A. Compliance With Applicable Codes: All signs and their supporting structures shall comply with the applicable codes involving building standards, including, but not limited to, wind loads, seismic loads, or other combined loads.
B. Permanent, Attached Signs: All permanent signs shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure and by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
C. Minimum Standard Of Quality: Signs shall be constructed to a minimum standard of quality as specified by this code and state or federal codes for noncombustibility, steel, smoke density, ignition properties, and classification of plastics.
D. Electrical Signs:
1. Signs using electricity as a power source, hereafter referred to as electrical signs, shall be constructed in accordance with provisions of the state electrical code and industry standards. All electrical signs constructed must be energized by a licensed electrician.
2. Electrical signs and outline lighting shall be marked with the manufacturer's name, voltage input, input rating, and a label of a state or nationally recognized testing which shall be located where visible and readable from the grade and near the disconnect.
3. Each electrical sign or outline lighting system shall have an externally operable disconnect means and be located within sight of the sign or outline lighting transformer.
4. Electrical signs may be illuminated internally or externally as long as the lighting is directed away from the public rights of way and adjacent residential areas.
E. Clearance At Location: Signs shall be located not less than six feet (6') horizontally or twelve feet (12') vertically from overhead electrical conductors or wires which are energized in excess of four hundred fifty (450) volts. The term "overhead conductors" as used in this subsection means any electrical conductor, either bare or insulated, installed above the ground, except such conductors as are enclosed in iron pipe or other material covering of equal strength. The utility providers may have additional requirements and installers of a sign shall comply with such requirements.
F. Fire Escapes, Exits Or Standpipes: No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.
G. Responsibility: It is the responsibility of the property owner and/or the installer of the sign to contact the appropriate utility providers that may have utility lines or facilities located on the property in which the sign is to be installed. The property owner is required to comply with the requirements of the respective utility providers. The property owner and/or sign installer is responsible for any damages as a result of any encroachments onto adjacent property.
H. Computation Of Area And Height:
1. Computation Of Area Of Individual Signs: The area of sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only 1 face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets city regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
2. Computation Of Area Of Multifaced Signs: The sign area of a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two (2) identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when the sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than forty two inches (42") apart, the sign area shall be computed by measurement of one of the faces.
3. Computation Of Height: The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of the existing grade prior to construction and the newly established grade after construction.
a. Exhibits:
COMPUTATION OF SIGN AREA
COMPUTATION OF SIGN AREA OF INDIVIDUAL
SIGNS OF INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTED LETTERS OR
SYMBOLS AND AWNING AND CANOPY SIGNS
HEIGHT OF SIGN WITH GRADE MOUNTING
I. Sight View Triangle At Intersections:
1. Except where zoning setback requirements allow building construction closer to the property lines, it is hereby declared unlawful for any person to erect or maintain upon private property any sign which obstructs the view of vehicle traffic at any intersection within a triangular area formed by the adjacent sidelines of the two (2) intersecting streets and the line joining points distant thirty five feet (35') on each sideline from their point of intersection unless the sign in question is less than three feet (3') or twelve feet (12') or more above the level of the right of way and shall not exceed ten inches (10") in diameter.
2. Freestanding signs with supports shall not be located within twelve feet (12') of the sideline of streets, unless the sign is located outside the sight view triangle and outside the public right of way.
3. For the purpose of this subsection "sideline of street" shall mean the curb line on those streets where curb is installed, and where curb is not installed "sideline of street" shall mean that line which otherwise would be the curb line if a standard city street with curb were installed and centered within in the public right of way.
J. Maintenance Of Signs:
1. Maintenance Required: All signs and sign support structures, together with all their supports, braces, guys and anchors shall be kept in good repair and in a proper state of maintenance.
2. Maintenance Activities: Activities considered maintenance that do not require a permit may include: replacing of defective or damaged parts such as lamps; replacing ballast in freestanding signs; replacing transformers in building identification signs; painting and/or repainting of the pole of freestanding signs or the cabinet of freestanding or building identification signs; replacing H-bars and retainers behind the face; replacing trim; replacement of sign fasteners, nuts, and washers; and temporary removal of the sign cabinet for the installation of a new sign face. A maintained sign structure shall have a sign face. A permit may not be required; however notification to the designated city official may be required prior to conducting the activity.
3. Activities Not Considered Maintenance: The following items are not considered maintenance and shall require any sign undergoing the following activities to conform to this chapter thus requiring a permit unless there is a determination the sign is an exempt sign. Maintenance shall not include any changes made to the size, height, light intensity or bulk of the sign, such as changes in poles, structural supports, bases or shrouds, footings or anchor bolts, moving the sign for any reason, change or replacement of the interior and/or exterior cabinet frame (excluding trim) and removal of any part of the signs for maintenance except the sign face. For building signs, maintenance shall not include change in the size of channel letters or any change or replacement of returns or housing except for the sign face and trim. For single-face cabinet signs, maintenance shall not include changes or replacement of the interior/exterior cabinets nor the cabinet support structures.
K. Sign Restrictions In Relation To Public Rights Of Way: No sign shall be erected in or encroach upon the public right of way except:
1. Public Information Signs: Public information signs erected or installed on behalf of a governmental body to identify public property, convey public information and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
2. Public Utility Information Signs: Informational signs by a public utility regarding poles, lines, pipes or facilities.
3. Historic Commercial District: Awning, canopy, marquee, projecting and suspended signs in the historic downtown commercial district provided they are in conformance with applicable sections of this chapter and allowed under state and/or federal guidelines. Sandwich boards are permitted, however they shall be placed against the buildings, provide sufficient spacing to allow pedestrian traffic and be in compliance with the Americans with disabilities act.
4. Awnings Over Sidewalks: No person shall erect or maintain projecting, marquee, awning, hanging signs that extend lower than nine feet (9') above the sidewalk. (Ord. 2422, 1-21-2013)