10-6-1: PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY:
   A.   Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to promote public safety and welfare by regulating signs in keeping with the following objectives:
      1.   To improve the visual environment and promote economic development while providing adequate standards for the display of signs;
      2.   To allow for maximum creativity while enhancing the quality of signs;
      3.   To ensure that the design, construction, installation, repair, and maintenance of signs protect public safety from potential hazards, especially those along public rights-of-way and near intersections;
      4.   To ensure those City rights-of-way are used in a manner consistent with the public interest;
      5.   To minimize incompatibility between signs and their surroundings;
      6.   To regulate signs by the City's policies and consistent with the U.S. and Idaho Constitutions; and
      7.   To protect the right to free speech by the display of messages on a sign through content-neutral regulations.
   B.   Applicability:
      1.   All signs and sign support structures shall conform to the requirements of this chapter and all other applicable provisions of this Code.
      2.   No sign shall be displayed in the City limits until the City has issued a permit for it unless it is exempt from a permit according to section 10-6-2 of this chapter.
      3.   No permit shall be issued unless the applicant demonstrates that the proposed sign meets the requirements of this chapter.
      4.   All sign face changes including repairs and/or sign face replacements, except for changing or replacing text on changeable copy signs, require a permit.
      5.   Minimum submittal requirements and sign permit applications are available in the administrative manual. Fees for permits and installation shall be established and from time to time revised by resolution of the City Council.
      6.   When a sign permit is requested for a parcel where nonconforming, illegal, or prohibited signs exist, no sign permit shall be issued until all such signs are removed or brought into conformance with this chapter.
   C.   Savings And Severability:
      1.   Signs containing noncommercial speech are permitted anywhere that advertising or business signs are permitted, subject to the same regulations applicable to such signs.
      2.   If any clause, section, or other part of the application of this chapter shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, it is the intent of the City that such clause, section, or other part of the application of this section shall be considered eliminated and not affect the validity of the remaining clauses, sections, or applications which shall remain in full force and effect.
   D.   Conflicts With Other Provisions: Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed a waiver of the provisions of any other ordinance or regulation applicable to signs. Signs located in areas governed by several ordinances or applicable regulations shall comply with all such ordinances and regulations. If there is a conflict between this chapter and any other ordinance or regulation, the more stringent shall apply. Nothing in this chapter is intended to conflict with the provisions of the Idaho Outdoor Advertising Act.
(Ord. 2182, 5-7-2019; amd. Ord. 2239, 6-6-2023)