A. All permanent signs shall be constructed of high quality materials that will withstand elements of high and low temperatures, direct sunlight, rain, sleet, snow and other adverse weather conditions. Cloth and vinyl materials shall only be permitted for temporary signs. If wood is used, it shall be properly sealed to keep moisture from soaking in and causing the lettering to deteriorate.
B. Signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean, safe and legible condition by their owner. Proper placement of defective parts, repainting, cleaning and other acts of proper maintenance shall be promptly performed. Real property within a radius of ten feet (10') from the base of any ground sign shall be kept free and clear of weeds, rubbish and flammable material.
C. Any building or other structure damaged as a result of the removal, repair, replacement or installation of a sign shall be repaired by the owner of the structure within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the damage being incurred.
D. No sign shall be installed near intersections of public streets within the city so as to provide a proper line of sight and avoid unreasonable obstructions to operators of motor vehicles approaching the intersection such that a clear view of the intersection is unobstructed between three feet (3') and eight feet (8') from the ground.
E. No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected or attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
F. All signs shall be secured in such a fashion as to prevent unsafe movement or vibration in conformance with the most recent edition of the building code adopted by the city.
G. No sign shall be placed upon a pole, tree or other structure owned by a public utility or the city. No sign shall be placed in any public right of way except publicly owned signs, i.e., traffic control signs and directional signs. Signs directing and guiding traffic or containing traffic markings, located on private property but bearing no advertising matter shall be permitted.
H. No sign shall be above the top wall line of the building on which it is placed.
I. The electrical features of any sign and the installation thereof shall have been inspected by the state of Idaho electrical inspector and a copy of the permit provided to the city of Jerome building official prior to the operation of the sign.
J. Any person or entity intending to request permission for erection and placement of a public road banner at same situs located on South Lincoln Avenue for public announcements must follow specific requirements for design, spacing, size, webbing, and reinforcement to be determined, periodically, by the city of Jerome public works department.
K. Any individual or entity intending to erect and place a public road banner must pay a fifty dollar ($50.00) fee to the city of Jerome prior to the erection and placement of the public road banner to compensate the city of Jerome for hanging and taking down the banners and providing for future maintenance and replacement of the poles.
L. More than one freestanding sign per road frontage may be allowed by special use permit as long as there is a minimum distance of one hundred feet (100') between signs. The maximum height of any freestanding sign, unless otherwise noted herein, shall be thirty five feet (35'), except for signs located in the interstate overlay district.
M. Billboard signs are only permitted within the interstate sign overlay zone. Furthermore, off premises signs may be allowed in the interstate sign overlay zone by special use permit approved by the commission pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17.60 of this title and section 17.32.075 of this chapter.
N. Building signs are allowed on each building face with street frontage, not to exceed three (3) square feet per linear foot of building width.
O. A building sign shall not exceed the height of the building, measured to the top wall line. For purposes of computing building frontage, a gas station island canopy shall be considered building frontage.
P. Awning signs may be placed in any zone but R-1, R-2 or R-3. Every awning sign must be on an awning firmly attached to a building. Letters, logos or numbers on awning signs shall not occupy more than three (3) square feet per linear foot of the horizontal length of the awning.
Q. Any animated sign, electronic message displays (EMD), illuminated advertising device or advertising display shall conform to the following requirements:
1. Shall contain static messages only, and shall not have movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement of any part of the sign structure, design, or pictorial segment of the sign, including the movement or appearance of movement of any illumination or the flashing/varying of light intensity.
2. Each message or frame must be displayed for a minimum of three (3) seconds.
3. Area shall not occupy more than seventy five percent (75%) of the sign.
4. Shall emit a light of constant intensity, and shall be constructed of hardware capable of programming that will limit the nits output to five thousand (5,000) on clear days and five hundred (500) nits from dawn to dusk. In no event shall such an illuminated sign or device be placed or directed to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
5. Text only single color message displays with letters no higher than twelve inches (12") may scroll or travel without the static message limitation. Maximum area for such displays is sixty (60) square feet.
6. Each parcel of real property may have one electronic message display.
7. Such signs, displays, or device may not be installed on a nonconforming sign.
8. Animated signs and EMD are allowed by special use permit only and in accordance with chapter 17.60 of this title. (Ord. 1149, 2016)