Reedsburg City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXI
Signs
§ 690-94 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to create the legal framework for a comprehensive and balanced system of signage. This article will preserve the right of free speech and expression, provide easy communication between people and their environment, and avoid excessive levels of visual clutter or distraction that are potentially harmful to traffic and pedestrian safety, property values, business opportunities, and community appearance. With these purposes in mind, it is this article's intent to authorize the use of signs that are:
§ 690-95 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A sign composed on a lightweight or fabric material that may be secured or mounted on a building or pole(s).
Any sign that is part of or attached to an awning or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area, excluding marquees.
MULTIPLE-MESSAGE SIGNA sign whose messages are on triangular louvered facings and are changed by electronic rotation of the louvers.
VARIABLE-MESSAGE SIGNA sign without moving parts whose message is changed by electronic process through the use of moving or intermittent light or lights.
A usually rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design, attachable by one edge to a pole or rope.
A public sign for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger or caution, public way finding, railroad crossings, and public utilities.
Any sign supported by structures or supports that is intended to be permanently placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that is independent from any building or other structure.
A permanent, rooflike structure projecting over an entrance.
Any sign lawfully in existence that does not conform to the requirements of this article.
Any sign advertising goods, products, or services not located or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
A sign which is intended to be permanent and is cut into a masonry surface, inlaid so as to be part of a building, or as an inscribed tablet usually made of metal or other noncombustible material.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, such as those transported by means of wheels, excluding such vehicles used in the day-to-day operations of the business. A portable sign may have changeable lettering or electronic copy.
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of the building or wall.
Any sign located wholly on and over the roof structure.
Any structure that has a display visible from a public right-of-way and designed to identify, announce, direct or inform.
The distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. "Normal grade" is the existing grade prior to construction or the newly established grade after construction, not including any filling or mounding solely for the purpose of locating the sign.
Any sign that is used temporarily and not permanently mounted.
Any sign attached parallel to, but within six inches of, a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of, any building or structure which is supported by such wall or building and which displays only one sign surface.
A freestanding ground sign that is intended for temporary use that is located in a yard as defined in § 690-9.
§ 690-96 Permit/application.
No sign shall hereafter be altered, located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, or structurally altered without a permit except as provided herein. A permit may be required for any sign type not specifically covered in this chapter and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Zoning Administrator to meet the spirit and intent of this chapter.
§ 690-97 Application for permit.
Application for a permit shall be made, in writing, to the Zoning Administrator and shall contain the following information:
A.
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
B.
Location of the building, structure, or land to which or upon which the sign is to be erected.
C.
A sketch, drawing or other blueprint showing a description of the construction details of the sign, position of lighting or other extraneous devices, a location plan showing the position of the sign on any building or land, and its position in relation to nearby buildings or structures and to any private or public street or highway.
D.
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land which or on which the sign is to be erected, in the event the applicant is not the owner thereof.
E.
A copy of any required or necessary electrical permit issued for said sign or a copy of the application thereof.
F.
Fees for permits are per the current City Fee Schedule on file in the City's offices or available on the City's website.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
§ 690-98 Issuance of permit.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator, upon the filing of an application for a permit to erect a sign, to examine such plans, specifications and other data submitted to the Zoning Administrator with the application. If it shall appear that the proposed sign is in compliance with all the requirements of this article and other laws and ordinances of the City of Reedsburg, the Zoning Administrator shall then issue a permit for the erection of the proposed sign or forward to the Plan Commission, as required. If the sign authorized under any such permit has not been completed within six months from the date of the issuance of such permit, the permit shall become null and void.
§ 690-99 Revocation of permit.
No sign, whether new or existing, shall hereafter be erected or altered, except in conformity with the provisions of the local law. However, notwithstanding any provisions contained herein, the sign must be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards, such as, but not limited to, faulty wiring and loose fastenings, and must be maintained at all times in such safe condition so as not to be detrimental to the public health of safety.
§ 690-100 Violations and penalties.
