(a) Single-family districts:
(1) Permitted signs and regulations.
a. Signs permitted in 1-RS, 2-RS and 3-RS Single-Family Residential Districts shall be by sign exceptions as per subsection (g).
(b) Multi-family districts (4-RM, 5-RMO). Single-family dwellings in this district will follow sign criteria for single-family districts as per subsection (g).
(1) Permitted signs and size regulations: One attached sign or one freestanding sign shall be permitted per apartment complex. Attached signs shall not exceed 25% of the total surface area of the wall to which the sign is attached. In no case shall any attached sign exceed nine square feet in total surface area. Freestanding signs shall not exceed nine square feet in total area nor ten feet in height.
(c) Business districts (6-B, 7-C).
Permitted signs and size regulations:
a. One attached sign per business establishment excluding signs installed, affixed, or painted on windows or doors. Attached signs shall not exceed 10% of the total surface area of the front of the building to which the sign is attached or exceed 100 square feet in total surface area, whichever amount shall be less. Measurement of fronts of buildings will include false fronts and any mansard roof frontage. Signs shall not extend above the roof line for buildings with a flat roof or above the eve line for buildings with a sloped roof. Where multiple businesses occupy a building the cumulative total of attached signs shall not exceed 10% of the surface area of the front of the building or 100 square feet, whichever amount shall be less.
b. One freestanding sign per developed site. A maximum of 45 square feet of cumulative sign area shall be permitted on a development site. One or more businesses may advertise on the sign. If more than one sign is utilized on a development site then the signs shall be a minimum of 50 feet from any freestanding or shingle sign of a neighboring business. The maximum size of an individual sign when multiple signs are used on a development site is 32 square feet.
c. One shingle sign not to exceed 12 square feet per business establishment is permitted in lieu of the freestanding sign in front.
d. All business establishments are permitted one shingle sign at the rear of each establishment, provided said sign does not exceed 12 square feet.
e. Freestanding signs in the 6-B, 7-C and 8-B zoning districts shall be monument style signs. The sign shall be constructed of materials that are architecturally compatible with the primary building on the site. The sign shall not have internal lighting. Spot lights illuminating the sign shall be shielded so that the source of light is not visible to vehicular traffic or pedestrians. Shingle signs are not permitted for special exceptions. To the extent of any inconsistency in this section with other sections, with regard to special exceptions this sub-paragraph supersedes other provisions in this section.
(d) Residential-business districts (8-B).
Permitted signs and size regulations:
a. One attached sign or one freestanding sign shall be permitted per apartment complex.
b. One attached sign shall be permitted per business establishment. Attached signs shall not exceed 10% of the total surface area of the wall to which the sign is attached or exceed 16 square feet in total surface area except that buildings with over 30 feet of frontage may add an additional four square feet of sign for each ten linear feet of frontage over 30 feet. Attached signs for special exception uses shall be limited to a maximum of 16 square feet.
c. One freestanding sign per commercial structure shall be permitted.
d. The total surface area of all freestanding signs shall not exceed 25 square feet or 15 feet in height. Such signs must be a minimum of 20 feet from the front building line. Signs less than 20 feet are allowed but may not exceed ten feet in height and nine square feet in surface area.
e. Freestanding signs for special exception uses shall be monument style signs. The maximum size shall be 20 square feet. The maximum height shall be eight feet. The minimum setback is five feet. Only one freestanding sign is allowed per special exception site. The sign shall be constructed of materials that are architecturally compatible with the primary building on the site. The sign shall not have internal lighting. Spot lights illuminating the sign shall be shielded so that the source of light is not visible to vehicular traffic or pedestrians. To the extent of any inconsistency in this section with other sections, with regard to special exceptions this sub-paragraph supersedes other provisions in this section.
(e) Sign setbacks and additional regulations for all signs.
(1) Signs may be placed on the property line. No part of a sign may overhang adjacent property or the right-of-way. In no case may a freestanding or shingle sign be placed within 20 feet of an intersection unless the bottom of said sign is ten feet or more from the ground.
