Suamico City Zoning Code
§ 18.17
Sign Regulations.
The following regulations shall apply to all signs hereinafter erected or established within the Village:
General. This section shall apply to all billboards, fences, or display structures of any kind for advertisement purposes, upon which any advertisement is shown, painted or displayed, etc.
No sign shall hereafter be erected, located, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a permit from the Building Inspector except signs in Section 18.17 (3)(a) and (4)(a), which are exempt from the provisions of the code.
All signs shall be erected and maintained so as to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot (with a factor of safety of four times the specified minimum). When a sign is erected or maintained on any wall of a building, it shall be fastened or anchored to such wall or building and all fasteners or anchors used shall be of metal and be maintained free from rust or defects of any kind.
In all zones any off-premise outdoor advertising sign greater than 100 square feet per side shall require a variance.
All signs requiring a permit, except for those covered by Section 18.17(3), shall be approved by the Design Review Committee.
Roof signs shall not be allowed in any zoning district in the Village.
Maintenance, Removal, and Disposition of Signs.
Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good structural material condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, painting (except when a weathered or natural surface is intended as approved by the Design Review Committee), repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for the maintenance of said sign.
All signs or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the sign no longer correctly directs any person or advertises a bionafide business, lessor, owner, product, activity, conductor, or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed; or when a business which it advertises is no longer conducted; or when rental or compensation is no longer provided. If the property owner or lessee fails to remove it, the Zoning Administrator shall give the sign owner 30 days' written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with the notice, the Village or its duly authorized representative shall remove the sign at the expense of the sign owner. Such charge shall be placed on the tax roll pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 66.0627.
The Village or its duly authorized agent shall cause to be removed any sign that is illegally placed or endangers the public safety, such as dangerous materially, electrically, or structurally defective signs. The Village or its duly authorized agent shall give the land owner a written notice to repair or remove the illegally placed, dangerous, or defective sign within 30 days. If the sign creates an immediate hazard, it will be the property owner's obligation to remove the sign immediately. If the hazardous sign is not removed by the property owner, the Village reserves the right to remove the sign at the expense of the property owner. Such charge shall be placed on the tax roll pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 66.0627.
Temporary Signs. The regulations for temporary signs apply to all zoning districts unless otherwise stated in the provisions below.
Temporary Signs that Do Not Require a Permit or Fee.
Political Campaign Signs. Political campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or issues on election ballots are subject to the following requirements:
Each sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area in non-residential zoning, except in the Highway 41 corridor.
Each sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area in residential zoning, except in the Highway 41 corridor.
No sign shall be located within 15 feet of the public right-of-way at a street intersection, nor over the right-of-way in any instance.
Each sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in the Highway 41 corridor.
Yard Sale Signs. Yard sale signs located on premises may be placed one day prior to the event and shall be removed the day following the event.
Temporary Signs that Require a Permit and/or Fee.
Temporary Signs for Non-Commercial Promotional Events.
Temporary Signs for the Sale or Leasing of Real Estate including Residential Developments and Subdivisions, Not Including Individual Home Sales. The Zoning Administrator may issue a special permit for two temporary signs in any zoning district in connection with the marketing of lots or structures in a subdivision subject to the following conditions:
Such permits may be issued for up to two years and may be renewed for a time period not to exceed six months, until 50% of the lots have been sold, after which said signs shall be removed.
Signs advertising the sale of new subdivision lots shall not exceed 100 square feet each in area. Not more than one sign shall be located on the owner's property at each major approach to the subdivision. Any subdivision development sign shall comply with all applicable setback requirements for the zoning district in which the property is located.
Signs advertising the rental of new apartment units shall not exceed 100 square feet each in area. Not more than two signs shall be located at each major approach to the apartment complex.
Temporary Signs for Roadside Stands. The following provisions shall apply to all roadside stands and stands for the sale of products associated with a national holiday, except fireworks, located within the Village:
Off-Premises Signs. All roadside stands shall be permitted four temporary off-premises signs per the following:
Two of the permitted off-premises signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in size, two of the off-premises signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in size, and all of the off-premise signs shall be restricted to the message board on one side only.
On-Premise Signs. All roadside stands shall be permitted only two temporary on-premise signs per the following:
The signs shall not:
Exceed 32 square feet in size each and shall be restricted to the message board on one side only;
Exceed eight feet in height;
Be located in a public right-of-way;
Be illuminated or flashing;
Be combined to create one sign of 64 square feet but may be back to back for a total of 64 square feet.
Wall mounted signs or signs painted on the side of the roadside stand shall be considered as on-premises signs addressed in this section.
No other signage shall be permitted for roadside stands in the Village.
All signage for roadside stands for the purpose of the sale of products associated with national holidays, except fireworks stands, shall not be erected, displayed, or used more than 45 days prior to the national holiday and shall be removed within 10 days after the holiday.
