(A) Free-standing signs; materials.
(1) All free-standing sign structures or poles shall be self-supporting structures erected on and permanently attached to concrete foundations.
(2) The structures or poles shall be fabricated only from painted steel or such other materials as may be approved by the building code of the village.
(B) Electric signs.
(1) All electric signs shall be approved and labeled as conforming to the standards of the United States Bureau of Standards, the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or other similar institutions of recognized standing.
(2) The full number of illuminating elements thereof shall be kept in satisfactory working condition or immediately replaced or repaired. Signs that are only partially illuminated shall meet all electrical requirements for that portion directly illuminated.
(3) All electric signs shall have a disconnecting switch located in accordance with the provisions of the electrical code.
(C) Glass.
(1) When glass is used for sign letters or transparent panels, it shall be at least double strength thickness for sign areas up to and including 300 square inches.
(2) When glass is used for sign letters or transparent panels for sign areas in excess of 300 square inches at least one-quarter inch wire glass shall be used and the maximum span between supports shall be four feet.
(D) Strength of parapet wall. A parapet wall must be designed for and have sufficient strength to support any sign which is attached thereto.
(E) Supports and braces.
(1) Metal supports or braces shall be adequate for wind loadings.
(2) Wire or cable supports shall have a safety factor of four.
(3) All metal, wire cable supports and braces, and all bolts used to attach sign to bracket or brackets and signs to the supporting building or structure shall be of galvanized or of an equivalent material.
(4) There shall be no visible angle irons, or unsightly supports. All such sign supports shall be an integral part of the sign design.
(5) There shall be a pole cover on all free-standing signs unless the pole is an integral part of the sign.
(F) Wind loads.
(1) All signs, except those attached flat against the wall of a building shall be constructed to withstand wind loads as follows:
(a) For solid signs, 30 pounds per square foot on one face of the sign; and
(b) For skeleton signs, 36 pounds per square foot of the total face area of the letters and other sign surfaces, or ten pounds per square foot of the gross area of the sign as determined by the overall dimensions of the sign, whichever is greater.
(2) The wind loadings quoted above are normal averages and must be adjusted for areas subject to unusually high velocity winds, for signs of extraordinary height or for certain wind tunneling effects created by large buildings.
(G) Projecting signs.
(1) Signs shall in no case project from a building or structure to any point within two feet of a line drawn perpendicularly upward from the curb line. No projecting sign shall at the lowest point be less than nine feet above the sidewalk or the ground level. All projecting signs for which a permit is required shall be constructed entirely of fire-resistive materials approved by the Building Inspector for this purpose.
(2) Projecting signs shall be securely attached to a building or structure by metal bolts, anchors, supports, chains, wire ropes or steel rods. No staples or nails shall be used to secure any projecting sign to any building or structure.
(3) The dead load of projecting signs, not parallel to the building or structure, and the load due to wind pressure shall be supported by structural shapes, chains, wire ropes or steel guy rods. These supports shall be erected and maintained preferable at an angle of 45 degrees or more with the face of the sign in an approximately horizontal plane to resist wind pressure. The lateral supports shall be spaced not more than eight feet apart and shall be secured to a bolt or expansion screw capable of developing the strength of the supporting chain, wire rope or steel guy rod. The expansive device and details of the anchorage shall be subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Turn adjustment shall be placed in all chains, wire ropes or steel guy rods supporting or bracing projecting signs.
(4) Chains, wire ropes or steel guy rods used to support the dead or wind load of projecting signs maybe fastened to solid masonry walls with expansion bolts or other devices approved by the Building Inspector, but no support shall be attached to an unbraced parapet wall. Where the supports must be fastened to walls made of wood, the supporting device must be fastened securely in a manner approved by the Building Inspector.
(5) All metal supports and braces for projecting signs shall be galvanized or of corrosive-resistant material or painted at least once annually.
(Ord. 87-477, passed 4-6-1987; Ord. 14-1097, passed 2-27-2014)