(A) Although these regulations do not apply to signs erected, maintained, or posted by the state, federal, or town government, these regulations clarify that government signs which form the expression of that government are allowed in every zoning district and include the signs described and regulated in this section when erected and maintained pursuant to law.
(1) Traffic control devices on private or public property must be erected and maintained to comply with the Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices adopted in this state.
(2) Each property owner may mark their property using numerals that identify the address of the property so that public safety departments can easily identify the address from the public street. Where required under this code or other law the identification may be on the curb and must be on the principal building on the property. The size and location of the identifying numerals and letters, if any, must be proportional to the size of the building and the distance from the street to the building and in no case larger than 2 square feet. In cases where the building is not located within view of the public street, the identifier may be located on the mailbox or other suitable device such that it is visible from the street each direction. Minimum 3-inch high numerals for residential, and minimum 5-inch high numerals for anything other than residential.
(3) Where a federal, state, or local law requires a property owner to post a sign on the owner’s property to warn of a danger or to prohibit access to the property either generally or specifically, the owner must comply with the federal, state, or local law to exercise that authority by posting a sign on the property. If the federal, state, or local regulation describes the form and dimensions of the sign, the property owner must comply with those requirements; otherwise, when not defined, the sign shall be no larger than 2 square feet and located in a place on the property to provide access to the notice that is required to be made. Signs posted under this section are not snipe signs.
(4) Official notices or advertisements may be posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of official or directed duties; provided, however, that all such signs must be removed by the property owner no more than 10 days after their purpose has been accomplished or as otherwise required by law. Signs posted under this section are not snipe signs.
(5) A flag that has been adopted by the federal government, the State of Indiana, or the Town of Chandler may be displayed as provided under the law that adopts or regulates its use and as provided in division (D) below.
(B) Temporary signs. It is the intent of this code to limit the aesthetic impact of signs on properties to prevent clutter and protect streetscapes thereby preserving property values and protecting traffic safety. The accumulation of signs adversely affects these goals, property values, and public safety. Accordingly, a person exercising the right to place temporary signs on a property as described in this division (B) must limit the number of temporary signs on the property per 0.25 acre at any 1 time to 2 plus any sign allowed in division (B)(2), or if the property is smaller than 0.25 acres then no more than 2 signs plus any sign allowed in division (B)(2) per principal building on the property unless a court having jurisdiction determines that additional signs must be permitted and then the signage must be limited to the fewest signs and the smallest accumulated sign area permissible under the court’s determination. The sign face of any temporary sign, unless otherwise limited in this division (B) must not be larger than 2 square feet. Permitted temporary signs include:
(1) A property owner may place 1 temporary sign at any time with a sign face no larger than 2 square feet on the property.
(2) Temporary signs may be located on the owner’s property for a period of 60 days prior to, and a period of 60 days after, an election involving candidates for a federal, state, or local office that represents the district in which the property is located or involves an issue on the ballot of an election within the district where the property is located.
(3) One temporary sign may be located on a property when the owner consents and that property is being offered for sale.
(4) One temporary sign may be located on the owner’s property on a day when the property owner is opening the property to the public; provided, however, the owner may not use this type of sign in a Residential District on more than 2 days in a year and may not use this type of sign in any Commercial District for more than 14 days in a year and the days must be consecutive. For purposes of this division (B)(4) a year is counted from the first day on which the sign is erected counting backwards and from the last day on which the sign exists counting forward.
(5) During the 40-day period from December 1 to January 10, a property owner may place 1 temporary sign on the property and may use lights that do not exceed 4,000 lumens as measured at the property line between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. to decorate the property even if the lights might be arranged to form a sign.
(C) For purposes of this section, the lessor of a property is considered the property owner as to the property the lessor holds a right to use exclusive of others (or the sole right to occupy). If there are multiple lessors of a property then each lessor must have the same rights and duties as the property owner as to the property the lessor leases and has the sole right to occupy and the size of the property must be deemed to be the property that the lessor has the sole right to occupy under the lease.
(D) Flags.
(1) Single-Family Zoning Districts. In a Single-Family Zoning District, 2 flags and 1 flag pole per premises. Each flag must be a maximum of 15 square feet in area. The flag pole must be a maximum of 25 feet in height or no higher than the highest point of the principal building’s roof, whichever is lower. Flag poles must meet the minimum yard setback requirements for a principal building.
(2) Non-Residential Zoning Districts. In a Non-Residential Zoning District, 1 flag per 25 feet of frontage on a right-of-way up to a maximum of 6 flags and 6 flag poles per premises. Each flag must be a maximum of 24 square feet in area. Flag poles must be a maximum of 50 feet in height but no higher than the highest point of the nearest principal building’s roof on the premises. Flag poles must meet the minimum yard setback requirements for a principal building or a minimum of 10 feet whichever is more restrictive.
(3) Small flags at vehicle sales and service establishments. One small flag of no more than 1 square foot per vehicle on display for sale or rent at vehicle sales and service establishments. Such flags must be no higher than 2 feet above the height of the vehicle as if it were displayed at grade level.
(Ord. 2017-02, passed 2-20-2018) Penalty, see § 175.99