The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Awning means an overhanging roof-like structure stretched over a frame to provide shelter or shade. It may be constructed of canvas or other materials. Permanent or collapsible, but by definition does not include any lettering, signage or advertising information.

Awning sign means a sign which is attached or incorporated in an awning.

Banner means a piece of cloth, plastic, or other non-rigid material which is attached to a staff or line to attract attention or used as a sign. Examples of banner signs include balloons, pennants, etc.

Canopy means an ornamental, overhanging, roof-like structure designed for shade or shelter, including awnings, constructed of canvas or other material, but excluding from the definition thereof any lettering, signage or advertising information.

Canopy sign means a sign which is attached to or incorporated in a canopy.

Erect means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and shall also include the painting of murals.

Event sign means a sign used to advertise a specific sale, product, or event.

Freestanding sign means a sign erected on a supporting structure, mast or pole, not attached in any way to a building.

Frontage means that part of a building facing a public street or alley and not separated from said street or alley by a distance exceeding 50 feet.

Illuminated sign means any sign which has characters, letters, figures or outlines illuminated by electric lights, luminous tubes, or any other means of illumination.

Marquee means a permanent roofed structure projecting over public property and attached to a building and supported by the building or column supports from grade level or a combination of both, but excluding by definition any lettering, signage or advertising information.

Marquee sign means a sign which is attached to or incorporated in a marquee.

Message board means a sign whereon provision is made for letters or characters to be placed in or upon the surface area either manually or electronically to provide a message or picture.

Multiple frontage means two or more exterior walls of a building that abut a public way.

Mural means an advertisement painted on the wall of the structure.

Off-premises sign means a sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, or service located other than on the premises where the sign is located.

On-premises sign means a sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, or service located on the premises where the sign is located.

Political sign means a sign that advertises a candidate or an issue which is to be voted on in a local, state, or federal election process.

Portable sign means a sign not designed or intended to be permanently affixed into the ground or to a structure.

Premises means the contiguous land in the same ownership or control which is not divided by a street.

Projecting sign means a sign attached to a building wall or structure with a sign face that projects horizontally perpendicular more than 12 inches from the face of the wall.

Public way means any corridor designed for vehicular or pedestrian use that is maintained with public funds. The term "right-of-way" is synonymous with public way.

Real estate sign means a temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale.

Safety control sign means warning, control, OSHA, or required public safety sign erected by municipal officers.

Sign means an object, device, display, or structure, or part thereof, displayed outdoors or visible from a public way, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location; or to express a point of view, by any means including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, advertising flags, fixtures, colors, illuminations or projected images. Each substantially different face of a sign shall constitute a separate sign.

Sign area means the facing of a sign, including copy, insignia, background, structural supports, and border and trim. The measurement shall be determined by the smallest rectangle inclusive of all letters and images. The structural supports shall be excluded if they do not constitute a major part of the sign or if the structure is not used to identify or attract attention to the business or product.

Sign face means the surface of the sign upon, against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.

Subdivision means the division of a parcel of land into two or more adjacent parcels.

Time and temperature sign means illuminated signs primarily displaying the time and temperature, but may automatically alternate between the time and temperature and a text message.

Traffic control sign means a sign to regulate traffic that has been erected by municipal officers having jurisdiction over the public way.

Traffic flow informational sign means a sign directing traffic to or from or within or providing information for a commercial, residential or industrial development.

Wall sign means a sign mounted parallel to the exterior surface of a building.

Window sign means any sign, picture, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service that is permanently affixed inside a window or upon the interior window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-1), 4-14-2003)

(a)

Enforcement by zoning officer. All administration and enforcement of this article shall be primarily implemented by the zoning officer. However, other staff in the department will also be prepared to enforce this article.

(b)

Construction permit. All signs, except as otherwise provided in sections 98-207 and 98-208, shall require a sign permit prior to being constructed or reconstructed. Sign permits shall be issued by the zoning officer.

(c)

Erection and relocation permit. All applications for sign permits for the erection or relocation of a sign shall be submitted to the zoning officer.

(d)

Application for permit. Applications for sign permits shall be made upon blanks provided by the zoning officer and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:

(1)

Name, address and telephone number of the applicant;

(2)

Location of building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign or other advertising structure is to be attached or erected;

(3)

Position of the sign or other advertising structure in relation to nearby buildings or structures;

(4)

Drawings of the plans and specifications and method of construction and attachments to the building or in the ground;

(5)

At the discretion of the building inspector, copy of stress sheets and calculations showing the structure is designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by this and all other articles of the city;

(6)

Name of person, firm, corporation or association erecting the structure;

(7)

Any electrical data required for said sign; and

(8)

Such other information as the building inspector shall require to prove full compliance with this and all other laws and articles of the city.

