Subject to the exceptions noted herein, no sign shall be erected, placed or maintained within the City limits without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Inspector, upon review by the Zoning Inspector and approval from the Planning Commission, and paying the required fee. Signs containing electrical components also shall be subject to the provisions of the City Electrical Code and the permit fees required thereunder.
(a) Compliance with this Section. No person shall erect, locate, move, alter, or replace any sign or cause a sign to be located or maintained, unless all provisions of this Chapter have been met and all proper permits have been obtained.
(b) Application for Sign Permit. Any application for a sign permit shall be submitted to the City and include the following information or exhibits:
(1) A site drawing and measurements, depicting a rendition of the proposed sign, the specific location of intended posting in relation to all existing buildings and site amenities, the immediately surrounding area, and other required information which demonstrates compliance with all provisions concerning such signs, such landscape provisions, design specifications, and construction specifications.
(2) Name, address, and contact information of the applicant.
(3) Any required electrical permit.
(c) Permit Issuance. The Zoning Inspector shall review the permit application and related documents, and shall examine the proposed site of erection. If he finds that the requirements of this section have been met, and that the proposed sign is appropriate to its proposed setting, he shall forward the application to the Planning Commission for final approval. Upon review and issuance of a sign permit, and the work authorized under the permit is not completed within six (6) months of its issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(d) A permit shall not be required for the following signs when such signs are in full compliance with these sign regulations:
(1) A safety/security sign in a residential district
(2) A building identification sign in any district
(3) House identification, real estate, contractor sign, or political signs not exceeding nine square feet in area and located on the appropriate privately owned property or project area
(4) Any changes to the message display area of a previously approved bulletin or changeable copy type sign
(5) Holiday themed decorations
(e) A permit shall be required for the following signs:
(1) Multiple-family and conditional uses in residential districts.
A. Residential or institutional identification signs;
B. Instructional and directional signs that are within five (5) feet of the public right of way;
C. All permanent signs that exceed two (2) square feet in area.
(2) Business, Industrial, Parking and Park districts.
A. Freestanding signs, ground signs, and monument signs (when permitted);
B. Projecting, canopy signs, awning signs, and marque signs;
C. Wall signs, professional occupation signs, roof signs, and suspended signs;
D. Changeable copy, time and temperature signs, and electronic message board signs;
E. Illuminated or flashing signs;
F. Instructional and directional that are within five (5) feet of the public right of way; and,
G. Permanent window signs including any elements that are painted on the window.
(e) Existing signs. Signs not conforming to this section but which were legal when erected may be continued in use under a special nonconforming permit. This authorization shall not extend beyond the time that the sign requires removal, replacement, relocation or major repair or renovation costing at least half the amount required for a new sign of similar size and construction. Nonconforming signs that are being brought into compliance are subject to the application review process as described in this Code.
(f) Inspection, correction and removal. If the Zoning Inspector finds that any sign is unsafe or insecure or not maintained in accordance with the requirements of this section, he shall issue written notice to the permit holder directing its correction or removal. If the notice is not complied with within three (3) days of receipt, the Zoning Inspector shall initiate legal process to remove the sign or to enforce compliance. If the sign presents an immediate peril to persons or property, the requirement of notice is waived and the sign may be summarily removed.
(g) Fees. Fees for all signs, including temporary and portable, shall be that prescribed by the City Council in Section 1321.12 of the Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 2021-36. Passed 10-26-21.)
Maximum Area Per Zoning District | |||||||||||||
Sign Type | Max. Number Permitted | R-1 | R-1A | R-2 | R-3 | MU-RFD | MU-COD | MU-GD | B-1 | B-2 | B-3 | I-1 | I-2 |
1. Address Sign | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
2. Advertising Sign (c) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
3. Air Marker | Y | Y | |||||||||||
4. Awning Sign | b. | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | ||||||
5. Billboard | |||||||||||||
6. Building Identification Sign | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||
7. Canopy sign | b. | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | |||||
8. Changeable Copy Sign | 1 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||
9. Contractor Sign | 1 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 30 |
10. Directional Sign | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |||||
11. Feather Sign | |||||||||||||
12. Electronic Message Board (c.) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||
13. Flashing Sign | |||||||||||||
14. Geographical Area Sign | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | |
15. Ground Sign | e. | ||||||||||||
16. Identification Sign | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
17. Illuminated Sign (c.) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||
18. Marquee Sign | 1 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | |||||||
19. Monument Sign | a. | ||||||||||||
20. Political Sign | N/A | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
21. Portable Sign | 1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||||
22. Professional Occupation Sign | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||
23. Projecting Sign | 1 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||||
24. Real Estate Sign | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 12 | |
25. Roof Sign | 1 | C | C | C | C | C | |||||||
26. Safety Sign | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
27. Street Clock Sign | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||
28. Suspended Sign | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
29. Temporary Sign (c.) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
30. Time-Temperature Sign | 1 | 15 | 15 | 15 | |||||||||
31. Wall Sign | Based on eligible frontage | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 120 | 120 | ||||
32. Warning Sign | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
33. Window Sign, Permanent | 4 | a. | |||||||||||
34. Window Sign, Temporary | 4 | a. | |||||||||||
Appendix A Key: “#” Area in square feet of allowed sign age “Y” Indicates that sign type is allowed within the designated district “C” Indicates a sign type is subject to Conditional approval by the Planning Commission a. See regulations 1129.05. b. Allowed cumulative sign area indicated - number of allowable awnings/canopies may differ c. Indicates sign type is permitted. Size and number of signs determined by specific signs and regulations. | |||||||||||||
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