The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all signs erected in Salina City except for the following signs which shall be exempt therefrom:

1. Traffic and other municipal signs, house numbers, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, and danger and warning signs;
2. Memorial tablets or tablets containing the name, date, erection and use of the buildings, when built into the walls of the building and constructed of bronze, brass, marble, stone, or other incombustible materials;
3. Unilluminated and nonfloodlighted signs having an area not in excess of four square feet on private property, which advertises the place of business of a doctor, dentist or other profession, or home occupation;
4. Nonilluminated and nonfloodlighted flat signs, wall signs, and freestanding signs having an area not in excess of thirty-six (36) square feet announcing the destruction or construction or remodeling of a building or announcing the enterprise to be located in a building under construction or announcing the name and address of the architect or contractor of the building, or the owner thereof, provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected on each street frontage, and also provided that said signs are not erected more than sixty (60) days prior to construction and are removed not more than thirty (30) days after completion;
5. Nonilluminated and nonfloodlighted religious, charitable and educational ground signs having an area not in excess of twelve (12) square feet.

(ZO § 12-1)

It is declared unlawful for any person, partnership or corporation to erect or maintain or to engage in the business of erecting or maintaining any sign as herein defined within the corporate limits of the city except those which are specifically exempt from this chapter, until such person, partnership or corporation shall have obtained a license from the state of Utah authorizing him or her or it to do sign contracting. Application for permits to erect signs will be accepted and permits granted to only such persons, partnerships or corporations as are licensed by the state of Utah to perform such sign contracting.

(ZO § 12-2)

No contractor shall be issued a permit for the erection of a sign in the city until such person shall have filed with the city clerk a bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) or liability insurance as specified in Section 17.76.050.

(ZO § 12-3)

All bonds required to be filed under the preceding section shall be executed by a qualified surety company licensed to do business in the state of Utah and shall be conditioned for the faithful observance of the ordinances of the city of Salina, now or hereafter enacted relating to the erection and maintenance of signs, to save and keep harmless the city, its officials and employees from all damages, liabilities, losses or judgments that may be recovered against the city by reason of negligent erection of any of the aforesaid signs, or negligent maintenance of any sign owned by, or maintained by such sign contractor.

(ZO § 12-4)

The city clerk is authorized to accept in lieu of the bond required in Sections 17.76.030 and 17.76.040 a copy of the insurance policy against loss by reason of liability for bodily injury, death, or property damage in such form as shall protect the licensee and the city from loss from any and all claims for damages arising out of the operations and activities of the licensee in pursuance of the licensed activity. The amount of such insurance shall not be less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for injury or death to any one person nor less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for injury or death to more than one person in any one occurrence, nor less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for property damage. A copy of such insurance policy shall be filed with the city clerk. Said policy shall contain a clause providing that it shall not be cancelled without ten days' prior written notice to the city. If a license shall be issued upon the basis of such policy of insurance and said policy of insurance shall lapse, be cancelled or otherwise become ineffective, the license issued upon the basis of such policy shall automatically and forthwith become void and of no effect, and the city clerk is not required to give notice thereof to the licensee.

(ZO § 12-5)

1. It is unlawful to erect or maintain or remodel any sign upon or over public or private property, with the city, until a sign permit with respect to such sign has been obtained from the building inspector.
2. No illuminated or floodlighted sign shall be connected to the electrical wiring source at a location until an electrical permit with respect thereto has been issued by the building inspector.
3. No sign permit shall be issued to any person other than a licensed sign contractor.
4. All sign permit requests shall be accompanied with two complete sets of drawings and specifications.

(ZO § 12-6)

Before any sign permit will be issued, the permit fees as determined from time to time by the city shall be paid. A schedule of said fees shall be on file at all reasonable times from the city recorder.

(ZO § 12-7)

No sign shall be erected or maintained, or be permitted to remain publicly displayed, which is of a misleading, fraudulent, obscene, immoral, indecent or unsightly character.

(ZO § 12-8)

No sign shall be painted, pasted or glued directly on any wall or roof or affixed directly on any wall or roof by means of any similar adhesive substance. No paper or cloth signs shall be tacked directly on any wall or roof.

(ZO § 12-9)

It is unlawful to use in connection with any sign any radio, phonograph, whistle, bell or any other sound or noisemaking or transmitting device or instrument.

(Ord. 990301 § 1(n), 1999: ZO § 12-10)

No animated signs shall be erected or maintained in, nor closer than seventy-five (75) feet from, any residential zone. Revolving animated signs are limited to six revolutions per minute and may not have flashing lights attached thereto.

(ZO § 12-11)

Marquee signs may be placed on, attached to, or constructed in a marquee. For the purpose of determining height, projection and clearance, the tables as specified in the Uniform Building Code for marquees shall govern.

(ZO § 12-12)

Copy area of a building facade or of multiple-copy signs shall not exceed forty (40) percent of the background facing to which it is applied.

(ZO § 12-13)

If a sign does not conform with the requirements of this chapter or if a sign does not conform to the provisions of Sections 17.76.230 and 17.76.240, the chief building official shall proceed in any manner he or she deems necessary to cause the removal of the sign or the rebuilding of the sign to conform with the requirements of this chapter or to remedy the defects therein.

