The purpose of this Article is to regulate placement of signs on buildings, as well as on private and public property. Signs are regulated to ensure the City's historic integrity and protect and enhance economic viability by providing the ability to communicate and attract economic growth in a visually pleasant manner.

(Ord. No. 500, § 1, 8-11-2016)

The following words and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the following meanings:

Building frontage means the length of the facade which provides the architectural and main physical entrance of a building and is located along and/or facing the primary public way.

Business frontage means the length of that portion of the building frontage in which a business is located.

Digital sign typically means a light-emitting diode (LED), plasma or liquid crystal display, that has the capability to show images that may be static or is programmed to change, including sequentially changing images and videos.

External illumination means a sign lit by a lighting fixture whose beam illuminates the exterior of the sign.

Freestanding sign means a sign that is not attached to a building.

Historic words, symbols or ghost sign means a sign painted, engraved or carved into a building and that no longer relates to the use or occupant of the building. A ghost sign is an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time.

Internal illumination means lighting internal to the sign face designed to illuminate a static, non-changeable sign face image.

Mural means artwork painted on the surface of a building exterior or other structure.

Neon sign means a sign illuminated by neon, neon lamps or any other gas-enclosed tubing.

Open/closed sign is a sign limited to the words "open" and/or "closed," with no other wording or graphics.

Projecting sign means a double-sided sign with the same graphic images on each side, projecting 90 degrees from the exterior surface of a building.

Sandwich board means a freestanding sign, hinged at the top, meant to communicate with pedestrians, that is placed on the sidewalk.

Sign means any display, device or ornamentation which is primarily used or intended to attract the attention of the public to a building or commercial activity, such as streamers, banners, flags, pennants, costumed characters or animals, advertising flags or a similar object or device.

Sign area means the standard mathematical formulas for common regular geometric shapes, such as triangles, parallelograms, circles, ellipses or combinations thereof. In the case of an irregularly shaped sign or a sign with painted letters and/or symbols directly affixed to or painted on the wall of a building, the area of the sign shall be the entire area within a single continuous perimeter of not more than six straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or other figure of similar character, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed.

Wall sign means a sign on a board attached to and flush with the surface of a building.

Window sign means a sign either painted on or directly affixed to the glass.

Yard sign means a sign located in the yard area of a residential property, with a maximum size of six square feet.

(Ord. No. 500, § 1, 8-11-2016)

A.

Awning or canopy signs, painted on the valance or the side of an awning or canopy, are limited to one-fourth square foot for each linear foot of awning or canopy.

B.

Banners (permanent) made of cloth or similar durable material intended for permanent installation may be permitted as an alternative to a projecting sign, using the same parameters.

C.

Flags shall only be permitted on permanently installed flag poles and mounts. Flags shall not exceed in total square footage between all flags more than the linear footage of building frontage. Flagpoles on rooftops are limited in height to ten feet above the highest point of the roof.

D.

Externally or internally illuminated signs that comply with all other requirements of this Article shall be permitted.

E.

Murals may be permitted with approval of the City Council, following application and review, and must maintain an historic theme and be professionally painted.

F.

Neon signs with exposed neon tubing may only be attached to the inside of a window, may only be illuminated during business hours and may each only be four square feet in size and limited to two signs per 25 linear feet of building frontage, not including open or closed signs which may be illuminated after business hours. Neon signs are only permitted in the Commercial Zone District.

G.

Projecting signs are allowed only in the Commercial Zone District. Projecting signs must be a minimum of seven feet above a public right-of-way, with a maximum of 24 inches from the building, ten square feet each face and a maximum of one sign per 25 feet of building frontage associated with the operation related to the sign.

H.

The total wall sign area permitted for each structure shall not exceed one square foot per linear foot of building frontage of the structure or ten square feet in a residential zone and may not be internally illuminated. This total sign face area may be distributed between multiple signs.

I.

Window signs are allowed on any window, with no more than 25 percent of the entire window area covered, painted on or directly affixed to the glass, not illuminated except for a single digital open/closed sign no larger than three square feet. In the Residential Zone District, window signs may be only displayed on the first floor of the building.

