Rugby City Zoning Code

(a)

The purpose of the general sign regulations shall be to coordinate the type, placement and physical dimensions of signs within the different land use zones; to recognize the commercial communication requirements of all sectors of the business community; and to encourage the innovative use of design. These shall be accomplished by regulation of the display, erection, and use of signs. The use of signs is regulated according to zone. The placement and physical dimensions of signs are regulated primarily by type and length of street frontage. No sign shall be permitted as a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions in this title.

(b)

Thus, the primary intent of these regulations shall be to regulate signs of a commercial nature intended to be viewed from any vehicular public right-of-way.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(part), 1990)

These regulations shall not relate to building design. Nor shall the regulations regulate official traffic or government signs; the copy and message of signs; signs not intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way; window displays; product dispensers and point of purchase displays; scoreboards on athletic fields; flags of any nation, government, or noncommercial organization; gravestones; barber poles; religious symbols; commemorative plaques; the display of street numbers; or any display or construction not defined herein as a sign.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(part), 1990)

A "sign' means any surface, fabric, device, or display which bears lettered, pictorial, or sculptured matter, including forms shaped to resemble any human, animal, or product, designed to convey information visually and which is exposed to public view. For purposes of this title, the term "sign" shall include all structural members. A sign shall be construed to be a display surface or device containing organized and related elements composed to form a single unit. In cases where matter is displayed in a random or unconnected manner without organized relationship of the components, each such component shall be considered to be a single sign. The types of signs included in the definition of a sign are described in Chapter 19.04. The following shall not be included in the application of the regulations herein:

(1)

Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants of premises;

(2)

Flags and insignia of any government, nation or noncommercial organization, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion;

(3)

Legal notices, identification, or directional signs erected by governmental bodies;

(4)

Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights;

(5)

Signs directing and guiding traffic, and parking; on private property, but bearing no advertising matter;

(6)

Window displays, product dispensers and point of purchase displays, or scoreboards on athletic fields;

(7)

Property addresses stamped or painted on curbing directly in front of the building.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(1), 1990)

Unless specified herein no person shall erect, alter, reconstruct or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit for such work from the building inspector. No permit shall be issued until the building inspector determines that such work is in accordance with the requirements contained in this title. When a sign permit has been issued by the building inspector, it shall be unlawful to change, modify, alter, or otherwise deviate from the terms or conditions of the permit without prior approval from the building inspector. A written record of approval shall be entered upon the original permit application and maintained in the files of the building inspector.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(2), 1990)

Except as otherwise provided, signs permitted shall be as enumerated in the district regulations, chapters 19.10 through 19.23.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(3), 1990)

It is unlawful to erect. or maintain:

(1)

Any sign which is not included under the types of signs permitted in district regulations or in this subsection;

(2)

Any sign, outdoor commercial advertising or lighting device such as a beacon light, constituting a nuisance because of lighting glare, focus, animation, or flashing;

(3)

Any sign which conflicts in any manner with the clear and obvious appearance of public signs and devices controlling traffic;

(4)

Any sign projecting more than ten feet over a street, alley, or other public space, or closer than two feet to the curbline of any public street or alley, or less than ten feet above any street, alley, or public space;

(5)

Any notice, political poster, handbill, advertisement or any other sign upon any power or telephone pole, bridge, fire hydrant, official public sign, or in any portion of a public right-of-way;

(6)

Any ground sign on public property except by approval of the city council;

(7)

Any sign within three feet of a driveway or parking area or within fifty feet of an intersection of two or more streets which has its lowest elevation less than ten feet above curb level.

(Ord. 304, Art, 17, § 1(4), 1990)

The following temporary signs are allowed without a permit:

(1)

Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, such sign shall not exceed six square feet in area in residential districts and ten square feet in area in other district.;

(2)

Signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress, such signs shall not exceed sixteen square feet in area in residential districts and thirty-two square feet in area in other districts.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(5), 1990)

The following signs are permitted in all zones:

(1)

All signs not requiring a permit (Sections 19.30.020 and 19.30.070);

(2)

Signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress;

(3)

Temporary special event signs and decorations per premises as allowed by the building official for special events, grand openings, or holidays.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(6), 1990)

Billboards shall be allowed only in I-1 light industrial and I-2 heavy industrial districts as permitted uses and in the C-2 general commercial district as conditional uses and only if they conform to the following provisions:

(1)

The owner shall agree, at the time of issuance of the permit, to place and maintain on such billboard the name of the person owning, in charge of, or in control of, the billboard.

