Post City Zoning Code
Division 9
Sign Regulations
§ 14.02.421 Purpose.
(a)
The purpose of this division is to provide uniform sign standards which promote a positive city image reflecting order, harmony and pride and thereby strengthening the economic stability of the city’s business, cultural and residential areas.
(b)
Objectives to be pursued in applying specific standards are as follows:
(1)
To identify individual business, residential and public uses without creating confusion, unsightliness or visual obscurity of adjacent businesses;
(2)
To assure that all signs, in terms of size, height, scale and location are properly related to the overall adjacent land use character and development lot size;
(3)
To assure that all signs, in terms of color, form, material and design are compatible with other structural forms on the development lots;
(4)
To assure that off-premises advertising is compatible with adjacent land use and does not obscure views of adjacent on-premises signs; and
(5)
To assure that all signs, sign supports and sign bases shall be so constructed and designed to provide for design compatibility with the development. Where possible, the materials used, the form, color, lighting and style should be similar to the materials used in the development.
(2002 Code, sec. 152.125)
§ 14.02.422 Identification; compliance.
(a)
Signs within the C-1 districts are specifically regulated in section 14.02.273. Signs within the DH district shall be regulated by section 14.02.057.
(b)
Signs [in] R-1 and R-2 [districts] shall be permitted as follows:
(1)
One sign not exceeding one square foot in area, indicating only the name and address of the occupant, for each residential unit, with an additional sign on multifamily housing designating the house name, not exceeding six square feet.
(2)
One unlighted sign not exceeding 12 square feet in area on each development lot pertaining to the prospective sale or rental of the property on which it is located.
(3)
Except as herein provided, no person or business firm, acting either as principal or agent, shall alter the copy face or lettering of any sign (except signs with temporary messages made from interchangeable characters attached to tracts or grooves on the sign board), either by changing the message or by renovating an existing message or shall erect any sign structure, until a sign permit for the work has been issued by the city.
(4)
All signs, where applicable, shall meet the standards of the city’s building regulations.
(5)
All business locations shall be identified by a street address sign. The sign shall have numbers four inches high and be clearly visible from the street.
(6)
Signs identifying the business may display a name and/or the primary services provided or products sold on the premises, except for billboards, auxiliary, governmental or community service signs, as provided.
(7)
All signs shall be kept in good repair and repainted as needed, so as not to constitute a nuisance. If a sign should fall into disrepair, so as to constitute a nuisance and, the owner refuses to repair or repaint within 60 days of notice by the zone administrator, the city will contract to have the sign repaired/repainted or have it removed and bill the owner for the contract costs.
(8)
No sign may project past a property line.
(9)
Sign requirements for all conditional uses shall be set by the zoning board and in no case shall the requirements exceed the requirements for that use or similar type uses in the district in which the use is permitted.
(10)
Temporary construction site and for sale and rental signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area and then ten feet in height may be placed at a development site on property of one acre or more for a period of one year.
(11)
Governmental signs, not exceeding 32 square feet in area and not exceeding ten feet in height, shall be permitted. The standards shall not apply where state or federal regulations are in conflict with these standards.
(12)
Banners, flags, [and] signs by schools, civic organizations and organizations holding an IRS 501C designation will be permitted, not to exceed seven days.
(13)
Billboards and outdoor advertising signs shall be permitted only in I districts, subject to the following conditions:
(A)
Billboards shall be constructed to meet the construction standards of the city building code.
(B)
Billboards shall have a maximum height of 35 feet.
(C)
All lighting of billboards shall be so shielded as not to produce intensive or excessive light or glare on adjacent property.
(2002 Code, sec. 152.126)
§ 14.02.423 Prohibited signs.
The following signs shall be prohibited in all districts:
(1)
Any sign which resembles an official traffic sign or signal or which bears the words “stop,” “go slow,” “caution” or similar wording.
(2)
Signs which by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as traffic control sign, signal or device, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal or device.
(3)
Portable or wheeled signs including advertising vehicles or trailers visible from any public right-of-way which remain within the corporate city limits in excess of ten days.
(4)
Any signs which emit sound, odor or visible matter which serves as a distraction to persons within the public right-of-way.
(2002 Code, sec. 152.127)
§ 14.02.424 Abandoned or damaged signs.
(a)
When any sign or substantial portion of it is blown down or otherwise destroyed or taken down or removed for any purpose other than maintenance operations or for changing the letters, symbols or other matter on the sign, it may not be re-erected, constructed or rebuilt except in full conformance with the provisions and requirements of this article.
(b)
A sign or substantial portion thereof shall be considered destroyed only if the cost of repair is more than 60% of the cost or erecting a new similar sign at the same location.
(c)
The sign owner or his or her agent will be notified in person or by certified mail and given 60 days to bring the offending sign into compliance. If no action is taken, the city will remove the sign and supports and inform the owner why they were removed and where they may be reclaimed.
(d)
Removed signs and supports shall be stored for a period of not to exceed 14 days beginning the first day of notice. A storage charge of $5 per day will be levied beginning the fourth day of that 14-day period. Before the expiration of the storage period, the owner of the sign and supports may reclaim his or her property upon payment of any storage charges and cost of removal. If the sign and supports have not been reclaimed by the expiration of the storage period, they may be disposed of in whatever manner the administrator shall choose.
(2002 Code, sec. 152.128)
§ 14.02.425 Removal; interpretation.
This division shall not be otherwise interpreted to require the removal of a sign existing on the date of passage of this article, so long as such is not damaged beyond reasonable repair or abandoned for a term of less than 180 days by reason of the business ceasing to operate on a continuous basis or by closing of the business.
(2002 Code, sec. 152.129)