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(A) Sign area shall include the face of all the display area of the sign, not including the bracing, framing, and structural supports of the sign, unless such support members are made part of the message or face of the sign.
(B) Where a sign has two or more display faces, the area of all faces of the sign shall be included in determining the area of the sign, unless two display faces joined back-to-back are parallel to each other and not more than 12 inches apart.
(C) The area of letters, numbers, or emblems mounted on a building wall or wall extension shall be computed by enclosing such sign with the smallest single continuous perimeter around the letters, number, or emblems in determining its area.
(Ord. 37-02, passed 7-10-02)
The following signs may be erected without a permit:
(A) Signs clearly in the nature of decorations customarily associated with any national, local, or religious holiday, to be limited to 60 days in any one year, and to be displayed not more than 60 consecutive days. The signs may be of any illumination or animation, provided that safety and visibility hazards are not created.
(B) Political signs or posters concerning candidates for elective office, public issues, and similar matters to be decided by public election, to be displayed beginning no more than 45 days prior to election, and to be removed no later than seven days after such election, subject to penalty. The signs shall not exceed six square feet in area, shall not be illuminated, and shall not create a safety or visibility hazard, nor be affixed to any public utility pole or tree, or be located within a public right-of-way.
(C) Signs that indicate the sale, development, rental, or lease of a particular structure or land area, shall to be limited in size to six square feet, with one sign allowed per street front. Such signs shall not be located in a public right-of-way.
(D) Exterior signs are limited in size to 25% of the window area or ten square feet, whichever is less, and which are either not illuminated or are illuminated only from a concealed light source. Such signs may be placed only in ground level windows where no other permanent or temporary signs are placed, and be displayed for a maximum period of 30 days if they indicate or promote special sales or special occasions.
(E) Nameplates, provided that the nameplate does not exceed one and one-half square feet and is flush to the building. Sign material must be appropriate to the face of the building.
(F) A sign which advertises the sale of personal property, such as a garage, yard, porch, or moving sale sign, provided that it is limited to one sign not greater than four square feet in size and is located on the sale premises for a time period not greater than two consecutive days. Such signs shall not be located in a public right-of-way.
(G) Construction signs which display the identification of the construction project, including identification of the contractors, architects, and other construction principals, provided that such construction sign conforms to the size requirements of the zoning district in which it is located and is removed upon the completion of construction or the commencement of occupancy, whichever occurs first.
(H) The responsible party in each of the above instances shall be as follows:
(1) In all cases, the person actually placing the sign.
(2) For political signs, the candidate whose name appears on the sign.
(3) For porch, yard, or garage sale signs, the owner of the property if he or she resides therein and has an interest in the sale, otherwise the lessee or other occupant of the property who is conducting the sale.
(4) For a circus and other special event signs, the sponsoring organization shall be the responsible party.
(Ord. 37-02, passed 7-10-02)
(A) All temporary signs shall be subject to approval by the Architectural Review and Design Commission and shall require a permit subject to the restrictions set forth in the schedule of sign regulations of this subchapter, and the regulations required for permanent signs as set forth in § 155.1609, except as otherwise provided herein.
(B) Banners and pennants less than 16 square feet are permitted, provided that they are attached at each corner, point and/or end so as to prevent movements. Streamers are prohibited except as described in division (H) of this section.
(C) Mobile signs which can be moved from one location to another without any change in their structural components or members, including trailer signs, are prohibited.
(D) All temporary signs shall be located at the site or location of the event being promoted or of the headquarters for the sponsoring organization, except as otherwise provided for in division (H) of this section.
(E) The date upon which a temporary sign is first displayed shall be legibly marked on the sign.
(F) The construction requirement set forth in § 155.1609(A) shall not be applicable to temporary signs.
(G) Sandwich board signs are exempt from the regulations of this section, except that sandwich board signs shall not have more than 16 square feet of sign face; shall not have lights or illumination; must leave a minimum clearance of five feet from building line on the sidewalk on which they are placed; and shall be of color and design appropriate to the surroundings.
(H) Community events and programs which last for a time period of 14 days or less and which are sponsored by nonprofit, public, educational, religious, and charitable organizations may display four signs during the event and for a time period of 14 days immediately preceding the commencement of the event.
(1) One sign may be located at the site of the event, provided it does not exceed 24 square feet in size.
(2) All off-site signs located in the Downtown Historical District, including streamers, shall not exceed 18 square feet in size. Each sign shall be placed at a different site and shall be removed no later than 48 hours after the scheduled activity has ended.
(3) If the program or event is for a continuing period of time in excess of 14 days, only one sign, not larger than 10 square feet, is permitted, and such sign must be located either at the site of the event or program or at the location of the sponsoring organization.
(I) Signs greater than four square feet in size which promote special business sales, promotions or occasions shall require a temporary sign permit. No business shall display such signs for more than 90 days per calendar year or for more than 30 continuous days. The date each sign is first displayed and the time period for which the sign will be displayed shall be legibly marked on the sign.
(J) Political campaign headquarter signs shall require a temporary sign permit.
