A. Signs With A Permit:
1. R Districts: In an R district, the following signs shall be permitted:
a. A sign, not exceeding one square foot in area, giving the name and/or address only of the land or building on which it is displayed, or the owner or lessee thereof.
b. For a structure other than a dwelling unit, one identification sign not exceeding ten (10) square feet, except a church bulletin board which shall not exceed eighteen (18) square feet.
If illuminated, the source of light shall not be visible and shall not be intermittent or flashing. All signs other than a church bulletin board or house numbers shall not project into any portion of a required front yard.
c. Signs related to a residential garage sale, as permitted by other code provisions, shall not exceed a double faced sign of six (6) square feet posted on the premises during the time that the sale is being conducted, and which shall not be located on public property or the public way.
d. Such state, county and village signs and traffic signs as are installed for public purposes.
2. B-1 And B-2 Districts: In a B-1 or B-2 district, the following signs shall be permitted:
a. Signs which pertain to a legal use conducted within the main building on the lot. All signs are limited to no more than a total area of sixty (60) square feet for each lot and shall be displayed not less than ten feet (10') or more than sixteen feet (16') for wall and projecting signs or the top of the front wall of the building, whichever is lower, and for all other signs, no more than twenty four feet (24') above the ground level. However, if any one building occupies more than fifty feet (50') of frontage on any one street, then the total aggregate area of one face of all such signs on the premises may be increased at the rate of one square foot of sign area for each foot of frontage in excess of fifty feet (50'), and the percentage allocated to each business adjusted accordingly. In the case where several businesses share space in one building, then such maximum sign area shall be distributed among the businesses on a percentage basis of the total rentable square footage of the building.
All projecting signs (in the Madison Street sign district) shall be located no lower than ten feet (10') and no higher than sixteen feet (16') from adjacent grade to the top of the front wall, whichever is lower.
b. Window area signs, permanent or temporary, may not cover more than fifty percent (50%) of any window unit square footage (1/2 of the total window area). (Ord. O-25-98, 11-9-1998)
c. Sandwich board signs in conformance with subsection 8-6-6H of this chapter. (Ord. O-18-04, 4-26-2004)
3. B-3, I-1 And I-2 Districts: In a B-3, I-1 or I-2 district, the following signs shall be permitted:
a. Any sign which pertains to a use conducted within the main building, provided that the total area of such sign or signs shall not exceed ninety (90) square feet for each building and shall be displayed not less than ten feet (10') or more than twenty four feet (24') above the ground level. However, if any one building occupies more than fifty feet (50') of frontage of all streets, then the total aggregate area of one face of all such signs on the premises may be increased at the rate of one and one-half (11/2) square feet of sign area for each foot of total frontage in excess of fifty feet (50').
In the case where several businesses share space in one building, then such maximum sign area shall be distributed among the businesses on a percentage basis of the total rentable square footage of the building.
b. For a development of mixed office, business, commercial and/or assembly uses in a B-3, I-1 or I-2 district, on a site of not less than fifteen (15) acres, the total aggregate of all wall signs shall be one and three-fourths (13/4) square feet of sign for each foot of primary building frontage for each tenant, and for tenants with corner exposure, three-fourths (3/4) square foot for each foot of secondary frontage. In addition, group ground signs shall be permitted on the basis of three-fourths (3/4) square foot of ground sign for each foot of total lot frontage; such ground signs being allocated on the basis of each tenant's or occupant's percentage of total rentable area of the building, and shall be controlled by the building management.
In such cases where a tenant has multiple exposures, such as a corner location, such tenant shall be permitted to locate signage on the side exposure, but such signs shall be limited to three-fourths (3/4) of a square foot based on the side secondary exposure. Sign allocation of the primary frontage exposure shall be limited to that side of the building.
c. Window area signs, permanent or temporary, may not cover more than fifty percent (50%) of any window unit square footage (1/2 of the total window area).
4. Inflatable Signs: In a B-3 district, an inflatable sign may be erected for a period of not more than ten (10) days and with a maximum frequency of no more often that twelve (12) times per year. In all other business and industrial zones, such inflatable signs shall be permitted for a period of not more than fourteen (14) days, and with a maximum frequency of no more often than three (3) times per year. Such signs shall be special event signs, and are semitemporary in their nature.
B. Signs Allowed Without Permit, Fee Or Inspection: Except as regulated by sections 8-6-6 and 8-6-7 of this chapter and/or as expressly prohibited in section 8-6-9 of this chapter, and notwithstanding any other contrary provisions of this code, the following signs may, subject to the following limitations, be erected and maintained in any district without obtaining a sign permit or paying the fee required for such permit:
1. Bulletin Board Signs: Such signs shall be limited to no more than one wall or ground sign per zoning lot, shall be no more than twenty five (25) square feet in area, and shall be permitted only in connection with public, religious and civic institutions. No such sign shall be higher than six feet (6'), nor be closer to any sidewalk or street line than eight feet (8'), or closer to any other lot line than six feet (6') or, in either case, no closer than the distance of the required yard or setback, whichever is less. No such sign shall permitted in any residential district.
