156.01 Title | 156.15 Exemptions |
156.02 Purpose | 156.16 Obstructions to Doors, Windows or Fire Escapes |
156.03 Definitions | 156.17 Traffic Hazard |
156.04 Erection | 156.18 Goose Neck Reflectors |
156.05 Permit Required | 156.19 Spotlights and Floodlights Prohibited |
156.06 Application for Sign Permit | 156.20 Signs in the A-1, A-2 and RB-1 Districts |
156.07 Permit Fees | 156.21 Signs in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts |
156.08 Temporary Permits | 156.22 Signs in the R-4, R-5, and R-6 Districts |
156.09 Maintenance | 156.23 Signs in the B-1, B-2, I-1, and I-2 Districts |
156.10 Inspections | 156.24 Signs in the B-3 District |
156.11 Unsafe and Unlawful Signs | 156.25 Off-Premises Signs (Billboards) |
156.12 Permit Revocation | 156.26 Prohibited Signs |
156.13 Wind Pressure and Dead Load Requirements | 156.27 Board of Adjustment |
156.14 Removal of Certain Signs | |
The purpose of this chapter is to establish the authority of the City with regard to the type of construction of signs located within the City and for sign regulations that are intended to facilitate an easy and agreeable communication between people. The regulations recognize the need to protect the safety and welfare of the public, the need for well maintained and attractive signs in the community, and the need for adequate public and business identification, advertising, and communication. These regulations do not attempt to regulate design or copy content of any permitted sign. However, a great percentage of that which is unattractive can be eliminated by sensible quality control, through adequate maintenance and inspection and by reasonable guidelines formulated to minimize clutter.
For use in this chapter, the following terms are defined:
1. “Billboard” means a sign that has a flat surface sign face upon which advertising may be posted, painted, or affixed, and which is primarily designed for the rental or lease of such sign space for advertising not relating to the use of the property upon which the sign exists.
2. “Board” means the Board of Adjustment of the City.
3. “Commission” means the City Planning and Zoning Commission.
4. “Sign” means any object or device, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to any object, person, institution, organization, business product, service, event or location by any means including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, color, motion, illumination, or projected images. A sign includes any billboard, freestanding sign, ground sign, wall sign, roof sign, illuminated sign, projecting sign, portable sign, and temporary sign. A sign does not include the following: flags of nations, states, and cities; merchandise pictures or models of products or services incorporated with an inside window display; or works of art that in no way identify a product or device.
5. “Sign area” means that area determined by the Building Official using actual dimensions where practicable, or approximate dimensions when irregularity or sign shape warrants. Such area includes the extreme points or edges of the sign, excluding the supporting structure which does not form part of the sign proper or of the display. The area of a sign composed of characters or words attached directly to a building or wall surface is the smallest rectangle which encloses the whole group.
6. “Sign, awning” means all signage including logos and graphic designs on any awning.
7. “Sign, building or wall” means any sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the plane of said wall.
8. “Sign, directory” means a sign containing the name of a building, complex, or center and two or more identification signs of the same size, color, and general design which identify the occupants thereof.
9. “Sign face” means the surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
10. “Sign, freestanding” or “ground sign” means a sign which is supported by one or more uprights or braces in or upon the ground and not attached to any building or wall.
11. “Sign, indirectly lighted” means a sign illuminated by artificial light reflecting from the sign face, the light source not visible from any street right-of-way.
12. “Sign, institutional bulletin board” means an on-premises sign containing a surface area upon which is displayed the name of a religious institution, school, library, community center, or similar institution, and the announcement of its services or activities.
13. “Sign, off-premises” means a sign that is not an on-premises sign.
14. “Sign, on-premises” means a sign the primary purpose of which is to identify and/or direct attention to a profession, business, service, activity, product, campaign, or attraction manufactured, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
15. “Sign, pole” means a sign wholly supported by a sign structure in the ground.
16. “Sign, portable” means a free standing sign not permanently anchored or secured.
17. “Sign, projecting” means a sign other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.
18. “Sign, roof” means a sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure.
19. “Sign, service” means a sign identifying rest rooms and other service facilities.
20. “Sign structure” means any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this chapter. A sign structure may be a single pole and may or may not be an integral part of the building.
21. “Sign, temporary” means any sign, banner, pennant, valance, or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a limited period of time only.
All signs, awnings, and canopies extending over any public sidewalk, street, avenue or other public place must be securely fastened and constructed so that there will be no danger of being dislodged by ordinary winds or falling from any other cause. No sign or canopy shall be erected or maintained extending over any public sidewalk, street, alley, or other public place in such a location as to obstruct the view of any traffic light or signal or to obstruct the view of motor vehicles.
It is unlawful for any person to erect, alter, or relocate within the City any sign or other advertising structure as defined in this chapter, without first obtaining a permit from the Building Official and making payment of the fee required by this chapter. All illuminated signs shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Electrical Code.
Application for sign permits shall be made upon blanks provided by the Building Official and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
1. Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.
2. Location of building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign or other advertising structure is to be attached or erected.
3. A site plan indicating the position of the sign or other advertising structure in relation to the lot lines, the buildings on the lot, and nearby buildings or structures.
4. One blueprint or drawing of the plans and specifications and method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground.
5. Name of person erecting the sign.
6. Written consent of the owner of the building, structure, or land on which the sign is to be erected.
7. Such other information as the Building Official shall require to show full compliance with this chapter and all other ordinances of the City.
Signs which are intended to be displayed for a limited period of time only shall require a temporary sign permit. Application for temporary sign permits shall be made upon the form, as set out in Section 156.06, and the number of days for which the permit shall be effective shall be specified. However, the permit shall be valid for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days. No occupant shall be entitled to more than three (3) such permits in any calendar year; provided further, no more than one such permit shall be for a portable sign. A fee of $5.00 shall be charged for said permit, except for charitable and nonprofit organizations, which shall pay no fee. For the purposes of this chapter portable signs shall be considered to be temporary signs.
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