(e)

Permit fees. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by the applicable fees, which shall be established by the city council from time to time.

(f)

Permit application completeness. Within five working days of receiving an application for a sign permit, the zoning officer shall review it for completeness. If the zoning officer finds that it is complete, the application shall then be processed. If the zoning officer finds that it is incomplete, the zoning officer shall send to the applicant a notice specifying the deficiency, with appropriate references to the applicable sections of this article.

(g)

Permit issuance/denial action. The zoning officer shall either:

(1)

Issue the sign permit, if the sign that is the subject of the application conforms in every respect with the requirements of this article; or

(2)

Deny the sign permit if the sign that is the subject of the application fails in any way to conform to the requirements of this article.

(h)

Inspection upon completion. Any person installing, structurally altering, or relocating a sign for which a permit has been issued shall notify the zoning officer upon completion of the work. The zoning officer shall then conduct an inspection within seven working days. If the construction is complete and in full compliance with this article and with the building and electrical codes, the zoning officer shall issue a final acceptance certificate to the sign applicant. If the construction is substantially complete but not in full compliance with this article and applicable codes, the zoning officer shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional 30 days from the date of the inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by such date, the permit shall lapse.

(i)

Lapses of sign permit. A sign permit shall lapse if the business license for the premises lapses, is revoked, or is not renewed. A sign permit shall lapse if the business activity on the premises is discontinued for a period of 180 days or more. A sign that was constructed or maintained in conformance with a permit under this article, but for which the permit has lapsed, shall be in violation of this article. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six months after the date of issuance, the permit shall lapse and reapplication is required.

(j)

Assignment of the sign permit. A current and valid sign permit shall be freely assignable to a successor as owner of the property or holder of a business license for the same premises, subject to filing such application as the zoning officer may require and paying any applicable fee. The assignment shall be accomplished by filing.

(k)

Violations. The zoning officer, upon finding that any provision of this article or any condition or a permit issued under this article is being violated, is authorized to institute legal proceedings to enjoin violations of this article.

(l)

Appeal procedure. Any person applying for a sign permit that is denied a permit or disagrees with any ruling by the zoning officer may appeal to the board of appeals.

(m)

Fines. In addition to any other remedy at law or in equity, a person who violates the provisions of this article or the conditions of a permit shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $750.00. Each day of the violation constitutes a separate offense.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-2), 4-14-2003)

(a)

The construction of any sign must meet the requirements of this Code and the city's building code.

(b)

If otherwise permitted, a sign may not be erected on any public way without written authorization from the agency in control of the public way. Safety control signs, traffic informational flow signs, and traffic control signs are included in this provision.

(c)

Signs erected within the city limits may advertise only for businesses or events located within the city.

(d)

Signs shall be maintained in a safe and secure condition. If the sign is not secure, safe, or in good state of repair, written notice of this fact shall be given to the person responsible for the maintenance of the sign. If the deficiency in the sign is not corrected within 30 days, the zoning officer may revoke the sign permit, thus placing the sign owner in violation of this article and liable for a fine as specified in section 98-202(m).

(e)

Any sign that has been destroyed, damaged, or deteriorated to such an extent that the cost of restoration would exceed 25 percent of the replacement cost shall not be repaired or rebuilt or altered except to conform to the requirements of this article for new signs.

(f)

No sign, except time and temperature display, shall contain any flashing lights, running lights or lights creating an illusion of movement or revolution, or be so designed as to move by mechanical means, nor be illuminated by a floodlight unless the source of said floodlight is located, shielded and directed as not to be visible from any point on any adjacent public street or private property. No such sign shall contain any colored illumination at any location where there may be a conflict or confusion with traffic signals, traffic lights, or where said illumination might constitute a traffic hazard.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-3), 4-14-2003)

It shall be unlawful to:

(1)

Erect or continue any sign or other advertising structure at any location which constitutes a hazard to traffic or the public by reason of its obstruction of view, or if it endangers the welfare or safety of persons traveling on any public street, sidewalk or alley.

(2)

Erect or place any permanent or temporary sign on the public way of U.S. Route 34 or city public way. The U.S. Route 34 public way is governed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). A permit must be issued from IDOT for any sign on the IDOT public way.

(3)

Erect on or connect any sign, canopy, awning or marquee to any public property as outlined in section 98-203 without obtaining prior approval from the zoning officer.