(ZO § 12-14)

Where immediate action is deemed necessary to protect limb, life or property and where the owner of a sign or the owner of the property on which the sign is erected fails to remove such sign pursuant to notice from the chief building official within a specified time fixed in such notice, the chief building official may proceed in any manner deemed necessary to cause the immediate removal of such sign. The chief building official shall certify a statement of the expenses incurred in such removal to the city clerk who shall in turn assess and charge the same against the real estate upon which the sign was erected, and unless said assessment is paid within ninety (90) days after and from the date of notice thereof the same shall, when recorded in the offices of the county clerk and recorder of the city, become a lien upon the real estate whereon the sign is erected and collectible in the same manner as general taxes.

(ZO § 12-15)

It is unlawful to erect and/or maintain any sign over any street or alley, except as herein expressly provided.

(ZO § 12-16)

No signs shall cover windows, doorways, or other openings providing light ventilation or exit facilities which are required by the building code or which are deemed by the fire department to be necessary to give fire department access to the building, or to afford fire protection in the event of a fire; provided, however, that flat signs, wall signs, cloth signs and projecting signs shall be permitted to cover transoms.

(ZO § 12-17)

To prevent blanketing, no projecting or marquee sign shall be erected to project more than twenty-four (24) inches. Projection shall be measured from the facing of the structure to which the sign is attached.

(ZO § 12-18)

It is unlawful for any person to fasten or attach, paint or place, any sign, handbill, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind or sort, whether political or otherwise, or to cause the same to be done in or upon the curbstone, lamp post, telephone pole, electric light, or power pole, hydrant, bridge or tree, or in or upon any portion of any sidewalk or street. It is unlawful to paste, place, paint or attach any sign defined in this chapter on any building, street or property of the city.

(ZO § 12-19)

It is unlawful for any person to fasten or attach, paint or place, any sign as defined in this chapter upon any private wall, window, door, gate, fence or sign or upon any other personal property without the consent of the owner, or lessee, or someone authorized to act on behalf of such owner or lessee.

(ZO § 12-20)

Signs regulated by this title shall be maintained in good visual appearance and structural condition at all times. The city, its chief building official, and its other agents shall in no way be liable for negligence or failure of the owner, or the persons responsible for maintaining any sign, to keep such sign in good condition, or be responsible for any damage caused by defective conditions.

(ZO § 12-21)

Any person occupying a building or portion of a building who owns or maintains a sign in connection therewith shall, upon vacating the premises or discontinuing the business advertised, cause the sign to be removed. Any person who owns and maintains a sign which is maintained for the benefit of another person who occupies a building or part of a building whereon the sign is located shall cause the sign to be removed if the person for whom the sign is maintained vacates the premises. Failure of the owner of the sign or of the person responsible for maintaining same to remove the sign within thirty (30) days after notice from the chief building official shall be considered as a violation of this title and shall subject the owner of the sign and the owner of the property to the penalties herein prescribed.

(ZO § 12-22)

All signs shall be erected and maintained in full compliance with the provisions of each zone.

1. Any sign not in conformance with the provisions of this title, and which was erected or installed without a permit, shall be removed within thirty (30) days upon notification from the chief building official.
2. Signs for which permits were previously issued and which are made nonconforming by the provisions of this title shall be permitted to remain. Under no circumstances shall such nonconforming signs be remodeled or replaced. The provisions of Section 17.76.140 shall apply to such nonconforming signs.
3. Any existing sign conforming to the provisions of this title relative to size and location but nonconforming to structural requirements shall be removed or replaced within one year upon written notice from the city. However, if they are deemed to be a hazard or more than fifty (50) percent damaged, they shall be removed or repaired in accordance with the structural requirement of this chapter, within ten (10) days after receiving notice from the city.
4. Any sign determined to be abandoned shall be removed within thirty (30) days of notification by the chief building official to the property owner and/or owner of the business advertisement and/or owner of the sign.

(ZO § 12-23)

It is unlawful for any person erecting any sign or other advertising structure to fail to comply strictly with the requirements of this chapter and any and all regulations pertaining to safety promulgated by the city manager pursuant to Section 17.76.260.

(ZO § 12-24)

Whenever any sign or other advertising structure shall be erected in whole or in part on or over any public street or sidewalk, the person or persons performing the work shall, before proceeding to erect the same, take all precautions necessary to insure the safety of persons and property on such street or sidewalk. Before hoisting any material whatsoever above the surface of any street or sidewalk or placing any material upon the traveled portion of any street or sidewalk, the persons or person performing such work shall exclude the traveling public from the portion of such street or sidewalk in which such work is to be done by means of suitable barriers, protected walkways, and warning devices approved by the chief building officer, and whenever said officer shall deem it necessary under the conditions then existing shall provide a guard or guards to exclude all persons not concerned in the work from the portion of the street or sidewalk in which the work is to proceed. When hoisting any sign or advertising structure above the surface of any street or sidewalk, the same shall be accomplished by hoisting devices of approved design and adequate capacity to accomplish the work in accordance with approved engineering practices, all of which hoisting equipment shall be kept and maintained in good and workable condition.

