The following signs may be erected and maintained in all zoning districts, provided the sign is not located over a public water or right-of-way, except where noted, without a permit and without being deducted from gross sign surface area permitted.
(a) Bulletin Boards. One bulletin board per premises per street frontage, and not over thirty- five (35) square feet in area, for public, charitable or religious institutions located on site.
(b) Government Signs. Government signs for control of traffic, parking and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty. This includes legal notices, identification or directional signs erected by governmental bodies. Included within this definition are off- premises institutional signs.
(c) Interior Signs. Signs located within the interior of any building or structure which are not visible from the public right-of-way.
(d) Memorial Signs. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface, or inlaid so as to be part of the building.
(e) Occupant Signs. Signs limited in content to name of occupant and address of premises. Occupant signs shall be a maximum of one (1) per street front and no more than (4) square feet in sign area.
(f) Governmental Notices. Official governmental notices and notices posted by governmental officers in the performance of their duties; informational notices; or for other informational or regulatory purposes, to identify streets or to warn of danger.
(g) Temporary Construction Safety Signs. Temporary or permanent signs erected by public utility companies or construction companies to warn of dangerous or hazardous conditions.
(h) Traffic and Service Signs on Private Premises. Traffic and parking signs and devices privately-owned and on private premises, and containing messages such as "exit only", "restricted for", and the like, the sole purpose of which is to direct and control
traffic on the premises and which does not exceed seven (7) feet above the curb line, nor contain more than ten (10) square feet per face. Signs designating entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, restrooms and other such signs relating to functional operation of the building or premises shall be permitted without permit under this exception.
(i) Signs Required by Law. Signs required by law, statute or ordinance, constructed and maintained according to the law, statute or ordinance under which the sign was erected.
(j) Real Estate Signs. One (1) "For Sale" or "For Rent" sign per street frontage may be placed on the offered property and shall not be more than ten (10) square feet in size for residential property and not more than thirty-two (32) square feet in area for non-residential property. No such sign shall be closer than twelve (12) feet to a lot line. The sign may only advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which it is located and contain the name and/or logo of the real estate company, or individuals and their respective addresses and telephone numbers, posting the sign. No such sign shall project higher than one (1) story or fifteen (15) feet above curb level, whichever is lower, when attached to a building; detached or freestanding signs shall not be more than four (4) feet in height, measured from the soil grade to the top of the sign post. Such signs shall be removed within thirty (30) days after sale, rental or lease of the property.
(k) Signs in Display Windows. Signs in the display window of a business which relate to services or products offered therein. This display sign exception is only permitted for properties in the following zoning districts: B-1 Central Business District and B-2 Highway Commercial District. The window sign must direct attention to a business or profession conducted on the premises or to a product, service or entertainment sold or offered on said premises. Window signs shall be placed only on the inside of commercial buildings and shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed.
(I) On-Premises Symbols or Insignia. Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historical agencies.
(m) On-Premises Temporary and Portable Signs in Residential Districts. Temporary or portable signs under twenty (20) square feet for the purpose of an on-site open house, model home demonstration, special event such as a birthday or anniversary, and for five (5) days thereafter, but may not exceed a total period of thirty (30) days per twelve (12) month period.
(n) Civic Event Temporary Signs. Temporary off-premises signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in residential or public lands districts, or thirty-two (32) square feet in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 and I-1 Districts, pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational, religious, or non-profit organizations, provided such signs are posted not more than thirty (30) days before said event and removed within seven (7) days after the event.
(o) Political Signs. Political message, public election or referenda signs during an election campaign shall comply with Sec. 12.04(1), Wis. Stats. Political signs may be posted ninety (90) days before an election and must be removed within ten (I 0) days after said election. Said sign shall be a maximum of thirty-two (32) square feet.
(p) Rummage/Garage Sale Signs. Rummage or garage sale signs not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area, but use of this type of sign shall be limited to seventy-two (72) hours per sale. Rummage or garage sale signs may only be located on the day of the garage sale within street right-of-way lines between the private property line and the pavement edge with the permission of the adjoining private property owner or renter in a location which does not create a visibility or traffic hazard (as determined by the Zoning Administrator or a law enforcement officer).
(q) Open/Close Signs. Illuminated and non-illuminated signs not exceeding ten (10) square feet in area announcing that a business is open or closed.
(r) Decorative Features. Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.