Townsend City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Signs
§ 145-55 General provisions.
No signs or advertising devices of any kind or nature shall be erected on any premises or affixed to the outside of any structure or be visible from the outside of any structure in Townsend except as specifically permitted in this article.
§ 145-56 Residence districts.
In residence districts, signs or advertising devices are permitted only as follows:
A.
One sign displaying the street number, or name of the occupant of premises, or both, not exceeding four square feet in area. Such sign may be attached to a building or may be on a rod or post. Such sign may include identification of an accessory studio or professional office in the dwelling or on the premises, or may identify other permitted accessory uses, including customary home occupations. All such signs shall be placed not nearer than 12 feet from the street line.
B.
One bulletin or announcement board or identification sign for a permitted nonresidential building or use, not more than six square feet signboard area. For churches and institutions, two bulletin or announcement boards or identification signs are permitted on each building. Each such church or institution sign shall be not more than 10 feet signboard area. No such sign shall be located nearer a street than 1/2 the required front yard depth.
C.
On the premises with a lawfully nonconforming use, one sign not more than six square feet signboard area.
D.
One "For Sale" or "For Rent" sign, not more than six square feet signboard area and advertising only the premises on which the sign is located.
E.
One building contractor's sign on a building while actually under construction, not exceeding six square feet signboard area.
F.
In residence districts all signs or advertising devices shall be stationary and shall not contain any visible moving or movable parts. No sign or advertising device in such districts shall be of neon or illuminated tube type. Lighting of any sign or advertising device shall be continuous (not intermittent nor flashing nor changing) and shall be so placed or hooded as to prevent direct light from shining onto any street or adjacent property. No sign or advertising device shall be illuminated after 11 p.m.
§ 145-57 Commercial and industrial districts.
In commercial and industrial districts signs shall relate to the premises on which they are located and shall only identify the occupant of such premises or advertise the articles or services available within said premises.
A.
There shall be no temporary or permanent special promotion signs, banners, streamers or placards erected, suspended, posted or affixed in any manner outdoors or on the exterior of any building.
B.
On each lot in a commercial or industrial district, there is permitted one sign affixed to the exterior of a building, for each occupant. The top edge of each such sign shall be not higher than the roof ridge of the building, or the highest point of the roof, if no ridge pole, no higher than the plate of a flat roof.
C.
Signs permitted in commercial and industrial districts shall not be more than 100 square feet signboard area per sign nor more than 3/4 of the length of the face of the building on which the sign is affixed.
§ 145-58 Freestanding signs in commercial and industrial districts.
In commercial and industrial districts where buildings are set back 40 feet or more, one freestanding sign per lot is permitted. The top edge of any such freestanding sign shall be not higher than 25 feet vertical measure above the average level of the ground between the supports of each sign. For traffic safety, the whole of the signboard or display elements of any freestanding sign shall be either below three feet height or above 10 feet height above average ground level. Any such freestanding sign may be located within the front yard space, if any sign on such lot, and no part to be nearer than 12 feet to any lot line.
§ 145-59 Dimensions of freestanding signs.
No freestanding sign shall have signboard area (or display area, if no signboard) exceeding 100 square feet gross area, measured from the tops of the topmost display elements, and from exterior side to exterior side of display elements, and including in such measurements any blank space between display elements. No display or signboard dimension shall exceed 16 feet for a freestanding sign.
§ 145-60 Illuminated signs.
Illuminated signs are permitted subject to the following conditions:
A.
No sign shall be intermittently illuminated, nor of a traveling, animated or flashing light type.
B.
Each steadily illuminated sign shall not exceed 100 square feet gross display area as measured in § 145-59.
C.
Sign illumination is permitted only between the hours of seven o'clock in the morning and eleven o'clock in the evening, except that signs of retail establishments may be illuminated during any hours these establishments are open to the public.
§ 145-61 Private outdoor lighting fixtures.
For safety reasons, any private outdoor lighting fixture, whether temporary or permanent, other than gaseous tube letters in signs, shall be so placed or hooded that the light source itself shall not be directly visible at any point beyond the lot lines of the premises illuminated.
§ 145-62 Exempt signs.
[Added 12-3-1987 STM by Art. 23]
A.
(1)
Any sign which is required by law, rule, regulation or permit of the federal or state government or any agency thereof or any public authority created thereby.
(2)
Any sign placed on any Town premises under the provisions of any Town bylaw or the State Building Code or by direction of the Town board or committee having jurisdiction over such premises.
(3)
Any directional sign or signs indicating parking restrictions in a parking area, provided the signs do not exceed four square feet in area.
(4)
Any sign not exceeding one square foot in area marking or identifying privately owned land (examples: "No Hunting," "No Trespassing").
(5)
Any temporary, unlighted signs, not exceeding two square feet in a residential district, advertising the sale or offering of pets, personal or household articles or a vehicle, trailer or boat belonging to the owner or occupant of the premises, or signs pertaining to campaigns for local, state or federal office, which shall be removed promptly following the sale or disposal of the pets or the articles or after the election has taken place. This exemption permits no more than two such signs per premises.
(6)
Any temporary, unlighted signs, not exceeding 10 square feet in area in a commercial district or on the premises of an existing commercial nonconforming use, advertising a special promotion or special service, which shall be removed promptly at the end of the special promotion or special service. This exemption permits no more than two such signs per premises.
(7)
Holiday decorations and lights when in season.
(8)
Any temporary, unlighted signs or banners, including banners overhanging a public way, of not more than 100 square feet in area advertising a special event by a nonprofit local organization or the Town government, which shall be removed promptly at the end of the special event.
[Amended 4-25-1989 ATM by Art. 60]