Except as may be further restricted in specific zones, all signs shall be subject to the following:
(A) No sign shall be audible.
(C) No signs are permitted in the public right-of-way, including public roadway easements.
(D) No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, light standard, bridge or other fixture in the public right-of-way.
(E) No sign shall be painted directly on or affixed to any natural object in its natural location.
(F) No sign shall exceed 30 feet in height.
(G) No sign shall be placed in a location that obstructs or interferes with any official traffic signs and/or devices or obstructs a driver’s view of oncoming, merging or intersecting traffic.
(H) No sign shall display any statement, symbol or picture of an obscene nature.
(I) Signs may be painted directly onto vertical structural surfaces.
(J) Signs that are not allowed in a residential zone shall not be placed within 20 linear feet of any residentially zoned property.
(K) New signs exceeding eight square feet in area or exceeding eight feet in height shall follow the permitting requirements specified in § 153.127.
(L) All freestanding signs shall maintain a one foot setback for each foot of sign height.
(M) The square footage of a sign made up of letters, words, or symbols within a frame or border shall be determined from the outside edge of the frame or border itself. The square footage of a sign composed only of letters, words or symbols shall be determined from imaginary straight lines drawn around the entire copy or grouping of the letters words or symbols. Only those portions of the construction elements that are an integral part of the sign itself shall be considered in the allocation of square footage allowed.
(N) Signs deemed dangerous, abandoned or in substantial violation of this sign code by the Zoning Administrator or designee, shall require correction within 30 days of official notification. In addition to the penalties provided pursuant to the zoning code, the town may pursue additional remedies in superior court for failure to correct violations of the sign code.
(O) Sandwich board signs shall be displayed only during times when the business being advertised is open for business.
(P) Legal nonconforming signs existing prior to the effective date of this subchapter or amendments thereto, shall be permitted to continue subject to general provisions regarding the removal of dangerous or abandoned signs and off-premises signs of this code, regarding obsolescence and abandonment. Continuation shall include the right to repaint or change the message or copy on the sign, provided the size and height is not increased and provided the sign is not converted from on-premises to off-premises use. Changes of ownership and/or business name shall not in and of itself alter the right of continued use of a sign. If a nonconforming sign becomes a hazard to public safety, it shall be removed, in compliance with state law and this code.
(Ord. 17-138, passed 9-19-2017)