The following signs are hereby declared to be exempt from the provisions of this chapter, except for those expressly prohibited in Section 1160.04.
(a) Holiday Signs. Signs of a primarily decorative nature with no commercial message, clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with any national, local, or religious holiday, provided that such signs are displayed for no more than forty-five (45) consecutive days nor more than sixty (60) days in one year. Such signs may be of any type, area, number, area, height above grade, illumination, or animation and shall be set back not less than ten (10) feet from all boundary lines of the lot, provided that a clear area is maintained to a height of seventy-two (72) inches and placement is within fifty-five (55) feet of the centerline of the intersection of two streets, a railroad and a street, or a street and a driveway. Subject to the foregoing, any types of holiday decorations that partially camouflage or divert attention from traffic signals or directional signals are specifically prohibited.
(b) Institution Directional Signs. Off-premises, institution directional signs that do not exceed one (1) sign per abutting street, four (4) square feet in area, and are not internally illuminated.
(c) Mail and Newspaper Delivery Signs. Signs placed on mailboxes or newspaper tubes providing the proper names and/or address of the occupant or the name of the newspaper with non-illuminated or non-reflective lettering not exceeding two (2) inches in height.
(d) Memorial signs or tablets, historical plaques, names of buildings, and date of erection.
(e) Public Notices. Official notices or warnings posted by public officers or employees in the performance of their duties. Signs incidental to legal process and signs providing information, warnings, prohibition or commands necessary for the public safety and welfare are permitted only when approved by the City Manager.
(f) Public Signs. Signs required or specifically authorized and erected by or on behalf of a governmental body for a public purpose by any law or resolution; signs incidental to the legal process; and informational signs necessary to ensure public safety and welfare may be of any type, number, area, height above grade, location, illumination or animation required by law or resolution under which the signs are erected. No other sign shall be placed in any public right of way except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
(g) Public Utility Signs. Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities.
(h) Signs in Display Windows. Pedestrian-oriented signs in the display window of a business which are incorporated with a display of merchandise or a display relating to services offered that are not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the lot line of the development site on which such signs are located.
(i) Traffic Control Signs. Governmental signs for the control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, including: street signs, danger signs, and railroad crossing signs; signs of public service companies indicating danger; aids to public service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty; and horizontal directional signs on, below, or flush with paved areas directing and guiding traffic on private property that do not exceed three (3) square feet each and bear no advertising.
(j) Vehicles. Signs painted or otherwise permanently attached to a currently licensed motor vehicle used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business and not primarily used as a portable sign, subject to the prohibition of Section 1160.04(b)
(k) Warning Signs. Signs of a temporary nature that warn the public of the existence of an imminent danger or hazard, but contain no advertising and are of a reasonable size as may be necessary are exempt. Such signs; however, are to be removed upon subsidence of danger to the public.
(l) Works of Art. Integral decorative or architectural features on buildings or works of art which meet building and other guidelines established by the City, so long as such features or works do not contain a commercial message, trademarks, moving parts, or lights. The Zoning Inspector shall determine if a painted mural or other similar artwork or building is a sign.
(Ord. 09-20. Passed 6-22-09.)
(m) Recognition Signs. Signs recognizing notable academic or athletic achievement by students of a high school located within the boundaries of the City or meritorious military service or sacrifice by a Louisville resident may be placed in the street right-of-way. Not more than four (4) such signs may be placed related to each resident school and not more than one sign panel may be placed recognizing an individual resident or school achievement (per sign).
(1) Each such sign shall consist of two (2) upright posts bearing no more than three sign panels. All panels shall be of a uniform size, 24 inches tall and 48 inches wide and shall contain dark lettering on a white background.
Maximum total height of such sign shall be seven (7) feet. All posts and panels shall be of a type and material approved by the City. All such signs shall be erected by the City of Louisville and specific placement shall be at the sole discretion of the City of Louisville. General sign location may be requested by the entity providing sign panels.
(2) No panel may be placed on any such sign before adoption of a resolution by Louisville City Council acknowledging the achievement, service or sacrifice. All posts and panels shall be provided to the City at the expense of the entity requesting the sign. Removal of such panels or posts due to damage or disrepair shall be at the sole discretion of the City. Replacement posts and/or panels shall be provided at the expense of the entity requesting their placement. (Ord. 11-54. Passed 12-19-11.)