1137.16  PERMITTED SIGNS.
   (a)   Scope of regulations:
      (1)   The regulations herein set forth shall apply and govern in all districts.  No sign shall be erected or maintained unless it is in compliance with the regulations for the district in which it is located.  No sign shall be erected or continued in operation in any manner constituting a nuisance because of glare, focus, animation or flashing.
      (2)   All signs hereafter erected, constructed or modified shall comply with yard and setback requirements of the districts in which it is located.
      (3)   Where illumination of signs is permitted such illumination shall be neither flashing nor intermittent and shall be designed and constructed so as to concentrate the illumination upon the area of the sign and prevent glare upon the street or adjacent property.  Such illumination shall be turned off no later than 11:00 p.m., or the end of the business day whichever is later when such sign is within 200 feet of any R-1 or R-2 District.
      (4)   No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
      (5)   No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; or which makes use of the words “STOP”, “LOOK”, “DRIVE-IN,” “DANGER”, or any other words, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
      (6)   It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
      (7)   No sign shall be erected or maintained in Residential, Business, and Agricultural Districts unless the sign complies with all of the following conditions:
         A.   Is erected and maintained for a permitted use for the district in which the sign is located.
         B.   Is clearly incidental and customary to and commonly associated with the operation of the use.
         C.   Is limited in location to the premises on which the use is located.
         D.   Is limited in subject matter to the name, design, picture or trademark of the owner, operator, builder, sales agent, managing agent, lessor or lessee of the premises or of the activities (including merchandise handled or services rendered) on the premises on which such sign is located, and does not include any general commercial advertising unrelated to or extending in substantial degree beyond the enumerated permitted subjects.
   (b)   Exemptions: The provisions and regulations of this Ordinance shall not apply to the following signs, provided they are not illuminated, nor animated and that there is no more than one such sign per use per each street front of the lot on which the sign is located:
      (1)   Real estate signs not exceeding four and one-half (4½) square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which said signs are located.
      (2)   Professional or occupational nameplates not exceeding one square feet in area.
      (3)   Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or multiple dwelling and not exceeding two square feet in area.
      (4)   Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor when placed upon work under construction, and not exceeding thirty-two square feet in area, to be removed upon completion of the building.
      (5)   Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
      (6)   Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, notices, railroad crossing signs, and such temporary emergency, or non-advertising signs as may be authorized by the legislative body.
      (7)   The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit, or any political, educational, charitable, philanthropic, civic, professional, religious or like campaign, drive, movement or event.
         (Ord. 0-9-71.  Passed 12-23-71.)
      (8)   Advertising and/or political signs, provided:
         A.   Such signs shall be no greater than twelve square feet in area.
         B.   Political signs shall not be posted more than 45 days prior to the election to which the sign relates and shall be removed within fifteen days after the election to which the sign relates.
            (Ord. 0-05-07.  Passed 7-28-05.)
      (9)   Parking or directional signs not over two square feet in area provided the sign contains no advertising matter.
      (10)   Bulletin boards and signs for a church, school, community or other public or semi-public institutional building and multiple dwellings containing eight or more units, shall not exceed fifteen square feet in area for a wall or ground sign with a maximum height of six feet above grade for ground signs and located not less than ten feet from the street right-of-way line.  May be illuminated but only from a concealed light source.
      (11)   Subdivision signs: Upon application to the Board of Appeals, a permit may be issued as a special exception to the terms of this Ordinance allowing a land-sale sign, provided that:
         A.   The sign shall not be illuminated.
         B.   The sign shall advertise the sale or development of a recorded lot subdivision.
         C.   The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being developed.
         D.   The sign shall not be in excess of forty square feet.
         E.   Not more than one such sign shall be placed along single road frontage of any property in single and separate ownership, provided that not more than two such signs may be permitted in any single development.
         F.   A permit for the erection, construction, or maintenance of said sign shall expire within one year.
      (12)   Business or Industrial District signs: 
         A.   A-1 and B-1 Districts. Wall or ground signs, single or double face, shall not exceed fifty square feet in area for each face except that where the sign is used for two or more uses the area shall not exceed 100 square feet.  Maximum height above grade at sign shall not exceed forty feet.  One sign for each street front of the lot on which the use is located may be used.
         B.   B-2 Districts.  Wall or ground signs, single or double face, on a street front shall not exceed 100 square feet in area plus one square foot for each foot of building width over fifty feet.  Maximum height above grade at sign shall not exceed forty feet.  Not more than two signs for each street front of the lot on which the sign is located may be used.
         C.   I Districts.  Wall or ground signs, single face, shall not exceed 100 feet in length and not be located within 100 feet of any other ground sign except when separated by an intervening building or when adjoining at a right angle or less measured on the backs of the sign.  Not more than one such sign or group of signs shall be permitted on property held in one contiguous ownership.
         D.   All signs and advertising structures in the Business and Industrial Districts may be illuminated internally or by reflected light provided the source of light is not directly visible and is so arranged to reflect away from the adjoining premises and provided that such illumination shall not be so placed as to cause confusion or a hazard to traffic or conflict with traffic control signs or lights.  Where such illuminated signs exceed fifty square feet in area they shall not be placed nearer than fifty feet to an adjacent residential lot line and where such illuminated signs exceed 100 square feet in area and face any lot in a Residential District they shall be placed not nearer than 100 feet from the front lot line.
   (c)   Conditional Use Permit: Any sign that does not clearly fit into one of the sign regulations in Section 1137.16 shall not be permitted except through issuance of a Conditional Use Permit obtained from the Board of Appeals.  This includes all signs that have flashing or pulsating illumination, animation, rotation or excess dimensions and temporary construction signs in excess of sixteen square feet or signs in excess of four and one-half (4½) square feet advertising lots and/or buildings in a subdivision.
   (d)   Enforcement: Legal non-conforming signs may be continued unless discontinued for a two-year period in which case they may not again be used except in conformity with this Ordinance. 
(Ord. 0-9-71.  Passed 12-23-71.)