(A) Banner signs.
(1) Banner signs shall conform to the provisions of this subchapter just as permanently affixed signs.
(2) Banners shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(3) In no event shall banner signs be placed on any lot or parcel of land for a period to exceed 30 days out of any 12-month period.
(B) Billboard signs.
(1) No billboard sign may face a Residential District causing it to obscure the residents’ view.
(2) There shall be no more than one advertisement on the face of the billboard sign. The sign may not be multi-faced.
(3) Any billboard sign is limited to one side and the advertising area on that one side is not to exceed 160 square feet.
(4) The sign structure, including border, trim and apron, is not to exceed 20 feet overall height. The bottom of the sign is to be no more than eight feet from the ground.
(5) The sign area is not to exceed eight feet by 20 feet (160 square feet). The structure, including the border, trim and apron is not to exceed ten and one-half feet by 22 feet (231 square feet.)
(6) Any off-site billboard sign is to be a minimum of 3,000 feet from any other billboard, business or nameplate sign.
(7) The setback shall be 150 feet from any public road right-of-way, 100 feet from any building, a minimum of 500 feet from the intersection of any public road.
(8) Billboard signs are permitted only in the Industrial Zoning District.
(C) Construction signs.
(1) Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area shall be allowed in all zoning districts during construction.
(2) These signs shall be removed when the project is substantially completed.
(D) Displays.
(1) A sign permit is required for all displays.
(2) Displays shall not contain any light, sign, audio advertising or other device which would otherwise not be permitted under this subchapter.
(3) Permanent displays shall not be permitted.
(4) No display will be allowed that prevents ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape; that tends to accumulate debris as a fire hazard; or that is attached to a standpipe, fire escape or in any other way constitutes a hazard to the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
(5) Displays cannot reduce the number of required parking spaces established by the current parking ordinance. Displays cannot be located within the public right-of-way of any street or way or other public right-of-way or placed so as to interfere with pedestrian traffic.
(6) Roof displays are not allowed.
(7) Displays cannot be located outside a ten-foot radius from the building or structure. In no case shall displays be closer than ten feet from any property line or right-of-way. All displays must be located on the same parcel on which the business is located.
(8) No display will be permitted which by reason of content, location, shape or overall impression interfere with or serve as a traffic hazard or disturbance to surrounding properties.
(9) The top of the display shall not exceed eight feet above the average grade.
(10) Exceptions may be granted to permit displays for preexisting nonconforming uses if it is determined that no intensification or expansion of the nonconforming use would occur if the permit were granted.
(E) Electrical signs. No electrically illuminated sign shall be permitted in a Residential or Agricultural Zoning District except as otherwise provided in § 153.130(D)(2) of this code.
(1) Illuminated signs may be permitted, but flashing signs or digitally animated signs, shall be prohibited. Signs giving off intermittent, rotating or direction lights and neon are prohibited.
(2) Illuminated signs shall be diffused or indirect so as not to direct rays of light into adjacent property or onto any public street or way.
(3) No illuminated signs or their support structures shall be located closer than 25 feet to the roadway surface or closer than ten feet to a street right-of-way line or property line, notwithstanding more restrictive portions of this section, except as otherwise provided in § 153.131(E).
(F) Gateway signs. The city may consider proposals to construct city gateway signage that serve the purpose of welcoming persons to the city and directing them to various business areas. Approval or denial of the proposals shall be at the discretion of the City Council. The following performance standards shall be adhered to and utilized in the city’s consideration of a proposal.
(1) The sign is to be constructed on city and/or county owned property and/or right-of-way and may be owned and maintained by the city and/or county.
(2) The sign shall function as a “gateway” feature for the city. The design of the sign must include a visible reference to the city and exude a feeling of welcome.
(3) The sign shall be a monument sign, which is a type or style of a ground sign that is characterized by a block-type structure, not supported or elevated above ground by poles or braces.
(4) The sign area shall not exceed 100 square feet.
(5) The sign shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
(6) The sign shall be finished in high-quality finish materials.
