§ 153.202 SIGNS.

(A) Approval of plans and location. A permit shall be required to erect any sign in the city, except for political signs, which are regulated by state law. Permit fees shall be as determined by the City Council. No sign shall be erected by any person until the plan for the proposed sign has been received by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the City Council, with the exception that the City Administrator has the authority to approve without Commission or Council approval any replacement of existing signs that were previously approved in conformance with this section, and the replacement sign is the same size as the previous sign or any sign that meets all requirements listed in the city code. The signage plan shall contain the following information:

(1) Location of existing and proposed buildings on the site;

(2) Location of existing buildings within 100 feet of the site;

(3) Location and height of all existing and proposed signs on the site, complete with route of electrical supply to signs, if wired;

(4) All specifications and dimensions of signs including the lettering size and graphics;

(5) Description of sign and frame materials and colors, including supports;

(6) Planter box details, if used, such as materials used, plant types, their sizes, the number of plants to be used, their spacing and the like; and

(7) If it is a wall sign, include the wall anchorage details.

(B) Business or semi-public sign sizing criteria:

The size of the signage allowed business or semi-public uses is based upon the lot front footage, as follows:

Front Footage (Feet)	Size of Sign Allowed (Square Feet)
Up to 50	100
51 to 100	150
101 to 150	185
151 to 200	212
201 to 250	237
251 or more	250

The amount of allowed signage area applies to the total square footage of signage allowed for that particular property. In such cases the total square footage of all the signs shall not exceed the maximums above. This chapter does not allow each sign to be up to the maximum square footage.

(1) For real estate signs and for sale or rent signs, the signs shall be removed within seven days following the sale, rental or lease of the property;

(2) For home occupation signs, the signs shall be removed when the service is no longer offered on site;

(3) For political signs, the signs must be removed within seven days following the date of election or elections to which they apply;

(4) For construction signs, the signs must be removed when the project is completed;

(5) For residential signs, the signs shall be affixed to the structure;

(6) For event signs, the signs shall be self supporting and not tacked, posted, painted or otherwise affixed to walls of buildings, trees, fences or poles. The signs shall be removed 48 hours after the culmination of the special events.

(D) Prohibited signs. No sign shall be permitted:

(1) In a location which would interfere with the view of any traveler on any roadway of approaching vehicles or of traffic control devices on signs for a distance of 500 feet;

(2) On rocks, trees or other perennial plant or on any public utility pole;

(3) Containing a rotating beam or beam of light resembling an emergency vehicle;

(4) Which simulates any official, directional or warning sign erected or maintained by the state, county, municipality or other governmental subdivision or which incorporates or makes use of light simulating or resembling traffic signals or control signs;

(5) Which casts a distracting or confusing ray of light onto or visible from a public roadway;

(6) Which interferes with public facilities or the maintenance thereof;

(7) Which obstructs any windows, door, fire escape, stairway or opening essential to the provision of light, air, ingress or egress from any building;

(8) Which contains more than two surface areas or facings;

(9) Within the right-of-way of any public road, except as erected by an official unit of government for the direction of traffic or necessary public information; and

(10) Billboards are not permitted in any district.

(E) Non-conforming signs. Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter may be continued although the use, size or location does not conform with the provisions of this chapter. However, it shall be deemed a non-conforming use.

(F) Sign maintenance.

(1) Painting. The owner of any sign shall be required to have the sign properly painted at least once every two years, if needed, including all parts and supports of the sign, unless the supports are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust.

(2) Area around sign. The owner or lessee of any sign or the owner of the land on which the sign is located shall keep the grass, weeds or other growth cut and the area free from the refuse between the sign and the street and also for a distance of six feet behind and at the ends of the sign.

(G) Obsolete signs. Any signs which no longer advertise a bona fide business conducted or a product sold shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or land upon which the sign may be found within ten days after written notice from the City Council.

(H) Unsafe or dangerous signs. Any sign, which in the opinion of the City Council, becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the public safety, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure or land upon which the sign is located within ten days after written notification from the City Council.

Signage Regulation

District

Real Estate Signs

For Sale and/or Rent Signs

Home Occupations

Public or Official Signs

Semi- Public Signs

Political Signs

Construction Signs

Farm Product Signs

Residential Signs

Event Signs

Business Signs

Miscellaneous Signs

16 sq. ft.

50 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

2 sq. ft.

250 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

R-1

16 sq. ft.

50 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

2 sq. ft.

50 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

R-2

16 sq. ft.

50 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

2 sq. ft.

50 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

B-1

16 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

2 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

B-2

16 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

2 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

B-3

16 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

I-1

16 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

I-2

16 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

I-3

16 sq. ft.

32 sq. ft.

16 sq. ft.

For Table: abbreviations and the superscript numbers mean the following

P = permitted sign

C = conditional use permit required

NA = not allowed

1 = additional standards apply to this sign, refer to § 153.202(C) of the signage provisions.

2 = size of sign allowed is established by calculating the front footage of the lot upon which the use is located.

Refer to the provisions contained in the business and semi-public sign section (§ 153.202(B)) in this chapter.

(Ord. 209.5, passed 12-14-1994; Ord. 220, passed 7-1-1998; Am. Ord. 283, passed 1-3-2010; Am. Ord. 286, passed 7-20-2011; Am. Ord. 312, passed 5-21-2014)

Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken. For further information regarding the official version of any of this Code of Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588.

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