Vernon City Zoning Code
SIGNS
§ 154.100 GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(A) Whereas the state, adhering to the Federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965, had made provisions to control outdoor advertising by enacting Pub. L. No. 112-1993, § 3, requiring the State Department of Transportation to establish a permit system for the effective control of outdoor advertising, all provisions contained herein relating to the local control of such advertising, including billboards, erected or affixed signs, shall be subordinate to and regulated by said Public Law.
(B) No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where by reason of its position, wording, size, shape, color or illumination it may obstruct, obscure, impair or interfere with the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic-control device signal or sign.
(C) No part of any sign attached to the exterior wall of a building shall be erected to a height in excess of six feet above the roof line or parapet line of such building.
(D) No illuminated sign shall be permitted within 50 feet of any residential district unless it is so designed that it does not reflect or shine light onto said district.
(E) No part of any free-standing sign shall be erected to a height greater than that specified for other structures in the district in which it is located; rooftop signs shall not extend more than 20 feet above the roof line, nor shall such sign be located closer to an exterior wall than a distance equal to the height such sign extends above the roof.
(F) The minimum setback of free-standing signs from street rights-of-way shall not be less than:
Area of Sign | Minimum Setback
|
0 to 14.9 square feet | 10 feet setback |
15 to 49.9 square feet | 20 feet setback |
50 to 99.9 square feet | 30 feet setback |
100 to 149.9 square feet | 60 feet setback |
150 or more square feet | 100 feet setback |
(G) The area of a sign shall be determined by the smallest circle, triangle or rectangle that can be used to enclose the sign, exclusive of supporting members that bear no message.
(H) No pennants, banners, flags, spinners or similar devices shall be permitted and, except as specifically provided for herein, no portable signs shall be permitted.
(I) Each permitted or required parking area that has a capacity of more than five cars shall be permitted one sign, not more than two square feet in area, designating each entrance or exit; and one sign, not more than 12 square feet in area, identifying or designating the conditions of use of such parking area for each 25 spaces.
(J) One “For Sale” or “For Rent” sign not more than 12 square feet in area shall be allowed for each dwelling unit, garage or other quarters where appropriate.
(K) One sign, not more than 20 square feet in area, pertaining to the sale of agricultural products raised on the premises shall be allowed.
(L) Signs shall not be allowed in the public right-of-way unless the sign is established by, or by order of, any governmental agency.
(M) One sign, not more than 12 square feet in area, for construction and development, giving the name of the contractors, engineers or architects, shall be permitted but only during the time that construction or development is actually underway.
(N) For an event of public interest such as a county fair or church event, one sign not over 24 square feet in area and located upon the site of the event shall be permitted. Such sign shall not be erected more than 30 days before the event in question and shall be removed immediately after such event. Also directional signs, not more than three square feet in area, showing only a directional arrow and the name of the event of public interest shall be allowed. Such sign shall not be erected more than 14 days before the event in question and shall be removed immediately after such event.
(O) For each real estate development that has been approved in accordance with the subdivision regulations, one sign, not more than 300 square feet in area, advertising the sale of property in such subdivision shall be permitted, but only when located on some portion of the subdivision being advertised for sale. Such sign may be illuminated, but no flashing, intermittent or animated illumination is permitted. Such sign shall be maintained only during such time as some portion of the land advertised for sale remains unsold. Permits for such signs shall be issued for one-year periods and may be renewed for additional one-year periods to allow time for reasonable display.
(P) No sign which does not conform to the provision of this section shall be replaced, enlarged or structurally reinforced so as to extend its useful life.
(Q) Any billboard addition within the city limits, town limits or county limits must be approved by the appropriate ruling body before being erected. (See § 154.105 for billboard regulations.)
(Ord. passed 9-1-2006) Penalty, see § 154.999
§ 154.101 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
(A) A nameplate which shall not exceed one square foot in area is permitted for each dwelling unit of a single-family, or row house structure; such nameplate shall indicate nothing other than name and/or address of the occupant, and/or customary home occupation. No other sign shall be allowed.
