(A) General provisions.
(1) Purpose. This section provides comprehensive regulations for signage in the town designed to promote public safety and welfare by highways, facilitating the efficient transfer of information and thus enhancing traffic flow and the ability to locate needed goods and services.
(2) Administration and enforcement.
(a) Non-commercial copy. Any sign authorized in this division (A) is allowed to contain non-commercial copy in lieu of any other copy. Non-commercial on-premises signs are permitted in any zoning district provided that such signs comply with the regulations of that district.
(b) Building and Electrical Code standards. All permanent signs must meet the structural and installation standards of the Standard Building Code and electrical standards of the National Electrical Code as enforced by the Town Building Inspector.
(c) Permit required. No signs, except real estate signs shall be erected unless a zoning permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the procedures of this chapter.
(d) Fees. An applicant for a zoning permit shall pay such fees as determined necessary for application processing. These fees are due upon submission of an application and shall be determined by the Town Council.
(e) Documentation of signs. Upon request, the owner of any existing sign shall provide the town’s Zoning Administrator with evidence that documents the size, location, and date of construction of all existing signs on the premises.
(3) Prohibited signs.
(a) Except as otherwise permitted by this chapter, the following signs will be prohibited:
1. Flashing signs;
2. Pennants, streamers, and other animated signs;
3. Signs imitating traffic devices (signal);
4. Signs imitating traffic signs;
5. Signs in marshes;
6. Signs in rights-of-way;
7. Snipe signs;
8. Vehicle signs;
9. Roof signs;
10. Banners (except when permitted per division (E) below);
11. Flutter feather banner flags;
12. LED message boards (except for civic/institutional uses when approved by Zoning Administrator);
and
13. Inflatables used for advertisement purposes.
(b) Note: Campaign signs are not considered snipe signs and are not regulated by this chapter provided they are located outside any right-of-way. However, all campaign signs must be removed within 15 days after the election.
(4) House numbers. All permanent, free-standing, on-premises signs shall contain house numbers containing numbers at least four inches in height. The area devoted to required house numbers shall not be included in the calculation of maximum sign area.
(5) Illumination. All lighted on-premises signs shall comply with all dimensional standards set forth in this chapter. Additionally, internally illuminated signs on property not adjacent to commercial or industrial uses shall have an opaque background on the sign face with a maximum of 80 watts per bulb and no more than one bulb per foot in height of the sign face.
(6) Signs in disrepair. Signs in disrepair shall be repaired, renovated, or removed from the premises within 60 days following notice by the Zoning Administrator.
(7) Abandoned signs. Signs advertising a person, business, service, event, or other activity that is no longer available or other signs that contain inaccurate or outdated information shall be considered abandoned. Remedial action shall be taken within 30 days after a sign becomes abandoned. If no remedial action is taken, the Zoning Administrator shall give notice to the owner of record who shall have 30 days to remove the sign prior to any further enforcement action being pursued. This provision shall apply to all abandoned signs, including those abandoned before April 21, 1999.
(8) Signs interfering with vehicular vision.
(a) In the area near the entrance of a driveway, no sign shall obscure the travel vision from 30 inches to ten feet above ground level in triangular areas formed by measuring from the point of intersection of any front lot line and driveway, a distance of 15 feet along the front lot line and driveway and connecting the points to form a triangle.
(b) No sign or structure shall be erected so as to interfere with the vision of vehicles operated along any highway, street, road, or driveway or at any intersection of any street, highway, or road with a railroad track. Signs determined by the Zoning Administrator to be in violation shall be removed or relocated immediately upon notice.
(B) Standing signs.
(1) Reserved.
(2) A maximum of one reader board shall be allowed per zoning lot for single or multi-tenant structures containing office, commercial, or industrial uses if attached to permanent, free-standing signs. The area of the reader board shall be included in the site’s total sign area allowance.
(3) Maximum six-foot height and 40 square feet in OR, CN, and CT Zoning Districts.
(4) Maximum eight-foot height and 50 square feet in the CC Zoning District.
