(A) Authority: It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or cause to be erected any sign located within the village contrary to the provisions of this chapter as hereinafter provided.
(B) Purpose: The purposes of these sign regulations are:
1. To regulate signs that may, by reason of their size, location, construction or manner of display, endanger the public safety of individuals.
2. To regulate signs that may confuse, mislead or obstruct the vision necessary for traffic safety.
3. To maintain the character of each district as set forth in this title.
4. To encourage and promote way finding.
5. To encourage and promote the integration of signs into their surroundings.
6. To encourage and promote the general aesthetic and public safety in the village.
(C) General Guidelines And Standards:
1. General Standards:
a. Construction Of This Chapter: These sign regulations shall be construed to comply with the United States Constitution, particularly the First Amendment guarantee of free speech, the Illinois Constitution, and other applicable state and federal laws.
b. Compliance With Code: Signs shall be classified and permitted in accordance with the regulations set forth in this chapter and only those signs specifically permitted by the text of this chapter shall be permitted. The classification of signs shall be in accordance with the various use districts designated now or hereafter established in this title and shall be subject to further restrictions by all applicable provisions of this code.
c. Exempt Signs: The following signs are exempt from the regulations of this chapter, and are allowed in every zoning district: traffic control signs, traffic signals, and/or safety warnings, whether within a public right-of-way or on private property; municipal way finding signs, directional signs, traffic signals and/or devices, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, temporary emergency signs, public utility signs, trail marking signs and those required or recommended by state or federal law, and other similar signs.
d. Abandoned Signs: Any sign which identifies a use, occupancy, and/or activity no longer being conducted for thirty (30) calendar days or longer shall be removed by the owner of the property or the person having occupancy of and/or control over the property upon which such sign is located, and shall be declared abandoned and are subject to removal.
e. Removal Of Illegal Nonconforming Signs: Any sign that is in violation of these sign regulations and is erected after the effective date hereof is hereby classified as "illegal and nonconforming". Whenever the Zoning and Building Enforcement Officer determines that an illegal and nonconforming sign exists, he shall notify the person displaying such sign by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such person shall, within ten (10) calendar days of the date of the notice, either remove the sign or initiate action necessary to bring the sign into compliance with regulations set forth herein, including applying for any required permit.
f. Maintenance, Damage To Nonconforming Signs: Normal maintenance of signs, including necessary non-structural and non-electrical repairs and incidental alterations which do not extend or intensify the nonconforming features of the sign, is permitted during any amortization period or the period in which permit applications are pending. However, no structural alterations, enlargement or extensions shall be made to a sign unless the alteration will result in eliminating the nonconforming features of the sign. If a sign is damaged or destroyed by any means to the extent of fifty percent (50%) of its replacement value or fifty percent (50%) of its surface area, the sign may not be rebuilt or used thereafter unless it conforms to all of the provisions of these sign regulations.
g. Unsafe Signs: If the Building and Zoning Enforcement Officer finds that any sign is unsafe or unsecure, or constitutes a danger to the public, he or she shall give written notice to the owner of the premises. If the owner fails to make corrections or fails to remove or alter the sign within ten (10) calendar days of the date of said notice, the sign may be removed by the Building and Zoning Enforcement Officer at the expense of the owner of the property upon which such sign is located. However, the Building and Zoning Enforcement Officer may cause any sign that is an immediate and imminent peril to persons or property to be removed summarily with or without notice. Any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the owner of the property on which the sign is located.
h. Signs Not To Constitute Traffic Hazard Or Cause Glare: No sign of any nature or type shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or so as to distract the attention of the driver of any vehicle, bicyclist, and/or pedestrian by reason of the position, shape or other characteristics thereof.
i. Signs may not be located within ten feet (10') from any side or rear lot line.
j. Illumination of signs shall be in accordance with the village's lighting ordinance.
k. Only one sign shall be permitted identifying a contractor, architect, engineer, and subcontractors engaged in the construction or improvement of a building upon the property which the sign is located, provided such sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area and no more than six feet (6') in height. Such signs shall be removed upon completion of the project for which the permit was issued.
l. Neighborhood or other similar type residential association identification signs shall be permitted only by special use permit issued subsequent to public notice and hearing and a recommendation the Zoning Board of Appeals and approved by the Board of Trustees. Such signs shall contain only the name or identifying character of the subdivision. No advertising, names, addresses or phone numbers of any person shall be permitted thereon.
m. Signs advertising motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, watercraft or any other similar property "For Sale" are prohibited in all districts. (Ord. 20-07, 3-24-2020)