A. Sign Permit Requirements: All signs must be constructed in accordance with all applicable City Code provisions, including requirements for obtaining permits and payment of required fees. No sign, unless exempted by this Section, shall be erected, altered, reconstructed, or moved in the City without first securing a permit from the City.
1. Application for Permit: The following information shall be submitted within or along with the permit application for a sign:
a. Contact information of person making application and owning the sign and property where the sign will be erected (if different).
b. A site plan drawn to scale showing the location of lot lines, buildings, structures, tenant leased wall area if applicable, parking areas, existing and proposed signs, and any other physical features of the property where the sign will be located.
c. Plans shall indicate the proposed location, specifications, number of signs and their dimensions and square footage, and method of construction and attachment to the building or placement method in the ground.
d. Diagrams for illustrative purposes. Locations, sizes or heights of signs depicted on site plans or other drawings submitted with any planning application shall be for illustrative purposes only. The construction of each sign shall meet the requirements of the sign ordinance unless the conditions of approval fora planned unit development provide otherwise.
e. Copy of stress sheets and calculations showing that the structure is designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by City Code and all other state or federal laws, if requested by City Staff.
f. Written consent of the owner or lessee of any site on which the sign is to be erected if the applicant is not the owner of the property.
g. Other information as determined by City Staff to show full compliance with this Title and all other state or federal laws and ordinances of the City.
2. Administration: Sign permits are approved by City Staff. Any appeal of a City Staff determination shall follow the procedures described in City Code Section Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 13 (11-2-13).
B. Exceptions: No sign permit is required for the following signs which are permissible in all zoning districts. The following signs shall conform to all the other provisions of this Title or City Code. These signs shall not count towards the Total Signage Square Footage Calculation.
1. Address Signs: Address signs not exceeding three (3) square feet for single family residential properties and six (6) square feet for multi-family, industrial, or commercial properties.
2. Building Markers: Building markers not exceeding four (4) square feet.
3. Construction Sites: At the site of new construction for development temporary signs are permitted in accordance with the following:
a. One freestanding temporary sign is permitted, provided it complies with the following:
(1) The sign is no larger than thirty-two (32) square feet and does not exceed more than eight feet (8') in height.
(2) The sign must be located on the property under development.
(3) The sign shall be set back at least twenty feet (20') from all property lines.
(4) The sign shall be removed when ninety percent (90%) of the construction in the development is completed.
b. Subdivision model homes are permitted three (3) temporary directional signs for each model home, provided they comply with the following:
(1) Sign(s) may be no more than twenty-four inches by twenty-four inches (24" x 24") in size.
(2) Signs must be located within the developing subdivision.
(3) Signs may not be closer than fifteen feet (15') to the back of the curb nor closer than two feet (2') to any sidewalk or trail.
(4) Signs shall not be located in the Right of Way.
(5) Sign(s) shall be removed when ninety percent (90%) of the construction in the development is completed.
4. Incidental Signs.
5. Informational and Directional Signs: Informational and directional signs posted onsite, provided the signs conform to the following:
a. Number.
(1) One directional sign is allowed for each vehicle entrance or exit to any non- residential or multi-family building.
(2) Additional directional signs may be allowed if a need is demonstrated for proper traffic flow.
b. Area. The area of each sign shall not exceed six square feet.
c. Height. The height of the sign including the pole or base shall not exceed four feet from grade to the top of the sign.
d. Location.
(1) The sign shall be setback from any property line at least five (5) feet.
(2) Multi-tenant developments and uses on lots exceeding 50,000 square feet in area may display internal site directional signs. Such directional signs shall be located within 10 feet of an internal site driveway or drive aisle and may not exceed 8 square feet in area or 6 feet in height.
(3) The sign shall not be located so as to impair the vision of the driver of a vehicle and shall not be located in the clear view triangle.
