The purpose of this article is to provide the minimum regulations, provisions and requirements to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public and to preserve the scenic beauty of the county by regulating and controlling the installation of signs and other advertising structures within the county.

(Res. No. 06-18-13, 6-27-2018)

(a)

Size.

(1)

The total sign area of signs along federally numbered highways shall not exceed 300 square feet unless subsection (2) applies.

(2)

A conditional use permit shall be required for an off-premises sign exceeding 300 square feet. Maximum areas for any one sign shall be 1,600 square feet inclusive of any border and trim but excluding the base or apron, supports and other structural members.

(b)

Location of signs.

(1)

Signs shall be placed outside the highway setback as required in section 47-769(b) and signs shall not be permitted between the points of tangency on a curve to the right of any highway.

(2)

Signs shall not be permitted within 500 feet of any intersection. The beginning of a curve on a highway interchange ramp or the beginning of a curved access to an intersection shall be considered as the intersection for the purpose of sign location.

(c)

Distance between signs.

(1)

Two sign faces shall be permitted at any location and the distance between sign locations on the same side of the highway shall be one mile.

(2)

Back-to-back signs shall be permitted and shall be considered as one sign.

(d)

Height of sign. Signs shall not exceed the height limitation of that district in which they are located as measured in feet above the mean centerline grade of the adjacent highway. Height of a sign permitted by conditional use may be increased to a maximum of 50 feet if the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the zoning committee that a greater height is necessary to provide visibility.

(e)

Permitted uses. Signs shall be a permitted use in the following districts: B business, I industrial, IB interstate business, GA general agriculture, and EA exclusive agriculture.

(f)

Conditional uses. Signs of any size shall be a conditional use in the following districts: AO agriculture only, GF general forestry, EF exclusive forestry, and C community.

(Res. No. 06-18-13, 6-27-2018)

(a)

Size. The sign area shall not exceed 300 square feet.

(b)

Location.

(1)

Signs shall be placed at least five feet from the right-of-way line of any highway except that signs shall not be permitted between the points of tangency on a curve to the right of any highway.

(2)

Signs shall not be permitted within 300 feet of any intersection. The beginning of a curved access to any intersection shall be considered as the intersection for the purpose of sign location.

(c)

Distance between signs.

(1)

One sign shall be permitted at any location and the distance between any sign on the same side of the highway shall be one mile.

(2)

Back-to-back signs shall be permitted and shall be considered as one sign.

(d)

Permitted districts. Signs are permitted in the following districts: B business, I interstate business, I industrial, C community, GA general agriculture, EA exclusive agriculture, GF general forestry, EF exclusive forestry, AO agriculture only.

(e)

Height of sign. Signs shall not exceed the height limitation of that district in which they are located as measured in feet above the mean centerline grade of the adjacent highway.

(Res. No. 06-18-13, 6-27-2018; Res. No. 10-23-04, 10-25-2023)

(a)

Location.

(1)

On-premises signs may be attached to the building they are intended to serve.

(2)

Freestanding on-premises signs shall be placed at least five feet from the right-of-way line of any highway except that signs shall not be permitted between the points of tangency on a curve to the right of any highway.

(3)

If the business, service or entertainment is located at a highway intersection, an on-premises sign shall not be located within the vision clearance triangle unless designed so as not to obstruct the view across the triangle.

(b)

Height. On-premises signs shall not exceed the height limitation of that zoning district in which they are located as measured in feet above the mean centerline grade of the adjacent highway.

(c)

Size. The gross size of the on-premises signs for each business establishment shall be 100 square feet or less, not to exceed one portable or permanent sign.

(d)

Permitted uses.

(1)

On-premises signs shall be a permitted use in the following zoning districts: B business, IB interstate business, I industrial, C community, GA general agriculture, EA exclusive agriculture, AO agriculture only, GF general forestry, R residential.

(Res. No. 10-23-04, 10-25-2023)

(a)

Size. One-time event signs shall not exceed eight square feet in area.

(b)

Location. One-time event signs shall not be located within the right-of-way lines of any road or highway and shall not be attached to any official highway marker, emblem or traffic control sign or device. One-time event signs shall not be located within the visual clearance triangle of any public intersection.

(c)

Removal. One-time event signs shall be removed not later than 15 days after the last day on which an event occurred.

(d)

Permitted uses. One-time event signs are permitted in all zoning districts and must follow all applicable regulations but do not require the issuance of a zoning permit.

(Res. No. 06-18-13, 6-27-2018)

(a)

Conditions and restrictions.

(1)

Signs shall not be designed and installed to imitate or simulate any highway marker, signal or traffic control sign.

(2)

Signs shall not have any flashing or rotating lights.

(3)

Lighted signs shall not have any light emitted directly onto the roadway, nor be of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle. No sign light bulb or lens cover shall be directly visible from the roadway. No sign shall be illuminated as to interfere with the effectiveness of or obscure an official traffic sign, device, or signal.

(4)

Signs shall not be placed to obscure the vision of any official highway marker, signal or traffic control sign.

(5)

A railroad crossing shall be considered the same as a highway intersection.

(6)

Signs shall not be attached to trees, fence posts or fences, or utility structures and shall not be painted on a rock or other natural object.

(7)

Signs shall be kept in a good state of repair.

(8)

The provisions of this chapter which define permitted locations of signs along the public roads and highways, are held to be the minimum standards to ensure safety on the public roads and highways.

(9)

Digital signs shall adjust brightness in response to changing light levels and shall not be illuminated to a degree of brightness that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility.

(10)

In areas where state or federal regulations apply the more restrictive regulations shall apply.

(11)

Any sign now or hereafter which no longer advertises a bona fide business or a product available shall be removed within 30 days after notification by certified mail by the zoning administrator to the owner of the sign or owner of the land on which the sign is located.

(b)

Permits.

(1)

Permits are required for the installation or erection of all signs except one-time event signs.

(2)

The application for a permit to install or erect a sign shall contain the location, direction or orientation, and such other information as required by the planning and zoning administrator.

(Res. No. 06-18-13, 6-27-2018)