The purposes of these sign regulations are to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the village; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the village's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions.

   (A)   A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained in the village only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this Code.

   (B)   The effect of these regulations, as more specifically set forth herein, is:

      (1)   To establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial zones and a limited variety of signs in other zones;

      (2)   To allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive and incidental to the principal use of the respective lots on which they are located, subject to the requirements of this Code, but without a requirement for permits;

      (3)   To provide for temporary signs without commercial messages in limited circumstances in the public right-of-way; and

      (4)   To prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this Code.

   The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height.

   (A)   Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one 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 the fence or wall otherwise meets Code regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.

   (B)   Computation of area of multi-faced signs.

      (1)   The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point.

      (2)   When two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.

   (C)   Computation of height.

      (1)   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.

      (2)   Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:

         (a)   Existing grade prior to construction; or

         (b)   The newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign.

      (3)   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 zone lot, whichever is lower.

   (D)   Computation of maximum total permitted sign area for a zone lot.

      (1)   The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs on a zone lot shall be computed by applying the formula contained in Table 1.5B, Maximum Total Sign Area, to the lot frontage, building frontage or wall area, as appropriate, for the zoning district in which the lot is located.

      (2)   Lots fronting on two or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage.

      (3)   However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot's total sign area allocated that is derived from the lot, building or wall area frontage on that street.

   (E)   State permit.

      (1)   In addition to divisions (A) through (D) above, the state has purview over all signs effecting its right-of-way. The state particularly regulates signs on the interstate system.

      (2)   Applicant to provide either a copy of their state permit or a letter from the state indicating one is not required.

   (A)   (1)   Signs shall be allowed on private property in the village in accordance with, and only in accordance with, Table 1.5A.

         (a)   If the letter "P" appears for a sign type in a column, the sign is allowed without prior permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column.

         (b)   If the letter "S" appears for a sign type in a column, the sign is allowed only with prior permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column. Special conditions may apply in some cases.

         (c)   If the letter "N" appears for a sign type in a column, such a sign is not allowed in the zoning districts represented by that column under any circumstances.

      (2)   Although permitted under the previous paragraph, a sign designated by an "S" or "P" in Table 1.5A shall be allowed if:

         (a)   The sum of the area of all building and freestanding signs on the zone lot conforms with the maximum permitted sign area as determined by the formula for the zoning district in which the lot is located as specified in Table 1.5B;

         (b)   The size, location and number of signs on the lot conform with the requirements of Tables 1.5C and 1.5D, which establish permitted signs dimensions by sign type, and with any additional limitations listed in Table 1.5A; and

         (c)   The characteristics of the sign conform with the limitations of Table 1.5E, Permitted Sign Characteristics, and with any additional limitations on characteristics listed in Table 1.5A.

   (B)   (1)   A permit issued for a zoned lot under a common or master signage plan shall cover all signs allowable under the signage plan, but each sign must be listed separately on the permit and approved by the village staff prior to construction of the sign.

      (2)   If a sign requiring a permit under the provision of this Code is to be placed, constructed, erected or modified on a zone lot, the owner of the lot shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection or modification of such a sign in accordance with the requirements of § 151.115.

      (3)   No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except in accordance with § 151.111 and the permit requirements of § 151.116.

      (4)   No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless the sign is consistent with the requirements of this Code in every respect and with the Master Signage Plan or Common Signage Plan in effect for the property.

      (5)   Signs not required to obtain permits are: real estate, garage sale, political, construction, yard sale, charitable and temporary charitable fund raising activities.

   All signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards.

   (A)   All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the BOCA Building Code and the Electrical Code of the village at all times.

   (B)   Except for banners, flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this Code, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.

   (C)   All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this Code, at all times.

 

 

 

   No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit unless and until a master signage plan or a common signage plan for the zone lot on which the sign will be erected has been submitted to the village staff and approved by the village staff as conforming with this section.

   (A)   Master signage plan. For any zone lot on which the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit, unless the zone lot is included in a common signage plan, the owner shall submit to the village staff a master signage plan containing the following:

      (1)   An accurate plot plan of the zone lot, at a scale as the village staff may reasonably require;

      (2)   Location of buildings, parking lots, driveways and landscaped areas on the zone lot;

      (3)   Computation of the maximum total sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the height of signs and the number of free-standing signs allowed on the zone lot(s) included in the plan under this Code; and

      (4)   An accurate indication on the plot plan of the proposed location of each present and future sign of any type, whether requiring a permit or not, except that incidental signs need not be shown.

   (B)   Common signage plan.

