Any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited in all districts, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Spinners, balloons, strings of light bulbs, rope lights, flashing lights, pennants, or streamers, other than those of a governmental or educational institution, or not used for the purpose of commercial advertisement or attraction, hung overhead to draw attention to a business or its merchandise on display;
(b) Billboards;
(c) No sign shall contain any moving or animated parts nor have the appearance of having any moving or animated parts. No sign shall employ any flashing, moving, oscillating, blinking or variable intensity light or intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals, or police, fire, ambulance or rescue vehicles, or lights so bright as to be blinding or distracting to a vehicle driver. However, variable time and temperature signs may be permitted, provided each message shall not change more often than once every three seconds;
(d) Electronic changeable message signs, unless specifically provided for elsewhere in this chapter;
(e) Signs located in the right-of-way of public streets or highways, attached to a utility pole, fence or affixed to a tree except as may otherwise be permitted by this chapter;
(f) Obsolete signs;
(g) Signs held by pedestrians and intended to advertise a business or other commercial activity;
(h) Pole or pylon signs;
(i) Portable signs, except where expressly allowed in this chapter;
(j) Any type of signage including logos shall not be permitted on a public or private radio, television, cellular phone or water towers with the exception of the name of the municipality;
(k) A sign that would interfere with, mislead, or confuse a vehicle driver, including signs that simulate or could in any way be confused with the lighting of emergency vehicles or traffic signals;
(l) Any sign which obstructs the ingress or egress from a required door, window or other required exit;
(m) Signs that obstruct any approved traffic control device, road sign, or signal from view; interfere with site distance necessary for traffic safety; or distract from visibility of existing traffic signs or devices;
(n) Any sign not attached to a building and erected within ten feet of a fire hydrant;
(o) No commercial vehicle may be parked on a business premises or an industrial lot for a time period exceeding 48 hours for the intended purpose of advertising a product or serving as a business sign;
(p) Any sign or sign structure which:
(1) Is structurally unsafe;
(2) Constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment;
(3) Constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of blocking views;
(4) Is capable of causing electric shock to a person who comes in contact with it;
(5) Is unlawfully installed, erected or maintained;
(6) Is located in public street or utility right-of-way, except where expressly permitted herein;
(7) Is not kept in good repair, such that it has broken parts, missing letters, non-operational lights or has deteriorated, such that its structural support or frame or sign panels are visibly bent, broken, dented or torn as to constitute an unsightly, hazardous or harmful condition; or
(8) Does not meet applicable requirements of any adopted city building code.
(q) Any sign installed, erected or maintained on city property, unless approved and installed or erected by the city;
(r) Off-premises signs; and
(s) Roof signs.
(Ord. 1707-01, passed 7-12-2017; Ord. 1906-01, passed 7-24-2019)