The following signs are exempt from all provisions of this chapter if in compliance with the conditions specified for each. A sign permit shall not be required.
(A) Minor wall signs. Permanent wall signs constructed using stone, concrete, bronze, precious metals, brick, or other similar material and made an integral part of the structure shall be permitted. No more than one such sign shall be permitted per frontage, per building. The maximum size shall be four square feet in a commercial, industrial, public/semi-public, or Town Center zoning district, and one square foot in a residential and Old Town zoning district.
(B) Minor ground signs. Minor ground signs, which shall be permanent in manner, are permitted in commercial, industrial, and Town Center zoning districts. Such signs are limited to no more than two and one-half square feet of sign area and three and one-half feet in height, as measured from grade. Such signs may be non-illuminated or internally illuminated. Internally illuminated signs shall only illuminate sign content, not the entire sign cabinet. Such signs shall be no closer than two feet from any existing or planned right-of-way. No property, parcel, or lot shall have more than three minor ground signs.
(C) Public signs. Public signs erected by or on the order of public official(s) in the performance of public duty, such as signs to promote safety, no trespassing, or traffic signs; memorial plaques; signs of historical interest; and signs directing people to public facilities. All such public signs shall require approval of the Administrative Officer, or his or her designee.
(D) Utility marker signs. Utility signs necessary to mark cables and lines for public and private utilities unless such signs are determined to be a hazard by the Administrative Officer, or his or her designee.
(E) Emergency signs. Emergency signs, such as those used and authorized by the Administrative Officer, Public Works Department, Utilities, Fire Department or Police Department, or those places of employment that are required by law to display emergency information for their employees.
(F) Window signs. No window sign shall exceed 10% of the window area, nor shall any individual letter be greater than three inches in size.
(G) Yard signs. A free-standing sign constructed of lightweight and/or non-durable materials intended to be displayed for a short period. All properties may display a yard sign. Such signage shall be limited to three square feet in sign area, and no more than four feet in height, as measured from grade level. No more than one such sign, per frontage, shall be displayed at one time. Such sign shall be allowed to be displayed no more than three times per calendar year. Each time the sign is displayed is limited to no more than 35 consecutive days. All such signs shall be placed a minimum of two feet from any property line or right-of-way line. In no instance shall such a sign be placed within an existing or planned right-of-way or private street. Such sign shall not be illuminated. Additionally, any residential property of less than one acre that is for-sale/lease is permitted an additional yard sign, in compliance with the standards noted above, until the transaction closes.
(H) Supplementary wall signs. Each property in any residential and Old Town zoning district is entitled to supplementary wall signage. Such signage shall be limited to three square feet in sign area, and must be attached to the primary structure of the lot. Additionally, the wall sign shall be located no higher than 12 feet from grade. No more than one supplementary wall sign is permitted per lot at any time. Supplementary wall signs shall be permitted up to two times per calendar year. In no such instance shall a wall sign be up for more than 120 consecutive days. Such sign shall not be illuminated.
(I) Traffic signs and pavement marker. Private directional traffic signs and pavement markings intended to direct and control the movement of traffic into, out of, and within the site shall comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as published by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
(J) Pond warning sign. Permanent pond safety signs are required for all ponds constructed after the effective date of this chapter. The minimum size is one square foot and the maximum size is two square feet. Such signs shall be placed no more than 500 feet apart, with no less than four signs per pond. A sign must be placed at all public access areas to the pond. Signs must be constructed of wood, composite wood, or metal. At a minimum such signs shall have the words “No Swimming” and “No Ice Skating,” along with the “No Swimming” symbol. Such signs shall be installed by the developer and the subsequent maintenance of such shall be the responsibility of the homeowners’ association or property owners’ association. “No Swimming” and “No Ice Skating” signs shall be posted at all detention and retention ponds in all developments. In instances where a pond will be stocked with fish or where fishing may otherwise be possible, a sign shall be installed warning that “anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.”
(K) A-frame signs. One A-frame sign may be permitted for each occupied tenant space located on a property in a commercial, industrial, or Town Center zoning district, provided the sign area does not exceed six square feet, and the height does not exceed four feet, as measured from grade level. Such signs are to be displayed outside only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (EST) or 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (EDT). A-frame temporary signs may be located within the right-of-way, provided the sign is at least five feet from the nearest roadway’s travel or parking lane. Under no circumstance can any A-frame sign be located more than ten feet from a primary structure. A-frame signage cannot be displayed at the same time other temporary signage is displayed.
(Ord. 121410, passed 1-11-2011; Ord. 111114, passed 11-11-2014; Ord. 041216A, passed 4-12-2016; Ord. 111020C, passed 12-8-2020)