The purpose of this sign ordinance is to protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of City residents and businesses by regulating the design, materials, size, construction, installation, location and maintenance of signs and sign structures in a manner consistent with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Utah in order to achieve the following goals and objectives:

A. To minimize distractions and obstructions that may be caused by signs and thereby reduce potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians;

B. To preserve and improve the natural beauty and aesthetic quality of the City by reducing the visual clutter caused by an excess of signs and to thereby increase the desirability of the City as a place to live and work and as an attraction for nonresidents to visit;

C. To encourage signs that are harmonious with the property on which they are located;

D. To safeguard and enhance property values;

E. To provide for ample and adequate means of communication of both commercial and noncommercial messages to the public;

F. To preserve the residential character of residential neighborhoods and residential zones; and

G. To reduce the incompatibility between signs and their surroundings.

Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, all signs erected, altered or relocated within the city shall require a sign permit prior to its erection, installation, alteration or relocation, and must be in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Code 1998, § 10-15-2; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)

Forms for a sign permit will be available in the city office during regular business hours. The permit application shall contain the following:

1. Site plan. Sign permit applications must contain a site plan drawn to scale indicating the location of the proposed signage, existing signage, existing and future buildings, property lines, streets, sidewalks, landscaped areas, driveways and clear-view (see PCC chapter 9) areas on corners, driveways or intersections.
2. Sign drawing. A drawing to scale indicating the type of sign, proposed sign dimensions, construction specifications, electrical components and wiring, method of attachment, and illumination specifications.
3. Elevation. An elevation drawing of existing and/or future buildings that will display the attached signage.

(Code 1998, § 10-15-3; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 12-233; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)

Sign permit applications will be reviewed and fees accessed according to a fee schedule established by resolution of the city council and/or fees established by the adopted Building Code.

(Code 1998, § 10-15-4; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)

The signs described in the table as provided in this section shall be allowed within the provisions specified therein. Any sign not specifically permitted by this chapter is prohibited. Unless noted otherwise, the sign dimension regulations identified below are measured in linear feet.

Notes:

1. Width cannot exceed frontage of building.
2. May not project above roof line.
3. May be posted/anchored for a period of not more than 60 days or removed within 24 hours of event whichever is shorter
4. Permit not required if no illumination.
5. Or 20 percent of building face, whichever is smaller.
6. Shall not be located closer than 250 foot intervals
7. One sign shall be allowed for each separate building or building pad of a commercial complex; and shall be located no closer than 100 feet from any other sign on the same parcel or commercial complex.

8.Must have conditional use permit and not any closer than 100-foot intervals.

9. May be displayed for a period of no more than 180 days.

10. The height of the sign face of roof signs shall not exceed 20% of the building height or ten feet, whichever is less.

11. Murals or wall art that does not contain any commercial messaging or commercial copy is not considered a sign. Any mural or wall art with a commercial message or copy is regulated as a wall sign.

Illumination Codes

1. Dir – Direct.
2. Fl – Fluorescence.
3. In – Indirect.
4. Int - Internal.
5. Ne – Neon.
6. Pr - Projection.

7. Strobe - A type of specialized lamp that produces a continuous series of short, bright flashes of light. Strobe lighting associated with a sign is prohibited.

(Code 1998, § 10-15-5; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)

1. Animated, flashing, intermittent signs. Animated, strobing, lights, replicating public safety or law enforcement, flashing and intermittent signs shall not be permitted in any zone, except when deemed necessary by the city for public safety. These signs are different than electronic message signs, as defined in PCC 1-3-2.
2. Construction standards. All signs erected in the city shall comply with the current standards of the National Electrical Code, the adopted Building Code, and all the provisions of this title.
3. Illumination. Signs may be illuminated as indicated in the table provided in PCC 10-15-5; and shall be subject to the conditions listed in PCC 10-15-8.
4. Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in a neat and presentable condition. Those signs damaged by weather conditions or by accident shall be repaired within 30 days or shall be replaced or removed. The removal of signs shall be at owner's expense.
5. Public property. No sign or other device, banner, or marker shall be located on or in public property except signs for city-sponsored events, regulatory and/or information street signs with the exception of placement of the official American flag and only in park strips that are in the city right-of-way. Flag display shall be allowed on city park strips on designated state and federal holidays from sunrise to sunset and must follow flag etiquette as described on the defense.gov website.
6. Unsafe signs. Any sign or portion thereof declared unsafe by the building inspector, or other designated city employee/official, must be restored to a safe condition within 30 days of mailing or otherwise fiving notice of the unsafe condition or shall be removed within the same 30-day period.
7. Holiday decorations and banners. Holiday decorations and banners placed by the city are not subject to the requirements of this chapter, except that they are safe. Similar decorations and banners placed by residents on private property are not subject to the requirements of this chapter except for the consideration for safety and shall not constitute a nuisance, and they shall be entirely on private property.
8. Traffic hazard. No sign 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 words "stop," "drive-in," "danger," or any other words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
9. Trip hazard. To minimize trip hazards, all signs must be a minimum of 24 inches in height.
10. Exempt. The following are not considered signs for the purpose of this chapter:
    1. Mail boxes;
    2. Address names and numbers;
    3. National and state flags (flag poles on residential properties shall be no taller than 35 feet in height).
11. Closure or relocation of a business, institution, or nonprofit business/organization. Business signs must be removed within 30 days after a business, institution, or nonprofit business/organization no longer exists at that location.
12. Inflatable signs. Inflatable signs require a sign permit. No more than two inflatable signs shall be allowed per building at any one time. They must be securely anchored and displayed for no more than 60 days.
13. If a sign meets the definition of more than one sign type, the least restrictive will apply.

