The following signs are exempt from this chapter provided that, and only if, they comply with the provisions of this section and sections 5-5-8, 5-5-9, 5-5-10, 5-5-13, and 5-5-19 of this chapter.
A. Exempt Temporary Signs, Generally: Exempt temporary signs shall include, but not be limited to, construction signs, community event signs, garage sale or rummage sale signs, real estate "for sale" and "for rent" signs, real estate open house signs, and political signs. All exempt temporary signs shall be subject to the following regulations, regardless of their content or purpose:
1. Such signs shall not be located in any public area, unless they are governmental signs or signs regulating traffic as described in subsection B of this section.
2. Such signs shall be located at least thirty feet (30') from the edge of the pavement of any adjacent street.
3. Such signs shall not advertise any business, occupation, or activity which constitutes a violation of these zoning regulations.
4. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in surface area on each of two (2) display surfaces and shall not exceed six feet (6') in height above grade.
5. Such signs shall not be illuminated.
6. Such signs shall be limited in number to one on each lot or zoning parcel, except that such limitation shall not apply to political signs.
7. Such signs shall be removed within three (3) days after the event advertised or referred to in such signage. For example, and not by way of limitation, construction signs located on a lot denoting the architect, engineer, contractor, and/or tradesmen involved in the project shall be removed three (3) business days after the construction is completed; political signs shall be removed within three (3) days after the occurrence of an election or other event referred to; real estate signs shall be removed within three (3) days after the sale of the property in question has closed. However, when such exempt temporary signs which advertise a particular event at a particular time, date and location within the village, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, real estate open house signs, community event signs, and garage or rummage sale signs, shall be removed within three (3) hours after the conclusion of the event in question to avoid any unnecessary interference with vehicle traffic.
8. The attachment to such signs, or the related display of banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, and other prohibited signs shall not be permitted.
B. Other Exempt Signs:
1. Flags: The flags, emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision or corporate flag, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
2. Memorial Signs: Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials.
3. Governmental Signs: Governmental signs shall include: traffic control signs, signals and devices; legal notices, identification signs for governmental buildings, facilities, departments, divisions, services or structures; informational, warning and/or ordinance enforcement signs; directional signs; railroad crossing signs; temporary emergency signs; and such other nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the village board provided, however, subdivision, neighborhood and village entrance monuments shall be regulated as provided below.
4. Nameplates: Nameplates located on private property shall be exempt provided the sign does not exceed one square foot in area.
5. No Trespassing/No Dumping Signs: "No Trespassing" and/or "No Dumping" signs which do not exceed two (2) square feet in area and which are posted only on private property by the owner, occupant, or the agent thereof, but no more than one such sign shall be posted on each fifty feet (50') of lot boundary or frontage of the property in question.
6. Building Features: Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts and moving lights.
7. Signs Regulating Traffic: Signs directing, guiding, warning and/or otherwise regulating traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matters.
C. Subdivision, Neighborhood And Village Entrance Monuments:
1. Display: Lettering on subdivision, neighborhood or village entrance monuments shall be not more than one foot (1') in height and shall only indicate the name of the subdivision or neighborhood but must include the phrase "Inverness" in lettering not less than one-half (1/2) the height of the largest lettering on the sign.
2. Gross Surface Area: No single subdivision, neighborhood or village entrance monument shall exceed one hundred twenty five (125) square feet in its gross surface area on any one side.
3. Height: It shall be unlawful to erect any such subdivision, neighborhood or village entrance monument, the total height of which (not including any lighting fixtures) is greater than six and one-half feet (61/2') above the centerline datum elevation of the highest street upon which the sign faces. Lighting fixtures attached to any such monument shall not exceed three feet (3') in height.
4. Application:
a. Applications for construction of such a subdivision, neighborhood or village entrance monument shall be submitted to the building officer.
b. Applications shall include a scaled rendering of the proposed entrance monument and any signage, detailed specifications for any illumination of the monument and lettering thereon, location survey and a list of construction materials.
c. The village may require alterations to the plans submitted if it is determined that such plans are not consistent with public safety. Such plans shall comply with all applicable sign regulations as contained in this chapter but no other permit shall be required.
d. Upon review by the building officer, the application will be forwarded to the board of trustees for their consideration and approval or disapproval, provided, however, that the board of trustees may refer the application to the plan commission for its recommendation, if the board deems this advisable.
5. Ownership And Maintenance:
a. As a condition of constructing and installing any such subdivision, neighborhood or village entrance monument, a duly established homeowners', property owners' or civic association shall own and maintain the monument; and shall execute an agreement reasonably acceptable to the board of trustees providing for such maintenance.
b. If the association in question fails to execute such an agreement prior to the erection of such new monument, or relative to existing monuments, within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this section, or if such association fails to maintain said monument in accordance with such an agreement, after ten (10) days' written notice from the village, the building officer may:
(1) Cite the association for a violation of this chapter; and/or
(2) Cause such maintenance work as may be reasonably required or as was required by such agreement to be performed, and the association shall be obligated to reimburse the village for all costs of such maintenance; and/or
(3) The village may cause such monument to be removed, and the association shall again be obligated to reimburse the village for all costs of removal.
6. Location: No permanent subdivision, neighborhood or village identification monument shall hereafter be located on or maintained on any public area within the village without a permit as provided by this section and without the express approval of the board of trustees as expressed by motion or resolution, but the board of trustees shall not be obligated to grant such approval.
7. Illumination: Subdivision monuments shall be externally illuminated only and shall otherwise comply with subsection 5-5-11H of this chapter. (Ord. 2008-859, 1-8-2008)