In addition to the signs permitted in each district as established in sections 15.4.10.5 and 15.4.10.6 of this chapter, the following signs are also permitted subject to the conditions established in this section. Heights of signs permitted in this section shall not exceed the permitted sign height for the district where the sign is to be erected unless otherwise specified by this section.
A. General Provisions For All Special Signs:
1. No sign may be erected on, suspended over, or encroach upon the public right of way, except as provided for under title 17, chapter 1 of this code, or be located so as to obstruct the visual clearance needed for safe vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
2. No sign may be attached to utility poles, trees on private property, trees on public right of way, streetlight poles, street or traffic sign nor fire hydrants.
3. No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct the visual clearance needed for safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
B. Real Estate Signs: Real estate signs advertising property or buildings for sale, rent, or lease are permitted for the period of time while the property is available for sale, rent or lease and for no more than fourteen (14) days after the sale, rental, or leasing of said property or building. The size and number applies to both freestanding and architectural signs/banners. All real estate signs shall be subject to the following provisions:
1. Commercial property located in a commercial zoning district:
a. One sign per lot frontage. If frontage exceeds three hundred feet (300') a second sign may be erected.
b. A maximum of thirty two (32) square feet of sign surface area per side, two (2) sides permitted.
c. The sign, if freestanding, shall not obstruct the visual clearance needed for safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
2. Property located in a residential zoning district:
a. One sign per lot frontage. If frontage exceeds three hundred feet (300') a second sign may be erected.
b. Maximum of twelve (12) square feet of sign surface area per side, two (2) sides permitted.
c. The sign, if freestanding, shall not obstruct the visual clearance needed for safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
C. Temporary Construction Signs For Buildings Or Projects: Signs stating the nature and name of the building or project, the names of contractors, architects, engineers, or officials, financial information, or any information required by law, are permitted in various districts subject to the following provisions:
1. Any such temporary signs required by a government for a project shall be permitted.
2. One sign per frontage.
3. In commercial districts a maximum of thirty two (32) square feet per side, two (2) sides permitted (except where governmental standards require a larger sign in which case such sign shall be permitted).
4. In a residential district a maximum of six (6) square feet per side, two (2) sides permitted.
5. Signs may be erected no more than thirty (30) days prior to the actual start of construction or project and shall be removed when the construction is completed. Only those projects that have obtained a building permit may display a construction sign.
D. Signs Designating Historic Areas Or Buildings: Signs denoting historic buildings or areas may be erected subject to the following provisions:
1. Freestanding signs designating historic sites, areas, or districts shall be no larger than twelve (12) square feet.
2. Signs designating historic buildings shall be mounted on the building so designated and may be subject to review by the certificate of appropriateness committee.
E. Minor Directional Signs: Signs for and located within shopping centers, business developments, or individual business establishments and their parking areas which guide automobile and pedestrian traffic within the parking lot. Such signs shall:
1. Have maximum height of eight feet (8').
2. Have a maximum surface area of ten (10) square feet per side, two (2) sides permitted.
3. Be located so as not to obstruct the vision of pedestrians or motorists.
4. Bear no advertising matter, except for the name of the establishment.
5. Be permanently affixed to the ground or any permanent building or structure.
6. Be located on the premises of the establishment, shopping center or business development.
7. No sign other than those indicating entrance/exit shall be located within twenty feet (20') of the right of way line.
F. Political Signs: Political signs are permitted in all areas of the city subject to the following provisions:
1. In a residential district no sign shall be larger than six (6) square feet per side, two (2) sides permitted.
2. In commercial districts no sign shall be larger than thirty two (32) square feet per side, two (2) sides permitted.
3. Signs must not be on the public right of way or be located so as to obstruct the visual clearance needed for safe vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
4. No political sign may be attached to utility poles, trees on public right of way, streetlight poles, street or traffic signs nor fire hydrants.
G. Temporary Yard Sale Signs: Temporary yard sale signs may be erected subject to the following provisions:
1. Maximum Exposure Time: All such signs shall be erected no more than twenty four (24) hours prior to or remain in place no more than twelve (12) hours after the yard or garage sale takes place.
2. Placement: No yard sale sign may be erected on or attached to utility poles, trees on public right of way, streetlight poles, street or traffic signs, or fire hydrants nor be located on the public right of way.
H. Window Promotional Signs: Window promotional signs are permitted for periods of up to sixty (60) consecutive days in the following districts: AG, PA, BPR, SB, BPL, BWA, NB, PUD, LI, and GI.