(2)

No billboard shall be erected, altered, constructed, reconstructed, or moved until an application and plans shall have been filed with and approved by the building official as to size, location, and construction.

(3)

Billboards shall not exceed twenty feet in height above ground.

(4)

The owner, lessee or manager of such billboard, and the owner of the sign shall maintain and keep the ground area around the sign free and clean of weeds and debris.

(5)

No billboard shall exceed five hundred square feet (on a single face).

(6)

Plans for billboards in the fire limits shall be referred to the fire department for review and recommendation.

(7)

No billboard shall project beyond the front, side or rear building line established for the district as set forth in this title.

(8)

It is unlawful to construct or maintain, or cause to be constructed or maintained, any billboard in such manner as to:

(A)

Obstruct the view of street or railroad crossings;

(B)

Be unable to stand a pressure of at least forty pounds per square foot of advertising surface;

(C)

Be dangerous to the public by falling or blowing down;

(D)

Increase the danger of loss by fire or to increase fire insurance rates;

(E)

Approach nearer than five feet from any building, unless attached to the building.

(9)

Billboards hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered or moved in the city and the planning area shall be constructed in such a manner and of such materials that they shall be safe and substantial.

(10)

Billboards supported by the ground shall have all posts set in concrete.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(7), 1990)

(a)

Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs, or societies may be erected not exceeding ten feet in height. The sign face shall not exceed twenty-four square feet and the maximum total area of all sign faces shall be two times the maximum permitted size per sign face. The signs or bulletin boards shall be located on the premises of the institution. One sign or bulletin board shall be permitted on each street side. If sign or bulletin board is illuminated, the lights shall be directed away from adjoining residential uses. Buildings constructed on the property line shall be allowed one flat wall sign permanently attached to the building.

(b)

No sign shall be located closer than eight toot from any side or rear property line or one-half the distance of the required front yard if located in the front yard. On corner lots, no sign shall be constructed or located that will obstruct the view of traffic approaching the street intersection. Ground signs shall be permanent by anchored and not exceed a height of six feet above normal grade.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(8), 1990)

A permit shall be required for the erection, construction or alteration of any sign in the city planning area. Application for permits by other than the property owner shall be accompanied by either a letter authorizing the placement of the sign on the land or building, signed by the owner or his duly authorized agent, or a lease showing the right of the applicant. Such application shall conform to the regulations herein provided and no such sign shall be erected or painted on any area until the application is acted upon and granted. If a sign for which a permit is granted is not erected within sixty days from the date of the permit, the permit shall, unless renewed, become void. Permits are issued for the life of the sign so long as it is kept in good condition, and changing conditions do not make it a hazard or undesirable to adjoining property owners. In such cases the city may direct its removal or repair.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(9), 1990)

Existing signs which do not conform to the specific provisions of this title may be eligible for the designation "legal nonconforming" provided that the building official determines such signs are properly maintained and do not in any way endanger the public and the sign was covered by a valid permit or complied with all applicable laws on the date of adoption of this title. A legal nonconforming sign may lose this designation if the sign is relocated or replaced or the structure or size of the sign is altered in any way except towards compliance with this title. The legal nonconforming sign is subject to all requirements of these regulations regarding safety, maintenance, and repair. However, if the sign suffers more than fifty percent appraised damage or deterioration, it must be brought into conformance with these regulations or removed.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(10), 1990)

No person shall place a portable sign on an establishment or allow upon their establishment a portable sign which does not meet the following provisions:

(1)

Only one portable sign per business establishment is allowed and shall be placed on the premises of that establishment or on leased or rented space off the premises.

(2)

The face of the portable signs shall not exceed thirty-two square feet.

(3)

Signs shall not be placed on rights-of-way, nor shall they obstruct view at an intersection.

(4)

Portable signs must be securely anchored but not permanently affixed to the ground. Once a portable sign is fastened to a building, elevated above ground level, placed on or affixed to poles, or placed on top of a building, it is considered a permanent sign and must meet all requirements for the type of sign, i.e., wall, freestanding, root etc., for the district in which it is placed.

(5)

If signs are to be lighted, the electrical hookup shall be provided in such a manner as to not be a life or safety threat.

(6)

Signs must be properly maintained as to be clean and in good working order and repair.

(7)

Signs may be allowable in residential districts for a period not to exceed forty-eight hours, for special announcements or recognition purposes, and not for business; advertising.

(Ord. 304, Art. 17, § 1(11), 1990)