The following signs and/or sign features shall not be erected or maintained in any zoning district within the jurisdiction of the City of Ashe- ville:
A. Signs on roadside appurtenances. On- or off-premises signs on roadside appurtenances, including, but not limited to roadside benches, bus stop shelters, planters, utility poles, trees, parking meter poles and refuse containers, with the exception of commemorative signs or governmental signs.
B. Portable or moveable display signs erected on or after July 31, 1990. Between the effective date of this article and July 31, 1990, portable or moveable display signs shall be allowed in commercial service, commercial highway, light industrial and heavy industrial zoning districts for no more than 30 consecutive calendar days during any 90-day period. Following the expiration of said 90-day period which shall begin with the date specified on the appropriate sign permit, subsequent temporary sign permits may be applied for and issued. The size of the sign shall be limited to 50 square feet per face and only one sign shall be allowed per lot for single tenant development and only two signs shall be allowed per lot for multiple tenant development.
C. Signs located in the right-of-way. Signs, whether temporary or permanent, within any street or highway right-of-way, with the exception of governmental signs; provided, however, projecting signs which are allowed under section 30-9-5(B) hereinafter are not hereby prohibited and signs providing direction to churches, public auditoriums or properties designated as local or national historic properties, all of which are single-faced and no greater than two square foot in total area per sign and limited to nine feet in height are not hereby prohibited, but shall be allowed only by permit issued by the City of Asheville and shall be limited to three signs permitted per church, public auditorium or historic property.
D. Signs on vehicles. Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying said sign. This does not include temporary construction site vehicles on active construction sites.
E. Roof signs. Signs on the surfaces of a mansard roof and on parapets shall not, however, be hereby prohibited provided the signs do not extend higher than the height restriction for on-premises freestanding signs in the zoning district in which the sign is located and provided that the signs do not extend above the mansard roof or parapet to which they are attached.
F. Wind signs. Wind signs except in conjunction with a community festival or event sponsored by a nonprofit organization or a governmental agency and except as wind signs are allowed under section 30-9-5(A)(13) hereinafter. A sign permit must be obtained for any wind signs erected. Signs erected in conjunction with a community festival or event shall be allowed for seven days.
G. Off-premises signs in all residential, office institutional, commercial general, neighborhood commercial and central business zoning districts.
H. Off-premises signs in national and local historic districts or on national or local historic properties.
I. Off-premises signs along scenic drives. Off-premises signs designed to be visible from streets designated by the Asheville City Council as "scenic drives" and/or "park- ways."
J. Off-premises signs which are within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the maintained traveled way of the federal aid primary and interstate system, all as described in the Federal Highway Beautification Assistance Act of 1979, as amended, and which are constructed or erected on or after the effective date of this article. Provided, further, off-premises signs located specifically as described hereinbefore which were erected prior to the effective date of this article are not prohibited from continuing, notwithstanding their nonconformance with regulations of this article, other than conformance with the maintenance provisions set forth in section 30-9-7 hereinafter.
K. Signs of illusion. Signs with optical illusion of movement by means of a design which presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective, giving the illusion of motion.
L. Signs resembling traffic signals. Signs displaying intermittent light resembling the flashing light customarily used in traffic signals, or used by police, fire, ambulance, or other emergency vehicles, nor shall any sign use the word "stop," "danger," or any other words, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that might be misconstrued as a public safety warning or traffic sign.
M. Animated signs and flashing signs.
N. Abandoned signs or sign structures.
O. Signs obstructing access. Signs which obstruct free ingress to or egress from a driveway or a required door, window, fire escape or other required exitway.
P. Sandwich board signs.
(Ord. No. 1863, § 2(30-9-4), 8-28-90; Ord. No. 2369, § 1, 5-27-97)