Section
General Provisions
90.01 Title
90.02 Purpose
90.03 Applicability; effect
90.04 Definitions
General Requirements
90.10 Number of permanent signs permitted
90.11 Signs within the right of way
90.12 Nonconforming signs
90.13 Signs prohibited
90.14 Signs exempted
90.15 Temporary signs
90.16 Regulatory signage, community events and designated ribbon posting
Specific Sign Requirements
90.20 Signs permitted in SPA zoning districts
90.21 Master signage plans
90.22 Comprehensive signage plan
90.23 Construction requirements for signs
90.24 Electronic message board signs
Administrative Requirements
90.30 Permits required
90.31 Application for master or comprehensive signage review
90.32 Inspection
90.33 Approval by electrical inspection agency
90.34 Variances
90.35 Appeals
90.36 Signs in violation
90.99 Penalty
Appendix A: Signs
GENERAL PROVISIONS
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property and the general welfare as well as to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the city; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the city's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of this sign code. Content shall not be considered with respect to any sign erected in accordance with this chapter.
(Ord. 24-1990, passed 9-17-90; Am. Ord. 22-1996, passed 10-7-96; Am. Ord. 16-2002, passed 10-7-02)
A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in the city only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 24-1990, passed 9-17-90; Am. Ord. 22-1996, passed 10-7-96; Am. Ord. 16-2002, passed 10-7-02)
For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPROVED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL.
Wood or materials not more combustible than wood. Approved combustible plastics shall mean only those plastics which have a self-ignition temperature of 650 F. or greater when tested in accordance with ASTM D-1229 listed in Appendix A of the OBBC with a smoke development rating not greater than 450 and which otherwise meets the requirements of the OBBC.
BALLOON.
An inflatable bag filled with any gas, sometimes filled with a gas to cause the balloon to rise into the atmosphere.
BANNER.
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material which is mounted to a pole or a building with or without a permanent frame at one or more edges. All banners shall be considered temporary signage.
BEACON.
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move. Beacons are not permitted by this chapter.
CUT-OUT LETTERS. Any molded, shaped, formed, or fabricated letters.
ERECT.
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and shall also include the painting of signs directly upon wall surfaces.
FACE.
Any viewable side of a sign. One sign may have multiple faces.
FLAG.
Any fabric, or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols.
LOT.
A portion or parcel of land considered as a unit, the boundaries of which have been established by a legal instrument of record, and which is recognized and intended as a unit for the purpose of transfer of ownership.
NONCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL.
Any material which meets the combustibility requirements of the OBBC for the specific application as tested in accordance with ASTM E-136.
PENNANT.
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind. A pennant is a temporary sign.
PERSON.
Any individual, association, company, corporation, firm, organization, or partnership, singular or plural.
SETBACK.
An open space on a lot which is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward. Setback shall be further defined as a line parallel to the front, side or rear lot line extending across the full width of the lot, set a horizontal distance from the respective lot line equal to that specified in Appendix A, § 2 of this chapter.
SINGLE USE BUILDING.
A building designed and intended to be occupied by only one business.
SIGN.
Any device, fixture, placard, or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, draw attention to, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
SIGN, ANIMATED.
Any sign that uses movement of change or lighting to depict action or create a special effort or scene. With the exception of electronic message signs, animated signs are not permitted by this chapter.
SIGN, CANOPY.
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area, except a marquee. (See sign, marquee)
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY.
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustration that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign, except electronic message boards. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and temperature" portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for the purposes of this chapter. Changeable copy signs must be a part of and integral to a ground, pylon or wall sign.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD.
Any sign that incorporates the use of lights, neon, Liquid Crystal Display, TV Screen, or other lighting device that displays a message or pattern to be viewed by groups of people.
SIGN, EXEMPTED.
Any sign which falls within the definition of § 90.14 of this chapter. (Signs conforming with this chapter but not requiring a permit).
SIGN, GROUND.
Any free standing sign, other than a pylon/pole sign independently supported by the ground, or on poles not more than two feet in height, and not attached to any portion of a building.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED.
Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper.
SIGN, MANSARD.
See
SIGN, ROOF, INTEGRAL.
SIGN, MARQUEE.
Any sign attached to, or in any manner made a part of a marquee, defined as; Any permanent roof structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting from the front of a building, and supported entirely by the building.
SIGN, MOBILE.
See
SIGN, PORTABLE.
SIGN, NONCONFORMING.
A sign existing at the time this chapter is enacted and which does not conform to this chapter.
SIGN, PERMANENT.
Any sign that is permanently mounted or constructed in a permanent way, and intended to be used on a continuing basis in relationship to any lot or structures upon any lot within the city.
SIGN PORTABLE.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
SIGN, PROJECTING.
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
SIGN, PYLON/POLE.
Any elevated sign that is supported by one or more poles or pylons placed in, or anchored in the ground independent of any other structure.
SIGN, ROOF.
Any sign erected and constructed wholly on or above the roof of a building, and supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof. Roof signs are not permitted by this chapter.
SIGN, ROOF, INTEGRAL.
Any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion. This definition includes signs erected on the mansard area of a roof.
SIGN, SUSPENDED.
A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
SIGN SURFACE
or
SIGN FACE.
All of the surfaces or faces upon, against, or through which the message, information, or other distinguishing component or devise is displayed or illuminated on the sign.
SIGN SURFACE
or
SIGN AREA.
The computation of the sign face area per face shall be counted as part of the total sign surface area except as otherwise provided in this chapter. When letters or devises are mounted directly upon the building surface, the sign surface area shall mean the smallest polygon (maximum of six sides) necessary to enclose the surface area upon which the actual letters or devices are mounted. For individual letters or devices more than 18 inches in height, the sign surface area shall be determined by the area of the smallest polygon (maximum of six sides) enclosing the individual letters or device.
SIGN, TEMPORARY.
Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.
STRUCTURAL TRIM.
The molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
WALL SIGN.
Any sign attached parallel to and protruding not more than ten inches from a wall, painted on the wall surface or attached to and wholly supported by an outside wall of any building or structure, and which displays only one sign surface.
WINDOW SIGN.
Any sign attached parallel to and protruding not more than ten inches from a wall, painted on the wall surface or attached to and wholly supported by an outside wall of any building or structure, and which displays only one sign surface.
(Ord. 24-1990, passed 9-17-90; Am. Ord. 22-1996, passed 10-7-96; Am. Ord. 14-2000, passed 11-6-00; Am. Ord. 16-2002, passed 10-7-02)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
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