Subject to other applicable requirements and permits, the following signs are authorized without a sign permit.
(A) Small signs. One sign per property, not illuminated and not exceeding three square feet in area, is allowed without a permit. Warning signs such as “no trespass” or “beware of dog” are not limited to one per property but are limited to not more than two small signs in any 500 linear feet on the property. If the small sign has a temporary message, such as “home for sale,” “garage sale,” “yard sale,” “estate sale” and similar messages, the area shall not exceed six square feet. No small sign may exceed a height of 42 inches above ground level, and only one like sign is permitted for each property. These signs may carry any lawful message. Historical markers, cemetery stones and house numbers are to be excluded from the square footage requirements.
(B) Governmental signs. Governmental signs do not require a permit.
(C) Directional signs. Directional signs do not require a permit, however:
(1) Only one entrance/exit directional sign is allowed per legal driveway; and
(2) A directional sign may not exceed two square feet and may be illuminated.
(D) Flags. Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, service organization, manufacturer or company logo do not need a permit, provided that the flagpoles to which they are attached do not exceed 30 feet in height. The Department, in its discretion, may require large or numerous flags to be subject to this chapter.
(E) Political signs. Political signs advocating or opposing candidates for public office or an issue (referendum) to be determined by election may be erected 60 days prior to an election, subject to the following conditions:
(1) The signs shall be erected only on private property and not in the public rights-of-way;
(2) Signs cannot be placed in the vision triangle on a corner lot;
(3) The signs shall be not greater than six square feet in area in the R-1, R-2, RM-1, LS, CM, MA, WS, USG and OS-1 Districts and 32 square feet in area in the GC and LI districts;
(4) All such signs shall be removed 48 hours following election day, with removal responsibility held by the property owner; and
(5) All such signs must be not less than 100 feet from any entrance to a building in which a polling place is located.
(F) Real estate signs. One sign is permitted advertising the sale or lease of the lot or building on the lot in residential zones, not exceeding six square feet in area. The sign shall be removed within ten days after the sale or closing of the property or building has occurred. One similar sign is permitted advertising the sale or lease of a lot or building on the lot in a commercial or industrial zone; however, the sign may be increased in size if the area of the lot is more than 30,000 square feet, but is limited to a maximum of 32 square feet. The following temporary real estate sign regulations also apply:
(1) Temporary portable real estate directional signs, not exceeding three square feet in area and four in number, delineating an “open house” and/or showing a directional arrow are permitted on approach routes to an open house only for the day of the open house;
(2) One on-site temporary sign identifying the builder(s)/contractor(s) on any building or renovation site shall be limited to 32 square feet and provide space for all contractors/subcontractors and financial institutions, where applicable. Individual site signs by every contractor involved are prohibited. The sign shall be removed when the construction/renovation is complete and listed for sale or occupied. Similarly, repair and maintenance contractors are allowed the placement of a temporary sign of six square feet on any site where repair or maintenance services are underway, but such must be removed when those services are complete; and
(3) One on-site temporary sign advertising a recorded subdivision or development, not to exceed 32 square feet in area. The sign shall be removed after the sale of 90% of all lots or units within said subdivision or development.
(G) Warning signs. Signs exclusively devoted to warning the public of dangerous conditions and unusual hazards, such as drop-offs, high voltage, fire danger and explosives, are permitted. Warning signs may not exceed three square feet.
(H) Historical, cultural and natural site signs. A sign erected by a government agency which exclusively denotes a recognized historical, cultural or natural site is permitted. This sign shall not exceed three square feet unless otherwise provided by state or federal law. Also included are signs that, by their construction materials, unusual age, prominent location, unique design or craftsmanship from another period, make a contribution to the cultural, historic or aesthetic quality of the village’s streetscape. The signs include ghost signs and signs at least 50 years old which may no longer be advertising a current business activity.
(I) Special events and banners. Temporary signs announcing public, charitable, educational or religious functions or events can be erected 21 days before the event, subject to the following conditions.
(1) The signs shall be erected only on private property, not in the public rights-of-way, with the exception of those approved by the Village Council and erected by the Village Department of Public Works.
(2) The signs cannot be placed in the vision triangle on a corner lot.
(3) The sign shall be not greater than six square feet in area in the R-1, R-2, RM-1, LS, CM, MA, WS, USG and OS-1 Districts and 32 square feet in area in the GC, CBD and LI Districts and on religious, educational and registered nonprofit properties.
(4) All the signs shall be removed within 48 hours following the event.
(J) Window signs. Window signs may be placed inside the window areas of buildings in commercial or retail zones and are limited to those windows that abut the street and relate to the appropriate floor level. The sign area may not exceed 25% of the area of the window. Temporary notices of time-bound events (specific sales, community festivals and the like) are exempt from these window sign standards.
(Prior Code, § 152.03) (Ord. 39, passed 1-19-2010) Penalty, see § 152.99