(A) Construction. All signs constructed, erected, modified or altered shall comply with the provisions of this subchapter and the requirements of the Village Code.
(B) Sign structure and installation. Supports and braces shall be an integral part of the sign design. Supports or braces shall be hidden from public view to the extent technically feasible. All signs attached to a building shall be installed and maintained so that wall penetrations are watertight and the structure does not exceed allowable stresses of supporting materials.
(C) Wind pressure and direct load requirements. All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of net surface area, and shall be constructed to receive dead loads as required by the Village Code.
(D) Electrical components. All electrical fixtures, devices, circuits, conduits, raceways or apparatus used to illuminate, move or project any sign shall be installed and maintained as required in the Village Code.
(E) Illumination.
(1) Goose-neck reflectors and lights shall be permitted provided that the reflectors shall concentrate the illumination upon the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or adjacent property.
(2) All sign illumination shall be designed, located, shielded and directed so as to prevent the casting of glare or direct light upon adjacent publicly dedicated roadways and surrounding properties, or distract operators of vehicles or pedestrians in the public right-of-way. The light level shall be no greater than one footcandle at any property line.
(3) Electronic display screens are prohibited. Time and temperature signs are not considered an electronic sign and are permitted as part of a permanent sign.
(F) Glass. Glass forming any part of a sign must be safety glass.
(G) Lettering. All letters, figures, characters or representations in cut-out or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to, or superimposed upon any sign must be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure.
(H) Limitation on items of information.
(1) All signs must limit the number of items of information on any single sign face to no more than six items to prevent traffic hazards for passing motorists and to minimize the cluttered appearance of signs.
(2) Each piece of information on a sign shall be defined as an item of information. For example, each of the following would be defined as one item of information: a telephone number, the name of the business, even if multiple words, or the business logo. If the sign advertises products or services, each product or service would be one item of information. The street number address of the business is not counted as an item of information. (See Figure 15-2: Items of Information.)
FIGURE 15-2: ITEMS OF INFORMATION
(3) Changeable message signs, where the items of information are changed manually, are also counted as one item of information. For a sign that contains a time and temperature component, the time and temperature component shall not be counted as an item of information.
(4) All signs on a zoning lot must be related to goods and/or services sold or offered on the premises, with the exception of non-commercial or political signs.
(5) Signs for multi-tenant commercial buildings used to advertise which tenants are located within the development, are limited to one item of
information per tenant within the development, which may exceed six items, in addition to the name and address of the development.
(6) Directory signs are exempt from the items of information limitation.
(I) Data to be posted. Every sign or other advertising structure shall have painted on or a metallic sticker applied, in a conspicuous place thereon, the date of erection, the permit number and the voltage of any electrical apparatus used in connection therewith. Such information shall not count toward the limitation on the items of information described in division (H) above.
(J) Sign and premises maintenance.
(1) All signs, and the premises surrounding the sign, shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition, and free and clear of all noxious substances, rubbish and weeds.
(2) If any sign or other advertising structure, as defined herein, is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this subchapter, the Zoning Administrator shall immediately give written notice to the sign permit holder thereof. If sign permit holder fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set forth such sign or other advertising structure, as defined in this subchapter, may be removed by the village at the expense of the sign permit holder or the owner of the property upon which it is located. The village may cause any other sign or other advertising structure that is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
(Ord. 929, passed 1-25-11; Ord. 1076, passed 1-23-18) Penalty, see § 153.999