6. Merchandise Signs: Merchandise signs in accordance with the following:
a. Must be located within twenty feet (20') from the main entrance of the business or service being advertised.
b. Must be removed at the end of each business day.
c. May be no larger than six (6) square feet in size per side.
d. Merchandise signs in the public right of way or public easements are prohibited.
7. Signs that exclusively express noncommercial speech, subject to the following:
a. Noncommercial flags and commercial flags. Flagpoles shall be no taller than 10 feet above the highest point of the tallest building on the lot or site, maintain a side and rear yard setback not less than the height of the flagpole, and be setback a minimum of 15 feet from any public right-of-way.
b. Noncommercial Signs during Election Season:
(1) In a state general election year, all noncommercial signs of any size may be posted in any number within or outside the public right of way on private property from forty-six (46) days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten (10) days following the state general election. Noncommercial signs may be placed in a City right of way on private property only if they are located more than ten feet (10') from the back of the curb or more than two feet (2') from the edge of a sidewalk or trail, whichever is farthest from the street curb and/or mounted on the face of a fence if the fence is less than ten feet (10') from the back edge of the street curb or less than two feet (2') from the edge of a sidewalk or trail.
(2) If there is a primary for any office in a year that is not a state general election year, noncommercial signs may be posted within or outside the public right of way on private property twenty-one (21) days before the primary election. When there is no primary, noncommercial signs may be posted twenty-one (21) days before the general election.
(3) All noncommercial signs except those otherwise permitted by this Chapter must be removed within ten (10) days following the general election.
(4) The City of Cottage Grove shall not be responsible for damage to any signs placed in the right-of-way.
c. Noncommercial Yard Signs:
(1) Maximum of 2 signs per property.
(2) Each sign may be no larger than 6 square feet.
(3) Signs may not be located in the right of way.
d. Temporary Noncommercial Event Signs such as garage/yard sales, community events, graduations, youth sports registration, and similar type signs.
(1) The maximum size of signs shall be six square feet in area and no more than three feet in height.
(2) The sign shall only be displayed no more than ten (10) days prior to the event and must be removed within 24 hours after the event is completed.
(3) Signs shall not be located in the right of way.
(4) Signs must be for event locations within the City of Cottage Grove.
(5) The person responsible for the signs placement must have the permission of the property owner where the sign is erected.
(6) Any temporary noncommercial event sign counts towards the allotted number of permitted yard signs identified in section C.
8. Official Government Flags/Emblems: Official government flags and emblems.
9. Public Notices or Signs Required: Official public notices or signs required by local, state, or federal regulations and all governmental signs, including, but not limited to, traffic control and other regulatory purpose signs, street signs, informational signs, utility signs, danger signs, and railroad crossing signs.
10. On properties that are for sale or lease temporary signs are allowed subject to the following regulations:
a. One sign per street frontage is permitted in residential districts.
b. In residential districts, signs must not exceed six (6) square feet in area and six feet (6') in height.
c. Permitted as window signs as long as they do not exceed forty percent (40%) of total window area in commercial or industrial districts.
d. In nonresidential districts, one freestanding sign per street frontage with a maximum height of eight feet (8') and no larger than thirty-two (32) square feet is permitted.
e. Real estate signs must be removed within seven (7) days following lease or sale closing.
11. No commercial speech shall be permitted on a scoreboard, except that an organization sponsoring the scoreboard or facility may include identifying information within the area allowed for the scoreboard in a combined amount not to exceed 40 percent of the total scoreboard area. Window Signs: Window signs placed within a building and within view of the general public cannot obstruct more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the window and no more than 75 square feet of street frontage. Window signs shall conform to the following standards:
a. The window signage area shall be determined by measuring a box around each group of characters, objects, images, logos, and any background to the objects, images, and logos.
b. Hours of operation and "open"/"closed" signs shall not be included in window sign area calculation. Signs shall remain static and not flashing.
c. Window signs may be illuminated during hours of operation. (Ord. 1082, 5-1-2024)
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