(A) General standards. Every sign shall conform to the standards of this chapter whether or not a permit is required, and nothing contained herein shall be construed as modifying or repealing any of the provisions of this code relating to zoning. No sign shall be so located as to obscure or tend to obscure any existing sign. The following additional requirements are to be followed and met.
(1) Each sign shall be securely built, constructed and erected on the building or ground. Temporary signs shall be so designed that they are not readily overturned.
(2) No sign structure shall be attached or placed upon any building in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape or any window or door nor shall any sign structure be attached to a fire escape.
(3) The illumination of any sign located near a residential district shall be defused or indirect and located so as not to direct light on residences.
(4) No swinging sign shall hereafter be erected or hung on or attached to any building within the city, and every such sign so erected, hung or attached prior to the effective date hereof which is deemed unsafe by the Building Inspector shall be immediately removed by the owner thereof or changed to conform with the requirements of this chapter when so ordered by the Building Inspector.
(5) Where portions of a sign are subject to a different classification, each portion shall meet the requirements of its classification.
(6) All illuminated signs shall have a shielded light source. The city does not permit signs that have light sources directly visible to pedestrians or to the operators of motor vehicles.
(7) No sign shall display matter that has been deemed obscene by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(8) No sign shall have moving sections or intermittent, blinking or flashing lights, except for government signs and signs with dynamic displays as allowed in § 161.038 of this chapter.
(9) Each sign shall be used and maintained only in the manner permitted and subject to the conditions imposed at the time the permit therefor was granted.
(10) Clearance of signs from conductors: the minimum clearance of any sign from unprotected electrical conductors (whether poles or other installations) shall not be less than 36 inches for conductors carrying not over 600 volts and 48 inches for conductors carrying more than 600 volts.
(11) Signs along freeways: except as otherwise provided in this chapter and subject to state and federal laws, signs located on property adjacent to any freeway within the municipality (including Interstate Highway 35W and U.S. Highway 10) shall be business signs advertising businesses being conducted on the premises on which the signs are located. No changeable copy signs shall be located to face any freeway or be visible from the freeway. The provisions of this division (A)(11) and chapter, however, shall not be construed to render illegal or non-conforming any signs that are legally located along any such freeway at the effective date herein.
(B) Signs allowed by district. The following table represents the allowable signage and area requirements (in square feet) by zoning district:
Sign Type | R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | R-5 | B-1 | B-2 | B-3 | B-4 | I-1 | CRP | PU D |
Sign Type | R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | R-5 | B-1 | B-2 | B-3 | B-4 | I-1 | CRP | PU D |
Billboards | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Construction *** | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Directional** * | No | No | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Drive-thru menu board*** | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | (2) 36' primary + 15' seconda ry | (2) 36' primary + 15' seconda ry | No | No | No |
Ground*** | No | No | 32 | 32 | 32 | 100 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 100 | * |
Statue | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Home occupation | 1 | 1 | No | No | 1 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Identification *** | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | * |
Incidental | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Non- commercial* ** | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Projection | No | No | No | No | No | **** | **** | **** | **** | **** | No | **** |
Real estate*** | 10 | 10 | 32 | 32 | 10 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 64 | 32 | 32 |
Temporary | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wall | No | No | 64 | 64 | 64 | 100 | 100 | 300 | 300 | 300 | No | * |
Window | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | * |
NOTES TO TABLE: * Signage requirements within a PUD shall be as allowed by the PUD Narrative document. If no such document exists, signage shall be as permitted for a B-3 zoning district. ** Directional signs may be allowed within rights-of-way upon written approval of the city, the appropriate governmental agency having jurisdiction over the roadway (if not the City) and the owner of the property directly abutting the sign. *** For free-standing signs, maximum sign area is measured per side, maximum of two sides. **** See specific sign type standards and requirements for projection signs. | ||||||||||||
(C) Ground sign height, by district. The following table represents the maximum height allowed for ground signs in each zoning district.
R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | R-5 | B-1 | B-2 | B-3 | B-4 | I-1 | CRP | PUD |
(1) | (1) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 16(3) | 16(3) | 16 | 16(3) | 16(3) | (2) (3) |
NOTES TO TABLE: (1) No ground sign, other than home occupation, real estate, incidental and temporary signs shall be allowed in these districts. (2) Signage requirements within a PUD shall be as indicated by the PUD Narrative document. If no such document exists, signage shall be as allowed for a B-3 Zoning District. (3) Maximum billboard sign height in some locations is 45 feet. Refer to § 161.038(F) of this chapter. | |||||||||||
(Prior Code, § 1008.09) (Ord. 644, passed 12-13-1999; Ord. 679, passed 05-29-2001; Ord. 769, passed 05-08-2006; Ord. 816, passed 01-22-2009; Ord. 829, passed 09-03-2009; Ord. 847, passed 10-21-2010; Ord. 884, passed 12-09-2013; Ord. 988, passed 03-28-2022; Ord. 999, passed 7-10-2023)