The following signs shall not require a permit and are allowed in addition to those signs allowed by sections 11-23-15 and 11-23-19 of this chapter. These exemptions, however, shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance regulating the same.
A. The changing of the display surface on a painted or printed sign only. This exemption, however, shall apply only to poster replacement and/or on site changes involving sign painting elsewhere than directly on a building.
B. Within commercial and industrial districts, two (2) signs not to exceed twelve (12) square feet in area, erected up to a height of six feet (6'), and setback a minimum of five (5) feet from property lines shall be allowed for each access to a lot from a public street.
C. One sign per property in residential districts not to exceed nine (9) square feet.
D. All noncommercial signs of any size posted in any number from forty six (46) days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten (10) days following the general election, and thirteen (13) weeks prior to any special election until ten (10) days following the special election.
E. Official signs.
F. One sign shall be allowed per street frontage when a building or parcel not subject to section 11-23-15.X.2. of this title is offered for sale or lease, provided that:
1. Within the R (residential) districts, no sign shall exceed twelve (12) square feet in area and six feet (6') in height for single-family, two-family, and townhouse units; or thirty two (32) square feet in area or eight feet (8') in height for multi-family or institutional uses.
2. Within all other zoning districts and in those cases where a parcel of land exceeds ten (10) acres, regardless of its zoning, no sign shall exceed sixty four (64) square feet in area or ten feet (10') in height.
G. Sandwich board signs are allowed within commercial zoning districts, provided that:
1. Not more than one sign is allowed per principal building except that one sign is allowed per tenant within a principal building having two (2) or more tenants each with an exclusive exterior entrance.
2. The sign shall only be displayed when the business is open to the public.
3. The sign shall be placed only on the business property and shall not encroach into any principal building setback, except within the C-CBD district where the sign may be located upon public sidewalks directly abutting the business property or within required principal building setbacks, and not placed on any vehicle.
4. The signs shall be located so as to maintain a minimum five foot (5') pedestrian walkway and so as not to obstruct vehicular traffic.
5. The sign shall be set back a minimum of two feet (2') from the back of curb of a public street or private drive aisle.
6. The sign shall conform to the following maximum dimensions:
a. Height: Four feet (4').
b. Width: Three feet (3').
7. For signs within the C-CBD district to be located upon the sidewalk or boulevard portion of a public right of way, issuance of a sign permit in accordance with section 11-23-5 of this chapter shall be required annually.
a. In addition to the provisions of subsection 11-23-5F of this chapter, the owner of the sign shall provide a certificate of general liability insurance with minimum coverage of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) naming the city as an additional insured for the sign to be located upon the public right of way within the C-CBD district.
H. Window signs not exceeding twenty five percent (25%) of the total area of the window in which they are displayed. (Ord. 816, sec. 4, 2-5-2007; amd. Ord. 827, sec. 2, 7-16-2007; Ord. 866, sec. 3, 5-17-2010; Ord. 867, sec. 65, 5-17-2010; Ord. 936, 3-16-2015; Ord. 996, 5-7-2018; Ord. 1015, 8-5-2019; Ord. 1031, 6-1-2020; Ord. 1080, 7-17-2023)