(A) General Provisions: The following provisions shall apply in all zoning districts.
1. The requirements of this sign code shall govern and control the erection, enlargement, expansion, alteration, operation, maintenance, removal and relocation of all signs within zoning districts in the city. Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited. The regulations of this sign code relate to the location of signs, by function and type. Every sign, and all parts thereof, including framework, supports, background, anchors and wiring systems shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with this sign code and the building, electrical and fire protection codes 1 of the city.
2. All signs permitted under the highway advertising control act of 1971, as amended, shall be permitted as provided therein; however, such signs shall conform to the provisions of this sign code.
3. No sign shall be painted, postered or plastered directly on the surfaces of the exterior walls or roof of any building. No sign or sign structure shall be attached to a tree, fence, telephone pole or other utility pole or structure.
4. All signs, and all parts thereof, regardless of whether or not a permit is required, shall be maintained in a safe presentable and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of nonfunctioning, broken or defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning and any other acts required for the maintenance of the sign. All signs and sign supports shall be kept painted, or otherwise treated to prevent rust, rot or deterioration.
5. No sign shall be erected or located in a public right of way except as established by the authorized public entity responsible for the right of way.
6. No sign, or portion thereof, shall rotate, flash, flutter, or appear to move except as otherwise specifically permitted herein.
7. No sign shall be constructed or maintained on any portion of a roof, nor shall any such sign attached to an improvement project be placed above any portion of the roof or parapet wall.
8. Permanent window signs shall conform to the requirements for wall signs under the provisions of the zoning district in which they are located.
9. In all zoning districts, the property owner shall be permitted to construct and maintain not more than three (3) flagpoles which shall be located within the buildable area of the property. In all cases, flagpoles shall be utilized to display the American flag, state and county flags or other corporate, national or organizational flags. Such flagpoles shall be used exclusively as flagpoles and shall not serve as light poles. Each flagpole may have a light fixture so that the flag may be illuminated during nighttime hours.
10. Except as herein provided, all signs shall require sign permits which shall be issued by the city building department.
11. Except as herein provided, when a sign is not specifically listed as permitted in any specific zoning district, such sign shall be expressly prohibited.
12. In all business districts, temporary window signs located inside of show windows shall occupy not more than twenty five percent (25%) of the surface area of such windows. (Ord. 0-38-94, 9-6-1994)
(B) Signs Specifically Prohibited: All signs not expressly permitted under this sign code are prohibited within the city. The following signs are specifically prohibited in all districts:
1. Projecting and pole signs.
2. Pennants, streamers, portable signs, festoon lights or any other attention getting devices not specifically authorized by the temporary sign regulations as set forth in section 4-3-9 of this chapter.
3. Commercial signs not advertising a business conducted or a product sold on the same property as the sign is located except as permitted in this sign code.
4. Signs which contain statements, words, pictures or other depictions of an obscene, indecent or immoral character and which offend public morals or decency.
5. Miscellaneous advertising devices, other than the signs which conform to the provisions of this sign code, or any other provisions of the city code, shall not be allowed.
6. Signs in conflict with traffic signals, vehicular or pedestrian travel, access to fire hydrants and fire lanes and exits, and other signs which reasonably impede or impair public health, safety and welfare.
7. Signs painted on the walls or windows of any building.
8. Signs on vehicles, boats, or trailers in place, other than one sign not larger than two feet by two feet (2' x 2') advertising said vehicle, boat and/or trailer for sale or rent.
9. Signs hung across any street or alley.
10. Obsolete signs.
11. Unlawful signs. (Ord. 0-29-08, 7-7-2008)
(C) Illumination Of Signs: In addition to all other applicable requirements set forth in this sign code, all illuminated signs shall comply with the following provisions:
1. All illuminated signs within one hundred feet (100') of any residential zoning district shall be turned off between the hours of eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. unless the business is engaged in the operation of business during such hours, in which case the sign may be lit during the hours of operation only.
2. Signs in the direct line of vision of motorists approaching any traffic signal shall not have red, green or amber illumination.
3. Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a traffic hazard for or confuse operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
4. No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color. Beacon lights are prohibited.
5. No exposed reflective type bulb or incandescent lamp which exceeds fifteen (15) watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
6. All sources of light, whether by direct exposure, surface reflection or transmission having an intrinsic brightness greater than thirty (30) foot-lamberts shall be shielded so that the source of the light cannot be seen at any point within a residential zoning district.
7. No luminous source of light, whether direct exposure, surface reflection or transmission shall have a light intensity exceeding the brightness value of one hundred fifty (150) foot-lamberts.
8. No source of light shall be permitted to cause illumination in excess of one-half (1/2) foot-candle in a residential zoning district.
9. The light from any illuminated sign shall be so shielded, shaded or directed so that the light intensity or brightness shall not be objectionable to surrounding properties.
(D) Number Of Signs On Premises: No more than one pole or ground mounted sign is permitted on a property. Premises having building frontage on more than one dedicated street shall be permitted signage for each street frontage as provided by this sign code.
(E) Placement Of Signs On Lots: Signs shall be placed no closer than four feet (4') to any lot line or street right of way except as provided in subsection (F) of this section and except that the signs shall be placed no closer than thirty feet (30') from any interior side lot line. No ground sign shall be placed closer than twenty feet (20') from any driveway. However, for every one foot (1') greater than four feet (4') that the sign is from the front lot line or street right of way, the distance from the driveway may be reduced by one foot (1'). No wall sign on a building wall shall face an area zoned residential. No more than one point of sale gasoline sign per street frontage shall be permitted.
(F) Placement Of Signs On Corner Lots: No sign of a height greater than thirty six inches (36") above the adjoining street grade shall be permitted within the triangular area formed; one at the intersection of any two (2) street rights of way lines and/or the intersection of any street right of way line and any service entrance drive, by a line drawn between such rights of way lines and/or such right of way line and service drive line, at a distance along such lines of twenty five feet (25') from the point of intersection thereof. If a permanent building exists within the triangle thus formed, the lengths of the legs shall be reduced to the extent of a forty five degree (45°) line across the outer building corner. (Ord. 0-38-94, 9-6-1994)
(G) Landscaping Requirements: All new ground signs shall be surrounded by a landscaped area. A landscape plan shall be submitted along with the permit application for such signs. The landscape plan shall comply with the following requirements:
1. The landscaped area shall be located at the base of the ground sign, consisting of a square, rectangle, oval or circular area, the area of which shall be a minimum of four feet (4') in width on all sides of the sign base.
2. The landscape area shall consist of a variety of plant types and species such as ground covers, perennials and low growing shrubs. Sodded or seeded areas shall not be construed as to meet this requirement. The landscaping shall be maintained at all times.
3. If the area available on the subject property for the required landscaping is insufficient, the director may permit the installation of a portion of the required landscaping at an alternate location on the property. (Ord. 0-29-08, 7-7-2008)
Notes
| 1 | 1. See chapter 1 of this title. |