In the event of a violation of any of the foregoing provisions, the Zoning Administrator shall give written or personal notice to the named owner of the sign and the named owner of the land upon which the sign is erected, sent to the addresses as stated in the application for the sign permit. The notice shall specify the violation and direct the sign owner and/or landowner to conform or remove such sign. The sign shall thereupon be conformed by the owner of the sign and the owner of the land within 30 days from the date of said notice. In the event such sign shall not be so conformed within 30 days, the Zoning Administrator shall thereupon revoke the permit and such sign shall be removed by the named owner of the sign and/or the named owner of the land.
§ 690-101 Exceptions to permit requirement.
The following signs may be located without a permit being issued unless otherwise required.
A.
Banners are permitted in business, government/institutional and industrial zones, subject to the following:
B.
Directional and instructional signs intended for on-site traffic control and safety which do not exceed eight square feet each in area.
C.
Interior signs. Located within the interior of any building or structure, which are not visible from the public right-of-way. This does not, however, exempt such signs from the structural, electrical, or material specifications of this chapter.
D.
Flags in any zoning district.
E.
Government signs in any zoning district or right-of-way.
F.
Plaques in any zoning district.
G.
Portable reader board signs in B1 and B2 Business Zones, one per parcel and maximum 32 square feet in size.
H.
Temporary window signs shall not be placed on door windows or other windows which would negatively affect pedestrian safety.
I.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs in B1 Commercial District. Temporary signs not exceeding 12 square feet per face and having only two faces may be placed upon the sidewalk in front of the associated business, provided that the sign does not obstruct pedestrian traffic and that the sign is removed during nonbusiness hours.
(2)
Temporary signs at Reedsburg Airport. Temporary signs that are located in the front yard of the Reedsburg Municipal Airport and approved by the City of Reedsburg. Also any temporary signs elsewhere on City-owned property and approved by the City of Reedsburg.
[Amended 10-10-2022 by Ord. No. 1945-22]
(3)
Temporary signs in the downtown right-of-way. Temporary banners that are attached to public light posts on Main Street from Granite Avenue to Locust Street and are controlled and approved by the City of Reedsburg.
(4)
Temporary ground or wall signs that comply with the standards of § 12.04, Wis. Stats., provided that such signs are not located in the fifteen-foot vision triangle at a street intersection corner nor over or in the public right-of-way.
J.
Vehicle signs. Signs painted on or attached to a body of a truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle while operating in the normal course of business.
§ 690-102 Signage in residential districts.
A.
One ground sign and one wall sign for public, charitable or religious institutions, not to exceed a combined total of 32 square feet in area.
B.
One unlighted ground or wall sign, not to exceed two square feet in area, shall be permissible on a residential property that contains a conditional-use-approved, on-site home business.
C.
Ground or wall signs in R3 Districts shall not exceed 20 square feet.
§ 690-103 Signage in business and industrial districts.
A.
Except as provided herein, one ground sign is permitted for an industrial park or shopping center, mall or office complex. The area of this sign shall not exceed 150 square feet. If a shopping center has frontage on more than one street, a second ground sign may be permitted, for a maximum 100 square feet. Wall signs in shopping centers shall not be more than 200 square feet per business.
B.
Except as provided herein, ground signs on outlots may not be larger than 32 square feet. Wall signs on outlots shall not exceed 200 square feet per business.
§ 690-104 Electronic signs.
B.
Electronic signs, or that portion of the overall sign, shall be a maximum 35 square feet or less, as permitted in this article, per zoning district; signs with an electronic component of just time and temperature are exempt from § 690-106.
C.
The spacing between electronic signs shall be a minimum 100 feet.
D.
Electronic signs may not be located in such a manner as to obscure, or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of, an official traffic sign, signal or device; or obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
E.
No message may be displayed for less than 1/2 of a second.
F.
No message may be repeated at intervals of less than two seconds.
G.
No traveling message may travel at a rate slower than 16 light columns per second or faster than 32 columns per second.
H.
The louver rotation time to change a message shall be one second or less and the time a message remains in a fixed position shall be six seconds or more.
I.
No variable-message sign may be illuminated to a degree of brightness that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility.
J.
Electronic signs may be used to advertise activities conducted on the property on which the signs are located, to promote on- or off-premises fund drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations, or to present public service information.
§ 690-105 Illumination.
A.
Internally or externally illuminated signs shall be located as to prevent the light from being cast directly onto adjacent properties.
B.
