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(A) Conformance to chapter. Any sign hereafter erected shall conform to the provisions of this chapter and any other ordinance or regulation within this city.
(B) Signs in rights-of-way. No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within two feet of the lines of any street, or within any public way, unless specifically authorized by other ordinance or regulation of this city or by specific authorization of the Code Official.
(C) Projections over public ways. Signs projecting over public walkways shall be permitted to do so only subject to the projection and clearance limits either defined herein or, if not so defined, at a minimum of eight feet from grade level to the bottom of the sign. Signs, architectural projections or sign structures projecting over vehicular access areas must conform to the minimum height clearance limitations imposed by the city for such structures.
(D) Traffic visibility. No sign or sign structure shall be erected at the intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any location where by its position, shape or color it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
(E) Computation of frontage. If a premises contains walls facing more than one property line or encompasses property frontage bounded by more than one street or other property usages, the sign area(s) for each building wall or property frontage will be computed separately for each building wall or property line facing a different frontage. The sign area(s) thus calculated shall be permitted to then be applied to permitted signs placed on each separate wall or property line frontage.
(F) Animation and changeable messages. Animated signs, except as prohibited in § 152.168 of this chapter, are permitted in all nonresidential zones. Changeable signs, manually activated, are permitted for nonresidential uses in all zones. Changeable signs, electrically activated, are permitted in all nonresidential zones.
(G) Maintenance, repair and removal. Every sign permitted by this chapter shall be kept in good condition and repair. When any sign becomes insecure, in danger of falling or is otherwise deemed unsafe by the Code Official, or if any sign shall be unlawfully installed, erected or maintained in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the owner thereof or the person or firm using same shall, upon written notice by the Code Official immediately in the case of immediate danger, and in any case within not more than ten days, make such sign conform to the provisions of this chapter, or shall remove it. If within ten days the order is not complied with, the Code Official shall be permitted to remove or cause such sign to be removed at the expense or the owner and/or the user of the sign.
(H) Obsolete sign copy. Any sign copy that no longer advertises or identifies a use conducted on the property on which the sign is erected must have the sign copy covered or removed within 30 days after written notification from the Code Official and upon failure to comply with such notice, the Code Official is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign copy, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure or ground on which the sign in located.
(I) Nonconforming signs. Any sign legally existing at the time of the passage of this chapter that does not conform in use, location, height or size with the requirements of the zone in which such sign is located, shall be considered a legal nonconforming use or structure and shall be permitted to continue in such status until such time as it is either abandoned or removed by its owner, subject to the following limitations:
(1) Structural alterations, enlargement or re-erection are permissible only where such alterations will not increase the degree of nonconformity of the signs; and
(2) Any legal nonconforming sign shall be removed or re-built without increasing the existing height or area if it is damaged, or removed if allowed to deteriorate to the extent that the cost of repair or restoration exceeds 50% of the replacement cost of the sign as determined by the Code Official.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
(A) Generally. The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter; provided, that no sign shall be exempt from the provisions of § 152.166(D) of this chapter.
(B) Exempt signs.
(1) Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official;
(2) Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, state, county or municipal governments;
(3) Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure;
(4) The flag of a government or noncommercial institution, such as a school;
(5) Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season;
(6) Works of art displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise where the enterprise does not receive direct commercial gain; and
(7) Street address sign and combination nameplate and street address signs that contain no advertising copy and which do not exceed six square feet in area.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
(A) Generally. The following devices and locations shall be specifically prohibited.
(B) Prohibited signs.
(1) Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic;
(2) Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, signs encroaching upon or overhanging a public right-of-way. No sign shall be attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way;
(3) Signs which blink, flash or are animated by lighting in any fashion that would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance;
(4) Portable signs except as allowed for temporary signs;
(5) Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property, except for signs meeting the following conditions:
(a) The primary purpose of such a vehicle or trailer is not the display of signs;
(b) The signs are magnetic, decals or painted upon an integral part of the vehicle or equipment as originally designed by the manufacturer and do not break the silhouette of the vehicle; or
(c) The vehicle or trailer is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets when applicable, and actively used or available for use in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate.
