Except as noted below, the following signs are excluded from regulation under this chapter. Exemption from this chapter does not exempt property owners from duties and responsibilities established by private deed restrictions or covenants.
A. Residential Signs: Signs not exceeding one square foot in area that are customarily associated with residential use, such as signs identifying names or numbers or signs on mailboxes, and are not of a commercial nature, except for permitted home occupations.
B. Governmental Signs: Signs erected by, or on behalf of, or pursuant to the authorization by a governmental body.
C. Flags: The United States flag, the Illinois state flag and any local government flag shall be excluded from the maximum allowable sign area; however, business, company, institutional and any other nongovernmental flags shall be included in the total allowable signage of a premises.
D. Decorative/Architectural Features: Holiday season decorations and signage; historic plaques, cornerstones and commemorative plaques; integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters, trademarks or moving parts; and seasonal and festive pennants; provided, that any commercial message does not exceed the lesser of two (2) square feet or ten percent (10%) of the pennant.
E. Directional Signs: On premises, directional signs visible from an abutting street; provided, that they do not exceed six (6) square feet per sign face or three feet (3') in height or interfere with visibility for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
F. Vehicular Signs: Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently licensed and operable motor vehicles.
G. Noncommercial Signs: Signs expressing constitutionally protected speech not otherwise addressed herein; church, school and college bulletin boards not exceeding twenty (20) square feet; periodic events signs; community carnival and event signs.
H. Traffic Signs: Traffic signs authorized by act of the city council or other public agency having authority over public use of right of way.
I. Warning Signs: Warning signs, no trespassing, no hunting and similar signs.
J. Political Signs: Political signs posted no more than thirty (30) days prior to an election and removed within seven (7) days of the election. All other political signs shall be considered temporary signs and shall comply with subsection 10-10-10B of this chapter.
K. Community Events Signs: Community events signs shall have the same size restrictions as temporary signs and may be displayed up to thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the event and must be taken down no later than seven (7) days after the last day of the event. Community signs must not be attached to any existing sign structure. Community events signs do not count as temporary signs for the business and do not count toward the maximum sign area for the site on which they are located.
L. Real Estate Signs: Real estate signs placed on the premises of the property that is for sale or lease. They shall not be placed in the public right of way or on the boulevard. Sign size shall be limited to nine (9) square feet in any residential district and thirty two (32) square feet in any commercial or industrial district. (Ord. 03-O-9, 3-18-2003)