Signs that contain, include or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights which create a hazard to vehicle or pedestrian traffic are prohibited.
C.
External lighting shall be shielded and directed downward so as not to impair traffic or become a nuisance to adjacent properties.
§ 690-106 Existing/nonconforming signs.
§ 690-107 Maintenance.
A.
The owner of any sign shall keep it in good maintenance and repair.
B.
If the owner of such sign or the owner of the premises on which such sign is shall fail to comply with the orders of the Zoning Administrator relative to the painting, repair, alteration, maintenance or removal of said sign pursuant to written notice thereof and within 14 days after the notice to said owner:
(1)
The costs of such removal of said sign shall be assessed to the owner of the property upon which said sign is erected and shall be certified in the proper manner to have them levied as special charges against such property, and proper officers of the City are authorized and directed to enter such charges on to the tax roll.
§ 690-108 Prohibited signs.
A.
Off-premises advertising by billboards, signboards, reader boards and other advertising signs, signals and displays or devices except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in this article of the Code.
B.
Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices in order to help protect traffic control and safety.
C.
Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices in order to help protect traffic control and safety.
D.
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
E.
Swinging signs that are constructed to not withstand wind pressures.
§ 690-109 Conflict with other provisions.
It is the intention of this chapter to create individual restrictions for noncommercial speech, whether on or off premises. Noncommercial speech is intended to be favored over commercial speech. No preference to types of noncommercial speech is intended. To the extent that this chapter or future amendments to this chapter create such a conflict, this chapter is to be interpreted such that it will be in conformance with this section.
§ 690-110 Sign standards.
Overall sign standards, except as provided herein.
P — Allowed With Sign Permit N — Not Allowed | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R3 | B1 | B2 | B3 | I1 | I2 | I3 | I4 | A | C/ RC | |
Ground signs | * | * | * | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Other signs | ||||||||||||
Canopy | N | N | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | N | P | P |
Marquee | N | N | N | P | P | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
Projecting | N | N | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Roof | N | N | N | P | P | N | P | P | P | N | N | N |
Wall | * | * | * | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Electronic | N | N | N | P | P | N | P | P | N | N | N | N |
Ground Signs — 1 per premises, as permitted | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R3 | B3 | I1 | I2 | I3 | I4 | A | C/RC | |
Sign area (square feet) | * | * | * | 20 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 50 | 20 | 20 |
Height (feet) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Front setback (feet) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
Side setback (feet) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 |
*See § 690-102 |
Ground Signs — B1, B2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lanes/Speed | Sign Area (square feet) | Height (feet) | Front Setback | Side Setback |
2/0-34 | 35 | 12 | 2 | 5 |
2-3/35+* | 35 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
4-5/0-34 | 35 | 12 | 2 | 5 |
4-5/0-34, B2 Zone only* | 50 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
4-5/35-44* | 50 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
4-5/45+* | 100 | 25 | 2 | 5 |
To encourage higher quality of design and increased effectiveness of graphics, the City seeks to reward this effort through an increase of sign face area following a review by the Plan Commission. For those zones marked (*), sign area may increase by up to 50% if constructed of natural or decorative materials such as wood, logs, stone, brick, etc., or a synthetic material that matches such appearance; has a front setback at least five feet; and has a height of 15 feet or less. |
§ 690-111 Building sign standards.
Building Signs (Parcels may include signs from the following categories, as permitted, up to 200 square feet total; 100 square feet in B3) | ||
|---|---|---|
Standards | Maximum Sign Area | |
Canopy | 1 per business; minimum 30 inches from curblines, 7 feet above a sidewalk and 15 feet above a driveway or alley | 200 square feet; B3, 100 square feet |
Marquee | 1 per business; minimum 3 feet side setbacks, 30 inches from curblines, 10 feet above a sidewalk and 15 feet above a driveway or alley | 100 square feet |
Projecting | 1 per business; project up to 6 feet into public ROW; minimum 5 feet side setbacks, 30 inches from curblines, 10 feet above a sidewalk and 15 feet above a driveway or alley | 100 square feet |
Roof | 1 per business; maximum 10 feet above roof; meet district height requirements | 200 square feet total for all sides |
Wall | Maximum 3 per business; maximum 12 inches from building's wall | 200 square feet total; B3, 100 square feet |