(6) Vehicles and trailers are not used primarily as static displays, advertising a product or services, not utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public;
(7) Balloons, streamers or pinwheels except those temporarily displayed as part of a special sale, promotion or community event. For purposes of this division (B)(7), “temporarily” means no more than 20 days in any calendar year; and
(8) Signs, including lights installed on the front of a building or are situated on the perimeter of a building, that blink, flash, are highly illuminated, or otherwise because of the sign's design may confuse, blind, distract or interfere with a vehicle operator's ability to drive a motor vehicle in a safe manner on streets or highways within the city.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010; Ord. passed 1-17-2023)
(A) Permits required. Unless specifically exempted, a permit must be obtained from the Code Official for the erection and maintenance of all signs erected or maintained within the city and in accordance with other provisions of this chapter. Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit, however, shall not be construed to relieve the owner of the sign involved from responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a safe manner and in a manner in accordance with all the other provisions of this chapter.
(B) Construction documents. Before any permit is granted for the erection of a sign or sign structure requiring such permit, construction documents shall be filed with the Code Official showing the dimensions, materials and required details of construction, including loads, stresses, anchorage and any other pertinent data. The permit application shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected and by engineering calculations signed and sealed by a registered design professional.
(C) Changes to signs. No sign shall be structurally altered, enlarged or relocated except in conformity to the provisions herein, nor until a proper permit, if required, has been secured. The changing or maintenance of moveable parts or components of an approved sign that is designed for such changes, or the changing of copy, business names, lettering, sign faces, colors, display and/or graphic matter, or the content of any sign shall not be deemed a structural alteration.
(D) Permit fees. Permit fees to erect, alter or relocate a sign shall be in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by the city.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
(A) Identification signs. Identification signs shall be in accordance with divisions (A)(1) through (A)(3) below.
(1) Wall signs. Every single-family residence, multiple-family residential complex, commercial or industrial building, and every separate nonresidential building in a residential zone may display wall signs per street frontage subject to the limiting standards set forth in the table below. For shopping centers, planned industrial parks or other multiple occupancy nonresidential buildings, the building face or wall shall be calculated separately for each separate occupancy.
(2) Freestanding signs. In addition to any allowable wall signs, every single-family residential subdivision, multiple-family residential complex, commercial or industrial building and every freestanding or combination signs per street frontage subject to the limiting standards set forth in the table below.
(3) Directional signs. No more than two directional signs shall be permitted per street entrance to any lot. There shall be no limit to the number of directional signs providing directional information interior to the lot. In residential zones, the maximum area for directional signs shall be four square feet. For all other zones, the maximum area for any directional sign visible from adjacent property or rights-of-way shall be four square feet. Not more than 25% of the area of any directional sign shall be permitted to be devoted to business identification or logo, which area shall not be assessed as identification sign area.
Identification Sign Standards - Wall Signs | |
Land Use | Aggregate Area(square Feet) |
Single-family residential (R-1) | 6 |
Multiple-family residential (R-2 & R-3) | 6 |
Nonresidential in a residential zone (churches, schools and the like) | 12 |
Commercial and industrial | 80 |
(B) Temporary signs. Temporary signs shall be in accordance with divisions (B)(1) through (B)(4) below.
(1) Real estate signs. Real estate signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts, subject to the following limitations.
(a) Real estate signs located on a single residential lot shall be limited to one sign, not greater than three feet in height and four square feet in area.
(b) Real estate signs advertising the sale of lots located within a subdivision shall be limited to one sign per entrance to the subdivision, and each sign shall be no greater the 32 square feet in area nor seven feet in height. All signs permitted under this section shall be removed with ten days after sale of the last original lot.
(c) Real estate signs advertising the sale or lease of space within commercial or industrial buildings shall be no greater than 32 square feet in area nor seven feet in height and shall be limited to one sign per street front.
(d) Real estate signs advertising the sale or lease of vacant commercial or industrial land shall be limited to one sign per street front and each sign shall be no greater than seven feet in height, and 32 square feet for property of ten acres or less, or 100 square feet for property exceeding ten acres.