(B) Multiple-family residences and residential projects of all types may display identification signs indicating nothing other than name and/or address of the premises and/or name of the management. Such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
(C) For uses other than those listed in divisions (A) and (B) above, bulletin boards or identification signs indicating nothing other than name and/or address of the premises, and schedule of services or other information relevant to the operation of the premises; such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
(D) For each use of divisions (B) and (C) above eligible to display a sign, only one sign per street frontage shall be permitted; except that uses occupying extended frontages shall be permitted one such sign per 500 feet of frontage or major fraction thereof.
(Ord. passed 9-1-2006) Penalty, see § 154.999
§ 154.102 COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
(A) Residential uses shall be subject to the provisions of § 154.101.
(B) For each public recreation, community facility or clinic use shall be permitted one bulletin board or identification sign, not to exceed 12 square feet, except that uses occupying extended frontages shall be permitted one such sign per 500 feet of frontage or major fraction thereof.
(C) For each primary use other than those listed in divisions (A) and (B) above, signs shall be permitted according to the number and net area of signs set forth below; however, one additional sign shall be permitted for each 50 lineal feet of store front in excess of 50 feet:
District | Number of Signs | Net Area (Each) |
Commercial | 2 | 60 square feet |
Residential | 1 | 60 square feet |
(D) No sign shall project over a lot line and no sign shall project into a required yard by more than two feet, except in those blocks where 25% of the frontage is already occupied by business uses and where overhanging signs are already established. Signs may project to within two feet of an established curb line but in no event shall a sign extend more than six feet beyond the face of the building.
(Ord. passed 9-1-2006) Penalty, see § 154.999
§ 154.103 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
Each use shall be permitted identification signs on the lot only as incidental uses, not to exceed two signs and the total area of all signs shall not exceed 300 square feet.
(Ord. passed 9-1-2006) Penalty, see § 154.999
§ 154.104 AGRICULTURAL AND FLOODPLAIN DISTRICTS.
No more than one sign structure shall be allowed per 2,640 feet of frontages on the same side of the road; no such sign structures shall contain more than two facings, and no facing shall display more than two signs.
(Ord. passed 9-1-2006) Penalty, see § 154.999
§ 154.105 OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNS (BILLBOARDS).
Billboard signs are permitted only along and oriented towards State Road 7, State Road 3 and U.S. 50, and shall meet the following requirements.
(A) Billboards shall be allowed in commercial and industrial districts only, and must comply with the existing zoning requirements.
(B) Size, setback, height and area restrictions:
Minimum Setback | Maximum Height | Maximum Area
|
50 feet from all lot lines and rights-of-way | 40 feet | 672 square feet |
(C) Billboards shall be separated by 2,000 feet in all directions, and pertaining to limited access highways, no outdoor advertising sign may be located adjacent to or within 500 feet of an interchange, at-grade intersection, or rest area; said 500 feet shall be measured from the right-of-way line.
(D) No billboard shall be permitted if it is located within 2,000 feet of any residential zoning district or residential use.
(E) No billboard sign structure shall contain more than two facings and no facing shall display more than two signs.
(F) The maximum area for any one sign shall be 672 square feet and the maximum width 25 feet and maximum length of 60 feet, exclusive of any border, trim, ornamental base, apron, supports, embellishments and other structural members, if the exclusions do not exceed 20% of the sign area. The area shall be measured by the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof which will encompass the area affected.
(G) The application for a billboard shall follow the same steps as in the rezoning process (Refer to § 154.025):
(1) Notify adjacent property owners;
(2) Prepare an exhibit showing proposal;
(3) Take to required Essential Services and Area Plan Commission meetings; and
(4) Approval by individual legislative body.
(H) Permits must be obtained from INDOT or the State Highway Department prior to issuance of a local permit. (See the permit fee schedule on file with the Area Plan Commission for local permit fees.)
(Ord. passed 9-1-2006) Penalty, see § 154.999