A. Purpose: The purpose of this section is to provide for necessary visual communications and to preserve and promote a pleasant physical environment within the City by regulating the type, number, size, height, lighting, maintenance, and erection of sign structures.
B. Residential Signs: The following signs shall be permitted in residential zoning districts provided that they are illuminated by reflector methods only and do not exceed four (4) square feet in area:
1. One sign bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, and names of occupants of the premises;
2. Legal notices, identification, information, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies;
3. Temporary signs connected with and prior to political elections;
4. Signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of a building or premises;
5. Signs which display a noncommercial message for a local festival or an activity sponsored by a non-profit group (such signs may be displayed no more than a total of fourteen (14) days per calendar year); and
6. Signs permitted for home occupations.
All commercial advertising signs in residential zoning districts are prohibited.
C. Commercial And Industrial Signs: On-site signs directing attention to a business, profession, product, service, activity, or entertainment, and where the activity is conducted, sold, or offered on the same premises upon which the sign is located, are permitted in commercial and industrial zoning districts, provided:
1. A plan be submitted and a building permit issued prior to installation of any commercial signs, with the exception of signs mounted flat against a building. The plan must show the location of the sign on the site and include sign dimensions, height above the ground, and show footing and foundation base criteria. The foundation base and posts of all signs must be on private property or the premises.
2. The foundation base and posts of all signs may not be located upon City property or rights-of-way, unless approved by the City Council.
3. No part of any sign or projection may protrude over the public right-of-way within six feet (6') of the actual or proposed curb line. Signs may project over the right-of-way a maximum of six feet (6') provided no part is within six feet (6') of the curb line and that it is over eight feet (8') above the sidewalk or the average grade at the property line when no sidewalk is in place. If in the future the street is widened, the sign shall be removed at the owner's expense to maintain the six foot (6') distance of the curb regulation.
4. All sources of artificial light, other than street lights, shall be fixed, directed, or designed so as not to measurably increase the amount of light toward abutting residential lots.
5. All sign installations shall also conform to Minnesota Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration regulations, wherever applicable.
6. It is the obligation of the installer to check for any or all underground utilities or services before excavating for sign foundations.
D. Off-Premise Signs: Off-premises signs shall be permitted upon verification of compliance with the following provisions:
1. A sign permit must be obtained prior to installation of any off-premises signs.
2. The foundation base and posts of all signs may not be located upon City property or rights-of-way, unless approved by the City Council.
3. Off premises signs must be set back from residential zoning district boundaries a distance of one hundred feet (100'). Setback dimensions will be a straight line measurement from the residential zoning district boundary to the center line of the sign standard.
4. The off-premises sign measures no more than seven hundred fifty (750) square feet in area, inclusive of the border and trim, but exclusive of the base or apron, supports, or other structural members.
5. The height of any off-premise sign, including support structures, measured from the highest centerline grade of any adjacent street, may not exceed thirty-five feet (35').
6. No off-premises signs may be located closer than two hundred fifty feet (250') apart, unless separated by an interstate highway or principal arterial. Separation will be a straight line measurement from the center line of the sign standards.
7. It is the obligation of the installer to check for any or all underground utilities or services before excavating for sign foundations.
8. All sign installations shall also conform to Minnesota Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration regulations, wherever applicable.
9. All sources of artificial light, other than street lights, shall have a fixed direction and shall be designed so that the source of light is directed away from adjoining residences, streets, or sidewalks.
E. Portable Signs: Any sign which is constructed so as to be movable, either by skids, wheels, truck, or other conveyance; any sign which does not have a permanent foundation or is not otherwise permanently fastened to the ground, and cloth signs or banners (of any material), shall be considered portable signs. When on a trailer, the removal of wheels or undercarriage does not place the sign in another category, nor does the anchoring of the sign by means of concrete blocks, sandbags, or other types of temporary anchors.
Portable signs are permitted provided:
1. That the portable sign is located in a commercial or industrial zoning district.
2. Portable signs located in a commercial zoning district can only be used for directing attention to a business, profession, product, service, activity, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered on the same premises upon which the sign is located. Provided, however, portable signs advertising special events or fundraisers for non-profit organizations are permitted for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days at a time for each special event.
3. That no portable sign may exceed sixty-four (64) square feet in area or eight feet (8') in height.
4. That no portable sign may be placed upon public right-of-way without consent of the City Council.
5. No portable sign placed within one hundred feet (100') of an area zoned for residential use may have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices which have a changing intensity, brightness, or color.
6. That only one (1) portable sign may be placed upon a parcel at any given time, except in the case of multiple business structures, where two (2) portable signs will be allowed on the parcel at any given time.
F. Sign Maintenance: All signs and sign structures must be kept in good repair and in a proper state of maintenance, including, but not limited to, replacing lamps, replacing ballast in freestanding signs, replacing transformers in building identification signs, painting the pole of freestanding signs and the cabinet of freestanding or wall-mounted signs, replacing or repairing the sign face, replacing trim, and the replacement of sign fasteners. If the Zoning Administrator finds that a sign is not in a proper state of repair, the City may after thirty (30) days written notification, repair, modify, or remove the sign and special assess the charges for said work against the property owner. (Ord. 156, 6-13-2020)