(A) A sign permit is not required for the following:
(1) Real Estate Availability Signs.
(a) Permit required: No.
(b) One sign per each street frontage or public off-street parking area. Such signs may only be placed on the premises of the property for sale.
(c) For real estate under five acres, the sign must be set back at least five feet from the edge of the right-of-way, shall not exceed six square feet in size and four feet in height. These signs are located in all zone districts and on a local classified street.
(d) For real estate less than five acres located on a collector, arterial, highway, or expressway of classified streets, said street having a minimum speed limit of 45 m.p.h., the sign shall be setback ten feet from the right-of-way, shall not exceed 32 square feet in size, and a maximum height of eight feet. If the property is on a limited access highway, the setback of the sign shall be at the property line adjacent to the limited access highway; but not located in the right-of-way.
(e) For real estate more than five acres, the sign shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from the edge of the right-of-way, shall not exceed 32 square feet in size, and no more than eight feet in height. If the property is on a limited access highway, the setback of the sign shall be at the property line adjacent to the limited access highway, but not in the right-of-way.
(2) Yard signs (Residentially zoned property). Yard signs located on private property that meet the following requirements are permitted.
(a) Permit required: No.
(b) Shall not obstruct the line of sight of any operator of a vehicle.
(c) Shall not be located in public right-of-way.
(d) Shall be owned and maintain by the owner or tenant in possession of the real estate on which it is located.
(e) Shall not exceed six square feet in size.
(f) Shall be wall mounted or ground installed. Ground signs shall be a maximum of 42 inches in height.
(g) Shall be limited to no more than two on a property.
(h) For a period of time starting 60 days before an election and ending at the beginning of the sixth day after the election, the regulations of I.C. 36-1-3-11 shall apply relating to the maximum size of the sign. During this time period, no sign shall be taller than six feet in height, but the maximum number of signs per property shall not apply.
(3) Yard signs (non-residentially zoned property). Yard signs located on private property that meet the following requirements are permitted subject to the regulations listed below.
(a) Permit required: No.
(b) Shall not obstruct the line of sight of any operator of a vehicle.
(c) Shall not be located in public right-of-way.
(d) Shall be owned and maintain by the owner or tenant in possession of the real estate on which it is located.
(e) Shall not exceed six square feet in size.
(f) Shall be ground installed. Ground signs shall be a maximum of 42 inches in height.
(g) Shall be limited to no more than two on a property, and may be displayed on the property for a maximum of 60 days per calendar year.
(h) For a period of time starting 60 days before an election and ending at the beginning of the sixth day after the election, the regulations of I.C. 36-1-3-11 shall apply relating to the maximum size of the sign. During this time period, no sign shall be taller than six feet in height, but the maximum number of signs per property shall not apply.
(B) The following temporary signs require a sign permit:
(1) Human portable sign. (effective 12-10-10)
(a) Permit required: Yes.
(b) Maximum sign: Two feet width, three square feet total.
(c) Maximum Number: One per person at any one time. Shall not hold more than one portable sign contiguous to another portable sign to effectively increase the square footage of the sign.
(d) No person shall hold or extend the sign over or into a public street.
(e) No person while carrying or displaying a sign shall impede a sidewalk, multi-use path, driveway, or other access to public property that restricts the use of the walkway, or access point by the general public or a continuous landowner.
(f) No person shall display a portable sign in a “residential area” before 7:00 a.m. or sunrise, whichever is later; or after 7:00 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, based on the time of sunrise or sunset as published by the National Weather Service at the Indianapolis International Airport.
(g) Applies to both commercial signs and signs containing political or other protected free speech information.
(h) Should the sign contain “commercial speech”, it may be displayed for a maximum of 28 days during a calendar year.
(2) Banners for Non-Residential Uses.
(a) Permit required: Yes.
(b) A temporary banner may be displayed for special events. Such banners shall be displayed a maximum of 30 days per special event. Each business may display a temporary banner for up to 60 days per calendar year, but there must be a minimum of 60 days separating the installation of the banners for the special events. The total allotted time may be subdivided into a banner four times a year for a minimum of seven days each.
