All exempt signs shall be required to meet all other applicable requirements of this chapter. Exempt signs shall only be exempt from the sign permit process. The following exempt signs shall not require a sign permit unless otherwise specified:
(A) Changeable copy. The changing of advertising copy or message on an approved sign such as a theater marquee, or freestanding sign displaying gas station prices, and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for use of replaceable copy. For the purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter, changeable copy signs shall display a static message rather than a message that imitates movement.
(B) Construction signs. Construction signs shall be exempt, provided that they comply with the following provisions:
(1) Location. No more than one sign shall be allowed per driveway entrance.
(2) Area. No such sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area.
(3) Height. No such sign shall exceed ten feet in height.
(4) Removal. Construction signs shall be removed upon issuance of the first certificate of occupancy.
(C) Sign maintenance. Painting, repainting, cleaning or other typical maintenance and repair activities, of either the sign or the sign’s structure, or a change in copy not meeting the provision discussed in division (A) as an exempt and incidental sign, above.
(D) Address signs. Address signs shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided they are less than two square feet.
(E) Business identification signs. A business identification sign on, near, above beside a public entrance or service entrance shall be permitted in a business, commercial or industrial zoning district, and is hereby exempt from the sign permit process provided that the sign states only the street address number and name of the business or building, that the sign is mounted flush against the wall, and that the sign does not exceed four square feet.
(F) Flags. Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) Do not exceed 60 square feet;
(2) That no flagpole is greater than 30 feet in height for residential districts and 40 feet in height for non-residential districts; and
(3) That all flagpoles meet all of the setback requirements for the applicable district.
(G) Historical identification signs. Signs for sites designated by the federal, state or local governments as historic locations, sites or landmarks, shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that such signage does not exceed 12 square feet.
(H) Integral signs. Name of building, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type construction, shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that it is made an integral part of the structure.
(I) Parking lot signs. Parking lot signs shall include signs which are placed or displayed in parking lots to supply information to people using such lots, including such information regarding liability, entry, exit, and traffic movement information, as necessary to facilitate the safe movement of vehicles served by the parking area. This section includes all handicap signage as well. Signs for public and private parking lots shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) Such a sign is relevant to the business or operation to which the parking lot is related;
(2) Such a sign is not used for advertising purposes;
(3) The sign is setback a minimum three feet from the right-of-way;
(4) Such a sign does not exceed six feet in height, unless there are extenuating circumstances requiring identification of handicapped stall locations, as a result of changes in topography, or ground level, that do not permit handicapped persons visibility of such signs upon entry into the panning lot;
(5) That the sign area does not exceed four square feet; and
(6) Such signs are installed so as to not present a hazard to traffic entering or leaving the premises.
(J) Private traffic (directional) signs. Signs directing traffic onto or within a premises shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) Such a sign is setback a minimum of three feet from any right-of-way or aisle;
(2) Such a sign is no greater than three feet in height;
(3) Such a sign is no greater than six square feet in area;
(4) Signs that are illuminated comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
(K) Public signs. Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest erected by or on the order of public officer(s) in the performance of the officer’s public duty, such as safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, memorial plaques, signs directing the traveling public to public and quasi-public facilities, or signs on public buildings or structures and the like shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process.
(L) No trespassing signs. No trespassing signs, warning signs (e.g. “Beware of Dog”) and other such signs regulating the use of property shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that such sign does not exceed two square feet in area.
(M) Residential name plates. In addition to each dwelling unit displaying a house number plate for identification purposes, a name plate identifying a single-family or multi-family residential dwelling unit shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) Such a sign slates nothing other than the name and/or address of the occupant; and
(2) Such a sign does not exceed two square feet in area.
(N) Social or charitable organizations. Signs located off-site and indicating the names and locations of churches, charitable organizations, and community service organizations shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) The sign is located off of the public right-of-way as determined by the city Street Department;
(2) The sign does not obstruct the view of pedestrians or vehicular traffic; and
(3) The sign is approved by the Board of Public Works.
(O) Window signs. Window signs shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that no window sign cover more than 25% of the window area. No message painted on a window shall cover more than 75% of the window area.
(P) Garage sale signs. Signs advertising the sale of miscellaneous household items for the purpose of a residential garage or yard sale shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) The sign does not exceed four square feet in area;
(2) The sign(s) is not posted earlier than one week in advance of the sale;
(3) The sign is removed within 48 hours of the close of the sale; and
(4) Per I.C. 35-43-1-2, the sign in not posted on a utility pole.
(Q) Political campaign signs. Political campaign signs shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process, provided that said signs meet all other applicable requirements of this chapter.
(R) Real estate signs. Real estate signs shall be permitted and exempt from the sign permit process provided that:
(1) There is no more than one sign advertising the sale, rental or lease displayed on the premises in which it is intended to advertise;
(2) The sign does not exceed nine square feet in area for residential districts and 32 square feet in any other district;
(3) The sign is removed within 14 days of the sale, rental or lease;
(4) The sign is setback from the right-of-way no less than ten feet;
(5) The sign does not reflect advertising or promotional material other man to indicate the party listing the property for sale, rental or lease; and
(6) Directional signage for an open house shall not exceed nine square feet in area; shall not be located in the public right of way; shall be erected no more than 72 hours prior to the open house; and, shall be removed within six hours of the end of the open house. For the purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter, a “house for sale sign” shall not be interpreted as directional signage for an open house.
(S) Barber poles. Rotating or stationary cylindrical poles of the traditional red, white and blue spiral striped design identifying the premises as a barber shop is exempt provided that:
(1) The size does not exceed two and one-half feet in length;
(2) The sign is attached by brackets to the barber shop in which it is intended to identify;
(3) The top of the pole does not extend above the roofline of the barber shop in which it is intended to identify; and
(4) If illuminated, the sign must comply with the illumination provisions of this division.
(Ord. 4-2009, passed 3-9-09)