§ 156.G.004 PERMANENT SIGNS.

   (A)   Applicability. This section applies to freestanding signs, attached signs, and to other signs that are intended for display for more than a temporary time period.

   (B)   Generally.

      (1)   All freestanding signs must be permanently installed in locations designated in the sign plan, and may not exceed the allowable dimensions of this section.

      (2)   All attached signs must be affixed to a building wall, within the designated sign area, and may not exceed the allowable dimensions of this section.

      (3)   No permanent sign shall be located in any public utility easement nor within five feet of any underground public utility.

      (4)   Additional sign area and height is achievable if a Master Sign Plan is approved for an eligible property pursuant to Subsec. 156.J.003.4, Master Sign Plan.

   (C)   Unlisted signs. Signs that are not listed in this section are prohibited as permanent signs.

   (D)   Allowed sign types by district. Table 156.G.004-1, Allowed Sign Type by District, identifies on-premise signs allowed by zoning district. The key for the sign types table is as follows.

Table 156.G.004-1 Allowed Sign Type by District
Sign Type	Residential Districts	Mixed-Use and Non-Residential Districts
	AG, RR, RL, RM, RH	MU	UC, UC-HD	GC	PI, REC	GI
Permanent Attached Signs
Awning	--	P	P	P	P	P
Canopy (Attached)	--	P	P	P	P	P
Hanging	--	P	P	P	P	P
Marquee	--	P	P	P	P	P
Projecting	--	P	P	P	P	P
Wall	P	P	P	P	P	P
Window	P	P	P	P	P	P
Permanent Freestanding Signs
Access	P	P	P	P	P	P
Canopy (Freestanding)	--	P	--	P	P	P
Directory	--	P	P	P	P	P
Menu Board	--	P	P	P	P	P
Monument	P	P	P	P	P	P
Pylon (or Pole)	--	P	--	P	P	P
NOTES: "--" = Not Permitted; "P"=Permitted

 

   (F)   Allowed attached permanent signs. All permanently attached signs shall follow the standards established in Table 156.G.004-2, Allowed Attached Permanent Sign Types.

Table 156.G.004-2 Allowed Attached Permanent Signs
Zoning District	Residential Districts	Mixed-Use and Non-Residential Districts
	AG, RR, RL, RM, RH	MU	UC, UC-HD	GC	PI, REC	GI
Awning Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per building front or per storefront for a multi-tenant building
Maximum Area	--	5 s.f. per linear ft. of awning or canopy length
Minimum Clearance	--	8 ft. above grade
Illumination	--	External
Sign Permit Required	--	Yes
Canopy (or Over-Canopy) Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per building front or per storefront for a multi-tenant building		1 per building front or per storefront for a multi-tenant building	Not Limited	1 per building front or per storefront for a multi-tenant building
Maximum Area	--	75% of canopy width	50% of canopy width	75% of canopy width	100% of canopy width	75% of canopy width
Minimum Height (copy above sign)	--	2		6	6	6
Illumination	--	External or Internal		External or Internal	External or Internal	External or Internal
Sign Permit Required	--	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Standards	--
Hanging Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per building			1 per entrance
Maximum Area	--	6 s.f.			10 s.f.
Maximum Height	--	8 ft. above grade
Illumination	--	Yes, indirect light only
Other Standards	--	1.   Not extend within 2 ft. of the curb line. 2.   May be suspended under a marquee sign or under a canopy or awning.
Sign Permit Required	--	Yes
Marquee Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per street-facing facade
Maximum Area	--	50 s.f. per side; 100 s.f. total		25% of wall to which it is attached
Maximum Height	--	4 ft. from lowest point of marquee to highest point, excluding any ornamentation supported directly by the marquee
Minimum Clearance	--	8 ft. above grade
Illumination	--	Down lighting only; only the changeable copy area may be internally illuminated
Other Signs	--	If used, then a wall sign is prohibited on same facade
Other Standards	--	1.   May not project more than 6 ft. from the building; may require an encroachment permit. 2.   Sign may be on up to three sides of a marquee.
Sign Permit Required	--	Yes
Projecting Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per establishme nt	1 per building or 1 per 20 ft. of building frontage if multiple occupants.	1 per establishment
Maximum Area	--	1 s.f. for each linear foot of building frontage		16 s.f.
Maximum Distance from Building Wall to Farthest Part of Sign	--	4 ft.	No more than half the distance from the building facade into the public right-of-way	4 ft.
Minimum Clearance	--	8 ft. above sidewalk or walkway and 20 ft. above adjacent public or private street
Minimum Clearance, Vehicular Way	--	14 ft. above street
Illumination	--	Internal or External (down lighting only)
Other Signs	--	The area of a projecting sign is included in the total allowable area regulated under Wall Signs.
Sign Permit Required	--	Yes
Wall Sign
Number Allowed	Home-Base d Business: 1 per establishment Group Living: 1 per premise	No maximum number, subject to aggregate area restrictions.
Maximum Area	1 s.f.	Total sign area shall not exceed 1.5 s.f. for each foot of linear frontage; a 2nd wall sign shall not exceed 0.5 s.f. per linear frontage.	Total sign area shall not exceed 1.5 s.f. for each foot of linear frontage; a 2nd wall sign shall not exceed 0.5 s.f. per linear frontage.4		No maximum area	Total sign area shall not exceed 1.5 s.f. for each foot of linear frontage; a 2nd wall sign shall not exceed 0.5 s.f. per linear frontage.4
Maximum Height	The eaveline or the bottom of the second story window sill, whichever is lower.			The eaveline or building parapet wall
Illumination	No	Yes	Yes, External Only	Yes
Sign Permit Required	Yes
Other Signs	--
Other Standards	1.   No wall sign shall project more than 18 inches from the building wall. 2.   No wall sign or its supporting structure shall cover any window or part of a window. 3.   In the UC district, wall signs shall have a texture or depth to distinguish them from the wall. 4.   Buildings having a setback from the street of at least 150 feet will be permitted to have two square feet for every one linear foot of primary wall frontage.
Window Sign
Number Allowed	1 per dwelling unit	Residential: 1 per dwelling unit; Nonresidential: 1 per window		1 per window
Maximum Area	10% of window area or 2 s.f., whichever is less	Residential: 10% of window area or 2 sq. ft., whichever is less; Nonresidential: 15% of window area, or 9 sq. ft., whichever is less		30% of window area, or 16 sq. ft., whichever is less
Illumination	No	Residential: No Nonresidential: Yes, Indirect or internal lighting; light shall be turned off when off-business hours		Yes, Indirect or internal lighting; light shall be turned off when off-business hours
Other Signs	If used, then a wall sign is not permitted	--
Sign Permit Required	No	Yes

