A. Signs For Single-Tenant Buildings:
1. The number and size requirements for each type of sign allowed for single-tenant buildings are indicated in section 10-6-6, table 6.1 of this chapter.
2. Wall sign length shall not exceed seventy percent (70%) of building frontage.
3. Signs shall be appropriately scaled and compatible with buildings and other features of the site in terms of color, materials, design, and illumination.
B. Signs For Multiple-Tenant Buildings:
1. Sign Locations: Signs for multiple-tenant buildings are allowed only within the designated sign areas as shown on an approved sign permit application.
2. Individual Tenant Signs:
a. Freestanding Signs: No individual tenant in a multiple-tenant building or development is allowed a separate freestanding sign. The total sign area allowed for freestanding signs on a multiple- tenant property is indicated in section 10-6-6, table 6.1 of this chapter.
b. Wall And Projecting Signs:
(1) Individual tenants in multi-tenant buildings are permitted wall and projecting signs as indicated in section 10-6-6, table 6.1 of this chapter. Approved wall area is based on the length of the exterior wall(s) of individual tenant spaces.
(A) In instances where a building contains tenants without an exterior wall, additional sign area for such interior tenants in the building may be included on a shared exterior sign. Such sign shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.
(C) Wall sign length shall not exceed seventy percent (70%) of building frontage associated with the respective tenant.
(D) Signs shall be appropriately scaled and compatible with buildings and other features of the site in terms of color, materials, design, and illumination.
C. Signs Within Historic Districts, Mixed-Use Downtown, And The Blackfoot Urban Renewal Agency (URA) Boundaries: All signs within a local or national registered historic district, any Mixed Use District, or the urban renewal agency boundaries ("URA boundaries"), shall be appropriate and compatible with buildings and other features of the site in terms of color, materials, and design. Signs shall also comply with adopted design guidelines for local historic districts, Mixed Use Districts, and URA boundaries, as applicable. See section 10-6-11, "Downtown Sign Design Standards And Procedures", of this chapter.
D. Signs In Downtown Breezeways, Rights-Of-Way And Other Public Property: The Blackfoot Urban Renewal Agency or the City may install banners and signs attached to light and utility poles in the breezeways, rights-of-way, and other public property within the URA boundaries.
E. Signs Located In Or Extending Into Or Over Public Property: Signs allowed under this chapter that are located on or extend into public property require approval of a revocable use of public places permit. Temporary signs allowed on City property are exempt.
F. Temporary Sign Permits: Temporary signs, unless exempt, shall require a permit pursuant to section 10-6-7 of this chapter and compliance with the following standards.
1. Term: Temporary signs may be displayed for no more than thirty (30) days in any calendar quarter (January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December).
2. Limit On Number: An applicant may only use one of the temporary sign categories, subsections F4 through F8 of this section under a temporary sign permit.
3. Public Safety: All temporary signs in this subsection F shall be installed in a manner that does not create a safety hazard or impede pedestrian access.
4. Temporary Banners: Temporary banners may be allowed with a temporary sign permit provided they comply with the following:
a. No banner shall exceed sixteen (16) square feet, unless the applicant demonstrates that a larger banner is necessary for legibility due to the proposed location of the banners.
b. No more than one banner shall be displayed on a property at any one time.
c. Banners shall be professionally printed on durable material and
d. Banners on public property shall comply with this section.
5. Feather Flags: Feather flags may be allowed with a temporary sign permit, pursuant to the following:
a. Maximum of one per seventy five feet (75') of street frontage;
b. Maximum of three (3) per property;
c. Shall not exceed twelve feet (12') in height; and
d. Shall be set back from the property line a minimum distance equal to the height of the feather flag.
6. Wind Socks: Wind socks may be allowed with a temporary sign permit, pursuant to the following:
a. Maximum one per property;
b. Maximum of fifteen feet (15') in height; and
c. Shall be set back from the property line a minimum distance equal to the height of the wind sock.
7. Pennants: Pennants may be allowed with a temporary sign permit, provided that no pennant shall exceed the height of the permanent structure to which it is attached.
8. Portable A-Frame Sign: Portable A-frame signs may be allowed with a temporary sign permit, pursuant to the following:
a. Maximum one per business;
b. Maximum six (6) square feet; and
c. Maximum four feet (4') in height.
9. Signs Within URA Boundaries: Temporary signs within the URA boundaries shall be subject to the downtown sign design standards in section 10-6-11 of this chapter.
