The purpose of this section is to establish standards for the fabrication, erection, and use of signs, symbols, markings, and advertising devices within the city. These standards are enacted to protect the public health, safety and welfare of persons within the community. They are intended to aid in the development and promotion of business and industry by providing sign regulations which encourage aesthetic creativity, effectiveness and flexibility in the design of such devices without creating detriment to the public. (Ord. 953, 12-12-2011)
The sign code and building code as published by the International Conference Of Building Officials, shall be used as a guide concerning standards and regulations for all signs within the city, and one certified copy of the sign code and building code is on file with the city clerk-treasurer and one copy shall be kept and maintained in the office of the building inspector. (Ord. 953, 12-12-2011)
Words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meanings set forth in this section. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this chapter.
ABANDONED SIGN: A sign, which no longer advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product or activity.
ALTERATIONS: The change or alteration of a sign structure or design, whether by extension, enlargement, or in moving from one location or position to another.
ANIMATED SIGN: Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
AREA OF SIGN/SIGN AREA: The area of all faces of a sign within a perimeter, which forms the outside shape, excluding any necessary supports upon which the sign may be placed. Where a sign consists of more than one face, section, or module, all areas shall be totaled.
BANNER: Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material mounted to a pole or poles or building or buildings located outdoors.
BEACON: Any light with one or more beams directed at any point not on the same property as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BUILDING FRONTAGE: The width of a building facing the street to which the building or business is oriented. In the case of corner lots, the frontage shall be one of the streets to which the building is oriented, to be determined by the building inspector.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than one time per day shall be considered an animated sign.
COMMUNITY OR CIVIC EVENT: A public event, which is of interest to the community as a whole rather than the promotion of any product, political candidate, religious leader, or commercial goods or services.
COPY: Any graphic, letter, numeral, symbol, insignia, text, sample, model, device, or combination thereof, which is intended to advertise, identify, or notify.
FLAG: Any fabric banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a symbol of a government or political subdivision.
FREESTANDING SIGN: Any sign erected on a freestanding frame, platform, base, mast, or pole or poles and not structurally attached to any building.
HANGING SIGN: A sign attached below an awning, colonnade or some other permanent part of a structure.
HEIGHT OF SIGN: The vertical distance measured from the ground plane to the top of the sign, including the air space between the ground and the sign.
INDIRECT ILLUMINATION: A source of light separate from the sign itself.
MARQUEE SIGN: Any sign attached to or made part of any permanent rooflike structure projecting beyond a building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
MOBILE SIGN: Any sign that is mounted on wheels, a trailer or similar movable platform.
MONUMENT SIGN: A freestanding sign that stands directly on the ground or ground level foundation.
NEON SIGN: Any sign or portion of a building illuminated or outlined by tubes using electrically stimulated neon or other gas, or light emitting diode (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma and/or similar illumination technologies.
NONCONFORMING SIGN: Any advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the effective date of this section, and which fails to comply with any applicable regulations and restrictions herein.
PENNANT: Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in a series, designed to move in the wind.
PORTABLE SIGN: Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to a building, and designed to be easily relocated (e.g., "sandwich board" signs).
PROJECTING SIGN: Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than nine inches (9") beyond the surface of a building or wall.
SHORT TERM SIGN: Short term signs are those signs installed on a property with the intent of being displayed for more than seventy two (72) hours and may not be displayed longer than six (6) weeks.
SIGN: Every advertising message, announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia, surface or space erected or maintained in view of the observer thereof for identification, advertisement, or promotion of the interest of any person, entity, product, or service. The definition of a sign shall also include the sign structure, supports, lighting system, and any attachments, ornament, or other features used to draw the attention of others.
SIGN FACE: That portion of the sign structure that carries a message and/or a graphic.
TEMPORARY SIGN: A sign installed on a property for seventy two (72) hours or less.
WALL SIGN: Any sign attached parallel to, but within nine inches (9") of, a wall, painted on the wall surface, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.
WINDOW SIGN: Any sign installed upon or within three feet (3') of a window on either side for viewing from outside the premises. This term does not include merchandise displayed. (Ord. 953, 12-12-2011)
The following types of signs are expressly prohibited in all use districts, except as otherwise provided by this chapter:
A. Public Right Of Way: Signs which are placed in any public right of way, except publicly owned signs, traffic control signals, directional signs, and signs which direct and guide traffic and parking on private property but bear no advertising matter and signs which are allowed by permit granted by the public agency owning land right of way.
B. Signs Creating Traffic Hazards: A sign at or near any public street or at the intersection of any public streets, situated in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision. Additionally, any sign at any location, which would interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign.
C. Lighted: Flashing lights or strobe lights of any color. Message center signs shall not be considered as flashing.
D. Bright Or Reflective Paint: No "Day-Glo", fluorescent, reflective colored material that gives the appearance of changing color, or brilliant luminescent colors.
E. Signs On Vacant Property: No sign over four (4) square feet per face, except freestanding signs advertising the property "For Sale" or "For Lease Or Rent" on properties or subdivisions.
F. Roof Signs: Any sign either erected in a manner so that it projects partially or wholly over any roof or is mounted to any roof. This section shall not pertain to mansard roof signs if the highest portion of any sign attached to a mansard roof is no more than one-half (1/2) the height of the building to which it is attached.
G. Bench Signs: Any outdoor furniture with commercial signage.
H. Vehicle Signs: Signs mounted on the roof or antenna of automobiles, with the exception of student driver and auto transportation services, or those painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right of way, unless said vehicle is licensed, registered and used as a vehicle in the normal day to day operations of the business.
I. Hazardous Or Unsafe Signs: Any sign that, in the opinion of the building inspector, engineer or traffic officer, creates a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic or a hazard to the public in general.
J. Electronic Interference Prohibited: No sign transformer or other mechanical or electrical device used in connection with sign or outline wiring shall be permitted to operate if such device interferes with electronic reception; if such device cannot be silenced with condensers or otherwise, they shall be disconnected.
K. Abandoned Or Unsightly Signs: Signs located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of six (6) months or more. Any sign remaining thirty (30) days or longer which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, or any sign which is weak, unsafe or constructed of broken, unsightly, inferior or old, worn materials. (Ord. 953, 12-12-2011)
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