(Code 1998, § 10-15-6; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 12-233; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016; Ord. No. 009-2021)

1. Penalty. Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and subject to penalty as provided in PCC 1-4-1.
2. Confiscation of signs. The public works director, or designee, may confiscate any sign located on public property in violation of this chapter or any other city ordinance. Confiscated signs shall be stored at a location determined by the public works director, or designee, for a period of 30 days; during which time, the owner or person having charge, control, or benefit of the confiscated sign, may redeem the sign after payment of any applicable penalties. The city shall not be liable for damages incurred to signs as a result of their confiscation. Signs not redeemed within 30 days may be destroyed.
3. Liable for damages. In addition to civil penalties, sign owners and persons having charge, control or benefit of any sign erected in violation of this chapter shall be liable for any damages caused to public property, public facilities or public utilities by reason of placement, attachment and/or removal of such unlawful signs.
4. Any person who has been ordered by the city to alter or remove any sign, or any person whose application for a sign permit has been refused, may appeal to the administrative appeals hearing officer by filing a written appeal with the city recorder, following the process in Section 2-5-3 Appealing Land Use Authority’s Decision, of this code. Upon filing of an appeal, the city shall take no further action with regard to the removal of the sign involved until the administrative appeals hearing officer makes a final decision on the appeal. However, if the city finds that the sign presents an immediate or serious danger to the public, the city shall proceed immediately to have the sign altered or removed.
5. The city’s failure to take appropriate action against violations of this Chapter shall not be a waiver of any of the rights of the city as set forth in this Chapter.

(Code 1998, § 10-15-7; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)

Illuminated signs shall be subject to the following conditions:

1. Any direct light used for the illumination of a sign shall be shielded so that the beams or rays of light will not shine directly onto surrounding areas.
2. Neither the direct nor the reflected light from any light sources shall create a traffic hazard or distraction to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
3. Signs in residential and agricultural zones shall be nonilluminated, unless illumination is clearly required for safety purposes.
4. Signs in commercial zones may be illuminated, provided they do not shine directly into a residential zone.
5. Lights used for direct illuminated signs may extend from the sign a distance not to exceed five feet, provided such lights are shielded and are on private property.
6. Individual incandescent bulb illumination which is designed to be an integral part of a sign, marquee, canopy, architectural projection, or building facade embellishment shall be permitted as provided:
   1. Frosted, translucent or diffused bulb: 25 watt maximum per bulb;
   2. Clear, transparent or bare bulb: 7 1/2 watt maximum per bulb;
   3. Such light shall not blink, flash, move, scintillate, flicker, vary in intensity or color or use electrical pulsations, with the exception of those placed behind rigid, permanently affixed translucent panels and are approved by conditional use. Time-temperature-date signs incorporating the use of blinking lights shall also be permitted if a conditional use permit is granted.
7. Strobe lighting associated with a sign is prohibited.
   

(Code 1998, § 10-15-8; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)

Electronic message displays shall conform to the following:

1. EMD shall be allowed as part of a monument or freestanding sign in all commercial zones.
2. Permits shall be required for all EMD signs pursuant to PCC 10-15-2. Before a permit is issued, the applicant must first obtain a conditional use permit.
3. Off-premises advertising on an EMD is prohibited with the exception of public service announcements.
4. Operators of EMD are encouraged to provide opportunities for the placement of public service announcements on their message boards.
5. The minimum spacing between EMD signs shall be 100 feet.
6. Auto-dimming is required.
7. The minimum time for sign messages shall be three to five seconds.
8. A maximum of 50 percent of the EMD sign may be dedicated to electronic messaging.
9. EMD signs facing residential housing units shall not be placed such that the housing unit falls within an area formed by an arc projecting from the face of the sign at an angle of 15 degrees and extending a distance of 300 feet in the direction of the projection.
10. EMD monument signs are not to exceed six feet in height and the base shall not exceed two feet in height.
11. Prohibited transitions:
    1. Flashing.
    2. Travel.
    3. Scroll.
    4. Video.
12. Permitted transitions:
    1. Dissolve.
    2. Fade.
    3. Frame.
    4. Animation, six second maximum.
13. Public service announcements. A mobile EMD that is used for the purpose of displaying a public service announcement, of a non-commercial and temporary nature, is permitted as a temporary sign and does not require a conditional use permit.
    

(Code 1998, § 10-15-9; Ord. of 12-13-2005; Ord. No. 008-2009, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. 003-2014, 7-8-2014; Ord. No. 2016-019, 8-9-2016)