(A) The design and construction standards for signs, as set forth in the State Building Code, as may be amended, are hereby adopted.
(B) The installation of electrical signs shall be subject to the State's Electrical Code. Electrical service to the sign shall be underground.
(C) Signs containing noncommercial speech are permitted anywhere that advertising or business signs are permitted, subject to the same regulations applicable to the signs.
(D) Signs shall not create a hazard to the safe, efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic. No private sign shall contain words which might be construed as traffic controls, unless the sign is intended to direct traffic on the premises.
(E) Signs and sign structures shall be properly maintained and kept in a safe condition. Sign or sign structures which are rotted, unsafe, deteriorated or defaced shall be repainted, repaired or replaced by the licensee, owner or agent of the building upon which the sign stands.
(F) No sign shall be attached or be allowed to hang from any building until all necessary wall and roof attachments have been approved by the Building Official.
(G) No signs, guys, stays or attachments shall be erected, placed or maintained on rocks, fences, utility poles, public signs or trees nor interfere with any electric light, power, telephone or telegraph wires or the supports thereof.
(H) Banners, pennants and similar devices shall require a license. The license shall be valid for no more than 15 consecutive days. No more than two licenses per business shall be granted during any 12-month period. Maximum sign size shall be limited to 32 square feet if the adjacent roadway has a posted speed of 44 mph or less, or 64 square feet if the adjacent roadway has a posted speed of 45 mph or more.
(I) Illuminated signs shall be shielded to prevent lights from being directed at oncoming traffic in a brilliance that it impairs the vision of the driver. Nor shall signs interfere with or obscure an official traffic sign or signal. This includes indoor signs which are visible from public streets.
(J) Except for legal, nonconforming portable signs existing prior to the effective date of this chapter, portable signs may not exceed 24 square feet and may not be illuminated with any flashing device. Use of a portable sign shall require a license. The license shall be valid for no more than 15 consecutive days. No more than two licenses per business shall be granted during any 12-month period.
(K) No sign or sign structure shall be closer to any lot line than a distance equal to one-half the minimum required yard setback. No sign shall be placed within any drainage or utility easement.
(L) No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained that 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.
(M) A freestanding sign or sign structure constructed so that the faces are not back to back, shall not have an angle separating the faces exceeding 20 degrees unless the total area of both sides added together does not exceed the maximum allowable sign area for that district.
(N) Signs prohibited (but visible) in residential districts shall be positioned so that the copy is not visible from residential uses or districts along adjoining side and rear yard property lines.
(O) At least one address sign identifying the correct property number, as assigned by the city, shall be required on each principal building in all districts. The address number shall be at least four inches in height.
(P) The owner of any sign which is otherwise allowed by this sign subchapter may substitute noncommercial copy in lieu of any other commercial or noncommercial copy. This substitution of copy may be made without any additional approval or permitting. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message. This provision prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary.
(Prior Code, § 11-24-3) (Ord. 258, passed 5-4-2006; Ord. 303, passed 5-18-2010)