The following provisions shall apply to all signs.
(a) The total area of all signs permitted on a lot in accordance with regulations set forth in the following sections shall include the area of all of the sign faces visible from a public right-of-way, including the area of signs placed upon the surface of windows or doors, but shall not include signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, or any signs which cannot be seen from a public street or right-of-way or from adjacent properties.
(b) The area of a sign shall be measured within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such sign including all text and graphics and any device used to attract attention provided, however, that structural elements lying outside the limits of such sign and not forming an integral part of the display shall not be included as sign area.
(c) The height of a sign shall be measured from the average finished grade within ten (10) feet of the base of the sign to the highest point or element of the sign.
(d) For the purposes of calculating permitted sign area, the frontage of a building shall be the number of linear feet of the facade facing the principal street or containing the main entrance, and the frontage of a lot shall be the number of linear feet that the lot abuts on the principal street.
(e) Signs in R-SF1 Residential - Single Family, R-SF2 Residential - Single Family and Cluster Development, R-2F, Residential-Two Family, R-MF1 Residential-Multi-Family Attached, R-MF2 Residential-Multi-Family, and Planned Unit Development Districts shall not be illuminated, except as specifically provided herein. Signs in RR Residential-Rural, BN Neighborhood Business, BOP Business-Office Professional, BD Downtown Business, BG General Business, and IL Light Industrial Districts may be illuminated. Where illuminated signs are permitted, they shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) All illuminated signs shall comply with the requirements of the National Electric Code.
(2) Electrical wiring serving any sign shall be installed underground or on or within the structure to which the sign is attached.
(3) Illumination shall not be of excessive brightness and shall be shielded so as to prevent direct light or glare from beingcast into any adjoining residential area or at vehicles traveling on a public right-of-way. Such lighting shall be shielded so as to prevent view of the light source from any adjoining residence or residential district and/or vehicles approaching on a public right-of-way from any direction.
(4) Flashing, moving or intermittent illumination shall not be permitted.
(5) The colors red or green, whether in direct illumination or reflection, shall not be used where such use may interfere with the sight lines of a traffic signal.
(f) All signs shall be located in conformance with the following criteria:
(1) No signs shall be attached to utility poles, street signs, or traffic control poles.
(2) No signs shall be located within or shall obstruct any public right-of-way, traffic control device, or street identification signs at intersections.
(3) No sign shall be located so as to obstruct sight distances for vehicles entering or exiting any property or traveling on a public street.
(4) No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that any portion of its surface or its supports will interfere in any way with the free use of access to any fire lane, exit or standpipe, or so as to obstruct any window so that light or ventilation is reduced below minimum standards required by any applicable law or building code.
(g) Signs shall be permitted in each use district and regulated as to type, size and location as provided in the following sections. Unless otherwise specifically permitted herein, the following signs are prohibited in all districts:
(1) Pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similar devices;
(2) Mobile, portable, or wheeled signs;
(3) Signs placed on parked vehicles or trailers for the purpose of advertising a product or business located on the same or adjacent property, excepting an identification sign which is affixed to a vehicle regularly operated in the pursuance of day-to-day business or activity of an enterprise;
(4) Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon a roof or upon any structure which extends above the roof line of any building;
(5) Inflatable images;
(6) Signs containing flashing, moving, intermittent, or running lights or which imitate traffic control devices;
(7) Signs which employ any part or element which revolves, rotates, whirls, spins or otherwise makes use of motion to attract attention;
(8) Beacons or searchlights;
(9) Signs which hang less than eight and one-half (8.5) feet above a pedestrian walkway or less than fourteen (14) feet above a vehicular path.
(h) Any owner, part owner, tenant or lessee who suffers a sign to remain on his property shall be deemed to have knowledge of the erection and nature of the sign. All signs of any nature shall be maintained in a state of good repair. No sign shall be allowed to remain which becomes structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property. Upon determining that a sign is structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property, the Building Inspector or his designated agent shall order the sign to be made safe or removed. The owner of the sign, the occupant of the premises on which the sign or structure is located, or the persons or firm maintaining the same shall, upon receipt of written notice from the Building Inspector or his designated agent, forthwith in the case of immediate danger and in any case within five (5) days, secure, repair or remove said sign or structure in a manner approved by the Building Inspector. If said person or firm fails to comply with such order within five (5) days, the Building Inspector may remove the sign at the expense of the owner or lessee.
(i) The Building Inspector shall order the removal or modification of any sign erected without a permit or found to be in violation of these regulations. The owner of the sign, the occupant of the premises on which the sign or structure is located, or the person or firm maintaining the same shall, upon written notice of such violation from the Building Inspector or his designated agent, within five (5) days, remove or modify the sign or structure in a manner approved by the Building Inspector or his designated agent. If such sign is not removed or brought into compliance as directed in the notice of violation within five (5) days, the Building Inspector or his designated agent may, in addition to other remedies provided by law, institute injunction, mandamus, abatement, or any other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, enjoin, abate, or remove such violation.
(Ord. 2001-23. Passed 6-5-01 .)