(2) Attached signs affixed to a building shall be placed only on the front facade or roof and shall not protrude above the roof line or beyond the side corners of the front facade, project out more than two feet from the wall or extend more than one-half the distance above the base of the roof to the roof peak.
(3) Signs of any type may not be placed on the roof of any structure.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any owner or permittee to fail to remove any sign after ten days which advertises business, real estate or products no longer conducted, available or for sale on the premises.
(5) Indirect lighting sources in use shall be shaded to eliminate glare on roadways, streets or surrounding properties.
(6) Internally lit signs and signs illuminated by neon lights or bare bulbs shall not exceed two footcandles illumination at any property line.
(f) Nonconforming signs.
(1) A sign or advertising structure existing within the Town limits on the effective date of Ordinance 85-7, passed November 12, 1985, or a sign or advertising structure existing in an area annexed to the Town after the effective date of this Land Development Code, which, by its height, square foot area, location, or use of structural support does not conform to the requirements of this Land Development Code shall hereafter be termed nonconforming.
(2) All nonconforming signs or advertising structures within the Town limits shall be permitted to remain until such time as:
a. The sign or advertising structure becomes a hazard or obstruction.
b. It becomes necessary to replace or rebuild the sign or building, at which time it shall conform to this section.
(3) No conforming sign or sign structure shall be erected on the same lot with an existing nonconforming sign until the nonconforming sign has been removed.
(g) Sign exceptions. The following signs are exempt from the provisions of this section:
(1) Memorial signs, tablets, plaques or names of buildings and date of erection when the same are two square feet or less in size and are cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material.
(2) Property numbers and names of occupants of premises having no commercial connotations and shall not exceed one square foot of total surface area.
(3) Legal notices and identification, informational or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
(4) Reserved.
(5) Traffic and other municipal signs, legal notices, and other safety directional signs.
(6) Private directional signs when not more than two square feet in surface area.
(7) Subdivision entrance signs not exceeding 32 square feet and not having any part of the sign structure exceeding eight feet in height. No more than two signs per entrance will be allowed.
(8) Bulletin boards and signs of churches, schools and clubs not exceeding 32 square feet in area and not exceeding one per organization. If located on a corner lot, a 32-square-foot sign facing each street is allowed.
(9) A construction or home improvement sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in surface area, not to be illuminated, and shall be removed immediately after completion of construction or improvement.
(10) Any dispensing mechanism positioned outside of a business premise such as for ice cream, candy, soda, newspapers and such or for fuel pumps and the like, with a trademark or identification; also, any lighting fixture for the sole purpose of aiding in after-dark business operations or safety with a trademark or identification.
(11) One real estate sign per interior lot or one sign facing each thoroughfare per corner lot shall be allowed. Real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in total surface area or four feet in height.
(12) Political signs shall be permitted and display of the sign shall conform to the following:
a. Maximum size of a political sign, four square feet.
b. Signs may not be placed on rights-of-way.
c. Political signs related to an election must be removed within 72 hours after the election.
(h) Prohibited signs.
(1) All other signs not specifically or provisionally permitted herein, such as, but not limited to, flashing signs, billboard signs and banner signs.
(2) No private sign (sign erected by a non-governmental person or entity) is permitted on rights-of-way.
(`75 Code, Appendix A, Art. VII, § 4) (Ord. adopted 9-26-72; Am. Ord. 76-3, adopted 8-10-76; Am. Ord. 85-7, adopted 11-12-85; Am. Ord. 87-02, adopted 5-12-87; Am. Ord. 2004-09, adopted 11-17-04; Am. Ord. 2008-08, adopted 9-3-08; Am. Ord. 2009-03, adopted 4-15-09; Am. Ord. 2011-02, adopted 6-15-11; Am. Ord. 2017-05, adopted 12-20-17) Penalty, see § 7A-177