J.

Sandwich boards are only permitted on the sidewalk adjacent to the location of the business operation that places the sandwich board, unless written permission is obtained from the neighboring business or building owner in advance and are limited to one sign per 25 linear feet of, business frontage, six square feet maximum size per face, freestanding on sidewalk and leaving three feet of width of sidewalk for pedestrian traffic. Sandwich boards are not allowed in the Residential Zone District.

K.

Yard signs are only permitted in the Residential Zone District.

L.

Banners permanently attached by brackets to a pole or building are permitted without a set time limitation. Banners attached by ropes or other temporary means are permitted for a maximum of ten days in any one calendar month or 30 days in a calendar year with a maximum size of six square feet. Larger banners may be installed when specially permitted by the City.

(Ord. No. 500, § 1, 8-11-2016)

A.

All signs shall be composed of professional construction and artwork.

B.

No sign shall have visible moving, revolving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movements or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means, or be designed to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind; nor shall any sign have an optical illusion of movement by means of design that presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy except as allowed by this Article. Traditional barber poles and similar three-dimensional objects shall not be subject to this requirement.

C.

The City may require the removal of signs located within the sight or vision triangle at street intersections and access points that the City determines to be a traffic hazard.

D.

The City may require that any sign be removed by the building owner within 14 days after the activity, product, business, service or other use which is being advertised has ceased.

E.

The intensity of light source for externally illuminated signs shall not exceed that necessary to illuminate and make legible a sign from the adjacent sidewalk or closest street and shall not illuminate adjacent properties or buildings. The illumination of signs shall not be directed toward nearby residential properties and shall not interfere with the vision of motorists.

F.

No phosphorescent, reflective paint or similar materials shall be used on any sign face or sign structure.

G.

Signs shall meet all applicable standards of the adopted building and electric codes.

H.

On undeveloped property, no sign may exceed 24 square feet.

I.

Signs located in the C-1 Zone District shall not be located less than 25 feet to any lot line of a property within the R-1 Zone District.

J.

Signs may not be affixed to City-owned poles or structures without City approval.

K.

All signs must be maintained in good, legible and safe condition. Signs in disrepair due to lack of maintenance and upkeep or that are illegible may be considered a nuisance and be abated in accordance with this Code.

(Ord. No. 500, § 1, 8-11-2016)

The following signs are exempt from the requirements of this Code, and are in addition to sign allowances unless specifically limited:

1.

Traffic, directional, wayfinding, warning, emergency and informational signs authorized by any public agency, including construction signs.

2.

Historic words, symbols or ghost signs.

(Ord. No. 500, § 1, 8-11-2016)

If not otherwise prohibited by the sign allowances and general sign standards in this Code, the following signs are prohibited in all districts:

1.

Rooftop signage and off-premises signs.

2.

Freestanding signs in the Commercial Zone District.

3.

A sign which contains any flashing or animated lights, gives the appearance of animation or movement or contains a message board which utilizes individual bulbs or electronic means to produce or illuminate the message.

4.

Any sign projecting above the peak of a roof, or above the top of an awning or canopy on which it is erected, except as allowed in this Article.

5.

Any sign causing direct glare.

6.

Any sign which emits a sound, odor or visible matter.

7.

Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other exit way.

8.

Any sign and or sign structure which obstructs the view of, may be confused with or purports to be a governmental or traffic direction or safety sign.

9.

Signs using the words "stop," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in a manner that might reasonably mislead, confuse or distract a vehicle driver.

10.

Signs within the street right-of-way, except as otherwise permitted in this Code.

11.

Signs painted on or attached to trees, rocks, other natural features or telephone, light or utility poles.

12.

Beacons, search lights, black lights, phosphorescent and/or quartz crystal lighting shall not be permitted except on a temporary basis for an approved special event.

13.

Signs obstructing the required windows or doors of any building, or attached to or obstructing a fire escape.

14.

Signs located in public rights-of-way or on public property without express permission from the City.

(Ord. No. 500, § 1, 8-11-2016; Ord. No. 508, § 5, 8-15-2019)