1145.03 EXCEPTIONS; GENERAL PROVISIONS.

   (a)    Exceptions. The regulations contained in this chapter shall not apply to the following:

      (1)    Identification, informational or directional signs or notices erected or required by public authority.

      (2)    Traffic control signs or signals erected by public authority.

      (3)    Integral nonilluminated decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters or trademarks.

      (4)    Flags, pennants or insignia of any government, religious or educational organization that are reasonably displayed but not illuminated.

   (b)    Illuminated signs are prohibited in residential areas except as noted in Section 1145.04.

   (c)    Light sources to illuminate signs, where illumination is permitted, shall not be of excessive brightness, shall not be of a flashing, moving color, bare bulb, neon tube or intermittent type and shall be shielded from adjacent residential streets and vehicular traffic.

   (d)    All illuminated signs shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the standards for electric signs of the National Electrical Code and in accordance with any special wiring provisions of the City.

   (e)    No sign shall be erected, installed or activated without prior ground inspection by the Building Commissioner.

(Ord. 5-1995. Passed 5-9-95.)

   (f)    Floodlighting designs for nonresidential zoning districts and those permitted conditional uses may be permitted with the approval of the Architectural Review Board and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Subsequent to the erection of any illuminated sign, the City shall be notified of such and shall conduct an inspection of the sign in order to determine whether the illumination is appropriate or must be modified so as not to cause a nuisance. If the illumination is determined to be a nuisance, the City shall have the authority to order the modification of the illumination in order to comply with the provisions of this code.

(Ord. 44-2000. Passed 1-23-01.)

   (g)    No advertising signs, messages, informational or directional signs shall be painted directly on the wall of any structure.

   (h)    Signs established on commercial or industrial properties shall refer only to- the products sold or manufactured on the premises. Signs advertising products of other geographical areas or other items not related to the use of the premises are prohibited.

   (i)    No display or advertising sign shall be attached to the standard of a free-standing sign other than the display surface originally constructed as a part of such sign. The standard of the free-standing sign shall be finished in only one color. No display or advertising sign shall be attached to or painted or otherwise displayed on a light standard, flag pole, fence, wall, post or other structure or to any portable supporting device except as specifically authorized by this chapter.

(Ord. 5-1995. Passed 5-9-95.)

   (j)    Not more than three colors may be used on the sign or signs of any one building. For purposes of this chapter, black and white shall not be considered colors. Colored light of indirect lighting shall be considered as one of the allowed colors. (Ord. 16-2001. Passed 5-8-01.)

   (k)    No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.

   (l)    No signs shall be so located, designed or illuminated as to materially impede visibility of users of street, sidewalks or access ways to private property nor be so located, designed or illuminated as to be likely to obscure or distract the view of, or be confused with, because of color, any traffic control sign or signal; nor use the words "stop", "look", "drive-in", "danger" or any other word in such manner as is likely to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

   (m)   A permit shall be obtained for any permanent sign in excess of two square feet in a residential district.

   (n)   No sign shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, structurally altered or arranged for any purposes other than in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. A sign which was erected before the adoption of this section shall not be rebuilt or relocated without conforming to the provisions of this chapter.

   (o)   No private signs shall be affixed to any pole installed by the City or any public utility nor shall they be attached to any tree.

   (p)   Roof signs are prohibited on any structure within the City.

   (q)   Anchored advertising balloons and searchlights shall be prohibited anywhere within the City.

   (r)   Free-standing signs shall only be erected on the property of the location or place of business which is identified by the copy or reading matter appearing on the sign face.

   (s)   Office buildings occupied by a single occupant who carries on more than one activity within the building, or contains two or more activities carried on by different occupants shall be limited to only one sign displayed in accordance with Sections 1145.03, 1145.06(f) and all other pertinent sections of this chapter.

   (t)   Pole signs are prohibited in all zoning districts within the City.

(Ord. 5-1995. Passed 5-9-95.)

   (u)   Digital signs are prohibited in all zoning districts within the City.

(Ord. 7-2014. Passed 5-13-14.)