(7) The signage design shall be reviewed and commented on by the Design Review/Heritage Preservation Commission if the sign is located within the VHS District.
(G) Nameplate signs.
(1) Nameplate signs shall be surface-mounted on the wall of the building of the property.
(2) Nameplate signs shall be no more than six square feet in area.
(H) Off-premises directional signs for public and non-profit organizations, including religious organizations.
(1) Signs for public and non-profit organizations, including religious organizations are permitted.
(2) Signs advertising commercial businesses are prohibited.
(3) Each sign shall not exceed 20 inches by 30 inches. Signs shall be erected on a single steel post.
(4) The setback required for public and non-profit organizations, including religious organization signs in Agricultural, Industrial and Rural Residential Districts, is ten feet from property line or right-of-way; in VHS Districts, two feet from property line.
(5) The number of signs allowed for public or non-profit organizations, including religious organizations, will be determined through the sign permit process.
(6) A sign permit is required.
(I) Political signs.
(1) Political signs are allowed in any zoning district, on private property, with the consent of the owner of the property.
(2) Political signs must be removed within seven days following the date of the election or elections to which they apply.
(J) Portable sign. A portable sign shall only give the name and nature of the business and hours of operation.
(1) There will be no more than one portable sign per business.
(2) Portable signs shall not be larger than 36 inches by 48 inches (12 square feet) of display space on each side with a total height of no more than four feet. The size of a portable sign shall not be included in the total square footage allowed on other permitted signs.
(3) A sign permit shall be required for all portable signs. In the VHS District, approval by the Design Review/Heritage Preservation Commission is also required for portable signs.
(4) All portable signs shall be located on the same parcel on which the business is located. The sign shall not be located in the road right-of-way or placed so as to interfere with pedestrian traffic.
(5) Portable signs and mobile signs on wheels shall be in place only during the hours the business is open.
(6) Portable signs and mobile signs on wheels must be secured so as to not create a public safety hazard by acts of nature or movement by vandals.
(7) Inflatable signs are not permitted.
(K) Private signs. Private signs, other than public utility warning signs, are prohibited within the public right-of-way of any street or way or other public right-of-way.
(L) Real estate signs.
(1) Real estate sales signs may be placed in any yard providing the signs are not closer than ten feet to any property line.
(2) Real estate development project sales signs may be erected for the purpose of selling or promoting a single-family residential project of five or more dwelling units provided:
(a) These signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall require a sign permit;
(b) Only one sign shall be erected on each road frontage with a maximum of two signs per project;
(c) These signs shall be removed when the project is 80% completed or within six months or when sold or leased, whichever comes first; and
(d) These signs shall not be located closer than 100 feet to any existing residence.
(M) Temporary signs.
(1) Signs for non-profit organizations, city sponsored events, fairs and the like are permitted.
(2) Signs advertising businesses are prohibited.
(3) The maximum size of temporary signs is 12 square feet of total advertising area.
(4) The sign structure is not to exceed five feet.
(5) The setback required for temporary signs in Agricultural and Rural Residential Districts is ten feet from property line or right-of-way; in VHS Districts, two feet from property line.
(6) No more than two temporary signs are allowed per parcel.
(7) A temporary sign permit is required.
(8) In no event, however, shall the sign be placed on any lot or parcel of land for a period to exceed 30 days out of any 12-month period.
(N) Traffic signs.
(1) No sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape, movement, color or any other characteristic, interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard; nor shall signs be permitted which would otherwise interfere with traffic control.
(2) No sign will be permitted which by reason of advertising content, location, shape or overall impression may be expected to be confused with, obscure or interfere with any official traffic sign or device or otherwise serve as a traffic hazard.
(3) Private traffic circulation sign and traffic warning signs in alleys, parking lots or in other hazardous situations may be allowed on private property, provided that the signs do not exceed three square feet and are used exclusively for traffic control purposes.
(Prior Code, § 12-211.5) (Ord. 09-2006, passed 9-13-2006; Ord. 01-2014, passed 5-20-2014) Penalty, see § 153.999