      (1)   If the owners of two or more contiguous (disregarding intervening streets and alleys) zone lots or the owner of a single lot with more than one building (not including any accessory building) file with the village staff for the zone lots a common signage plan conforming with the provisions of this section, a 25% increase in the maximum total sign area shall be allowed for each included zone lot.

      (2)   This bonus shall be allocated within each zone lot as the owner(s) elects.

   (C)   Provisions of common signage plan. The common signage plan shall contain all of the information required for a master signage plan and shall also specify standards for consistency among all signs on the zone lots affected by the plan with regard to:

      (1)   Color scheme;

      (2)   Lettering or graphic style;

      (3)   Lighting;

      (4)   Location of each sign on the building;

      (5)   Material; and

      (6)   Sign proportions.

   (D)   Showing window signs on common or master signage plan. A common signage plan or master signage plan including window signs may simply indicate the areas of the windows to be covered by window signs and the general type of the window signs (e.g., paper affixed to window, painted, etched on glass or some other material hung inside window) and need not specify the exact dimension or nature of every window sign.

   (E)   Limit on number of free-standing signs under common signage plan. The common signage plan, for all zone lots with multiple uses or multiple users, shall limit the number of free-standing signs to a total of one for each street on which the zone lots included in the plan have frontage and shall provide for shared or common usage of the signs.

   (F)   Other provisions of master or common signage plans. The master or common signage plan may contain such other restrictions as the owners of the zone lots may reasonably determine.

   (G)   Consent. The master of common signage plan shall be signed by all owners or their authorized agents in such form as the village staff shall require.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Am. Ord. 2012-09-04A, passed 9-4-2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

   No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except for the following.

   (A)   Permanent signs. Only as listed below:

      (1)   Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic;

      (2)   Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company; and

      (3)   Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes or facilities; and

      (4)   Awning, projecting and suspended signs projecting over a public right-of-way in conformity with the conditions of Table 1.5A of this Code.

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

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

   The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Code:

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

   (B)   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 the sign is located;

   (C)   Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message; and

   (D)   Traffic control signs on private property, such as stop, yield and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort.

   (A)   All signs not expressly permitted under this Code, or exempt from regulation hereunder, in accordance with the previous section are prohibited in the village.

   (B)   The signs include, but are not limited to:

      (1)   Beacons;

      (2)   Billboards;

      (3)   Pennants;

      (4)   Portable signs, illuminated or non-illuminated;

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

      (6)   Signs with flashing lights;

      (7)   Any person or persons with a commercial sign and/or dressed in a commercially identified costume (e.g., mascot) that is intended to attract attention to the use or business being conducted on another zone lot;

      (8)   All temporary signs advertising any commercial activity not on the related zone lot on which the sign is located; and

      (9)   All permanent signs advertising any commercial activity not on the related zone lot on which the sign is located unless a village sign permit is secured for the sign.

   The following procedures shall govern the application for, and issuance of, all sign permits under this Code, and the submission and review of Common Signage Plans and Master Signage Plans.

   (A)   Applications. All applications for sign permits of any kind and for approval of a Master or Common Signage Plan shall be submitted to the village staff on an application form or in accordance with application specifications published by the village staff.

   (B)   Fees. Each application for a sign permit or for approval of a Master or Common Signage Plan shall be accompanied by the applicable fees, which shall be established by the governing body of the village from time to time by resolution.

   (C)   Completeness. Within 30 working days of receiving an application for a sign permit or for a Common or Master Signage Plan, the village staff shall review it for completeness. If the village staff finds that it is complete, the application shall then be processed. If the village staff finds that it is incomplete, the village staff shall, within the 30-day period, send to the applicant a notice of the specific ways in which the application or Common or Master Signage Plan is deficient, with appropriate references to the applicable sections of this Code. A Common or Master Signage Plan must be approved prior to the issuance of a sign permit. Both may be filed concurrently.

   (D)   Action on plan. On any application for approval of a Master Signage Plan or Common Signage Plan, the village staff shall take action on the applicable one of the following dates:

      (1)   Thirty days after the submission of a complete application if the application is for signs for existing buildings;

      (2)   On the date of final action by the Village Board on any related application for building permit, site plan or development plan for signs involving new construction; or

      (3)   On or before the applicable date, the village staff shall either:

         (a)   Approve the proposed plan if the sign(s) as shown on the plan and the plan itself conforms in every respect with the requirements of this Code; or

         (b)   Reject the proposed plan if the sign(s) as shown on the plan or the plan itself fails in any way to conform with the requirements of this Code. In case of a rejection, the village staff shall specify in the rejection the section or sections of the Code with which the plan is inconsistent.