(ZO § 12-25)

The city manager is authorized to establish such rules and regulations as he or she may find to be reasonably necessary to protect the public from injury in the course of the erection of signs and other advertising structures and when such regulations are established, all sign contractors and holders of sign permits shall comply strictly therewith. Such regulations shall be established by order of the manager, filed with the city recorder, a copy thereof to be furnished under the direction of the manager to all persons, firms and corporations holding licenses as sign contractors, and holders of sign permits shall comply strictly therewith.

(ZO § 12-26)

No sign shall exceed the height limitations established for each zone as set forth in Table 17.76.350 of this chapter.

(ZO § 12-27)

No construction project or land development sign shall be erected earlier than sixty (60) days prior to beginning of construction and shall be removed within thirty (30) days after such construction is completed.

(ZO § 12-28)

Political or campaign signs are permitted in accordance with the following provisions provided that any such sign shall be erected not earlier than sixty (60) days prior to the election at which time the candidates or measures will be voted upon and shall be removed within fifteen (15) days after such election, campaign or event:

1. In any residential zone, there is permitted not more than one stationary, unlighted, temporary sign on any lot or contiguous parcels of land under one ownership on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on the ballot, provided that any such sign shall not exceed six feet in height or six square feet in area for R-1 and R-2 zones, and ten (10) feet in height or sixteen (16) square feet in area for an R-3 zone. If attached, such sign shall not exceed the height of the eave's line of the building.
2. In commercial and industrial zones, there is permitted one or more temporary signs on a lot on behalf of a candidate for public office, or of a measure on the ballot or announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, provided that:
   1. The total of such sign or signs on any lot shall not exceed sixty-five (65) square feet, except that larger signs may be placed upon any legally existing sign structure. If detached, signs shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height, and if attached not more than twenty-five (25) feet in height;
   2. No such sign shall be a roof sign, except upon a legally existing sign structure, and no signs shall be erected in any required yard setback area unless attached to a building.

(ZO § 12-29)

All signs which utilize or are illuminated by electricity shall comply with the electrical code and fire prevention code as adopted or as hereafter adopted by the city.

(ZO § 12-31)

In shopping centers, frontage for each separate store shall be based on the width of the front of each business, and signs for such businesses shall be attached to the front of each store. One detached or attached sign for each street frontage may be used to designate the name of the shopping center. In no instance may shopping center name signs be a multiple-copy or advertise any business in the center.

(ZO § 12-32)

1. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind and seismic forces as specified in this chapter. All bracing systems shall be designed and constructed to transfer lateral forces to the foundations. For signs on buildings, the dead and lateral loads shall be transmitted through the structural frame of the building to the ground in such manner as not to overstress any of the elements thereof.
2. The overturning moment produced from lateral forces shall in no case exceed two-thirds of the dead-load resisting moment. Uplift due to overturning shall be adequately resisted by proper anchorage to the ground or to the structural frame of the building. The weight of earth superimposed over footings may be used in determining the dead-load resisting moment. Such earth shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted.
3. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind forces as specified in the Uniform Building Code, thirty (30) feet above ground with adjustment in pressure for height as outlined in the Uniform Building Code, and Seismic Zone III.
4. No sign shall be placed on top of or suspended from the bottom of another sign over public or private property unless application is made to the chief building official with necessary calculations to show that the sign is structurally sound and safe to support the additional weight, display area and wind resistance and is properly fastened to the existing sign structure.
5. The chief building official shall require that sufficient technical data be submitted to substantiate the proposed use of any plastic material, and if it is determined that the evidence submitted is satisfactory for the use intended, he or she may approve its use. Design and construction with plastic material shall be in conformance with the Uniform Building Code.

(ZO § 12-34)

The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of the Uniform Building Code.

(ZO § 12-35)

1. All types of signs shall conform to the clearance and projection requirements of this chapter.
2. Signs shall be located not less than six feet horizontally or twelve (12) feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors which are energized in excess of seven hundred fifty (750) volts. The term "overload conductors" as used in this section means any electrical conductor, either bare or insulated, installed above the ground except such conductors which are enclosed in rigid conduit or other material covering of equal strength.
3. No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.
4. Signs erected within five feet of an opening in an exterior wall shall be constructed of incombustible material or Uniform Building Code approved plastics.
5. No sign or sign structure shall project into any public alley below a height of fourteen (14) feet above grade, nor project more than eighteen (18) inches into a public alley more than sixteen (16) feet above grade.
6. For purposes of illumination, lights shall not extend more than eight feet from the sign structure if attached to such structure.

(ZO § 12-36)

Table 17.76.350 below is made a part of this chapter by reference. It is unlawful for any person to erect or otherwise install a sign having a size or height greater than allowed in Table 17.76.350. It is unlawful for any person to erect or otherwise install a sign located on the site or in a zone in violation of the controls specified in Table 17.76.350.

Table 17.76.350 SUMMARY OF SIGN REGULATIONS

(ZO § 12-33, Appendix A)