(e) Real estate signs shall be removed not later than ten days after execution of a lease agreement in the event of a lease, or the closing of the sale in the event of a purchase.
(2) Development and construction signs. Signs temporarily erected during construction to inform the public of the developer, contractors, architects, engineers, the nature of the project or anticipated completion dates, shall be permitted in all zoning districts, subject to the following limitations.
(a) Such signs on a residential lot shall be limited to one sign, not greater than eight feet in height and 16 square feet in area.
(b) Such signs for a residential subdivision or multiple residential lots shall be limited to one sign, at each entrance to the subdivision or on one of the lots to be built upon, and shall be no greater than ten feet in height and 32 square feet in area.
(c) Such signs for nonresidential uses in residential districts shall be limited to one sign, and shall be no greater than five feet in height and 16 square feet in area.
(d) Such signs for commercial and industrial projects shall be limited to one sign per street front, not to exceed ten feet in height and 32 square feet, regardless of the number of acres in the project.
(e) Development and construction signs may not be displayed until after the issuance of construction permits by the Building Official, and must be removed not later than 24 hours following issuance of an occupancy permit for all portions of the project.
(3) Special event signs in public ways. Signs advertising a special community event shall not be prohibited in or over public rights-of-way, subject to approval by the Code Official as to size, location and method of erection. The Code Official shall not approve any special event signage that would impair the safety and convenience of use of public rights-of way or obstruct traffic visibility.
(4) Portable signs. Portable signs shall be permitted only in the B-1, B-2, C-1 and I-1 Zones, as designated in this chapter, subject to the following limitations.
(a) No more than one such sign may be displayed on any property, and shall not exceed a height of four feet nor an area of 32 square feet.
(b) Such signs shall be displayed not more than 20 days in any calendar year.
(c) Any electrical portable signs shall comply with the ICC Electrical Code, as adopted by the city.
(C) Requirements for specific sign types. Signs of specific type shall be in accordance with divisions (C)(1) through (C)(7) below.
(1) Canopy and marquee signs.
(a) The permanently-affixed copy area of canopy or marquee signs shall not exceed an area equal to 75% of the face area of the canopy, marquee or architectural projection upon which such sign is affixed or applied.
(b) Graphic striping, patterns or color bands on the face of a building, canopy, marquee or architectural projection shall not be included in the computation of sign copy area.
(2) Awning signs.
(a) The copy area of awning signs shall not exceed an area equal to 25% of the background area of the awning or awning surface to which such sign is affixed or applied, or the permitted area for wall or fascia signs, which ever is less.
(b) Neither the background color of an awning, nor any graphic treatment or embellishment thereto such as striping, patterns or valances, shall be included in the computation of sign copy area.
(3) Projecting signs.
(a) Projecting signs shall be permitted in lieu of freestanding signage on any street frontage limited to one sign per occupancy along any street frontage with public entrance to such an occupancy, and shall be limited in area to 16 square feet.
(b) Such signs shall maintain a clear vertical distance above any public sidewalk a minimum of ten feet.
(4) Under canopy signs.
(a) Under canopy signs shall be limited to no more than one such sign per public entrance to any occupancy, and shall be limited to an area not to exceed one square foot.
(b) Such signs shall maintain a clear vertical distance that is a minimum of nine feet above any sidewalk or pedestrian way.
(5) Roof signs.
(a) Roof signs shall be permitted in commercial and industrial districts only.
(b) Such signs shall be limited to a height above the roofline on the elevation parallel to the sign face of no more than 25% of the height of the roofline in commercial and industrial districts.
(6) Window signs. Window signs shall be permitted for any nonresidential use in a residential district, and for all commercial and industrial districts, subject to the following limitations:
(a) The aggregate area of all such signs shall not exceed 25% of the window area on which such signs are displayed. Window panels separated by muntins or mullions shall be considered as one continuous window area; and
(b) Window signs shall not be assessed against the sign area permitted for other sign types.
(7) Menu boards. Menu boards shall not be permitted to exceed 50 square feet.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES AND USES
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