(A) All signs and sign structures shall be properly maintained in a safe, orderly condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, cleaning, and other items required for maintenance of the sign. Vegetation around, in front of, behind, and underneath the base of ground signs for a distance of ten feet shall be neatly trimmed and free of weeds, and no rubbish or debris that would constitute a fire or health hazard shall be permitted under or near the sign.
(B) All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the Minnesota State Building Code and the National Electrical Code. The maximum brightness shall not exceed 100 foot-lamberts.
(C) All signs utilizing electricity shall be subject to the state's electrical code and electrical service shall be buried or concealed.
(D) No signs other than governmental signs shall be erected or temporarily placed within any street rights-of-way or upon any public lands or easements or rights-of-way, except by conditional use permit.
(1) Temporary signs located within sports facilities on city-owned land may be allowed with a sign permit provided the following standards are met:
(a) Number and size of signs shall be determined by the approved sign permit.
(b) No sign shall be illuminated except by the regular sports facility lighting during hours of use.
(c) Signs are allowed to be installed during each respective sport season.
(E) No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained if it prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign or sign structure shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
(F) Signs shall be professionally prepared.
(G) Anchorage requirements.
(1) All signs shall be braced or secured to prevent motion.
(2) No sign shall be attached to hang from any building until all necessary wall attachments have been approved by the Building Official.
(H) Illumination.
(1) Lighted signs shall be lighted only to the extent that the message on the sign is illuminated and shall not cast glare onto public streets or adjacent property.
(2) Signs with external lighting shall have no exposed light sources or fixtures unless decorative fixtures are utilized and the light source is fully concealed and diffused. If a wall sign is mounted above the first floor of a building, the illumination, if any, shall be internal.
(3) Illuminated architectural features or portions thereof, not defined as signage or a canopy sign, shall be applied the rate of one-third the architectural feature area toward the maximum allowable sign area permitted under § 152.131(A). Illuminated architectural features shall include, but not be limited to, wall-, roof- and window-mounted neon, the wall surface between multiple rows of neon, illuminated-sign bands, backlit canopies, awning or wall banding features, and the like.
(I) Window signs shall not cover more than 25% of the window area on each elevation of a building. All window signs shall be placed on the inside surface of the glass, except for temporary painting applied directly to the glass surface.
(J) The maximum angle permitted between faces of a double-face freestanding sign is 60 degrees or less is one sign; anything more is two signs.
(K) Signs that are utilized and displayed at athletic fields or in parades shall not be counted toward total allowances for sign quantities or square footages.
(Ord. 2023-02, passed 5-9-23)