 

   (G)   Allowed freestanding permanent signs. All permanent freestanding signs shall follow the standards established in Table 156.G.004-3, Allowed Freestanding Permanent Signs.

Table 156.G.004-3 Allowed Freestanding Permanent Signs
Land Use	Residential Districts	Mixed-Use and Nonresidential Districts
Zoning District (in the city Limits)	AG, RR, RL, RM, RH	MU	UC	GC	PI, REC	GI
Access Sign
Number Allowed	No more than 3 per principal use
Maximum Area	4 s.f. per sign		6 s.f. per sign
Minimum/ Maximum Height	1 ft/4 ft.
Minimum Setback	--
Illumination	Internal or External
Sign Spacing	No two directional signs hung from separate poles shall be located within 5 feet of each other.
Other Standards	1.   All such signs located on corner lots or intersections and greater than 3 feet in height shall not be placed inside the sight triangle as described in Subsection 156.B.008.a, Measurements. 2.   There shall be no more than 4 total directional sign poles at any road intersection. 3.   More than 1 sign may be hung from the same pole.
Sign Permit Required	No
Canopy Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per street frontage
Maximum Area	--	40% of the canopy fascia face per street-facing side
Minimum/ Maximum Height	--	Shall not extend above the canopy fascia board
Illumination	--	Internal or external
Other Standards		1.   Color branding shall be permitted and shall not count towards the aggregate sign total.
Directory Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per property with a multi-tenant building
Maximum Area	--	2 s.f. per linear foot of street frontage; maximum 100 s.f.
Maximum Height	--	10 ft.
Minimum Setback	--	0 ft.
Illumination	--	Internal or External
Sign Permit Required	--	Yes
Other Standards		1.   The bottom portion of the sign shall rest flush against the ground, allowing no space between the ground and the bottom of the sign structure.
Monument Sign
Number Allowed	--	1 per property street frontage	1 per property street frontage	1 per property street frontage	1 per entrance, not more than 2 total signs	1 per property street frontage
Maximum Area (per sign)	--	50 s.f.	50 s.f.	< 200 ft. of street frontage = 50 s.f. > 200 ft. of street frontage = 75 s.f.	200 s.f.	75 s.f.
Maximum Height	--	6 ft.		25 ft.		35 ft.
Minimum Setback	--	10 ft.
Illumination	--	Internal or External
Other Signs	--	If used, then a Pylon Sign shall not be allowed
Sign Permit	--	Yes
Pylon or Pole Sign
Number Allowed	--	--	--	1 per frontage	1 per frontage	1 per frontage
Maximum Area (Per Sign Panel/ Cumulative )	--	--	--	35 s.f. / 1 s.f. per linear ft. of street frontage; 250 s.f. maximum	48 s.f. per sign	120 s.f. per sign
Maximum Height	--	--	--	30 ft.	20 ft.	30 ft.
Minimum Clearance	--	--	--	8 ft. above grade and 20 ft. above adjacent drive aisle, if edge of sign is within one foot of aisle
Minimum Setback	--	--	--	10 ft.		10
Illumination	--	--	--	Internal or External		Internal or External
Other Standards	--	--	--	The width of the support(s) of the sign shall be a minimum of 60% of the width of the sign face.		The width of the support(s) of the sign shall be a minimum of 60% of the width of the sign face.
Other Signs	--	--	--	If used, then a Monument Sign is not allowed		If used, then a Monument Sign is not allowed
Sign Permit	--	--	--	Yes		Yes
TABLE NOTES: ft. = Feet; s.f. = Square feet