(Ord. 37-02, passed 7-10-02) Penalty, see § 155.2617
All permanent signs shall require a permit. Permitted permanent signs shall be classified into one of the four following types: wall signs, window signs, ground signs, and nameplate signs.
(A) Wall signs may be erected on a building wall or extension of a building wall which faces a street, parking lot or service drive, and such sign may not extend beyond any building setback lines. Wall signs shall be attached parallel to the building face and extend outward perpendicular from the building face a maximum of ten inches except as follows: Signs may be painted on an awning area or attached to a canopy, marquee, or roof which projects beyond the building, provided that no part of such sign shall extend above the roof line, canopy, or marquee.
(B) Ground signs, to include pole signs and other types of freestanding signs, may be erected on a lot provided the location, height, and other characteristics of the sign meet the regulations of this subchapter.
(C) Permanent window signs shall be limited to signs denoting the identification of the occupant, the address of the premises, and its use. Window signs shall be limited to one sign per window and shall not exceed one-fourth of the total area of the window, and in no case exceed ten square feet.
(D) Projecting nameplate shall not exceed one per major street frontage, shall not rise above the roof line nor obscure any architectural features, and shall not exceed one square foot per linear foot frontage.
(E) The following general requirements shall apply to all permanent signs:
(1) Illumination. Illumination shall be from a concealed or indirect light source and shall not flash, blink, fluctuate, travel, move, or in any manner fail to provide constant illumination and shall not create a hazard or visibility problem or interfere with or impair vehicular traffic. The level of illumination emitted from a sign shall not be of an intensity to constitute a demonstrable safety hazard to vehicular movement on any street from which the sign may be viewed. Illuminated signs shall be constructed and maintained so that the source of illumination is shielded or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or streets.
(2) Animation, message centers, and moving signs. Message centers, flashing signs, moving signs, and the animation of signs is prohibited.
(3) Pennants, streamers, and the like. No sign shall contain or consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, or similar moving devices.
(4) Construction. The construction of all signs, including any electrical wiring necessary for the operation of illuminated signs shall conform to the specifications of the city Building Code. All signs shall be adequately maintained and shall not constitute a safety hazard.
(5) Location.
(a) All permanent signs shall be located on the site being promoted, identified, or advertised.
(b) In no case shall any part of a sign be placed in, over, or extend onto any public right-of-way, except for publicly-owned signs, such as traffic control and directional signs. In no case shall any part of a sign be placed in, over, or extend above the roof line of any structure.
(F) The height of the sign shall be measured from the established grade which shall be defined as that point where the grade line intersects the front wall of the building.
(G) Billboards, roof signs, mobile signs, announcement signs; blinking, flashing, fluctuation, or moving lights; moving signs, flashing signs, animated signs, pennants, ribbons, and streamers are prohibited.
(H) All signs projecting over city property shall be installed so as to ensure a minimum of ten feet of clearance from the bottom of the sign to the sidewalk pavement. If extended over any roadway or alley, 15 feet of clearance from the bottom of the sign to the roadway pavement shall be provided to permit safe vehicular traffic.
(Ord. 37-02, passed 7-10-02) Penalty, see § 155.2617
(A) The continuance of an existing sign which does not meet the regulations and requirements of this subchapter shall be deemed a nonconforming sign which shall terminate by abandonment. A sign shall be considered abandoned:
(1) When the sign is associated with an abandoned use.
(2) When the sign remains after the termination of a business. A business has ceased operations if it is closed to the public for at least 90 consecutive days. Seasonal businesses are exempt from this determination.
(3) When the sign is not maintained or does not conform to the following:
(a) All signs, together with all supports, braces, guys, and anchors shall be kept in repair and in a proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be subject to periodic inspection in accordance with the Building Code.
(b) Every sign and the immediately surrounding premises shall be maintained by the owner or person in charge thereof, in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish, and weeds.
(4) Abandonment shall be determined based upon the above definitions at a public hearing. Upon a finding that the signage is abandoned, the right to maintain and use such sign shall terminate immediately.
(B) A nonconforming sign shall not be structurally relocated or replaced unless it is brought into compliance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(C) A nonconforming sign shall be maintained or repaired in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The site and structural shape shall not be changed or altered. The copy may be changed provided that the change applies to the original nonconforming use associated with the sign and that the change is made by the owner of the sign at the time the sign became nonconforming. The copy area shall not be enlarged. Any subsequent owner or user shall bring the sign into compliance within 30 days.
(2) In case damage occurs to the sign to the extent of 50% or more of either the structure or the replacement value of the sign, the sign shall be brought into compliance. Where damage to the sign is less than 50% of the structure or its replacement value, the sign shall be repaired within 60 days.
(Ord. 37-02, passed 7-10-02) Penalty, see § 155.2617
An owner, occupant, or person having control of a residential, industrial, commercial, or public building shall display the numerical address of the building in Arabic numbers not less than four inches in height.
(Ord. 37-02, passed 7-10-02) Penalty, see § 155.2617
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