The following permanent signs, and sign alteration and maintenance activities are exempt from the sign permit requirements of this subchapter.
(A) Alteration and maintenance operations. The following activities shall be exempt from sign permit requirements:
(1) Changing of the advertising copy or message on an existing changeable copy sign or similar approved sign, whether illuminated or non-illuminated.
(2) Painting, repainting, cleaning, changing permitted items of information, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign, not involving structural changes or changes in the electrical components of the sign.
(B) Flags. Flags of any government or governmental agency, or any patriotic, religious, charitable, civic, educational or fraternal organization shall be exempt from sign permit requirements. There shall be no more than three flagpoles per zoning lot.
(C) Headstones. Headstones, including tablets, grave markers, statuary/memorial plaques or remembrances of persons or events, that are non-commercial in nature and are located in an established cemetery shall be exempt from sign permit requirements.
(D) House number signs. House number signs, which are not illuminated, shall be exempt from sign permit requirements. House number signs shall not exceed two square feet.
(E) Memorial plaques. Memorial or commemorative plaques or tablets denoting a building name and/or date of erection, or a location of historic significance, and not exceeding four square feet in area shall be exempt from sign permit requirements. Memorial signs shall be cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
(F) Miscellaneous information matter. Matter appearing on gasoline pumps, newspaper vending boxes and other vending machines, automatic teller machines, or matter appearing on or adjacent to entry doors such as “PUSH,” “PULL,” “OPEN” and/or “CLOSED,” or matter appearing on display windows or doors denoting hours of operation, credit cards accepted, and similar information shall be exempt from sign permit requirements. Service station rate signs and the changing of copy of such signs, including the names of grades of fuel and prices and conditions relating to prices such as full or self-service shall be permitted without a permit.
(G) Municipal signs. Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, signs regulating vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or designating or giving direction to streets, schools, historic sites or public buildings, and such temporary emergency or non-advertising signs shall be exempt from sign permit requirements, but are subject to approval by the Village Board.
(H) Nameplate and occupational signs. Nameplate and occupational signs not exceeding two square feet in area denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in any commercial building shall be exempt from sign permit requirements.
(I) Neon window signs. Neon window signs shall be exempt from sign permit requirements subject to the following:
(1) Neon window signs must be located entirely inside the window. No exterior neon signs are permitted.
(2) Series lighting or neon tubing used to accentuate or trim windows, architectural features, or to outline borders of signs or buildings, is specifically prohibited.
(3) Neon window signs shall be included in the calculation of total window sign area, which may not exceed 40% of total window area. See § 153.264(G) for calculation of window sign area.
(4) Neon window signs are permitted in the commercial and manufacturing districts only.
(J) Parking lot signs. Parking lot signs, such as “No Parking” or “Unauthorized users shall be towed,” are permitted but may not exceed six square feet and must be oriented to the parking area.
(K) Rear service door signs. Rear service door signs shall be exempt from sign permit requirements and shall not exceed six square feet.
(L) Residential development signs. Residential development signs shall be exempt from sign permit requirements and shall not exceed 16 square feet.
(M) Warning signs. Warning signs, such as “Beware of Dog,” “No Trespassing” or “No Dumping,” not exceeding two square feet per sign shall be exempt from sign permit requirements.
(Ord. 929, passed 1-25-11; Ord. 1076, passed 1-23-18)