G. Portable Signs And Banners On Public Property: Where buildings have been built legally to the property line, portable signs and banners are allowed subject to the following standards:
1. Portable signs may be allowed on public property only if there is not adequate space to display a sign on private property.
2. Portable signs or banners on public property shall be installed to provide adequate space to accommodate pedestrian maintenance access and to minimize potential hazards for pedestrians and vehicles.
3. Portable signs are limited to one per street frontage except that for multi-tenant buildings or developments, one additional portable sign may be allowed on any street frontage for buildings having more than twenty five feet (25') of street frontage.
4. Banners shall be attached flat to a building wall or flat to an approved seating enclosure on public property. No freestanding temporary signs, including wind signs, are allowed on public property, except for downtown special event signs allowed under the downtown sign design standards in section 10-6-11 of this chapter.
H. Sign Color: High intensity colors and fluorescent pigments shall not be used on any sign, sign cabinet or frame, or support structure except as sign trim or on a sign logo not exceeding five percent (5%) of the sign area and compatible with the primary building design and color.
I. Sign Illumination:
1. Signs may be illuminated pursuant to section 10-6-6, table 6.1 of this chapter.
2. Illumination of signs shall comply with the outdoor lighting standards.
3. Signs shall not exceed one hundred (100) nits (candela/square meter) between one-half (1/2) hour before sunset and one-half (1/2) hour after sunrise and one thousand (1,000) nits during other times. Signs shall include automatic dimmer controls to adjust brightness levels.
4. Exposed neon and exposed LED lighting on any portion of a building or structure except within the lettering or logo on a freestanding or wall sign, is subject to the provisions for outdoor lighting. Exposed neon and exposed LED lighting is prohibited on signs within or adjacent to and facing a Residential Zoning District unless otherwise exempted in this chapter.
5. Signs within or adjacent to and facing a Residential Zoning District shall be located, shielded, and screened to prevent direct light or glare onto adjacent uses or properties.
J. Sign Measurement And Location:
1. Sign Height: The height of a sign shall be measured from the average grade at the base of a sign to the highest point of the sign, including all support structures. For freestanding signs located on a slope or berm, the height of the sign shall be measured from the average grade established between the base of the sign and the lot line; or where the lot line is more than six feet (6') from the base of the sign, between the base of the sign and a point six feet (6') down slope from the sign. (Figure 6.2)
FIGURE 6.2
SIGN HEIGHT MEASUREMENT
2. Sign Area:
a. Single-Faced Signs: The area of a sign shall include the entire area within a continuous single perimeter enclosing the limits of the text, symbols, photographs, logos, and display faces, including any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed. The area shall exclude support structures on which a sign is placed.
b. Double-Faced Signs: All signs other than wall signs may be back-to-back (2 sign faces), and each face may have an area not to exceed the maximum stated for each respective type of sign.
c. Three-Dimensional Signs: The sign area of a three-dimensional sign shall be calculated by adding the area of two (2) adjacent vertical faces of the smallest cube that can encompass such sign. (Figure 6.3)
Area 1 + Area 2 = Total Sign Area
FIGURE 6.3
THREE-DIMENSIONAL SIGN MEASUREMENT
3. Sign Location: Signs shall be located as specified in section 10-6-6, table 6.1 of this chapter. Attached signs shall be located only in approved sign wall areas as follows:
a. All Buildings: Approved sign areas shall be located consistent with building architecture and shall not detract from key building features. Signs shall be aligned on single-tenant and multi-tenant buildings within consistent sign bands, except that signs at customer entrances or on other prominent building features shall be located consistent with architectural features.
b. Single-Tenant Buildings: For a building containing one tenant, any exterior facade wall that is facing an abutting public street or alley or any exterior wall facing a customer parking lot of the use.
c. Multi-Tenant Buildings:
(1) Any exterior facade wall of an individual tenant that has a public entrance and exit;
(2) Any exterior facade wall of an individual tenant that faces an abutting public street or alley, or the customer parking lot of the building; and
(3) Any approved location for a shared exterior wall directory sign.
K. Discontinued Use Or Change In Use:
1. Whenever the approved use of a property or tenant space is discontinued for more than ninety (90) days, all signs and sign support structures on that subject property and/or tenant space shall be removed. Any new use established on the subject property shall comply with this chapter.
2. Whenever a permit is requested to change a sign or sign face, the sign and support structure shall also comply with this chapter. Individual sign faces on a multi-tenant freestanding sign are exempt.
(Ord. 2182, 5-7-2019; amd. Ord. 2239, 6-6-2023)