The following signs are exempt from the provisions of this chapter and are not subject to permit requirements:
(a) The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit;
(b) Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices or warnings at railroad crossings;
(c) Signs in the nature of cornerstones, commemorative tables and historical signs, provided that such signs are limited to six square feet or less and are not illuminated;
(d) Signs clearly in the nature of decorations customarily associated with any national, state, local or religious holiday, to be limited to 30 days in any one year and to be displayed for not more than 30 consecutive days. Such signs may be illuminated, provided that no safety or visibility hazards are created;
(e) Political signs or posters concerning candidates for elective office, public issues and similar matters to be decided by public election, provided that they are displayed no more than 30 days prior to an election and removed no later than seven days after such election. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in size, shall not be illuminated in any manner, shall not create a safety or visibility hazard, shall not be affixed to any public utility pole, tree or natural object, and shall not be located within a public right-of-way;
(f) Signs not exceeding one square foot in area, bearing only property numbers, postal box numbers or names of occupants of premises;
(g) Signs indicating the sale, rental or lease of real estate, provided that such signs are limited in size to seven square feet with one sign per street front. Such signs shall be placed on the property to be sold, rented or leased and shall not be placed in a public right-of-way. Such signs shall be removed within 14 days after the sale, rental or lease has occurred;
(h) Signs for the promotion of school, community service or church activities for a maximum period of 15 days per activity. No one sponsor shall display a promotional sign for more than 30 days in any one year;
(i) Signs incorporated into a window display of a business, provided that such window display signs are:
(1) Limited to 10% of the total first floor window area, up to a maximum of four square feet, with no more than one such sign per window;
(2) Placed only in ground level windows;
(3) Illuminated only from a concealed source; and
(4) Erected for a period not to exceed 30 days each.
(j) Traffic and directional signs indicating points of entry or exit for a facility or off-street parking area, provided that such signs are limited to four square feet in area and three feet in height, do not interfere with safe traffic circulation, do not interfere with or obstruct the view of drivers exiting onto highways or thoroughfares and contain no information other than the word “in”, “enter”, “entrance”, “out” or “exit” and/or arrows indicating the desired traffic movement; and
(k) Window signage with a total area of less than two square feet and bearing only information about entry and exit, business hours and/or discount and credit systems accepted in that establishment (e.g., American Express, Master Card, Visa, Golden Buckeye Card).
(Ord. 5-89, passed 5-8-1989)