I. Subdivision Entrance Or Identification Signs: Each individual subdivision may have entrance or identification signs subject to the following provisions:
1. Entrance or identification signs shall only identify the name of the subdivision.
2. One pair may be erected per entrance into the subdivisions, but in no case shall two (2) such pairs for the same subdivision be located closer than one thousand feet (1,000') apart.
3. No single sign shall be larger than twenty four (24) square feet per side and shall be limited to a maximum height of six feet (6').
4. Location of all entrance or identification signs shall be subject to the approval of the administrative official.
J. Directory Signs: Directory signs are permitted for multi-unit dwelling developments and mobile home parks containing more than five (5) structures or five (5) mobile homes in all districts subject to the following provisions:
1. Only one sign is permitted with a maximum of sixteen (16) square feet.
2. The sign may be freestanding or architectural.
3. The sign may be illuminated.
K. Office Park And Industrial Park Identification Signs: Each office park or industrial park may have identification signs subject to the following:
1. One sign shall be allowed for each office/industrial park entrance and shall be used only to identify the name and location of the office/industrial park and/or used as a directory of businesses in the office/industrial park.
2. No single identification sign shall be larger than sixty four (64) square feet per side nor shall exceed a height of twelve feet (12'). All such signs shall be located in a manner that does not impede the vision of drivers to other vehicles and pedestrian traffic. The location of such signs shall be subject to the approval of the administrative official.
L. Off Premises Directional Sign: Off premises directional signs for business districts adversely impacted by highway construction or permanent rerouting of state or federal highways are permitted subject to the following provisions:
1. Height: Have a maximum height of fifteen feet (15').
2. Size: Have a basic maximum of eighty (80) square feet per side which may be increased to a final maximum of one hundred twenty (120) square feet per side according to the following rate: Five (5) square feet per side for each ten feet (10') the sign is set back from the centerline of the nearest street surface.
3. Number: A maximum of two (2) off premises directional signs per affected business district are permitted. The signs shall be available to all affected businesses in the business district.
4. Design: The signs shall be designed in accordance with the "Illinois Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices" and shall have a green or blue background with white letters. The lettering shall have a maximum height of ten inches (10"). The signs shall be installed so as not to obstruct the vision of motorists or pedestrians.
5. Advertising: The signs shall bear no advertising matter, except for the name of the business district, the names of the businesses and directional information.
6. Named Businesses: The businesses named on the directional sign shall be limited to those located in the SB, BPL, BWA, and BPR zoning districts or: a) be existing businesses situated in the city limits and b) be members of the business association responsible for the construction and maintenance of the off premises directional signs. Only one such association shall be eligible per highway rerouting.
7. Eligibility For Permanent Signage: The only business districts eligible for permanent off premises directional signage are those business districts affected by a permanent state or federal highway rerouting such that the properties are no longer directly accessible from the state or federal highway on which the properties formerly had frontage. Properties affected by a one- way highway coupling that still have access to at least one traffic direction of the highway are not eligible for an off premises directional sign under this subsection L.
8. Approval To Erect: Any sign erected on private property must have the written approval of the property owner. If the sign is to be erected on public right of way, it shall have the formal approval of the controlling government agency. If the sign is to be located on city of Carbondale right of way it must have an approved encroachment permit.
9. Costs: The business district requesting the off premises directional sign shall be responsible for all costs related to leases, construction and maintenance of the sign.
10. Removal: Signs erected in conjunction with a road construction project that does not result in a permanent state or federal highway rerouting described in subsection L7 of this section shall be removed upon completion of the road construction project. (Ord. 2013-20)
M. Inflatable Signs: Each business located in a nonresidential district, excluding the BPR, primary business, district, may display inflatable signs with the issuance of a sign permit and subject to the following:
1. Number: One inflatable sign shall be allowed per parcel.
2. Height: Signs shall not exceed twenty five feet (25') in height or the height of the nearest building, whichever is less.
3. Location: Signs shall be located entirely on private property, shall not suspend over public right of way, and shall be located at least twenty feet (20') from the curb line.
4. Mounting: Signs shall be mounted securely to the ground. Signs shall not be mounted on truck beds, trailers, rooftops, etc.
5. Display Period: Signs shall be displayed for no more than two (2), consecutive forty eight (48) hour periods or one, consecutive ninety six (96) hour period per month.
N. Murals: Murals are permitted in all districts and are not regulated based on content. Murals may cover the entire façade of the building, fence, or other surface on which they are painted, and do not count towards allotted square footage for architectural signs.
(Ord. 2023-31; Ord. 2017-08)