All signs constructed, erected, modified or moved after the effective date of this Ordinance shall comply with the regulations herein, unless expressly exempted.

The following are the definitions relating to signs within the Seneca zoning jurisdiction.

ADVERTISING SIGN shall mean a sign which directs attention to any product, activity, or service; provided, however, that such sign shall not be related or make reference to the primary use, business activity, or service conducted on the premises.

ANIMATED SIGN shall mean any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.

ARCHITECTURAL CANOPY SIGN shall mean an enclosed, illuminated or non-illuminated structure that is attached to the wall of a building with the face of the sign approximately parallel to the wall and with the sign's area integrated into its surface.

AWNING OR CANOPY SIGN shall mean any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.

BANNER SIGN shall mean any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is permanently mounted to a pole or building by a permanent frame at one or more edges. National flags, state or municipal flags, or official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.

BILLBOARD SIGN shall mean a sign that identifies or communicates a commercial or noncommercial message related to an activity conducted, a service rendered, or a commodity sold at a location other than where the sign is located.

BUILDING SIGN shall mean any sign supported by, painted on or otherwise attached to any building or structure.

BUILDING MARKER SIGN shall mean any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.

CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN shall mean a sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without, altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than eight times per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this ordinance. A sign on which the only copy changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and temperature" portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this ordinance.

CLOSED SIGN shall mean a sign in which more than 50 percent of the entire area is solid or tightly closed or covered.

COMMERCIAL MESSAGE SIGN shall mean any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity.

DESTINATION SIGN shall mean a sign used to inform and direct the public to important public places and buildings, landmarks, and historical sites in the simplest, direct, and concise manner possible.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD SIGN shall mean a sign that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes.

FLASHING SIGN shall mean a sign, which, by method or manner of illumination, flashes on or off, winks, or blinks with varying light intensity, shows motion, or creates the illusion of being on or off.

FREESTANDING SIGN shall mean any sign supported by uprights or braces placed on or in the ground, which is used principally for advertising or identification purposes and is not supported by any building.

GROUND SIGN shall mean a sign mounted directly to the ground with a maximum height not to exceed six feet.

ILLUMINATED SIGN shall mean a sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source.

INCIDENTAL SIGN shall mean a sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the zone lot on which it is located, such as "no parking," "entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar directives. No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the zone lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental.

MARQUEE SIGN shall mean any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.

NAMEPLATE SIGN shall mean a sign not exceeding 2 square feet for each dwelling.

NON-CONFORMING SIGN shall mean any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this ordinance.

OBSOLETE SIGN shall mean a sign that advertises a business no longer in existence or a product no longer offered for sale and has advertised such business or product for a period of six months after the termination of the existence of such business or the termination of sale of the product advertised.

OFF-PREMISES SIGN shall mean a sign including the supporting sign structure which directs the attention of the general public to a business, service, or activity not usually conducted, or a product not offered or sold, upon the premises where such sign is located.

ON-PREMISE SIGN shall mean a sign, display, or device-advertising activities conducted on the property on which such sign is located.

OPEN SIGN shall mean a sign attached to or hung from a marquee, canopy, or other covered structure, projecting from and supported by the building and extending beyond the building wall, building line, or street lot line.

PENNANT SIGN shall mean any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.

POLE SIGN shall mean a sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is six feet or more above grade.

PORTABLE SIGN shall mean a sign, usually of a temporary nature, not securely anchored to the ground or to a building or structure and which obtains some or all of its structural stability with respect to wind or other normally applied forces by means of its geometry or character. Examples are: menu and sandwich board signs, balloons used as signs, umbrellas used for advertising, and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.

PROJECTING SIGN shall mean a projecting sign attached to a building in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than eight inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.

ROOF SIGN shall mean a sign identifying the name of a business, enterprise, or the product sold on the premises and erected on and over the roof of a building and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.

ROOF (INTEGRAL) SIGN shall mean any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches.

SIGN AREA shall mean the entire area including the background of a sign on which copy can be placed but not including the minimal supporting framework or bracing. The area of individually painted letter signs, individual letter signs or directly or indirectly illuminated individual letter signs, shall be calculated on the basis of the smallest geometric figure that will enclose the entire copy area of the sign. Any such calculation shall include the areas between the letters and lines, as well as the areas of any devices, illuminated or non-illuminated.

SIGN SETBACK shall mean the horizontal distance from the property line to the nearest projection of the existing or proposed sign.

SIGN SURFACE shall mean the entire area of a sign.

SUBDIVISION SIGN identification shall mean a sign erected on a subdivision identification lot that identifies the platted subdivision where the sign is located.

SUSPENDED SIGN shall mean a sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.

TEMPORARY SIGN shall mean a sign constructed of cloth, fabric, or other material with or without a structural frame intended for a limited period of display, including displays for holidays or public demonstrations. Temporary signs shall include portable signs as defined in this section.

WALL SIGN shall mean any sign attached parallel to, but within eight 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.

WINDOW SIGN shall mean any sign, pictures, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.

8.03.01 Computation of Area of Individual Signs. The area of a sign face shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning regulations and is clearly identical to the display itself.

8.03.02 Computation of Height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the lot, parcel, or tract of land, whichever is lower. When a sign is placed on a berm, the height of the sign shall include the height of the berm above grade level at the base of the berm.

