(A) Garage sale, estate sale, and yard sale signs.
(1) Any person who holds a proper permit may erect a sign on his or her own property, or on the property of another person with the owner’s permission, for the purpose of advertising a garage, estate, or yard sale. The address, permit number and date must be shown on the sign. Signs may only be displayed 24 hours prior to the sale and the days the sale is in progress. Signs must be removed 24 hours after the sale ends. No more than four sales for one calendar year are allowed.
(2) No more than two garage sale, estate sale or yard sale signs may be located on the premises where the sale is conducted.
(3) Signs shall not be located on any public right-of-way, public property, median or any public road, street or highway. Signs shall not be placed on any utility pole, signal pole, sign pole or trees. Signs must be removed within 24 hours after the sale ends.
(4) Failure to comply with this chapter with the proper placement or removal of garage, estate or yard sale signs will result in the person or persons forfeiting the privilege of a sale permit for one year. Continued violations will result in fines.
(B) Vehicles parked at intersections or in public rights of way advertising a sale or decorated in any manner are illegal and prohibited.
(C) Political signs are allowed on private property with the owner’s permission. Political signs cannot have the following: (1) cannot have an effective area greater than 36 square feet; (2) cannot be more than eight feet in height; (3) cannot be illuminated; and (4) cannot have moving elements.
(D) Banners, paper, cardboard, foamboard and any painting or stenciling with any name, number or otherwise marked in a manner to advertise on any property without a permit are illegal. No sign or advertising is allowed for a home business use in any residential area of the City of Canton.
(E) Governmental signs (State of Texas, federal signs, school signs at athletic facilities) or the painting of the street address numbers on curbs is allowed.
(F) Temporary announcement or special occasion signs are allowed for five days.
(G) Religious emblems, when installed in compliance with zoning and construction codes, are allowed.
(H) Seasonal decorations are allowed for a maximum of sixty (60) days, provided traffic visibility is not affected.
(I) Changing message signs, such as theater marquees, fuel prices, time and temperature signs, electronic read boards and menus are allowed if the sign itself is not altered or expanded.
(J) Roof top flags are not allowed.
(K) All signs in a Planned Development District may be reviewed and approved as part of the overall development plan. Total signs for all sites in the development may be aggregated and the total allowance redistributed. Sign locations, types and sizes may be varied; however, they must be consistent with site and landscape planning principles and will be part of the review process.
(L) Signs for sexually-oriented businesses.
(1) Signage shall be limited to wall signs only.
(2) One wall sign is allowed per each building side visible from a public roadway. The maximum area allowed for wall signs is as follows:
Building Frontage | Surface |
1 - 50 linear feet | 40 square foot sign per side |
51-100 linear feet | 50 square foot sign per side |
101 - 150 linear feet | 55 square foot sign per side |
Over 150 linear feet | 60 square feet sign per side |
(3) Wall signs may not extend above the roof line of the establishment.
(4) Contents of the signs shall not include any offensive or obscene language.
(5) Signs may not display any anatomical figures or body parts.
(6) Signs may not be illuminated with neon, argon, Krypton, Xenon or any gas-filled tubes except for standard mercury vapor-type fluorescent lighting tubes.
(7) Signs may not contain any colored or “glow in the dark” fluorescent lighting or paint.
(8) Signs may not contain the letters “X” in any number or form unless it is the name of the business.
(9) Signs may not describe sexual activities.
(10) Signs may not contain photographic reproductions or any moving or motion picture.
(11) No signage inside the establishment shall be allowed to be visible from the exterior of the business.
(12) Signs may contain the name of the business, address and type of business (i.e., “Adult Cabaret” or “Adult Motel”).
(13) Signs must have “opaque” backgrounds and be illuminated internally or with shielded light sources to be energy efficient.
(14) White background or yellow background signs which produce light pollution shall be discouraged.
(15) Signage must be pre-approved by the City of Canton Building Official prior to issuance of a permit.
(M) Signs for display of alcoholic beverages.
(1) No person shall erect or maintain a billboard, electric sign, or any outdoor advertising for the sale or consumption of an alcoholic beverage within the city limits.
(2) No person shall erect, post or display any signs or other forms of advertisement for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages inside the alcoholic beverage establishment if same can be viewed from a public street.
(Ord. 2016-22, passed 9-11-2012)