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(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
(A) Except as otherwise required by law, a structure or use legally established prior to the adoption date of this chapter may be maintained unchanged.
(B) In other than criminal proceedings, the owner, occupant or user shall have the burden to show that the structure, lot or use was lawfully established.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
(A) Vacancy. Any lot or structure, or portion thereof, occupied by a nonconforming use, which is or hereafter becomes vacant and remains unoccupied by a nonconforming use for a period of six continuous months shall not thereafter be occupied, except by a use which conforms to this chapter; provided, that if a single-family owner occupied structure remains vacant for a period exceeding six continuous months because it is being foreclosed upon by a financial institution, the property shall not thereafter be occupied as a single-family owner occupied structure if the structure remains vacant for more than the six continuous months immediately succeeding the completion of the foreclosure proceeding; provided however, that if a single-family owner occupied structure remains vacant for a period exceeding six continuous months because the property owner is delinquent in paying ad valorem property taxes and the property is under going the tax foreclosure and sale procedure, the property shall not thereafter be occupied as a single-family owner occupied structure if the property remains vacant for more than the six continuous months immediately succeeding the completion of the tax sale proceeding.
(B) Damage. If any nonconforming structure or use is, by any cause, damaged to the extent of 50% of the value as determined by the Code Official, it shall not thereafter be reconstructed as such unless such reconstruction is first approved as a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals; provided, that a single-family owner occupied structure that is up to 100% destroyed shall not thereafter be reconstructed as a single-family owner occupied structure unless such reconstruction commences no later than 12 months immediately succeeding the month in which the structure was destroyed.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
(A) Maintenance and repair. Maintenance, repairs and structural alterations shall be permitted to be made to nonconforming structures or to a building housing a nonconforming use with valid permits.
(B) Changes of nonconforming use.
(1) A change of use of a nonconforming use of a structure or parcel of land shall not be made except to that of a conforming use.
(2) Where such change is made, the use shall not thereafter be changed back to a nonconforming use.
(C) Additions. All additions to nonconforming structures shall conform to the requirements of this chapter. Additions to structures housing nonconforming uses that increase the area of a nonconforming use shall not be made unless first authorized as a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(Ord. 08-02, passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 2-2-2010)
CONDITIONAL USES
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