 

   (H)   Additional standards in the Urban Core (UC) district.

      (1)   Generally. In addition to all applicable standards set forth within this article, all permitted signs within the UC district shall comply with the following:

         (a)   The sign shall be a secondary design element to the building upon which they are placed and/or the surroundings they are placed within; or

         (b)   Signs shall fit the architectural details of a building they are placed on and relate to the architecture in at least the material, shape, or color.

      (2)   Prohibited sign treatment. The following treatment of any sign type permitted in the UC district shall be prohibited:

         (a)   Interior box-lit signs;

         (b)   Flat signs with no depth;

         (c)   Flat signs that do not compliment the architecture of the building. The sign shall be all in the same plane; or

         (d)   Vacuum formed signs.

      (3)   Materials. Signs must be made from one or more of the following materials:

         (a)   Wood, such as solid cedar, cypress, white oak, and walnut. Plywood, pressboard, or other wood materials are not allowed.

         (b)   Steel or stainless steel;

         (c)   Glass;

         (d)   Aluminum;

         (e)   Channel letters;

         (f)   Wrought iron;

         (g)   High-density urethane (sign foam);

         (h)   Half-inch or three-quarter-inch acrylic;

         (i)   Half-inch or three-quarter-inch PVC board with layers;

      (4)   Bracketing. All bracketing and support materials for signs shall fit the original architectural style of the building or enhance the design of the sign. Sign pins are exempt.

      (5)   Illumination. In addition to the requirements established in Table 156.G.004, the following illumination standards shall apply to signs in the UC district:

         (a)   Interior lit signs must only be channel letters or have halo illumination.

         (b)   Exterior lights must be gooseneck or appropriate to the original architecture of the building.

         (c)   Florescent lights shall be prohibited.

         (d)   Lights emitting white light shall be prohibited.

         (e)   No wires shall be visible from the public right-of-way.

      (6)   Wall signs. Wall signs in the UC district shall have a texture or depth to distinguish them from the substrate they are placed upon. Individual letters and/or logos must have different depths. Twenty percent minimum of the sign must meet these criteria.

   (I)   Awnings and marquees. In addition to the standards established in this section, the following standards shall be met for awning and marquee sign types in all zoning districts where permitted:

      (1)   Extension standards. Any awning or marquee extending over any public street or thoroughfare shall be constructed by either the following methods:

         (a)   Constructed on steel beams projecting through the street wall of the structure or building and capable of supporting the weight of such canopy or marquee and an additional live load weight of 60 pounds per square foot; or

         (b)   Solidly anchored against the street wall of such building or structure on steel plates bolted through the wall and hung by rigid rods anchored through such street wall and attached to the extended portion of such canopy or marquee and capable of carrying the weight thereof and an additional live load weight of 60 pounds per square foot.

      (2)   Anchored. Awnings shall be attached to framework securely anchored to the street wall of the building or structure in a manner approved by the Building Official.

      (3)   Public right-of-way. Any marquee or awning permitted to extend over any public street or thoroughfare shall conform to the following:

         (a)   It shall not extend in one section more than 25 feet along the line of the street.

         (b)   It shall provide a minimum clearance above the sidewalk of the lowest part thereof of not less than seven feet.

         (c)   It shall not extend beyond the street line nearer than 18 inches to a vertical extension of the curb line.

         (d)   The construction of any marquee or awning from a street wall and extending over any portion of a public sidewalk or thoroughfare shall be liable for injury to any person using such public sidewalk underneath or adjacent to the canopy, marquee, or awning resulting from any faulty construction, maintenance or dangerous condition of the marquee or awning and shall hold the city harmless for such injury.