All signage for fireworks stands shall be part of the conditional use permit for such stands.
Temporary Signs for Business and Industrial Developments.
Permits for temporary signs shall be issued for a fifteen-day period. A maximum of eight - fifteen-day periods in any one calendar year will be issued to any one lot. The fifteen-day periods may be combined to allow for longer displays but shall not be permitted for more than the allowed 120 days in any one calendar year.
Temporary signs shall be limited to one per lot, except corner lots may be granted a second identical sign which may be displayed during the same fifteen-day period.
Signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and may be two sided.
Multiple businesses on one lot will require the approval in writing of all businesses on that lot prior to issuance of the permit for the temporary sign.
Businesses that have buildings and/or parking/display areas that overlap parcel lines will be considered a single lot for temporary signs.
Temporary signage shall not be allowed for any business that has any type of electronic message display.
Must be in conjunction with a special event.
Fees Required for Permits. The schedule of fees shall be as adopted from time to time by resolution of the Board and is hereby adopted by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Temporary Signs Prohibited.
Promotional Flags, Pennants, Streamers, and Banners in the Village Right-of-Way. No owner or occupant of any property shall install or display any promotional flag, pennant, streamer, or banner in the Village right-of-way except for the Village.
Mobile Signs. No sign mounted on wheels, trailers, or any other non-permanent structure shall be parked within sight of a street for the purpose of advertising except for signs approved as part of a special event or by the Board.
Residential and Agricultural Districts.
In residential and agricultural districts, all sign types, except signs for charitable or religious institutions, shall be of a non-flashing and non-illuminated type.
Signs that Do Not Require a Permit or Fee.
Property Identification. A sign not in excess of two square feet identifying the property or nature of the owner or occupant.
Warning Signs. Warning signs such as "No Hunting", "No Trespassing", "No Parking", or "No Loitering" not to exceed four square feet are permitted.
Real Estate and Lease Signs. Real estate signs which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located. In the residential zones, no sign shall exceed eight square feet in area. In the agricultural zone such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet. Corner lots in residential zones shall be permitted two signs. All signs shall be confined to the immediate property being solely advertised or displayed.
Signs for Historic or Commemorative Places and Events. Signs not in excess of two square feet which commemorate or identify a historic building, place, event, landscape, geologic or archaeological feature. A larger sign may be allowed after review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board approval.
Agricultural Signs. Agricultural signs pertaining to the products of the agricultural premises shall not exceed 32 square feet in area per sign for any one farm. Height of this respective sign shall not exceed eight feet. Two such signs shall be permitted per farm. The sign shall be limited to the name of the premises, the producer, and product being sold or produced.
Official Signs. Official signs as determined by the Village such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information, and notices.
Signs that Require a Permit and Fee.
Signs for Charitable or Religious Institutions. Signs for charitable or religious institutions applicable to Wis. Stats. Ch. 70, located on premises, shall not exceed 32 square feet in area (one per street face) located on the premises. The height of the sign shall not exceed eight feet. May be illuminated if approved by the Design Review Committee.
Non-Residential. Permitted non-residential building use in a residential district shall have no sign larger than 12 square feet in area and displaying only the name and address of the building.
Development Name Signs. Subdivision, condominium, and apartment complex sign, masonry wall, landscaping, and other similar materials or features may be combined to form a display for neighborhood or tract identification, provided that the legend of such sign or display shall consist only of the neighborhood or tract name and shall not exceed 16 square feet.
Business/Industrial Districts. All signs hereafter established within the business zone district shall conform to the following regulations set forth. Any reference to business shall include industrial also:
All signs advertising or displaying business places shall be erected on the business premises only. Business signs constructed off the premises shall be permitted only upon conditional approval by the Village.
Illuminated signs shall be permitted in the business districts, subject to the following:
Signs shall be illuminated so light is diffused or indirect and shall be arranged so as not to reflect direct rays of light into adjacent residential.
No sign shall be brighter than necessary for clear and adequate visibility.
No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver with average eyesight or to otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
Must be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the sign if it malfunctions and the sign owner or operator must immediately turn off the sign when notified by the Village that it is not complying with the standards of Section 18.17.
The person owning or controlling the sign must adjust the sign to meet the brightness standards in accordance with the Village's instructions. The adjustment must be made immediately upon notice of noncompliance from the Village. The person owning or controlling the sign may appeal the Village's determination through the following appeal procedure:
After making the adjustment required by the Village, the person owning or controlling the sign may appeal the Village's determination by delivering a written appeal to the Clerk within 10 days after the Village's non-compliance notice.
The appeal will be referred to the Health and Safety Committee for their review and determination at the next available meeting.
All types of flashing signs shall be prohibited.
Window signs shall be placed only on the inside of business buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed.
