1. Scope of Regulations. The regulations contained in this section shall apply to and regulate signs in all zoning districts. No sign shall be located, erected, or maintained except in compliance with the regulations contained herein. Any sign already established on the effective date of this Sign Code which is rendered nonconforming by these regulations, and any sign which, as a result of subsequent amendments to this Sign Code, is rendered nonconforming, shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this section and Section 166.34 (Nonconforming Signs).
2. Exemptions. The following signs are exempted from the permit regulations of this chapter:
A. Miscellaneous Signs. Miscellaneous traffic or other signs of a public agency, such as railroad crossing signs and signs that warn of danger, hazards, or unsafe conditions.
B. Official Flags and Emblems. Display of any official flag or emblem of a nation, state or city.
C. City Entrance. City identification and entrance signs installed by the City.
D. Memorials. Grave markers, statues, or remembrances of persons or events which are noncommercial in nature.
E. Works of Fine Art. Works of fine art which are not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise for the principal purpose of commercial advertisement.
F. Temporary. Temporary decorations or displays for less than 90 days which celebrate the occasion of traditionally accepted patriotic or religious holidays.
G. Vehicle Signs. Signs applied directly or attached directly to the body of a car, bus, trailer, or other vehicle if such vehicle has a valid registration, is utilized in the normal course of a business or in the operator’s usual routine activities, and such vehicle is not used primarily for the display of such sign or signs.
H. Legally Required Signs. Signs and notices required to be displayed, maintained, or posted by law or by any court or governmental order, rule, or regulation.
I. Drive Thru Menu Boards. Drive through menu boards which comply with the following:
(1) Shall be readable from the drive through lane only.
(2) Shall be set back from property lines as required for signs.
J. Temporary Signs. Temporary signs that are subject to the following conditions:
(1) No such signs shall be placed on public property, including any street right-of-way. Such signs may be located in a required yard in any such district, except none shall be within 30 feet of a corner street lot line intersection.
(2) No such signs shall exceed 16 square feet for lots of one and two family dwellings and 32 square feet for all other uses. The total allowable surface area or the maximum amount of aggregate square feet of all signs in one lot shall not exceed 32 square feet per street frontage.
EXCEPTION: Temporary signs exceeding this size shall require a permit as attention drawing devices as allowed by Section 166.10(3)E.
(3) Such signs shall not exceed four (4) feet in height for lots of one and two family dwellings and 10 feet in height for all other uses.
(4) Such signs shall not be illuminated.
(5) Such signs shall not be displayed for more than 75 days in any one calendar year. Such signs shall be removed or caused to be removed by the person or organization responsible for the erection or distribution of such signs, or by the owner of the property upon which they are located, or by such owner’s agent after 75 days, and no later than 5 days after the event for which such signs pertain, if applicable.
K. Information Signs. Information, directional and premises identification signs not exceeding four square feet in surface area, displayed strictly for the direction, safety, or convenience of the public, including signs which identify restrooms, telephones, danger areas, parking area entrances or exits, freight entrances, nameplates, address signs, or the like.
3. Signs Prohibited.
A. Public Rights-of-Way. No sign or sign structure other than an official traffic, street, or related sign approved for placement by the controlling public agency shall be placed on any street or highway right-of-way.
B. Interference with Utilities. Signs and their supporting structures shall not interfere with any equipment or lines for utilities, including water, sewage, gas, electricity, or communications. No permanent sign of any size shall be located in or overhang a utility easement.
C. Consent of Owner Required. No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private or public property without the consent of the owner or authorized agent thereof.
D. Imitation or Resemblance to Traffic Control and Safety Signs. No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any location where it may, by reason of its size, shape, design, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, constitute a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers, by obscuring or otherwise physically interfering with any official traffic control device, or which may be confused with an official traffic control device. No rotating beacon, beam, or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light shall be used in connection with any sign display or be visible from an adjacent street. No lights resembling an emergency light and no such words as “Stop,” “Look,” “Danger,” or any other lights, word s, phrases, symbols, or characters which in any manner may interfere with, mislead, or confuse vehicle operators shall be used in a location which is visible to vehicular traffic. No sign shall be located in such a manner as to impede the comer visual clearance.
E. Attention Drawing Devices and Portable signs. No festoons, spot lights, suspended balloons, other attention drawing devices or portable signs shall be allowed.
EXCEPTION: Attention-Drawing Devices. Temporary attention-drawing devices shall be submitted to the City for approval. A permit is required pursuant to the provisions of Section 166.12. The maximum time period for any such sign or attention-drawing device shall be two (2) weeks.
F. Roof Signs. No roof signs shall be allowed
G. Fence and Free-Standing Wall Signs. Painting or affixing a sign to a fence or free-standing wall is prohibited.
EXCEPTION: Signs may be attached to a freestanding wall with setbacks as allowed for ground signs. Sign shall be considered as a ground sign.
H. Flashing Lights. Flashing, chasing and/or moving light is not allowed on any sign. See electronic message center signs in this Section 166.11 §10.
I. Vehicle Signs. Vehicle signs greater than one square foot which are applied directly or attached directly to the body of a car, bus, trailer, or other vehicle when such vehicle does not have a valid registration and is not utilized in the normal course of a business or in the operator’s usual routine activities.
J. Advertising signs as defined in Section 166.54.
EXCEPTION: Business logos of businesses participating in the 1-380 advertising program may be placed on 1-380 Trailblazer signs located as approved by City Council as Right-Of-Way directional signs.
K. All signs not expressly permitted by this chapter.