Signs can obstruct views, distract motorists, displace alternative uses for land and pose other problems that legitimately call for regulation.
The purpose of this article is to regulate the size, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and condition of all signs placed on private property meant to be visible to the public from a street or other public right of way thus enhancing and protecting the physical appearance and safety of the community, protecting property values and the character of the various neighborhoods, and preserving Iowa City's areas of natural, historic and scenic beauty.
These regulations are intended to reduce distractions and obstructions contributing to traffic accidents; reduce hazards caused by signs projecting over the public right of way; provide a reasonable opportunity for all sign users to display signs without interference from other signage.
These regulations are further intended to provide fair and equitable treatment for all sign users; to allow for creative design; to encourage economic development; to distinguish between areas designed primarily for auto oriented commerce and areas designed for residential living or pedestrian oriented commerce; and to establish a reasonable period of time for the elimination of nonconforming signs.
This article allows adequate communication through signage while encouraging aesthetic quality and creativity in the design, location, size and purpose of all signs. This article must be interpreted in a manner consistent with the first amendment guarantee of free speech. A sign placed on land or on a building for the purpose of identification, protection or directing persons to a use conducted therein must be deemed to be an integral but accessory and subordinate part of the principal use of land or building. Therefore, the intention of this article is to establish limitations on signs in order to ensure they are appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant and are adequate for their intended purpose while balancing the individual and community interests identified above. These regulations are intended to promote signs that are compatible with the use of the property to which they are appurtenant, landscape and architecture of surrounding buildings, are legible and appropriate to the activity to which they pertain, are not distracting to motorists, and are constructed and maintained in a structurally sound and attractive condition.
The regulations are not intended to and do not apply to signs erected, maintained or otherwise posted, owned or leased by the city, state or federal government.
A sign displaying a noncommercial message of any type is allowed anywhere that commercial signs are allowed, subject to the same regulations applicable to such commercial signs to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular commercial message over any other noncommercial message. (Ord. 16-4685, 11-15-2016)