1141.09 ILLUMINATION OF SIGNS.

   (a)   Signs in residential districts shall not be illuminated, except as specifically provided herein. 

   (b)   Signs in business, industrial, office, and institutional districts may be illuminated.  Where illuminated Signs are permitted, they shall conform to the following requirements:

      (1)   All illuminated Signs shall comply with the requirements of the National Electric Code.

      (2)   Electrical wiring serving any Sign shall be installed underground or on or within the structure to which the Sign is attached.

      (3)   Illumination shall not be of excessive brightness and shall be shielded so as to prevent direct light or glare from being cast into any adjoining residential area or at vehicles traveling on a public right-of-way.  Such lighting shall be shielded so as to prevent view of the light source from any adjoining residence or residential district and/or vehicles approaching on a public right-of-way from any direction.

      (4)   Flashing, moving or intermittent illumination other than Changeable Copy Signs shall not be permitted.

      (5)   The colors red or green, whether in direct illumination or reflection, shall not be used where such use may interfere with the sight lines of a traffic signal.

   (c)    Changeable Copy Signs. Multiple message and variable message Signs which are changed electronically shall conform to the following standards:

      (1)    Each message or copy shall remain fixed for at least thirty (30) seconds. Messages shall not flash, include moving video displays or animation, or emit intermittent light.

      (2)    Changes to messages, copy, or images shall be accomplished in not more than three (3) seconds.

      (3)    Each such Sign must be capable of regulating the digital display intensity and the light intensity level of the display must automatically adjust to natural ambient light conditions.

      (4)    No such Sign shall be of such intensity as to create a distraction or nuisance for motorists.

      (5)    Displays shall not emulate traffic control devices.

      (6)    Such Signs shall contain a default design that will freeze the Sign in one position or cause it to go dark if a malfunction occurs.

      (7)    The entire message shall change at once, without scrolling, animation, flashing, blinking or other movement or noise.

      (8)    The changeable copy portion of any free-standing Monument or Pole Sign shall not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the total area of the Sign.

      (9)    Any such Sign located within five hundred feet (500') of a residentially zoned district shall be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

         (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)