It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person to erect, place or maintain a sign in the Village of Minerva except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(a) Signs Prohibited. The following types of signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:
(1) Any sign which no longer advertises or identifies a bona fide business, service, product, or activity within the building or on the property to which the sign is a part herein referred to as an abandoned sign.
(2) Any sign located in such a manner or place so as to constitute a hazard to traffic or visibility in any way.
(3) Any flashing or animated sign or part thereof which depicts movement or change of lights as a means to depict action. This does not include automatic changeable copy signs such as a time and temperature sign which changes on an alternating cycle.
(4) Any billboard or off premises signs in excess of thirty-five feet.
(5) Roof signs.
(6) Any sign attached or otherwise applied to trees, bus shelters, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines, vending machines in general, or other unapproved supporting structures.
(7) Bare bulb illuminations.
(8) Any sign that obstructs or interferes with any windows, doors, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress from any building.
(9) Any sign utilizing symbols which imitate or resemble official traffic or government signs or signals such as flashing arrows or words such as stop, go, or slow as may be deemed to constitute a deterrent to traffic flow.
(10) Any sign located within any public right of way except as may be otherwise permitted by this chapter.
(11) Any moving sign or device designed to attract attention including any part which moves or appears to move by any means, including fluttering, flashing, osculating, or set in motion by atmospheric movements including but not limited to pennants, propellers, or discs, etc. etc.
(12) Any sign which utilizes a flame as a source of light.
(13) Any portable/temporary free standing sign which is not permanently attached to any building, structure or foundation which can be transported to other locations, including signs painted on or displayed on vehicles or trailers parked in public places and used primarily for the purpose of advertising except as may be permitted in Section 1335.07.
(14) Any sign projecting over or located within any public right of way or public sidewalk.
(15) Any temporary signs or banners except as specifically permitted by this chapter.
(16) Any sign not expressly permitted by this chapter.
(17) Strings of lights shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention when not part of a sign. The only exception to this provision will be for such illuminations utilized in conjunction with Christmas tree sales during the months of November and December. This does not include Christmas lights.
(18) Any sign attached to utility poles.
(b) Permits Required. Unless otherwise specified by this chapter, all signs shall require permits and payment of fees described in Section 1335.04
(b). No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign or for a change of copy on painted, printed, or changeable copy signs nor are permits required for the removal of a sign.
(c) Signs Not Requiring a Permit. The following types of signs are exempted from permit requirements but must be in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter.
(1) Signs used by churches, synagogues, or civic organizations including bulletin boards.
(2) Real estate signs.
(3) Construction/development signs.
(4) Directional/information signs.
(5) Political signs.
(6) Name plates.
(7) Traffic control or other governmental signs.
(8) Window signs.
(9) Garage, porch, basement sale signs.
(10) Auction signs.
(11) Holiday or special event declarations.
(12) Memorial signs, historical placques or tablets.
(13) Incidental signs.
(14) Signs erected for public conveniences showing the location of such things as bus stops, telephones and other public conveniences.
(15) Re-painting and repairs.
(d) Maintenance Requirements. All signs shall be properly maintained. Exposed surfaces shall be kept clean and painted if re-painting is required. Defective parts shall be repaired. The Zoning and Nuisance Inspector, Village Administrator or the Service Director shall have the right under Section 1335.04
(i) to order the repair or removal of any sign determined to be defective, damaged, substantially deteriorated, or abandoned.
(1) All signs shall be ridgedly secured permanently to the supporting structure.
(2) No sign shall be suspended by non-rigid attachments that would allow the sign to swing in the wind.
(3) All free-standing signs shall have self-supporting structures erected on and permanently attached to concrete foundations.
(4) All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Ohio Basic Building Code and the National Electrical Code.
(5) No sign shall be constructed in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, door opening or openings required for ventilation purposes.
(6) Signs shall be located in such a way as to maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors in accordance with National Electric Code specifications, depending upon voltages concerned.
(7) All letters, figures, characters or representations in cutout or irregular form, attached to or superimposed upon any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure.
(8) Wall signs shall be safely and securely attached to the building wall be means of metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws. However, such signs may rest in or be bolted to strong, heavy metal brackets set not more than six feet apart. In no case shall any wall sign be secured with wire, strips of wood or metal.
(9) Pole and free standing signs shall be constructed back to back in pairs, so the backs of the signs will be screened from public view or otherwise constructed so that the backs of such signs open to the public view and painted and maintained in a neutral color that blends with the surrounding environment.
(10) Billboard of off-premise signs permitted by this chapter shall be maintained in a similar manner. Where the backs of such signs are open to public view such back areas shall be painted and maintained in a neutral color that blends with the surrounding environment. Additionally, all weeds and grass within ten feet of such signs shall be appropriately maintained.
(e) Lighting. Unless otherwise specified by this chapter, all signs may be illuminated. However, no sign regulated by this chapter may utilize:
(1) Flashing lights/arrows.
(2) Bare bulb illuminations.
(3) Revolving beacon light.
(4) Animated lighting which depicts movement. (not including changeable copy signs.)
(f) Changeable Copy. Unless otherwise specified by this chapter, any sign herein permitted may utilize manual or changeable copy.
(g) Indemnification. All persons involved in the maintenance, installation, alteration, or relocation of signs near or upon any public right of way or property shall agree to hold harmless and indemnify the Village, agents, and employees, against any and all claims of negligence resulting from work insofar as this chapter has not specifically directed the placement of a sign.
(Ord. 33-89. Passed 11-28-89.)