(a) Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting a beam of constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light or lights such as search lights and beacons. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beam and illumination from there to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
(b) No sign shall employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin, and are blinking, flashing or fluttering or have a changing light intensity, brightness or color, or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention. When property adjoins a residential property, exposed bulbs and neon shall not be used on the exterior surface of any sign or canopy on the sides of the building viewed from residential properties. Awnings shall not have back-lighting; canopy signs shall not be illuminated; beacon lights shall not be used; and no internal sign illumination shall be allowed on the sides of the building viewed from residential properties. Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to any sign performing a public service function indicating time, temperature or public service announcements.
(c) All wirings, fittings and materials used in the construction, connection and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of all applicable electrical codes and building codes. All power to illuminated signs must be underground from the power source wherever possible.
(d) No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from the front or face of a building for a distance of more than two (2) feet, including those projecting from the face of any theater, hotel or motel marquee. The projecting sign must be at least eight (8) feet above ground level.
(e) No sign shall be placed above the roof line of any building, or beyond the ends of the wall surfaces upon which it is situated.
(f) No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of posters, pennants, flags (except as defined in Section 1149.01(20) - “Flag”), ribbons, streamers, spinners, whirligigs, and balloons of all types or other similar moving devices. Such devices, as well as strings of lights, shall not be used for the purpose of advertising.
(g) No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected or attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
(h) No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way, except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
(i) All signs shall be placed on a lot in such a way so as to not obstruct the line of sight of the operator of a motor vehicle either from the right or left with respect to an adjacent private or public road, or create a hazard to pedestrian traffic.
(j) No sign shall be placed upon any utility pole, street sign, traffic control device, or tree located within the public right-of-way or a general landscape easement, other than as established for gateway signs.
(k) The surface area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular, geometric form or combinations of regular, geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and nonstructural members not part of the display area shall not be included in the computation of surface area.
(l) All signs shall be limited to not more than two (2) faces. All area limitations shall apply per face unless otherwise set forth in this Code.
(m) No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises except as provided for in Section 1133.06 of this Zoning Ordinance.
(n) All signs shall be located on the same lot or parcel of land as the business or use to which such sign pertains, unless as otherwise specifically provided for in this section. However, entrance and exit signs may be located off-site provided said signs are located on drives providing direct access to the lot and parking area of the business to which they pertain.
(o) No vehicle, or trailer, self-propelled or otherwise, shall be parked or used upon any premises so as to be visible from a public right-of-way not used in the ordinary course of business, but for the principal purpose of being or displaying a sign to advertise an enterprise, business or activity. Identification signs which are affixed to a vehicle regularly operated pursuant to the day-to-day business or activity of an enterprise may be permitted.
(p) Controlled access highways shall not be considered frontage for the purpose of locating signs.
(q) For the purpose of this Zoning Ordinance, "sign" does not include those erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, activity or event, or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation.
(Ord. 2008-133. Passed 12-16-08.)