A. Exempted Signs: The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter providing that they meet the requirements set forth in this section:
1. Public Right Of Way: All signs erected in a public right of way by a public agency controlling or directing traffic and information signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
2. Official Flags: "Official flags" include flags of the United States Of America, the state of Wyoming, and other states of the United States, counties, municipalities, and official flags of foreign nations recognized by the United States government, provided they are kept in good repair. The maximum size of any one flag shall be twenty four (24) square feet with the exception of the United States Of America flag which may be any size. Flagpoles may not exceed twenty five feet (25') as measured from final grade. Uplighting of all flags except the flag of the United States Of America is prohibited. Flagpoles within the airport overlay zone may be subject to additional regulations, and shall require approval of the manager of Yellowstone Regional Airport to ensure compliance with FAA and Yellowstone Regional Airport rules and regulations.
3. Other Flags And Pennants: Other flags are flags that are not "official flags" as defined above. Examples of other flags include flags of schools, universities, colleges, sports teams, churches, religious groups, and nonprofit or charitable organizations. The maximum size of a flag or pennant shall be twenty four (24) square feet.
4. Group Signs: Signs grouped together at the entrance(s) to the city which represent community clubs and organizations (Lions, Rotary, Eagles, etc.), religious institutions and the like.
5. Signs Inside Buildings: Any sign inside a building or inside a window, except flashing, animated or rotating signs intended to be visible from outside the building. "Open" and "Closed" signs shall be exempt as described below.
6. Political Signs: Political signs may be displayed so long as they are removed within ten (10) days after the election to which they refer. Said signs shall be located entirely on private property.
7. Identification, For Sale Or For Rent Signs: Owner identification or occupant identification signs for residential structures, private warning signs and for sale or for rent signs, none of which may exceed six (6) square feet on one face or twelve (12) square feet on two (2) faces.
8. Signs On Vehicles: Signs on a truck, bus, car, boat, trailer or other authorized vehicle and equipment; provided all of the following conditions are met:
a. The primary purpose of such vehicle or equipment is not the display of signs;
b. Signs are painted upon or applied directly to an integrated part of the vehicle or equipment;
c. The vehicle or equipment is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets when applicable, and actively used in the daily function of the business to which the signs relate;
d. The vehicles or equipment are not used primarily as static displays, advertising a product or service, nor utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public;
e. Vehicles and equipment engaged in active construction projects and the on premises storage of equipment and vehicles offered to the general public for rent or lease shall not be subject to this condition.
9. Bulletin Boards: Public, charitable and religious institutions may construct bulletin boards if they are located on the premises of such institution and comply with the provisions of this chapter and are not more than sixteen (16) square feet in area.
10. Menu Signs At Drive-Through And Drive-In Restaurants: Said signs shall not be designed to be read from the public right of way or to attract attention to the site from the right of way.
11. Decorative Signs: Decorative signs clearly incidental to, and commonly or customarily associated with any national, local or religious holiday, except where a characteristic of the sign is specifically prohibited in all cases (for example, traffic distractions); limited to a maximum of thirty (30) square feet and a maximum height of fifteen feet (15'), unless given approval by the planning and zoning board for additional height.
12. Prohibited Activities Signs: Prohibited activities signs located on a premises posting said premises for warning or other prohibitions on trespassing, hunting, fishing, swimming or other prohibited activities. Such signs shall be no greater than three (3) square feet in area and shall be spaced no closer than fifty feet (50') apart, except as otherwise provided in other applicable city ordinances. Setback requirements shall not apply to such signs.
13. Open, Closed Hours: Door and window signs that designate hours and "open" and "closed" shall not exceed four (4) square feet and not more than one of each is allowed per business entrance.
14. Vacancy, No Vacancy: All "vacancy" or "no vacancy" signs are not to exceed three and one-half (31/2) square feet, and not more than one per business is allowed.
15. Wall Murals: Wall murals that do not contain advertising.
16. Building Inscriptions: The inscription of names (or dates) of buildings, when etched into masonry in one location on any business or premises. Each letter of an inscription may not exceed twenty four inches (24") in height and the total engraved area may not occupy more than twenty (20) square feet of the surface of the building. In addition, buildings designated by the city council, the state of Wyoming, or the United States as having historical significance to the community are allowed one historical plaque per street frontage not to exceed one square foot.
17. Public Signs: Signs posted by governmental entities within public parks, trails and school property including, but not limited to, street and traffic signs, interpretive signs, identification signs, scoreboards, etc.
18. Existing Signs: All signs existing as of the passage date hereof; provided that such signs are in conformance with previous city municipal code requirements.
B. Prohibited Signs: The following signs shall not be allowed in the city of Cody:
1. Unauthorized Signs: Any sign not specifically authorized in accordance with the provisions of this chapter is prohibited.
2. Mechanical Signs: Mechanical signs, including signs containing moving, swinging, or rotating parts, unless specifically permissible as part of the allowable signage enumerated in this chapter.
3. Hazardous Signs: Signs which create a safety hazard by obstructing clear view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
4. Signs On Parked Vehicles: Signs placed on vehicles, a truck, bus, car, boat, trailer or other authorized vehicle and equipment which are parked on a public right of way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right of way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property are not permitted. However, this is not intended to prohibit signs which meet the conditions and criteria of exempted signs.
5. Signs Constituting A Traffic Hazard: No person shall install or maintain or cause to be installed or maintained any sign which mimics, simulates or imitates in size, color, lettering or design any traffic sign or signal, or which makes use of the words "stop", "look", "danger" or any other words, phrases, symbols, or character in such a manner to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
6. Signs On Doors, Windows Or Fire Escapes: No sign shall be installed, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape, except those signs as required by other codes or ordinances.
7. Signs In Proximity To Utility Lines: No sign plan shall be approved for any sign, and no sign shall be constructed or maintained, which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from authorized communication or energized electrical power lines than that prescribed by the laws of the state of Wyoming, the ordinance of the city of Cody, or other applicable rules, regulations and codes.
8. Signs On Public Property: Signs on public property including streets, medians, islands, parkways, sidewalks, traffic control signposts, utility poles, and trees. Signs are prohibited on any utility pole, traffic sign post, traffic signal or any other official traffic control device. No person except a public officer in performance of a public duty shall affix, by any means, any form of sign, on any public property or within the public right of way. (Ord. 2011-07, 6-7-2011)
9. Public Property; Permission: Signs will not be located on publicly owned property unless permission has been granted by the governing body.
The governing body may, at its discretion, designate by resolution, public property sites where signs advertising or promoting garage sales or yard sales may be posted. Such resolution may also adopt reasonable rules and regulations governing the size, dimension, length of time for posting, removal and general appearance of such signs. Failure to abide by such rules and regulations may result in a citation and be punished by a fine to be determined by the municipal court. (Ord. 2012-05, 4-3-2012)
10. Roof Signs: Roof signs as defined herein.
11. Sound Producing Signs: Signs which produce audible noise or sounds.
12. Emitting Signs: Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles or odor.
13. Snipe Signs: Snipe signs as defined herein.
14. Rotating Signs: Rotating signs or signs utilizing a strobe light(s) are prohibited. (Ord. 2011-07, 6-7-2011)