(5) The predominant materials used for free-standing signs, excluding copy material or materials not visible from the public right-of-way, must incorporate the following:
(a) If the predominant building materials, colors, and design elements on the principal building conform to § 153.336(C)(2) of this code, the exterior sign materials must complement those found on the principal structure as reviewed and approved through the site plan review process.
(b) Materials, design, and color of the sign do not need to be the same as those found on the principal structure to be considered complimentary.
(6) Signs that are located in parking lots (such as directional signs) may be internally lit when constructed with routed letters or an opaque background.
(7) The hanging or attachment of objects is not permitted unless they are shown on the drawings approved for sign construction and meet all the requirements of this chapter.
(8) Shared shopping center signs shall be allowed and required with a maximum ten-foot height and 100 square feet.
(C) Wall/facade signs.
(1) Number. A maximum of two signs shall be allowed per wall/facade, with a maximum of four per building. Total area of all signs shall not exceed square footage of Table 153.341.C.
(2) Size. Maximum size of wall/facade signs is dependent upon building frontage and setback, in accordance with Table 153.341.C.
(3) Objects. The hanging or attachment of objects is not permitted unless they are shown on the drawings approved for sign construction and meet all the requirements of this chapter.
(4) Awning signs.
(a) The use of awnings for the purpose of providing signage will be considered a wall sign. The awning signage must meet all dimensional and intensity standards applicable to wall signs in this section.
(b) For purposes of division (C)(4), an AWNING SIGN is a sign used for the purpose of providing signage and must be located above a display window or entryway.
(c) Text or graphic shall be limited to the face of an awning.
(D) Special signs. Maximum size, number, location and height of special signs shall conform with Table 153.341.D and the following standards:
(1) Flags used as signs.
(a) A permit shall be required for the installation of all flagpoles or flag display devices erected on lots zoned for multi-family, office, commercial, or industrial use or occupied by a multi-family, office, commercial, or industrial use.
(b) Applicants must submit with the permit application a scaled site plan giving the location of all flagpoles and complete dimensional and installation engineering data.
(c) Applicants must provide documentation of minimum clearance from electric, telephone, or cable TV lines as certified by the proper utility prior to issuance of permit or installation.
(d) Maximum size and number of flags used as signs and height of flagpoles shall conform with Table 153.341.D of this chapter.
(e) The American flag and the flag of the state are exempt from the provisions for maximum size of flags and maximum size of flagpoles in Table 153.341.D of this chapter.
(2) Sandwich board/sidewalk sign. A permit may be issued for a maximum of two sandwich board signs per lot or business provided the signs comply with the following criteria:
(a) The sign is located within the commercial zoning districts on the subject parcel or in front of the business being advertised;
(b) It is a maximum of three feet in height with a maximum of nine square feet per sign face;
(c) The sign is erected only during the hours of operation of the subject business and must be removed daily after close of business; and
(d) The sign is not located within any rights-of-way or within any pedestrian ways which would impede or interfere with vehicular or pedestrian use of roads, sidewalks, or seating areas.
(3) Shared free-standing signs.
(a) Off-premises shared free-standing signs are allowed in the commercial and industrial zoning districts for the advertisement and identification of two or more businesses or residential developments located on separate parcels.
(b) One shared sign is allowed at the location of a jointly shared curb cut/entry drive.
(c) Multiple businesses may participate on multiple shared signs; however, a business that participates on a shared free-standing sign shall not be allowed to erect a single tenant on-premise free-standing sign.
(d) Participating businesses must either share a property boundary on at least one side or be part of an approved multi-parcel development.
(e) Shared free-standing signs must meet all other setback and dimensional standards for nonresidential free-standing signs including all architectural standards and overlay district requirements of this chapter.
(4) Off-premises bona fide agricultural use signs. Off-premises signs advertising products from bona fide agricultural uses, related activities, and farm identification may be permitted on properties located in agricultural or commercial zoning districts, subject to the following requirements.
(a) A maximum of one off-premises sign is permitted per bona fide agricultural use.
(b) The applicant shall submit a plan drawn to scale showing the proposed location of the sign on the property on which the sign is to be placed.
(c) The sign shall comply with the setback and dimensional requirements of Section 9.11.2 of Ordinance 2012-06. The applicable requirements of Section 9.11.2 of Ordinance 2012-06shall be determined based on the zoning district of the property where the sign is to be located.
