(A) Compliance required. All signs shall be painted, placed, pasted, posted, printed, tacked, fastened, constructed, erected, and maintained as provided in this subchapter.
(B) Building permit required. No permanent sign shall be erected, constructed, painted, or printed without a permit being first obtained therefor from the Zoning Inspector. The application for the permit shall set forth the location at which the sign is proposed to be erected, the advertising structure or surface, the dimensions, shape, materials of construction for the sign, the type of sign, and, where applicable, the method of any sign illumination. For off-premises signs, the application shall be accompanied by the written consent of the property owner or his or her authorized agent.
(C) Erection in or over right-of-way. No sign shall be placed within or over any public right-of-way, nor shall any sign structure, in whole or in part, be placed within or over any public right-of-way, except publicly owned signs and banners specifically exempted by the Village Administrator for special occasions, festivals, or celebrations. For exceptions, see § 154.116.
(D) Directional public service signs. Church, school, service club, museum, library, and public signs not on the premises of the institution are included under directional signs.
(E) Directional signs. The village shall permit one double-faced permanent directional sign per vehicular entrance, not exceeding three square feet in area each, in addition to signs permitted elsewhere in this subchapter, upon condition that such signs are needed for traffic safety.
(F) Flashing signs. Flashing signs are not permitted except for public service time and temperature signs which are only permitted in commercial zones.
(G) Temporary signs. Banners, pennants, portable signs, flags, captive balloons, and other temporary signs are not permitted, except that, subject to the issuance of a temporary permit and payment of a fee as set forth in § 154.120 to the Village Zoning Department, any or all of the above may be authorized by the Village Administrator or his or her designate for a period not to exceed 30 days for the purpose of a grand opening of a business. No flashing signs are permitted under this division (G).
(H) Portable or moveable signs. No portable or moveable signs shall be permitted except as provided in division (G) above.
(I) Paper or cloth signs. Paper, cloth, or similar temporary signs are not permitted on the exterior of any building unless they are placed within a glassed showcase or a permanent framed area designed for that purpose or as provided in division (G) above.
(J) Lighting. Lighting used for illumination of any sign is permitted only when such lighting is installed on private property and is hooded or shielded so that the light source is not visible within 200 feet of the sign from public streets, alleys, or highways or any residentially zoned property, including hotel or motel guest rooms. Lighting intensity shall conform to the following table.
Illuminated Sign Type | Illumination Levels (foot-candles) | |
Central | Commercial and Industrial | |
Floodlighted, indirectly illuminated signs | 50 | 25 |
All other signs | 25 | 10 |
(K) Construction signs. Up to two construction signs, not exceeding 32 square feet in area, shall be permitted on a parcel of property during construction of a building on the parcel, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
(L) Gateway signs. A permit may be granted by the Village Administrator or his or her designate allowing identification of the village boundary showing the name of the community and the names of the various nonprofit, civic organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, provided that the overall size of the sign, including riders, is not larger than 100 square feet.
(M) Political signs. Political signs, posters, and other like devices are permitted as regulated herein.
(1) Candidates for political office, or their duly authorized committee chairpersons, and chairpersons of political committees, whether in support of, or in opposition to, a political issue, whether such candidate for office or such issue is for determination by a municipal, county, state, or federal election, may erect and display political signs, posters, and other devices in any part of the village, provided that no political sign, poster, or other like device shall be displayed in the village prior to 30 days immediately preceding any general, primary, or special election nor after ten days next following such general, primary, or special election.
(2) The Zoning Inspector is hereby charged with the responsibility for the administration and enforcement of this division (M). The Zoning Inspector shall, between 30 days immediately preceding any general, primary, or special election and ten days next following the general, primary, or special election, survey all zoning areas to ensure compliance with this division (M).
(3) A poster or like device to be displayed in any zoning area under this section shall not be included in the calculation on the total signage for a lot or parcel.
(4) The Zoning Inspector shall take the necessary steps to prosecute any violations of this division (M).
(N) Projections from buildings, walls, and the like. No attached sign, building sign, or wall sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building face, canopy face or wall upon which it is displayed. If the projection is greater and if advertising is carried on this face, the edge of the sign shall be included in the permitted sign area.
(O) Signs facing residentially zoned property. No directly illuminated signs shall be permitted within 100 feet of and facing residentially zoned property. Further, illuminated signs in institutional, commercial, or industrial zones shall be adequately screened with fencing, shrubbery, or vegetation so as not to be visible from adjoining residentially zoned property.
(P) Billboards. Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts.
(Q) Moving signs. Moving signs are prohibited in all zoning districts, except arms on clock faces and indexing multiprism units not covered in § 154.110.
(R) Miscellaneous signs. No signs shall be permitted which emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter.
(Prior Code, § 1284.03) (Ord. 79-15, passed 11-12-1979; Ord. 2000-11, passed 10-9-2000) Penalty, see § 154.999