Wall signs placed against the exterior of a building shall not extend more than eight inches outside of a building wall surface, shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for any one business, and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the average ground level. Larger signs will require approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission but, shall never exceed 10% of the wall surface of the front of the building or 500 square feet, whichever is less. In the case of a lot fronting on two public streets, additional wall signage equal to the above restrictions shall be allowed. Signs may be allowed on any wall surface but, aggregate signage on any one wall of the building may not exceed above requirements.
Ground signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the average ground level; shall not be located closer than 15 feet from any lot line; and shall not exceed 100 square feet in area per side for all signs combined on any one parcel.
Property signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by structures on a premises developed for business shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for all signs combined on any one premises; shall not extend more than 10 feet out from the structure, shall not exceed a height of 20 feet above the average ground level; and shall not be less than 10 feet above any pedestrian way, and not less than 15 feet above a driveway.
One pedestal type sign, a ground sign generally supported by one full base matching building materials and not exceeding a height of 25 feet, shall be permitted per each business establishment. Such sign shall not exceed a total area of 100 square feet total per side.
One pylon type sign, a special type of ground sign supported by tall mast-like members or pyramidical tower supports and not exceeding a height of 25 feet, shall be permitted per each business establishment. Such sign shall not exceed a total area of 100 square feet total per side unless approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. All poles or supports shall be covered in a material to match the building.
On any one lot, there shall be allowed either a ground sign, pedestal sign, or pylon sign. Multiple types of signs on a single lot shall require Planning and Zoning Commission approval.
No sign shall be permitted within 50 feet of any residence.
No sign shall be within the vision triangle of intersecting roads.
All off-premises signs shall be separated by no less than 1,000 lineal feet measured on single sign of road grade at the right-of-way line and at no point shall any three signs be closer than 3,000 lineal feet.
Directional and drive-thru signs shall be exempt from total sign square footage but shall not exceed three square feet in area per sign and a maximum of three feet above grade. The construction and appearance of the sign shall not constitute a safety hazard where erected.
Planned Development Districts. Specific sign regulations shall be contained in the conditions in each approval by the Board authorizing the establishment of a Planned District.
Electronic Message Displays. The following requirements shall apply to electronic message displays:
All electronic message displays shall:
Advertise on-premise only, except for non-profit community events and off-premise signage with-in the Highway 41/141 corridor provided;
The proper conditional use permits and/or variances have been obtained,
The sign meets the current separation requirements of 18.17(5)(n) above,
The existing structure is sufficient to support any additional loads,
Permits are submitted and approved,
Public service messaging/municipal information messaging of a minimum of 5% per month is required,
Limited to level 1 or 2 only,
Such signs shall not be located within 100 feet of residential district boundaries, school property, or public parks and parkways (including those so designated on the Official Map) if said signs are perpendicular to or facing away from such uses. This distance increases to 400 feet if signs are facing (oriented with message side parallel) said use.
Require Design Review Committee approval.
Not exceed 50% of total sign area except for allowable off-premise signs which can be at 100%.
Public service messaging and their intervals should be part of the approval process.
Electronic message displays are defined in four basic levels of operational modes for message transitions.
Level 1. Static display only (messages change with no transition).
Permitted in all business, commercial, and public land zones.
Permitted for charitable or religious institutions with Design Review Committee approval.
Level 2. Static display with "fade" or "dissolve" transitions, or similar transitions and frame effects that do not have the appearance of moving text or images.
Permitted in all business, commercial, and public land zones.
Level 3. Static display with "travel" or "scrolling" transitions, or similar transitions and frame effects that have text or animated images that appear to move or change size, or be revealed sequentially rather than all at once.
Permitted by conditional use permit or as part of a planned development only.
Not permitted adjacent to the Highway 41/141 corridor.
Level 4. Full animation, no flashing or video shall be allowed as part of any display.
Definitions. In this section, the terms have the following meaning:
A mode of message transition on an electronic message display accomplished by varying the light intensity or pattern, where the first message gradually appears to dissipate and lose legibility simultaneously with the gradual appearance and legibility of the second message.
A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures, or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means.
A mode of message transition on an electronic message display accomplished by varying the light intensity, where the first message gradually reduces intensity to the point of not being legible and the subsequent message gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility.
A complete, static display screen on an electronic message display.
A visual effect on an electronic message display applied to a single frame to attract the attention of viewers.
A mode of message transition on an electronic message display where the message appears to move vertically across the display surface.
Any advertisement or promotional device not permanently attached to the ground or permanent structure to include, but not limited to, signs, banners, promotional flags, balloons, sign trailers, streamers, and pennants.
A visual effect used on an electronic message display to change from one message to another.
A mode of message transition on an electronic message display where the message appears to move horizontally across the display surface.