   (J)   Advertising signs. Signs commonly referred to as billboards.

      (1)   Structures shall be limited to two faces per sign, shall not exceed 30 feet in height and 300 square feet in area. Advertising structures shall be constructed of metal or other durable materials. Poles made of wood shall not be considered acceptable.

      (2)   The minimum distance between advertising signs shall be 500 feet when adjacent to Highway 30 and 300 feet on other streets, whether on the same side of a street or on opposite sides of a street.

      (3)   Advertising signs shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from Highways 14 and 30 and Iowa Avenue. Setbacks from other streets shall be 30 feet. Where any advertising sign is directly adjacent to lots with buildings, the setback shall be no less than the building structure, but no sign shall be required to have a setback greater than 50 feet.

      (4)   No advertising sign shall be permitted within 100 feet of any residential zoning district boundary.

      (5)   Advertising signs may be permitted in the following areas of the city: GC or GI districts adjacent to Highway 30 and Iowa Avenue and GC or GI districts adjacent to Highway 14 south of Southridge Road or north of Riverside Cemetery specifically on the west side of Highway 14.

      (6)   Advertising signs may be electronic provided they comply with division (K)(3)(b) and (c) of this section.

      (7)   Some signs may be subject to Iowa DOT approval.

   (K)   Changeable copy. Changeable copy centers (CCC) may be permitted as an electronic message center or manual changeable copyreader. These CCCs shall be used as an integral part of marquee signs, menu board signs, monument signs, or pylon signs subject to the applicable standards of this section (See Figure 156.G.004-1, Changeable Copy Center Design Requirements), including the following design requirements:

      (1)   Enclosure. Electronic message centers or manual changeable copy are permitted as part of a sign if they are enclosed on all sides with a finish of brick, stone, stucco, powder-coated metal, or anodized aluminum. The enclosure shall extend a minimum of six inches from the perimeter of the electronic message center in all directions. Gaps between the changeable copyreader board and the surround are permitted to accommodate locks and hinges for a cover for the changeable copy area, but only to the extent necessary for such locks and hinges to operate.

      (2)   Size and proportions. Changeable copy centers square footage shall not exceed the maximum sign area permitted for that sign type within the zoning district where the proposed sign is to be located with the following requirements or limitations for the changeable copy:

         (a)   Menu board sign. If a menu board sign is not visible from a residential property or a public or private street, 100% of the copy area may be electronic.

         (b)   Marquee sign. The lesser of 100 square feet or 40% of the sign area of a marquee sign; or

         (c)   Other sign types. The lesser of 100 square feet or the maximum permitted sign area of a monument sign, or pylon sign.

         (d)   Remainder of sign copy. The balance of the sign area shall utilize permanent letters or symbols.

         (e)   Combination of CCC types. No sign structure that includes a manual changeable copy sign may also include an electronic message center, and vice-versa.

      (3)   Electronic message center locational requirements.

         (a)   Electronic message centers shall be:

            1.   Located no closer than 100 feet to a residential dwelling unit;

            2.   Prohibited in the UC-HD, Urban Core-Historic District, with the exception of permitted marquee signs; and

            3.   Permitted in the UC, MU, GC, PI, REC and GI zoning districts subject to the standards in divisions (K)(3)(b) and (c) below.

            4.   Be limited to one such sign per lot.

         (b)   Electronic message centers shall not:

            1.   Blink, rotate, move, chase, flash, glare, strobe, scintillate, or in any fashion be distracting to the traveling public or the public in general;

            2.   Include audio, pyrotechnic, or bluecasting (Bluetooth advertising) components;

            3.   Be included on or used as portable or temporary sign.

         (c)   Electronic message centers shall:

            1.   Not be limited by color;

            2.   Contain a default design that will freeze the sign in one position with no more illumination than 0.3 foot candles above ambient light if a malfunction occurs; and

            3.   Include an automatic dimmer that dims the sign at dusk or during low-light conditions.

      (4)   Manual changeable copy.

         (a)   Manual changeable copyreader boards are only permitted on monument signs, pylon signs or marquee signs.

         (b)   Manual changeable copy message centers, including their frames shall be the lesser of 100 square feet or the maximum permitted sign area of a monument sign or pylon sign. The balance of the sign area shall utilize permanently affixed letters or symbols.

         (c)   Lettering of manual changeable copy signs shall be of a single style and shall be of uniform color and size.

 

Figure 156.G.004-1 Changeable Copy Center Design Requirements

 

(Ord. 15039, passed 4-11-2022)