(c) Such signs shall be limited to a maximum of 32 square feet in size and must be located on the premises of the business for which it advertises.
(d) An application for a permit must be submitted one week prior to the installation of the banner on the premises.
(e) Banners shall not be illuminated.
(f) Banners for multi-tenant buildings, multi-buildings on a single parcel, and integrated developments shall have a maximum of two banners for separate uses on the premises at any single time.
(g) Banners are prohibited in the Core Central Business District.
(h) No more than one temporary banner may be displayed at a time.
(3) Lighter-than-air Displays for Commercial Uses.
(a) Permit required: Yes.
(b) Lighter-than-air displays shall be affixed to the ground on the property of the business erecting the display and shall be permitted a maximum of 14 days during a calendar year.
(c) The display shall be limited to a maximum height of 18 feet from the ground to the top of the display.
(d) An application for a permit must be submitted one week prior to the display being installed on the premises of the business for which it advertises.
(e) Displays shall not be illuminated.
(f) Such displays shall not be permitted on building rooftops.
(g) Displays for multi-tenant buildings, multi-buildings on a single parcel, and integrated developments shall have a maximum of two displays for separate uses on the premises at any single time.
(4) Construction Signs.
(a) Permit required: Yes.
(b) Each construction site under construction shall be permitted one sign per street frontage. Each subdivision under construction shall be permitted one sign per subdivision entrance.
(c) Such sign(s) shall not exceed 64 square feet per street frontage, and shall not exceed ten feet in height.
(d) No two subdivision construction signs shall be placed within 1,000 linear feet of each other.
(e) Prior to the issuance of the Final Certificate of Occupancy, the construction sign shall be removed from the site.
(f) The sign(s) shall be placed on the site upon receipt of an Improvement Location Permit and the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit.
(g) Minimum setback ten feet from the edge of right-of-way.
(5) Neighborhood Information Signs.
(a) Permit required: Yes. (no fee)
(b) Sign boards, yard cards, or banners placed on HOA property or sign easement shall not exceed 20 square feet in size and five feet in height. The sign shall be located in the subdivision or real estate where the event is to occur. If the sign is located in the median of the street at the entrance to the subdivision, an encroachment permit and fee are required prior to the placement of said sign.
(c) Sign boards, yard cards, yard signs, or banners shall be permitted a maximum of two times during a calendar year. The sign may be installed seven days prior to the event and removed the last day of the event, not exceeding a maximum of 20 days per calendar year.
(d) An application for a permit must be submitted one week prior to the installation of the sign on the premises including a site plan indicating the location(s) of the sign(s).
(e) No additional embellishments are allowed, including and not limited to balloons, flags, and pendants.
(f) Signs shall not be illuminated.
(g) Shall not be located in the public right-of-way.
(h) Single sign permit for all entrance locations within the subdivision.
(Ord. 62-12-95, passed 1-22-96; Am. Ord. 44-11-97, passed 12-8-97; Am. Ord. 55-11-01, passed 12-11-01; Am. Ord. 42-5-05, passed 6-14-05; Am. Ord. 48-6-05, passed 7-12-05; Am. Ord. 23-4-07, passed 5-15-07; Am. Ord. 17-5-09, passed 6-9-09; Am. Ord. 23-6-09, passed 6-23-09; Am. Ord. 41-9-09, passed 10-13-09; Am. Ord. 25-7-10, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 30-9-10, passed 9-28-10; Am. Ord. 31-9-10, passed 9-28-10; Am. Ord. 12-2-11, passed 3-15-11; Am. Ord. 13-3-11, passed 3-15-11; Am. Ord. 10-03-13, passed 4-9-13; Am. Ord. 24-07-13, passed 8-13-13; Am. Ord. 37-08-14, passed 9-9-14; Am. Ord. 25-04-15, passed 5-12-15; Am. Ord. 53-10-15, passed 11-10-15; Am. Ord. 46-07-16, passed 8-9-16; Am. Ord. 32-07-19, passed 7-23-19) Penalty, see § 159.999