New billboards are only allowed within the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Canton within 660 feet of the Interstate 20 right-of-way. AH billboards must comply with the Texas Highway Beautification Act as administered by the Texas Department of Transportation. All billboards must be permitted by the State of Texas and the City of Canton. All billboards must be engineered to meet minimum code requirements.
(A) Size.
(1) The maximum size for any off-premise single-faced billboard shall be 672 square feet. Billboard panels may not be stacked or placed side by side. Maximum per side for a double faced billboard is 672 square feet. Billboard signs may not exceed 25 feet in height or 60 feet in width with a maximum sign and frame height of 35 feet above the grade of the roadway.
(2) Signs may not be attached to any building and must be of an approved steel pole design. Uni-poles are required unless another design is approved by the building official. No Billboard in excess of two sides shall be allowed.
(3) No movement is allowed on billboards. Billboards may not move, rotate, gyrate or give the impression of movement.
(4) Off-premise billboards on Interstate 20 may not be closer than 4,500 feet along the right-of-way to another off-premise billboard.
(5) Billboards may not be located within 1,500 feet of any public park, public playground or school.
(6) Illuminated billboards may be lighted only by lights that are properly installed, shaded or concealed, and are aimed so the light will shine directly on the sign face and will not interfere with the vision of motor vehicle operators, nor shine directly on any residential-zoned property. Illumination of such signs must not be flashing or intermittent.
(B) Number.
(1) The number of billboards in the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of Canton is limited to the number in existence on October 28, 2016.
(2) To encourage the reduction of billboards, the owner of a sign that was lawfully erected in compliance with the standards then in effect or lawfully in place at the time it was annexed into the city, or that owner’s designee, may be awarded credit for removing such a sign.
(a) One credit will be awarded for each face that is removed from a lawfully-existing billboard. In order to receive a permit for the erection of a billboard, two credits must be used per each new face. Credits shall be issued equal to each square foot removed, with a minimum face requirement of 336 feet. No credit will be issued for removal of a sign face less than 336 square feet.
(b) The city shall issue a permit to any billboard owner or owner’s designee holding sufficient credits for the erection of a billboard in a location approved by the city which meets the requirements of this chapter. Replacement billboards shall only be located in current legal non-conforming sign locations or in the areas designated along I-20. Legal conforming signs may not be exchanged for legal nonconforming signs. Billboards in the ETJ may not be exchanged for legal nonconforming signs inside the city limits. The permit must state the number of faces to be erected and address all requirements set forth in this section.
(c) Credits are transferable.
(d) Credit is received when a billboard owner or owner’s designee removes a sign voluntarily, except if the reason is loss of the lease. No credit will be issued for a sign in violation of any federal, state or city laws when erected.
(e) To be awarded a credit under the incentive program, a sign owner or owner’s designee must notify the city within 60 days of the removal of a billboard and receive a letter issued by the city awarding the credit. Failure to apply for a credit within 60 days from the removal of a sign bars the awarding of credit for that sign. Any unused credits will be held in reserve indefinitely in order to give incentive for immediate removal of current faces.
(Ord. 2016-22, passed 9-11-2012)