The following signs shall not require a permit and shall not be counted as part of the allowable sign area. However, such signs shall conform to the requirements set forth below as well as other applicable requirements of this article.
(1) Private traffic directional signs. Signs containing information to direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic shall be located on the premises for which directions are indicated. Directional signs shall not contain any advertising or logo, shall not exceed three square feet per face, two faces per sign, and shall not exceed three feet in height if freestanding or six feet in height if attached to the principal or an accessory structure. The maximum signs allowed per lot shall be four. These signs may be indirectly or directly illuminated as prescribed by standards set forth in section 36-338.
(2) Incidental signs. Signs containing information necessary or convenient for persons coming on to a premises shall be located on the premises to which the information pertains. No advertising may be affixed to such a sign and these signs shall be single-faced only and wholly attached to a principal building (including the windows or doors).
(3) Political signs. Political signs advertising candidates or issues shall be allowed in any zone. However, no such sign shall be placed within any public right-of-way or on any public property or attached to any utility pole or tree. The property owner and the political candidate shall be equally responsible for the proper location, maintenance and removal of political signs. All political signs must be removed within seven calendar days following the election to which the sign pertains. Political signs shall not exceed four square feet in area per display face and two faces per sign.
(4) Copy changes and maintenance. No permit is required for copy changes made to a changeable copy sign, menu board or marquee sign. No permit is required for maintenance carried out in accordance with the provisions in section 36-338 and where no structural changes are made.
(5) Residential identification signs. Signs which provide the name or address of an individual residence, either attached or detached, indirectly or non-illuminated, provided no sign shall exceed two square feet in size per sign face.
(6) No trespassing signs. "No trespassing," "no hunting," "no fishing," "no loitering" and similar signs not exceeding two square feet per sign face.
(7) In any residential district.
a. One real estate sign, not exceeding four square feet per sign face area and, if freestanding, not exceeding four feet in height from ground level shall be permitted. Property with two or more on-premises frontages shall be permitted one additional sign.
b. To display a sign on a premises not personally owned by the realtor, the realty company must have a valid, current, exclusive sales agreement with the property owner.
(8) [Real estate signs.] In any business, commercial or industrial district a real estate sign shall be permitted on the premises for sale, rent or lease. Such sign shall be non-illuminated, not to exceed 32 square feet in area. A double-faced real estate sign is permitted, provided that it shall not exceed 32 square feet per sign face and, if freestanding, it shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
(9) Window signs. Signs painted on or placed in a window shall be permitted, subject to the following provisions:
a. Such signs shall not exceed an aggregate area equal to 25 percent of the window and/or glass area of the building wall on which it is located, to include all temporary signs.
b. The sign area for a window shall not be included in the allowable sign area for the particular occupancy or activity utilizing such sign, as defined in section 36-336(b)(1).
(10) [Works of art.] Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
(Code 1989, § 92.155; Ord. of 1-9-2001; Ord. of 11-8-2003; Ord. of 3-9-2010)