The following signs shall be permitted without a permit.
(A) Signs in all zoning districts.
(1) Campaign signs shall be removed ten days after an election, and placed with permission of the property owner or lessee;
(2) Directional signs located on, above, or beside entrances or exits to buildings or driveways which direct pedestrians, such as “Employee’s Entrance”, “Exit Only”, or “Rest Rooms”, and provided that the signs are no more than four square feet in area;
(3) Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor when placed upon work under construction, provided each sign is not more than 16 square feet in area and removed upon completion of construction. Construction signs shall not be erected before issuance of a building permit, or remain after issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Construction signs shall be confined to the site of the construction, alteration, or repair, and shall be removed within two years of the date of issuance of the first building permit, or when the particular project is completed, whichever is sooner as determined by the Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector. One sign shall be permitted for each major street the project abuts;
(4) Integral signs;
(5) Holiday signs;
(6) Real estate sale or rental sign. Signs must be removed within 14 days of the closing or rental of property. Signs may not measure more than 12 square feet in residential districts, nor more than 25 square feet in all other districts. There shall be only one sign per premises. Corner properties and double front lots may contain two signs, one per frontage;
(7) Individual property sale or rental signs. Signs must be removed within 14 days of the closing or rental of property. Signs may not measure more than 12 square feet in residential districts, nor more than 25 square feet in all other districts. There shall be only one sign per premises. Corner properties and double front lots may contain two signs, one per frontage. The signs shall not be within, or extend over, the right-of-way line unless flat against the structure;
(8) Flag of any state or nation not exceeding 80 square feet;
(9) Rummage/garage sale signs;
(10) Institutional sign up to 50 square feet;
(11) Signs located inside an enclosed building, and visible through a window thereof;
(12) Lighter than air, inflatable devices, and/or a balloon designed and utilized primarily to draw attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business, allowing less than three square feet without a permit;
(13) Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface, or when constructed of bronze or other non-combustible material, and attached to the building;
(14) Artificially lit roofs or walls, or portions thereof; and
(15) Wellhead protection signs may be placed within the designated area as recommended by the Wellhead Protection Program.
(B) Signs in CBD, GB, I-1, I-2, and institutions in all zoning districts. Temporary portable signs are limited to one sign per property, and must have the written permission of the property owner.
(C) Signs in R-2, R-3, CBD, GB, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts. Informational signs.
(D) Signs in R-2 and R-3 zoning districts. Identification signs. One identification sign for each occupant of a premises shall not exceed three square feet in area per surface. The sign shall not contain any advertising information. For subdivision signs, see § 154.326(B) requiring a permit.
(E) Signs in CBD, GB, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts. Banners, pennants, and holiday signs and displays should not exceed 45 square feet. Banners must be affixed against a building or permanent structure, and are not allowed in the Residential District.
(F) Signs in city park zoning districts.
(1) The following described signs are permitted without a sign permit.
(a) Any sign which the city constructs or pays to have constructed.
(b) The community sign shall be allowed in the city park for use by non-profit organizations.
1. Guidelines for owner and users shall be established by resolution of the City Council, from time to time, after receiving the advice of the Park Board.
2. The city shall own, maintain, and control the community sign.
3. The Park Board shall be responsible for administration of the community sign. The Park Board shall designate one person who will follow the guidelines established, and oversee the placement of messages on the community sign. Only one person shall be the contact person.
4. Community sign messages not permitted: Personal messages, commercial advertising, and monopoly of the sign by one organization shall not be permitted.
(2) The following described signs are permitted with a permit. A permit application may be obtained from the Zoning Administrator.
(a) Special events temporary signs for non-profit organizations are permitted, which are erected to celebrate, commemorate, or observe a civil or religious holiday, or for a special event. The signs shall be removed from the premises within three days following completion of the special event. The special event signs shall not exceed four feet by eight feet in size. Total signage shall not exceed 200 square feet.
1. Special event signs will be allowed in Freedom Park only, and not allowed in Hidden Park, Pleasantview Park, the Rose Garden, nor any other designated city park.
2. Special events temporary signs shall not be erected more than 15 days before the date of the special event. An extension of this time limit may be obtained only by Planning Commission recommendation and City Council approval.
3. No sign or banner may display any alcohol, tobacco, or derogatory symbols or wording.
(b) Sign messages may be displayed by the city, and/or a non-profit corporation, to advertise community interest events and which public portable signs shall be placed upon public property. All of the public portable sign messages shall not be displayed more than 15 days before the date of the special event, and shall be removed within three days following the event.
(c) Temporary banners are permitted for special events for non-profit organizations. For non-profit organizations, banners will be allowed over a public street. The total of all banners shall not exceed 120 square feet. Banners may be erected 15 days before the event, and taken down within three days after completion of the event.
(d) The Building Inspector may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this section. Three days’ notice, in writing, shall be given to the owner of the sign, or the person or persons who erected the sign. Upon failure to remove the sign, the Building Official shall remove the sign. If it appears the condition of the sign presents an immediate threat to safety of the public, the Building Official shall remove the sign immediately without notice. Any cost of removal incurred by the city shall be assessed to the owner, or the person who erected the sign, or may be collected in appropriate legal proceedings. In the event of successful legal proceedings to collect the cost of removal hereunder, as a part of its judgment, the city shall be entitled to judgment against the defendant-violator for its costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
(Ord. 199, passed 2-7-2000; Ord. 208, passed 11-5-2001) Penalty, see § 154.999