8.04.01 Signs shall be permitted in the various districts according to the following schedule:

8.04.02 Signs shall be permitted in the various districts at the listed square footage and heights according to the following schedule:

¹  Wall/Window signs shall not exceed 10 percent of the total wall area or the number indicated whichever is greater.

²  Ground signs may be increased from 32 square feet in area to 50 square feet in area when all uses/storefronts within a development are included on one sign as opposed to each having an individual ground sign for every use/storefront.

³  Ground signs may be increased from 50 square feet in area to 75 square feet in area when all uses/storefronts within a development are included on one sign as opposed to each having an individual ground sign for every use/storefront.

⁴  Pole signs may be increased from 100 square feet in area to 150 square feet in area when all uses/storefronts within a development are included on one sign as opposed to each having an individual pole sign for every use/storefront.

⁵  Pole signs may be increased from 200 square feet in area to 300 square feet in area when all uses/storefronts within a development are included on one sign as opposed to each having an individual pole sign for every use/storefront.

⁶  One Incidental sign per 40 lineal feet of storefront

⁷  One Canopy per window - canopy shall meet all minimum height requirements for accessibility.

NA = Not Applicable - Refer to specific structural sign types

8.04.03 A building or use having frontage on a second street may install a sign on the second street side no greater in size than 20 percent of the total allowed on one facade.

8.05.01 Billboard Signs. Billboards, signboards, and other similar advertising signs shall be subject to the same height and location requirements as other structures in the district and shall also be subject to the following conditions and restrictions.

1.

No billboard, signboard, or similar advertising signs shall be located at intersections so as to obstruct vision, hearing, or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular safety.

2.

No billboard, signboard, or similar advertising signs shall be located within 50 feet of any lot in a residential district.

3.

No billboard, signboard, or similar advertising signs shall be so constructed or located where it will unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of adjoining property.

8.05.02 Stand-alone ATM's may have the following:

1.

One wall sign on each exterior wall provided each wall sign does not exceed 10 percent of the applicable exterior wall and the total shall not exceed 40 square feet in size.

2.

Where a canopy is integrated into the ATM, a canopy sign may be placed on each face of the ATM, provided the overall height of the canopy and sign do not exceed 24 inches. In addition, the overall size of all canopy signs shall not exceed 40 square feet.

3.

Directional signage shall be contained on the ATM, painted within a drive lane or in any curbing defining a drive lane.

4.

All signs are subject to the required permitting process of these Regulations.

5.

Said signage may be incorporated with lighting plan and backlit in order to provide for greater security on the premises.

8.05.03 Coffee Kiosks and other Kiosks may have the following:

1.

One wall sign on each exterior wall not used for drive-up service, provided each wall sign does not exceed 10 percent of the applicable exterior wall and the total shall not exceed 40 square feet in size.

2.

Where a canopy is integrated into the Coffee Kiosks/Kiosks, a canopy sign may be placed on each face of the Coffee Kiosk/Kiosks, provided the overall height of the canopy and sign do not exceed 24 inches. In addition, the overall size of all canopy signs shall not exceed 40 square feet.

3.

Directional signage shall be contained on the Coffee Kiosk/Kiosk, painted within a drive lane or in any curbing defining a drive lane

4.

Window signs limited to menu boards and daily specials shall not require a sign permit.

5.

All signs are subject to the required permitting process of these Regulations, unless otherwise noted.

8.05.04 Signs hung from canopies and awnings shall maintain 80 inches of clear space, as measured from the bottom edge of the sign to the grade below.

8.05.05 Temporary Signs. Temporary signs for which a permit has been issued shall be issued only for signs meeting the following criteria:

1.

Temporary signs may be for a continual period. Said temporary signs shall not be in place for more than four days prior to the event and shall be removed within 36 hours of the conclusion of said event.

2.

Temporary signs may be allowed in a manner where they are put in place during certain periods of time (set up in the morning and taken down in the evening) without a specific end date to the permit and these signs may advertise an off-premises business and/or organization.

8.05.06 Emergency Signs (Permitted). Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.

8.05.07 Other Signs Forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition, to other remedies hereunder, the City shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.

8.05.08 Signs Exempt from Regulation Under this Ordinance. The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Ordinance, except no sign in this provision shall create an obstruction to vision, as per Section 4.08 of this Ordinance and/or a collision hazard to the public:

•

Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation or ordinance;

•

Any religious symbol;

•

Construction signs when equal to six square feet or less;

•

Any sign identifying a public facility or public/civic event;

•

Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which such sign is located

•

Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message;

•

Traffic control signs on private property, such as Stop, Yield, and similar signs, the face of which meets the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort; and

•

A political sign exhibited in the right of way or on private property in conjunction with the election of political candidates as defined by the Nemaha County Clerk. Such signs may not exceed six square feet in any zone. Only four political signs shall be allowed per residential zoned lot at any one time. All such political signs shall not be erected more than 45 days before the election and shall be removed no later than two days after the election. Political signs shall not create an obstruction within the R.O.W. and may not be affixed to any utility poles, trees, street lights, bridges, benches or other similar structures.

8.05.09 Signs Prohibited Under These Regulations. All signs not expressly permitted in these regulations or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the previous section are prohibited in the City. Such signs include, but are not limited to:

1.

Beacons;

2.

Marquee signs;

3.

Roof signs;

4.

Suspended signs;

5.

Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under the previous section; and

6.

Audible Signs.

(Ord. No. 1439, § 2, 4-17-2024)