(d) The sign shall be located outside of any rights-of-way and easements, shall comply with the requirements of § 153.340, Vision clearance, of this code, and shall not be internally or externally illuminated.
(e) The applicant shall submit a signed letter of intent and supporting documentation indicating that the primary use of the property being advertised is a bona fide agricultural use as defined in this chapter and that the products and events advertised are grown, produced, and/or will occur on the bona fide agricultural use property.
(f) The applicant shall submit a signed letter of agreement from the property owner of the parcel on which the sign is to be located stating that the property owner will allow the sign to be erected at the location indicated on the site plan.
(g) The sign shall comply with all other applicable sections of this chapter.
(h) Off-premises bona fide agricultural use sign permits shall be assigned to the property on which the sign is to be located.
Type | Maximum Size | Maximum Number | Minimum Setback Maximum Height |
Civic/institutional | 100 sq. ft. 50 sq. ft. in residential or agricultural uses | 1 per zoning lot | Minimum setback: 5 ft. Maximum height: 12 ft. Sign must have opaque background except the marquee. Marquee cannot exceed 25% of total sign size |
Directional | 3 sq. ft. | Unlimited | 4 ft. |
Flags | 60 sq. ft. | 3 per zoning lot | 35 ft. or 15 ft. above highest point of roof |
Subdivision/ multi-family I.D. signs | 32 sq. ft. | 2 per entrance | Minimum setback: 5 ft. Maximum height: 12 ft. |
(E) Temporary signs.
(1) All temporary signs, unless expressly exempt, require a zoning permit and shall comply with all other regulations of this chapter. Maximum size, number, duration, location, and height of temporary signs shall conform with Table 153.341.E and the following standards:
(a) Portable signs are permitted in accordance with standards of the National Electrical Code and anchoring provisions of the International Building Code where applicable.
(b) A site plan and letter of intent indicating the type, amount, and location of balloons, pennants, streamers, banners, and portable signs must be submitted for review. The application will be reviewed to ensure that all proposed signage will not pose any pedestrian or vehicular danger as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(2) Special sales event signs.
(a) A legally established business may submit an application for temporary signs for the advertisement of one grand opening and five special sales events per calendar year.
(b) Permitted signs for grand openings or special sales events shall be removed no later than ten consecutive days after being installed.
(3) Permitted temporary special events.
(a) A permitted special event is allowed one special event sign per event.
(b) Signs for permitted special events shall be removed no later than ten consecutive days after being installed.
(4) Real estate signs.
(a) Signs less than 12 square feet do not require a zoning permit.
(b) All signs shall be removed no later than 15 days after the property is sold.
(c) Signs shall face a maximum of two directions, and may be mounted back-to-back or V’ed.
(d) Where signs are V’ed, the space between panels shall not exceed three feet at the point at which panels are closest, and the interior angle formed by signs shall not exceed 60 degrees. For purposes of these requirements, V’ed signs shall be counted as one sign.
(e) Where signs face two directions, whether back-to-back or V’ed, both signs must be the same standard size.
Type | Maximum Size | Maximum Number | Minimum Setback Maximum Height |
Permitted grand opening and special sales event signs | 50 sq. ft. | 2 per zoning lot including banners, Balloons (max. 2 square ft.), pennants, streamers allowed | Minimum setback: 5 ft. |
Permitted temporary special event signs | 100 sq. ft., 50 sq. ft. in residential and agricultural districts and no internal illumination | 1 per zoning lot | Minimum setback: 5 ft. Maximum height: 12 ft. Maximum 6 ft. height in residential zoning districts |
Real estate signs | 48 sq. ft. | 1 per 1,500 ft. frontage Maximum: 3 per lot | Minimum setback: 5 ft. Maximum height: 12 ft. Maximum 6 ft. height in residential zoning districts |
(Ord. 2012-06, § 9.11, passed 10-18-2012; Ord. 2012-21, passed 12-20-2012; Ord. 2013-07, passed 10-17-2013; Ord. 2014-09, passed 7-17-2014; Ord. 2017-01, passed 2-16-2017; Ord. 2019-04, passed 8-15-2019)