The following signs are exempt from the need to secure a permit:
(a) Public notice, warning or official traffic sign required by a federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance;
(b) Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the property on which such sign is located;
(c) Building markers that only include building name, date of construction or historical data on an historic site, provided that there is only one per building with a maximum area of six square feet;
(d) Flags of the United States, the commonwealth, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, or any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided that such flag does not exceed 60 square feet in area and shall be flown from a pole not more than 40 feet in height;
(e) Incidental signs containing no commercial message of any kind, provided that such signs do not exceed eight square feet;
(f) Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises or lot upon which they are erected, provided that there is no more than one such sign per street frontage. Such sign shall be neither illuminated nor exceed eight square feet in residential districts and 20 square feet in nonresidential districts;
(g) Signs advertising the development of the premises where they are erected. Such signs shall not exceed eight square feet in residential districts and 20 square feet in nonresidential districts;
(h) Nameplate signs on private residences, provided that they do not exceed 288 square inches;
(i) Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided that they do not create a traffic or fire hazard;
(j) Yard sale or garage sale signs, provided that they do not exceed two square feet and shall be removed within 24 hours after such sales;
(k) Signs announcing a political, educational, charitable, civic, religious, athletic or similar campaign or event, provided that such signs are erected for a period not to exceed 30 days or more than four times in any calendar year for a maximum annual total of 120 days. Such signs shall not exceed eight square feet;
(l) Temporary banners advertising or denoting special events;
(m) Changeable copy signs. These signs shall be permitted for churches, schools and other uses which by their nature require changeable copy signs, provided that only one such sign shall be permitted. However, in the case of a corner property with a frontage in excess of 100 feet, one additional sign is permitted on the side of the property. The size of such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet;
(n) Window signs, used to serve as accessory sign to the signs associated with the principal use:
(1) Window signs shall be permitted in commercial zoning districts; and
(2) Area of window sign(s) shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the window in which it is placed.
(o) Official traffic signs;
(p) Trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of a driveway or property provided that the size of such sign shall not exceed six square feet;
(q) Signs of contractors, mechanics and artisans, provided that:
(1) Such signs shall be erected only upon the premises or lot where such work is being performed;
(2) The size of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet;
(3) No such sign shall be illuminated; and
(4) Such signs shall be removed within 24 hours after completion of the work.
(r) Signs advertising the sale of farm products grown on the premises provided that:
(1) The size of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet;
(2) Not more than one such sign shall be erected on each street frontage;
(3) No such sign shall be illuminated; and
(4) Such sign shall be displayed only when farm products are being sold.
(Ord. 896, passed 12-21-2011)