All illuminated signs shall conform to all requirements set forth in this chapter and all of the following additional requirements:
A. Illuminated signs in or within one hundred fifty feet (150') of property located within a residential district shall not be illuminated between the hours of eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. and six o'clock (6:00) A.M. unless the impact of such lighting beyond the boundaries of the lot on which the sign is located is minor in nature and inconsequential.
B. Illumination shall be installed or applied only through: 1) a translucent surface; 2) recessed into the sign structure; and 3) if the light source is external to the sign, directed to and concentrated solely on the sign. Wall signs that are backlit shall be permitted to extend an additional three inches (3") from the wall surface for the sole purpose of providing space for the lighting apparatus. No sign shall be internally illuminated; except, that portions of a sign containing lettering, a logo, or both, may be internally illuminated only if all surfaces of the sign surrounding the internally illuminated lettering or logo are opaque.
C. The use of unshielded lights, including incandescent bulbs on or strung on poles, wires, or any other type of support, to illuminate any sign or area in the vicinity of any sign shall be prohibited. Floodlights, gooseneck reflectors or other external sources of illumination shall be contained within a protective casing.
D. Signs shall be designed, located, shielded and shaded as necessary to prevent casting a glare or direct light upon property located in any residential district or upon any public street or park.
E. Illumination shall be constant in intensity and color, and shall not consist of flashing, animated, chasing, scintillating or other illumination conveying the sense of movement. Signs which exhibit only time and temperature are permitted if they otherwise comply with this chapter.
F. No sign shall be illuminated in such a manner as may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic movement.
G. Electrical equipment or wiring used to illuminate signs shall not be visible on any building face. All electrical equipment including lights, lamps and fixtures illuminating ground level signs shall be screened from view. All receptacles or devices used to provide external illumination for wall and freestanding signs shall not protrude more than nine inches (9") from the face of the sign except for ground lighting.
H. No signs shall utilize exposed neon tubing.
I. No sign shall be internally illuminated in the Central Business District. For purposes of this section, electronic business information displays are not considered internally illuminated signs.
J. To minimize the harmful effects of light pollution, lights which illuminate signs shall:
1. Be illuminated during the hours when intended for viewership;
2. Light only the portion of the sign that contains text or graphic depictions;
3. Not be brighter than necessary for a viewer to reasonably identify the content of the sign at night; and
4. Be fully shielded (other than internal illumination that passes through the text and/or graphics on a translucent sign face). (Ord. 2008-25, 11-10-2008; amd. Ord. 2011-24, 12-12-2011; Ord. 2018-26, 11-12-2018)