   (E)   Action on sign permit. Within 30 working days of the submission of a complete application for a sign permit, the village staff shall either:

      (1)   Issue the sign permit, if the sign(s) that is the subject of the application conforms in every respect with the requirements of this Code and of the applicable Master or Common Signage Plan; or

      (2)   Reject the sign permit if the sign(s) that is the subject of the application fails in any way to conform with the requirements of this Code and of the applicable Master or Common Signage Plan. In case of a rejection, the village staff shall specify in the rejection the section or sections of the ordinance or applicable plan with which the sign(s) is inconsistent.

   Signs identified as "P" or "S" on Table 1.5A shall be erected, installed or created only in accordance with a duly issued and valid sign construction permit from the village staff. The permits shall be issued only in accordance with the following requirements and procedures.

   (A)   Permit for new sign or for sign modification. An application for construction, creation or installation of a new sign or for modification of an existing sign shall be accompanied by detailed drawings to show the dimensions, design, structure and location of each particular sign, to the extent that the details are not contained on a Master Signage Plan or Common Signage Plan then in effect for the zone lot. One application and permit may include multiple signs on the same zone lot.

   (B)   Inspection.

      (1)   The village staff shall cause any inspection of the zone lot for which each permit for a new sign or for modification of an existing sign is issued during the sixth month after the issuance of the permit or at such earlier date as the owner may request and village staff can schedule (48-hour notice required).

      (2)   If the construction is not substantially complete at the time of inspection, the permit shall lapse and become void. If the construction is complete and in full compliance with this Code and with the building and electrical codes, the village staff shall file the inspection report in the address file and authorize use of the sign except as listed in division (C) below.

      (3)   If the construction is substantially complete but not in full compliance with this Code and applicable codes, the village staff shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional 30 days from the date of inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by the date, the permit shall lapse.

   (C)   Lapse of sign permit.

      (1)   A sign permit shall lapse automatically if the business license for the premises lapses, is revoked or is not renewed.

      (2)   A sign permit shall also lapse if the business activity on the premises is discontinued for a period of 180 days or more and is not renewed within 30 days of a notice from the village to the last permittee, sent to the premises, that the sign permit will lapse if the activity is not renewed.

   (D)   Assignment of sign permit.

      (1)   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 only to filling the application as the village staff may require and paying any applicable fee.

      (2)   The assignment shall be accomplished by filing and shall not require approval.

   Temporary signs on private property shall be allowed only upon the issuance of a temporary sign permit, which shall be subject to the following requirements.

   (A)   Term. A temporary sign permit shall allow the use of a temporary sign for a specified two-week period.

   (B)   Number. Only one temporary sign permit shall be issued to the same business license holder on the same zone lot in any calendar year.

   (C)   Other conditions. A temporary sign shall be allowed only in districts with a letter "S" for "Temporary, Signs" on Table 1.5A and subject to all of the requirements for temporary signs as noted therein.

   (D)   In no case will more than one temporary sign be allowed per zone lot. Such temporary sign shall not exceed 24 square feet if affixed to a building or wall or six square feet if affixed to the ground.

   Except as otherwise provided herein, the owner of any zone lot or other premises on which exists a sign that does not conform with the requirements of this Code or for which there is no current and valid sign permit shall be obligated to remove the sign or, in the case of a nonconforming sign, to bring it into conformity with the requirements of this Code.

   (A)   Nonconforming existing signs, permits and terms. A sign that would be permitted under this Code only with a sign permit, but which was in existence on the date of adoption of this Code or on a later date when the property is annexed to the village, and which was constructed in accordance with the Code and other applicable laws in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design or construction is not in conformance with the requirements of this Code, shall be considered a nonconforming sign. The above described nonconforming signs shall be allowed to remain in place and be maintained provided that no action is taken which increases the degree or extent of the nonconformity. A change in the information on the face of an above described nonconforming sign is allowed. However, any nonconforming sign shall either be eliminated or made to conform with the requirements of this section when any proposed change, repair or maintenance would constitute an expense of more than 25% of the lesser of the original value or replacement value of the sign.

   (B)   Sign removal required. A sign that was constructed, painted, installed or maintained in conformance with a permit under this Code, but for which the permit has lapsed (per § 151.116(C) or modifications under division (A) above), shall be forthwith removed without notice or action from the village.

   (A)   Any of the following shall be a violation of this Code and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this Code:

      (1)   To install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing the sign or the zone lot on which the sign is located;

      (2)   To install, create, erect or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit;

      (3)   To install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing the sign or the zone lot on which sign is located;

      (4)   To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this Code, or for which the sign permit has lapsed; or

      (5)   To continue any such violation. Each such day of a continued violation shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Code.

   (B)   Each sign installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this Code shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Code.