(4)

Erect any projecting sign that exceeds a four-foot overhang on public property.

(5)

Erect any sign upon or above a roof.

(6)

Erect or connect any pennant or banner to or over any public property without obtaining prior approval from the zoning officer.

(7)

Erect any sign attached to any tree, utility pole or painted upon or otherwise directly affixed to any rock, ledge, or other natural feature.

(8)

Erect any sign on a residentially zoned lot except the following:

a.

Political signs;

b.

Real estate signs;

c.

Residential nameplates; and

d.

Home occupation signs.

(9)

No sign other than a projecting sign shall occupy any space not directly above the owner's property.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-4), 4-14-2003)

Nonconforming signs are those signs which were lawfully erected prior to the passage of the ordinance from which this article is derived that do not conform in their entirety to the requirements as stated herein. Nonconforming signs shall comply with the following regulations:

(1)

Nonconforming signs lawfully existing at the time of adoption or subsequent amendment may continue, although such a sign does not conform to the provisions of this article.

(2)

Nonconforming signs shall be removed when a substantial change in the operations or nature of the business occurs. A change in the land use or zoning would be an example of a substantial change in operations. A change in ownership of the business would allow for the continuation of the nonconforming sign as long as the nature of the business remains the same.

(3)

Lawful nonconforming signs must be maintained in a safe and secure condition. If the zoning officer is of the opinion that the sign is not secure, safe or in good state of repair due to lack of maintenance, then the zoning officer shall provide written notice of this fact to the person responsible for the maintenance of the sign. If the deficiency is not corrected within 30 days of the written notice, the zoning officer may revoke the sign permit, placing the sign in violation of this article and the owner subject to the fines specified herein.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-5), 4-14-2003)

Licensed, authorized franchise dealers and services, as members of a corporate imaging program, shall be required to provide documentation from the franchise supporting the necessity to maintain signage in excess of the sign area, sign quantity, and sign height requirements as defined in this article before a permit will be issued. A sign which has been permitted under this provision must be substantially different in appearance from any other permitted sign at the same location and must be removed upon termination of the corporate agreement.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-6), 4-14-2003)

(a)

Wall signs.

(1)

For businesses with nine or less off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, a maximum of two wall signs with an aggregate sign area not exceeding 40 square feet are allowed.

(2)

For businesses with ten but not more than 19 off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, a maximum of five wall signs with an aggregate sign area not exceeding 100 square feet are allowed.

(3)

For businesses with 20 or more off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, the quantity of wall signs and the allowable aggregate sign area shall not exceed 150 square feet with a maximum of six wall signs and additional aggregate ten square feet and one sign for each ten established parking spaces in excess of 20 provided the aggregate area shall never exceed 400 square feet for all signs nor more than nine signs for any business.

(4)

No wall signs will be permitted to extend more than 12 inches beyond the building line.

(5)

The highest point of a wall sign may not exceed the highest point of the building wall on which it is attached.

(6)

For residentially zoned businesses, one wall sign may be permitted for a home occupation when the sign area does not exceed two square feet. This sign shall not be illuminated.

(7)

For residential dwellings, a residential nameplate not exceeding two square feet in sign area that indicates the address and occupant will be allowed without a permit. This sign shall not be illuminated.

(8)

All wall signs must comply with the general sign requirements (section 98-203).

(b)

Freestanding signs.

(1)

No business establishment shall display a freestanding sign unless said establishment has a minimum of three off-street parking spaces on the premises.

(2)

For businesses with four but not more than seven off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, one freestanding sign having a maximum sign area of 32 square feet is allowed.

(3)

For businesses with eight but not more than 19 off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, two freestanding signs, each having a maximum sign area of 32 square feet, so long as the signs are at least 100 feet apart, are allowed.

(4)

For businesses with 20 but not more than 50 off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, three freestanding signs, each having a maximum sign area of 32 square feet, so long as each sign is located at least 100 feet apart from another sign are allowed.

(5)

For businesses with more than 50 off-street parking spaces or automobile service areas, one freestanding sign for each 16 such parking spaces or fraction thereof or automobile service areas, but not to exceed six freestanding signs in the aggregate, with each having a maximum sign area of 32 square feet and limited by no more than one sign for each 120 feet of street frontage, is allowed.

(6)

Highest point of a freestanding sign shall be no higher than 20 feet.

(7)

Visibility at an entrance or intersection is a guideline for the minimum bottom sign height above grade. No freestanding sign shall be closer than two feet from the public right-of-way line, nor shall it be located within the 25 foot visibility triangle inside the property line at an intersection, or within a ten-foot visibility triangle inside the property at a driveway, unless the bottom of the sign is at least eight feet above the average grade level.

