§ 153.037 SIGNS.
   (A)   Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the city; maintain and enhance the city's aesthetic environment; improve pedestrian and traffic safety; minimize the possible adverse affect of signs on nearby public and private property; and enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these regulations.
   (B)   Applicability/effect. A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, or created in the city only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of these regulations. The intent of these regulations is to:
      (1)   Establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and residential zoning districts, subject to the standards of these regulations;
      (2)   Allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive and incidental to the principal use of the respective lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of these regulations, but without the requirement for a permit;
      (3)   Prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by these regulations; and
      (4)   Provide for the enforcement of these regulations.
   (C)   Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   COMMERCIAL SIGN. A sign located in the B, I-1 or I-C zoning districts.
   ERECT. To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix.
   FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign which is attached to or part of a completely self- supporting structure.
   ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign which is lighted with an artificial light source.
   RESIDENTIAL SIGN. A sign located in the RC, RD, RE-1, RS or RU zoning districts.
   SIGN. Any device, frame, letter, figure, character, mark, point, design, picture, logo, stroke, trademark, or reading matter, which is used or intended to be used to attract attention or convey information, when the same is placed out of doors in view of the general public; and in addition, any of the above which is not placed out of doors, but which is illuminated with artificial or reflected light, and is attached or painted directly on the window or door of the building facade.
   SIGN AREA. The entire area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the sign message and background; provided however, such perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside of such sign and not forming an integral part or border of the sign.
   SIGN FACE. The surface of the sign, including letters and background, upon, against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated.
   SIGN HEIGHT. The distance from the natural ground level to the highest point of the sign.
   SIGN STRUCTURE. The supports, uprights, braces and framework of the sign.
   SPECIAL EVENT SIGN. A temporary sign advertising or announcing a special community-wide event or activity conducted by or sponsored by or on behalf of a unit of local government, a charitable organization or a not-for-profit corporation. A special community-wide event or activity is one which seeks to attract donations, participants, or customers throughout the city.
   (D)   Permits, forms and application fees.
      (1)   Sign permits.
         (a)   It is unlawful for any person to erect any sign that requires a permit according to this chapter without first securing a permit.
         (b)   Permits for the erection of signs regulated by this chapter shall be issued for the useful life of the sign.
         (c)   Any sign for which a permit is issued shall be erected and in place within 6 months from the date of such permit, or the permit will become automatically void and a new permit shall be applied for pursuant to this section.
      (2)   Sign permit application form. Application for a sign permit shall be made on the sign permit application form available from the Building Inspector and shall be submitted to the same, and provide the following information:
         (a)   Name, address, and telephone number of the applicants and owner with authorization of the property owner to file a permit application;
         (b)   Name, address, and telephone number of firm or agency erecting, maintaining or designing the sign if any;
         (c)   Address and zoning district of the property where the sign is to be located;
         (d)   A sketch showing the location and dimensions of the proposed sign(s);
         (e)   Type of illumination to be used if any;
         (f)   Signature of applicant and date.
      (3)   Sign application fees. The City Council shall set a fee schedule for sign permits by resolution. The fee schedule may be updated from time to time at the discretion of the City Council. The Building Inspector shall provide applicants with information designating the amount of fees to be paid. All fees shall be payable to the city.
   (E)   Sign application.
      (1)   Administration.
         (a)   Upon receiving a completed and signed application, including the appropriate fee, the Building Inspector shall have a period of 10 days to either reject or approve the sign application.
         (b)   If the application is approved, the Building Inspector shall provide the applicant with a permit for the erection of the sign applied for.
         (c)   If the signed application is denied, written reasons for the denial shall be supplied to the applicant by the Building Inspector.
         (d)   Upon notice of any application being rejected by the Building Inspector, the applicant shall have access to the appeal procedure set forth in § 153.075.
      (2)   Enforcement. Any person who violates any provisions of this section shall be fined $50 for each offense. The fine may be assessed by a city police officer issuing a citation to the offender. Each day that a violation is allowed to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
      (3)   Removal. Where applicable, the city reserves the right to remove any signs illegally placed on public or city property. The signs shall be held at the city municipal building for 5 working days. After 5 working days have elapsed, the signs shall be disposed of.
   (F)   Commercial signs.  
      (1)   No sign shall be erected without a permit. Signs shall be prohibited in any public right-of-way or on city property with the exception of traffic and regulatory signs. Signs are permitted only on private property with the permission of the property owner, subject to the following requirements:
         (a)   Distance. All signs must meet intersection sight distance requirements as determined by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Local Roads (BLR) manual.
         (b)   Size. The maximum area of a sign face shall be 425 square feet or if 2 single-faced back-to-back or a V-type sign, a total of 850 square feet. There shall be no more than 2 sign faces.
          (c)   Height. Signs shall not be erected at height of more than 45 feet.
         (d)   Lighting. All electrical service wiring, including wiring used for sign lighting, shall be installed underground and in protective electrical conduit. No overhead wiring shall be permitted.
         (e)   Structure. The supporting structure shall be set firmly in or below the ground surface and shall not be attached to any building or any other structure whether portable or stationary.
         (f)   Flashing lights. The use of flashing lights on signs is prohibited.
      (2)   The regulations appearing in this section shall not apply to any commercial sign lawfully erected and in existence on at the time of adoption of these regulations, which may be maintained as a matter of right as a legal nonconforming sign and may be rebuilt or relocated on the same property, provided the sign is constructed with similar materials and maintains the original size and height.
   (G)   Residential signs. No permit shall be required. Signs shall be prohibited in any public right-of-way or on city property with the exception of traffic and regulatory signs. Signs are permitted only on private property with the permission of the property owner, subject to the following requirements:
      (1)   Distance. All signs must meet intersection sight distance requirements as determined by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Local Roads (BLR) manual.
      (2)   Size. The maximum area of a sign face shall be 6 square feet or if 2 single-faced back-to-back or a V-type sign, a total of 12 square feet. There shall be no more than 2 sign faces.
      (3)   Height. Signs shall not exceed the height of 4 feet.
      (4)   Lighting. No illuminated signs or flashing lights shall be permitted.
   (H)   Exceptions. Temporary special event signs may be placed in public right-of-way or on city property with the written permission of the City Administrator. The temporary special event signs may be placed no more than 2 weeks prior to the advertised event and must be removed no later than 3 days after the event. Permanent signs may be placed in public right-of-way with the issuance of an encroachment permit pursuant to §§ 94.075-94.079 . Any such sign shall constitute a limited public forum for placement of messages relating to the activity or business of the permittee only.
(Am. Ord. 2016-38, passed 6-27-2016)