2. Civic Event Signs: Such signs shall be limited to no more than one wall or ground sign per zoning lot. No such sign shall be larger than thirty two (32) square feet in area. Such signs shall be displayed for a period of not more than fourteen (14) days unless an application has been filed and specifically approved for a longer period of time by the director upon application filed therefor. Signs permitted under this subsection shall be removed within two (2) days after the end of the event.
3. Election Signs: Such signs shall be located entirely on private property pursuant to the owner's consent, shall be permitted no more than thirty (30) days prior to an election, and shall be removed within two (2) days after that election. Unless such sign includes on its face the name of the person or organization responsible for such sign, the owner of the private property on which such sign is located shall be deemed responsible for such sign.
4. Governmental Signs: The content and size of any such sign shall not exceed the requirements of the law, ordinance or regulation pursuant to which such sign is erected.
5. Holiday Decorations: Such signs shall be displayed; notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, such signs may be of any type, number, area, height, location, illumination or animation so long as they create no safety hazard, nuisance or adverse impact on the adjacent properties.
6. Memorial Signs: Such signs shall be limited to no more than one wall or ground sign per zoning lot, shall be made of durable materials such as bronze, stone or concrete, shall not be illuminated, and shall not exceed three (3) square feet in area. No ground sign shall be higher than two feet (2'), or closer to any sidewalk or street line than ten feet (10') or any lot line than six feet (6').
7. Nameplate Signs: Such signs shall be limited to no more than one wall or ground sign per occupancy, shall be no more than one square foot in area per occupancy and in no event may the aggregate total be more than three (3) square feet in area, and shall not be illuminated. No nameplate ground sign shall be higher than four feet (4') nor closer to any sidewalk or street line than ten feet (10') or to any lot line than six feet (6').
8. Official Flags And Emblems: Such signs may be displayed on flagpoles and when so displayed shall not exceed twenty four (24) square feet in area. Such signs also may be displayed in the form of a wall sign and when so displayed shall not exceed three (3) square feet in area.
9. On Site Informational Signs: Such signs shall be limited to wall or ground signs of not more than three (3) square feet in area, shall be, if a ground sign, not more than four feet (4') in height, and shall be illuminated only as necessary to accomplish their intended purpose. No such sign shall be permitted in any residential district.
10. Political Message Signs: Such signs shall be permitted on private property; provided, however, that no more than two (2) such signs shall be permitted per lot, no such sign shall be located within any required yard or setback and no such sign shall exceed six (6) square feet in sign area.
11. Private Garage Sale Signs: Such signs shall be no more than six (6) square feet in area, shall be located entirely on the premises where such sale is to be conducted, shall be clearly marked with the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the removal of such sign, shall be erected not more than twenty four (24) hours before such sale, and shall be removed within twenty four (24) hours following the conclusion of such sale. No ground sign shall be higher than four feet (4'), nor closer to any sidewalk or street line than ten feet (10') or any lot line than six feet (6').
12. Private Warning Signs: Such signs, such as those displaying private parking and/or off street loading condition, and private traffic control signs shall be no more than two (2) square feet in area each, shall be limited to the number necessary to accomplish the intended purpose, and shall be illuminated only as required to accomplish such purpose.
13. Restaurant Menu Display: Such signs shall be permitted only in the B-1 and B-2 business districts. Only one such sign shall be permitted per zoning lot. No such sign shall exceed three (3) square feet in total sign area.
14. Temporary Use Signs: Such signs may include:
a. Signs announcing events, such as grand openings, going out of business, under new management, birthday announcements and births.
b. Signs announcing the sale of seasonal products, such as Christmas trees, farmer's market, etc.
Every such temporary use sign is subject to the following conditions, and the conditions set out in section 8-6-7 of this chapter:
(1) Ground signs shall not to exceed thirty six (36) square feet, nor be more than four feet (4') tall per sign face and shall not exceed six feet (6') in overall height as measured from the immediate adjacent grade;
(2) Wall and window signs shall comply with the area limitation for such structural sign;
(3) Such signs shall be limited to a period of thirty (30) days unless otherwise provided by the director;
(4) May be displayed up to three (3) times within one calendar year on any given property;
(5) Shall be located on the lot of which such temporary use serves;
(6) Shall be of sturdy construction and shall not be detrimental to the character of the area;
(7) Shall be removed within twenty four (24) hours following termination of the temporary use;
(8) May not obstruct the vision triangle.
15. Window Signs, Temporary: The aggregate area of all such signs shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the area of the window in which they are exhibited nor block any window area required for light, ventilation or emergency exit by any applicable code. No such sign shall be illuminated, nor shall any such sign shall be permitted in any residential district. (Ord. O-25-98, 11-9-1998)