(8)

Permanent subdivision or development signs at entry streets not exceeding 50 square feet in sign area, inclusive of any logo, shall be allowed for any planned residential development, subdivision, multiple family apartment or condominium development with ten or more lots or dwelling units. Where the subdivision or development has access on two or more streets, or has more than one entrance street, identification signs shall be allowed at each entrance. Both permanent subdivision entrance and directional signs must be on private property, must provide an unobstructed view to motorists and pedestrians as they approach intersections. Such signs may be indirectly lighted by spotlights or floodlights by a method and intensity approved by the zoning officer.

(9)

All freestanding signs must comply with the general sign requirements (section 98-203).

(c)

Projecting signs.

(1)

One projecting sign will be permitted per business with a sign area not exceeding 32 square feet.

(2)

No part of the sign may be closer than eight feet above the ground surface below the sign.

(3)

The highest point of a projecting sign may not exceed the highest point of the building wall on which it is attached.

(4)

All projecting signs must conform to the general sign requirements (section 98-203).

(d)

Canopies, awnings, and marquees.

(1)

Canopies, awnings, and marquees may not extend five feet beyond the building nor beyond the established street or curb edge.

(2)

The architecture or appearance of the awning, canopy, or marquee should conform to the style of the building on which it is placed.

(3)

The lowest point on the canopy, awning, or marquee should be no closer than eight feet from the established grade below.

(4)

Advertising on the canopy, awning, or marquee will be considered as part of the aggregate sign area of a projecting sign.

(5)

All canopies, awnings, and marquees must comply with the general sign requirements (section 98-203).

(e)

Message boards. Permanently constructed message boards must conform to the same architectural style as the building that it advertises for. The sign area of the message board must be included in the aggregate sign area whether it is a wall or freestanding sign.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-7), 4-14-2003)

(a)

Posters and banners.

(1)

Posters and banners may be erected provided that they are maintained in good condition.

(2)

Posters and banners are not intended to substitute for a permanent sign.

(3)

When banners or posters are used as event signage, they must be erected no more than ten days before the event and they shall be removed no later than two days after the event.

(4)

Posters and banners are to be erected on-premises.

(b)

Portable message boards.

(1)

A portable message board is a freestanding, temporary sign intended to be movable and having a changeable message display.

(2)

One permit may be issued to a person or a business for placement of a message board on a commercially or manufacturing zoned lot during a six-month time period (January 1 to June 30 and July 1 to December 31) for a maximum display time of 14 days. Two permits are allowed per calendar year.

(3)

Portable message boards may not be displayed more than ten days prior to the date on which the event or activity advertised is to occur or to be conducted, and shall be removed within three days after the termination thereof.

(4)

Portable message boards may not be permanently anchored or fastened down in an attempt to comply with the permanent, freestanding sign requirements in any circumstance.

(c)

Event signs.

(1)

Four permits may be issued to a person or a business for placement of an event sign on a commercially or manufacturing zoned lot during a six month time period (January 1 to June 30 and July 1 to December 31) for a maximum display time of 30 days.

(2)

Event signs may be placed off-premises with the permission of the lot owner provided that they are not attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk or other surface located on or extending into public property.

(d)

Real estate signs.

(1)

Real estate signs may be erected upon the subject property that is for sale.

(2)

Real estate open house signs shall be erected for a 48-hour maximum duration for a single event.

(e)

Political signs.

(1)

Political signs may be placed without a permit on a lot with the owner's permission.

(2)

Political signs must be removed within ten days of the voting event.

(3)

Political signs may not be attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk or other surface located on or extending into public property.

(f)

Garage sale signs.

(1)

Garage sale signs may be placed without a permit.

(2)

Garage sale signs may be placed off-premises, provided that they are not attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk or other surface located on or extending into public property.

(3)

Garage sale signs are to be erected no more than one day before the event and they shall be removed no later than one day after the event.

(g)

Project or subdivision construction signs.

(1)

A development under construction shall be permitted one temporary promotional sign not exceeding 32 square feet in sign area nor exceeding eight feet in height. When a development has frontage on two or more existing and adjacent streets, a project construction sign shall be permitted along each frontage.

(2)

A development under construction shall be permitted any number of directional signs not exceeding ten square feet in area nor exceeding 3½ feet in height. Directional signs may be placed off-premises, provided they are not attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk or other surface located on or extending into public property.

(3)

Upon completion of the project or request of the zoning officer, the sign must be removed.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, § 1(5-9-8), 4-14-2003)