(A) Findings. The County Board hereby finds as follows:
(1) Exterior signs have a substantial impact on the character and quality of the environment.
(2) Signs provide an important medium through which individuals may convey a variety of messages.
(3) Signs can create traffic hazards, aesthetic concerns and detriments to property values, thereby threatening the public health, safety and welfare.
(4) The county's zoning regulations have, since as early as 1970, included the regulation of signs in an effort to provide adequate means of expression and to promote economic viability, while protecting the county and its citizens from a proliferation of signs of a type, size, location and character that would adversely impact upon the aesthetics of the county and threaten the health, safety and welfare of the county. The regulation of the physical characteristics of signs has had a positive impact on traffic safety and the appearance of the county.
(B) Purpose and intent. It is not the purpose or intent of this chapter to regulate the message displayed on any sign; nor is it the purpose or intent of this chapter to regulate any building design or any display not defined as a sign, or any sign which cannot be viewed from outside a building. The purpose and intent of this section is to:
(1) Regulate the number, location, size, type, illumination and other physical characteristics of signs within the county in order to promote the public health, safety and welfare.
(2) Maintain, enhance and improve the aesthetic environment by preventing visual clutter that is harmful to the appearance of the county.
(3) Improve the visual appearance of the county while providing for effective means of communication, consistent with constitutional guarantees and the county's goals of public safety and aesthetics.
(4) Provide for fair and consistent enforcement of the sign regulations set forth herein under the zoning authority of the county.
(C) Effect. A sign may be erected, mounted, displayed or maintained in the county if it is in conformance with the provisions of these regulations. The effect of this chapter, as more specifically set forth herein, is to:
(1) Allow certain small, unobtrusive signs incidental to the principal use of a site when in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(2) Prohibit signs whose location, size, type, illumination or other physical characteristics negatively affect the environment and where the communication can be accomplished by means having a lesser impact on the environment and the public health, safety and welfare.
(3) Provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 58-2007, passed 3-27-07)