Wittenberg Village City Zoning Code
§ 17.25
SIGNS.
(1)
No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without a permit, except those signs excepted below, and without being in conformity with the provisions of this section. The sign shall also meet all the structural requirements of the Building Code.
(2)
All signs are prohibited in all residential districts, the O-N Natural Preservation District and CON Conservancy Districts, except the following:
(a)
Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment announcing, without display or elaboration, only the name and occupation of the proprietor and not to exceed 2 feet in height and 10 feet in length.
(b)
Real estate signs not to exceed 8 square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
(c)
Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed 2 square feet located on the premises.
(d)
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed 8 square feet in area, located on the premises.
(e)
Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure.
(f)
Official signs such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information and notices.
(g)
Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the Plan Commission.
(h)
Rummage or garage sale signs not to exceed 8 square feet in area, but use of this type of sign shall be limited to 72 hours per sale.
(i)
Political message signs during an election campaign, as defined in §12.04(1), Wis. Stats., and subject to the Village Board's authority to regulate size, shape and placement for the public safety. Political signs may be posted 60 days before an election and shall be removed within 2 days after the election. The sign shall be a maximum of 32 square feet.
(3)
Signs are permitted in the Community Commercial and the General Manufacturing and Industrial Districts, subject to the following restrictions:
(a)
Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings shall not extend more than 15 inches outside of a building's wall surface, shall not exceed 500 square feet in area for any one premises, and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center line street grade.
(b)
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by structures shall not:
1.
Exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises.
2.
Extend more than 6 feet into any required yard.
3.
Extend into any public right of way.
4.
Be less than 10 feet from all side lot lines.
5.
Exceed a height of 20 feet above the mean center line street grade
6.
Be less than 9 feet above the sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
(c)
Ground signs shall not exceed 40 feet in height above the mean center line street grade, shall meet all yard requirements for the district in which it is located, shall not exceed 100 square feet on one side nor 200 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(d)
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof, shall meet all the yard and height requirements for the district in which it is located, and shall not exceed 300 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(e)
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.
(f)
Combinations of any of the above signs shall meet all the requirements for the individual sign.
(4)
Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
(5)
Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this section may be continued although the use, size or location does not conform with the provisions of this section. However, it shall be deemed a nonconforming use or structure and the provisions of sec. 17.05 of this chapter shall apply.
(Cr. Ord. #10-08)