CHAPTER 17-12
SIGNS

17-12-0100   Purpose.

17-12-0200   Applicability.

17-12-0300   Noncommercial messages.

17-12-0400   Transitional provisions.

17-12-0500   Signs exempt from zoning regulation.

17-12-0600   Measurements.

17-12-0700   Prohibited signs.

17-12-0800   General standards.

17-12-0900   Signs in residential districts.

17-12-1000   Signs in business, commercial, downtown and manufacturing districts.

17-12-1100   Special sign districts.

17-12-1200   City digital signs.

17-12-0100 Purpose.

   17-12-0101 The sign regulations of this chapter are intended to balance the public interest – in promoting a safe, well-maintained and attractive city – with the interests of businesses, organizations and individuals in ensuring the ability to identify and advertise products, services and ideas, and with the interests of the city and other units of government in communicating public service and emergency messages on a city-wide basis in a coordinated and timely manner through an integrated network of city digital signs. The regulations have the following specific objectives:

      17-12-0101-A to ensure that signs are designed, constructed, installed and maintained in a way that protects life, health, property and the public welfare;

      17-12-0101-B to allow signs as a means of communication, while at the same time avoiding nuisances to nearby properties;

      17-12-0101-C to support the desired character of various neighborhoods and zoning districts and promote an attractive visual environment;

      17-12-0101-D to allow for adequate and effective signs, while preventing signs from dominating the appearance of the area;

      17-12-0101-E to ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech is protected; and

      17-12-0101-F to enable the city to establish an integrated network of city digital signs.

   17-12-0102 The regulations allow for a variety of sign types and sizes, based on zoning and lot sizes and requirements needed to establish an integrated network of city digital signs. They do not necessarily ensure every property owner or business owner's desired level of visibility.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6)

17-12-0200 Applicability.

   Sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this Chapter and other applicable city regulations. In the event of conflict between the regulations of this chapter and those of other local, state or federal regulations, the more restrictive regulation governs, to the extent allowed by law.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)

17-12-0300 Noncommercial messages.

   Any sign allowed under this chapter may contain any lawful noncommercial message that does not directly advertise a specific business, proprietary product or service, or any other commercial activity, so long as the sign complies with the size, height, and other requirements of this chapter.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-23, p. 1992, § 2)

17-12-0400 Transitional provisions.

   17-12-0401 All signs legally erected or installed before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200 may remain in place and in use, subject to Sec. 17-15-0500.

   17-12-0402 All holders of permits for signs issued legally before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200 may erect the signs that are the subject of such permits within the times allowed by such permits, and such signs will then be treated as though they had been erected before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200 subject to Sec. 17-15-0500. However, such permits may not be extended or amended unless the sign that is the subject of such permit will conform to all of the requirements of this chapter.

   17-12-0403 All violations of the sign regulations repealed by this Zoning Ordinance will remain violations and all penalties and enforcement remedies will be available to the city as though the violation were a violation of this Zoning Ordinance. However, if the effect of this Zoning Ordinance is to make a sign that was formerly illegal or nonconforming become conforming, then enforcement action will cease except to the extent of collecting penalties (other than removal of the sign) for violations that occurred before the effective dates specified in Sec. 17-1-0200.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391)

17-12-0500 Signs exempt from zoning regulation.

   The following are exempt from regulation under this Zoning Ordinance.

   17-12-0501 Any official sign, public notice sign or warning sign required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction;

   17-12-0502 Any sign that is inside a building and is legible only from the lot on which it is located and is not legible from the public way or adjoining lot;

   17-12-0503 Any sign inside an athletic field or other enclosed outdoor space, where the sign is not legible beyond the property line of the lot on which it is located;

   17-12-0504 Works of art with no commercial message;

   17-12-0505 Holiday decorations with no commercial message; and

   17-12-0506 Any city digital sign; provided, however, that notwithstanding such exemption, city digital signs shall be subject to the regulations set forth in this Title 17, Title 10 and Title 13 that expressly refer to and regulate city digital signs.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 1-23-19, p. 94952, Art. I, § 29)