The regulations contained in this section shall apply to and regulate all signs in all districts. No new or existing signs, awnings or other advertising device, including signs painted on the vertical surface of a structure, shall be located, replaced, erected or maintained except in compliance with the following general regulations:
(A) Building permits are required for all new signs and all existing signs if the location or total area of the existing sign is changed or altered.
(B) Signs for a business shall contain only the name of the business establishment or the principal business conducted on the premises and may include any motto, slogan, insignia or combination thereof.
(C) When a sign is illuminated, the light or lights shall be shaded or concealed so that they will not interfere with the vision of an operator of a motor vehicle on any street or private drive or shine directly on any dwelling.
(D) All signs and sign structures shall be erected and maintained in a safe condition. It is the responsibility of the sign owner, property owner and proprietor of the real estate on which the sign is located (hereinafter collectively referred to as the owner), to properly maintain all signs. The area around the base of the sign shall be kept free and clear of all weeds, debris, trash and other refuse.
(E) When a business closes or if a sign is considered a hazard by the Zoning Enforcing Officer, the owner shall repair or remove the sign. If the owner refuses or neglects to repair or remove the sign, the city, 30 days after written notification, may remove the dangerous or abandoned sign and the owner shall be responsible for all costs incurred by the city in removal of the sign and the owner by erecting or maintaining the sign hereby grants the city the legal authority to enter the property of the owner to remove such sign.
(F) Unless otherwise provided, all signs shall be erected and maintained upon private property. Nothing in this chapter shall grant any person or entity the right to erect or maintain a sign on city property or a street.
(G) Signs located within 20 feet of a corner street lot line intersection shall be erected and maintained such that an unobscured visual sight area is provided for operators of motor vehicles on a street or private drive. Such unobscured area, at a minimum, shall extend from a distance of two and one-half feet above finished street grade to ten feet above said grade. No more than two poles or post supports of no more than ten inches in diameter shall be permitted within such unobscured area. The opinion of the Zoning Officer shall control all decisions regarding the obscuring nature of any sign or sign structure.
(H) Unless otherwise permitted in this chapter, no part of any sign which projects into or over a street shall violate §§ 92.120 et seq., and over any pedestrian right-of-way shall have a minimum height of not less than seven feet.
(I) No sign or sign structure other than an official traffic sign, traffic control device, street sign or other sign approved by the city shall be placed on or shall overhang any street or property owned by the city.
(J) No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any location if in the opinion of the Zoning Enforcing Officer, by reason of its size, shape, design, location, content, color or manner of illumination, it may constitute a traffic hazard by obstructing the vision of drivers or by obscuring or otherwise physically interfering with a traffic control device.
(K) No signs or poles which contain or consist of reflectors or lights which flash, strobe or resemble emergency lights shall be permitted. No lights simulating movement shall be permitted exceeding 11 watts. This prohibition does not exclude electronic message boards. No sign may be lighted in a manner which impairs the vision of any operator of any motor vehicle on a street or private drive.
(L) No sign shall be attached to or placed on any vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property that is visible from a street. This prohibition does not prohibit the identification of a firm or its principal products on a vehicle operating during the normal course of business or driven home by an owner or employee.
(M) No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct reasonable ingress or egress from any door, window or any other exit way required by the Fire Prevention Code of the city or any other ordinances.
(N) No sign may imitate or resemble any official traffic control device, sign or signal.
(O) No sign that revolves or that utilizes movement or apparent movement to attract attention to the sign that could cause a distraction to an operator of a motor vehicle on a street shall be permitted.
(Ord. 1182, passed 3-19-02)