where the sign is located; however, all such signs must be attached to a building, except ground signs and portable signs. Signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in area per building face, unless stated otherwise. For signs on shopping or office centers, or cluster commercial buildings, one business wall sign not exceeding 100 square feet per storefront shall be permitted. The anchor store(s) may have one sign per storefront that shall not exceed 200 square feet in area. Portable and temporary signs have their own size requirements. The following accessory signs are permitted:

Signs advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease when located on the building or land intended to be sold, rented or leased, provided they are used only during the construction of a building or the offering for sale, rent, or lease of real estate and provided such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. Not more than one such sign per building or parcel of land shall be permitted on each street upon which the building or parcel of land fronts. No building permit shall be required for such sign. Real estate signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way.

Standard nonaccessory or off-premises signs (billboards) are permitted only in the C-1 Zones, subject to the following requirements:

Only signs accessory to a building and pertaining to the business located therein which are supported by a wall of a building and project less than two feet from the building's wall or less than three feet above the roofline are permitted. Such accessory signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in surface area.

Signs advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease when located on the building or land intended to be sold, rented or leased, provided they are used only during the construction of a building or the offering for sale, rent or lease of real estate and provided such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. Not more than one such sign per building or parcel of land shall be permitted on each street upon which the building or parcel of land fronts. No building permit shall be required for such signs. Signs shall not be located in the right-of-way.

Ground signs are not permitted.

New off-premise signs, accessory signs, or billboards are not allowed in the CBD. If any existing billboards in the CBD are damaged or removed, they cannot be replaced or repaired.

Only signs attached to the walls of the building are allowed. Each face of the building shall not have more than two signs each: one primary and one secondary. Signs must be of similar style. Off-premises signs or billboards are not permitted.

A flush-mounted signboard may extend the width of the storefront but shall not be more than 2 1/2 feet high. The sign shall be mounted somewhere above the storefront display windows and below the second story windowsills. Lettering shall be eight to 18 inches high and shall occupy no more than 65% of the sign, including space between letters.

A hanging sign shall be mounted at least 8 1/2 feet above the sidewalk and shall project no more than two feet from the face of the building. The size and location of a hanging sign shall be carefully considered so that it does not interfere with neighboring signs or pedestrian traffic. Projecting signs may not hang into the right-of-way by more than two feet.

Ground signs are not permitted. Signs on the roof or any signs that project above the roofline are not allowed. A projecting sign may not hang into the public right-of-way by more than two feet.

Any lettering or symbols on the sign should be simple and should relate to the period of the building. Lettering can be mounted directly on a signboard, storefront or wall. Signage colors should be chosen to coordinate with the building colors.

Awnings can also serve as signs. Contrasting letters painted or sewn onto the valance are effective. Usually six-inch to eight-inch letters are sufficient. Canvas awnings are acceptable. Aluminum awnings and balloon awnings that cover storefronts that are lighted from underneath are not allowed.

Wood, glass and metal are the preferred sign materials; however, plastic, canvas, neon, stone, and Plexiglas may be acceptable, if the treatment is compatible with the historic guidelines as published by the former Main Street Port Huron. Except for barber poles or clocks, internally lit plastic signs, signs that flash or revolve or have movable parts are not acceptable unless they are authentic historic reproductions. Signage can be lighted in conformance with historic guidelines as published by the former Main Street Port Huron.

Window signs shall not cover more than 25% of any window.

Corporate and franchise logos are required to conform to the historic guidelines as published by the former Main Street Port Huron.

Procedures for obtaining a sign permit are as follows:

Accessory signs and ground, wall or roof signs pertaining to the industrial establishment on the premises where the sign is located and not exceeding 100 square feet in area.

No ground sign so permitted in Subsection (1) of this section shall be located nearer to the front lot line than 1/2 the required front setback nor nearer the side lot line than the required side yard setback.

Signs advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease when located on the building or land intended to be sold, rented or leased, provided they are used only during the construction of a building or the offering for sale, rent or lease of real estate and provided such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet for such signs.

Standard off-premises signs (billboards) are permitted in industrial zones subject to the following requirements: