(A) Signs prohibited by this chapter include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Signs which are inadequately maintained so as to show evidence of deterioration, including peeling, rust, dirt, fading, discoloration, or holes. Damaged signs shall be repaired or removed within 30 days of receipt of notice from the city;
(2) Signs which advertise a business or product which is no longer in existence. Abandoned or outdated signs shall be replaced or removed within 30 days of receipt of notice from the city;
(3) Signs which are erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape;
(4) Signs which obstruct free and clear vision at any street intersection;
(5) Signs which interfere with, obstruct the view of, or may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device because of position, shape, or color;
(6) Signs which use the words “stop,” “look,” “go slow,” “caution,” “danger,” “warning,” or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic; except those signs placed by federal, state, or local governmental authority for public safety and traffic regulation purposes;
(7) Signs which constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate design, construction, repair, or maintenance;
(8) Signs which are illuminated with lights which cause a glare into or upon the surrounding area or any property used for residential purposes or which distract operators of vehicles or pedestrians on a public right-of-way;
(9) Signs which contain reflectors or lights or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulsation;
(10) Signs which display any matter in which the dominant theme of the material taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex, or is patently offensive because it affronts contemporary community standards relating to the description or representation of sexual matters, and is utterly without redeeming social value;
(11) Signs which are painted on or attached to a motor vehicle used primarily for the display of the sign. This chapter shall not prohibit the identification of a business or its products or services on a vehicle(s) operated and parked in a manner appropriate to the normal course of business;
(12) Signs which have visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any kind, achieved by electrical or mechanical means, except for time-temperature-date signs;
(13) Signs attached to or located upon outdoor exposed amenities such as trees, street signs, utility poles, or fences, which are visible from any street;
(14) Signs which are off-premises signs. This includes, and is not limited to, builder directional signs, except as stated in § 153.05(B)(1)(b), (c), and (d);
(15) Signs or portions thereof which are located on, or project or extend over, any public right- of-way or easements, any public sidewalk, street, alley, or other public property;
(16) Wind device signs that cause confusion or obstruction to traffic on adjacent public streets;
(17) Signs which are billboards, poster panels, or painted bulletins, or which promote or advertise places, entities, commodities, or services which are either not offered, or not limited to being offered on the premises on which the sign is located; and
(18) Signs which are larger than 16 square feet in area, or taller than 6 feet, as measured from ground level to the top of the sign. The height restriction is waived if the sign is lawfully attached to a building, or otherwise permitted by this chapter.
(B) In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, cause to have erected, or allow to remain erected any sign or condition prohibited in this section and the person shall remove that sign or correct that condition immediately upon notice by the Chief Building Official.
(1) No person shall erect, maintain, or permit the erection of any balloon or other floating device anchored to the ground or to any structure, except as allowed by other provisions of this chapter.
(2) No person shall attach any sign, paper, or other material, or paint, stencil, or write any name, number (except house numbers), or otherwise mark on any sidewalk, curb, gutter, street, tree, tower, utility pole, public building, public fence, or public structure for advertising purposes, except those signs as are permitted by this chapter to be placed in the public right-of-way.
(3) No sign located internal or external to a building or vehicle shall be illuminated to an intensity to cause glare or brightness to a degree that could constitute a hazard or nuisance. Digital display devices showing time, temperature, or any printed message may be allowed only by special permit of the City Council.
(4) No person shall place on or suspend from the exterior of any building, pole, structure, projecting structure, parkway, driveway, or parking area any goods, wares, merchandise, or other advertising object or structure for the purpose of advertising those items, other than a sign as defined, regulated, and prescribed by this chapter, except as otherwise allowed by ordinance or code provisions controlling the outside storage and display of goods, wares, or merchandise.
(5) No cloth, paper, banner, flag, device, or other similar advertising matter shall be permitted to be attached, suspended from, or allowed to hang loose from any sign, building, or structure, except as allowed by other provisions of this chapter, or in the special activities district. In the special activities district, signs described in this division (B)(5) are permitted, so long as they describe a specific event to be held on the premises, are not in place more than 2 weeks prior, nor 3 days after the event starts and finishes, and do not constitute a nuisance, hazard, or traffic safety issue.
(6) No lighted sign shall be erected within 150 feet of a residential district unless lighting is shielded from view in the direction of the residential district.
(7) No signs attached to a trailer, skid, or similar mobile structure, where the primary use of the structure is for sign purposes, will be permitted. This provision does not restrict the identification signing on vehicles used for delivery service, interstate commerce, or any bona fide transportation activity.
(8) Signs attached to or upon any vehicle shall be prohibited where any such vehicle is parked within 20 feet from a street right-of-way on a site. Signs attached to a vehicle shall be incidental to the bona fide use, for transportation purposes, of the vehicle to which the sign is attached. If a vehicle displaying a sign is not a bona fide use for transportation purposes, the vehicle shall be deemed to be a freestanding sign and subject to all provisions of this chapter pertaining to freestanding signs. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that a vehicular sign is not a bona fide use for transportation if the vehicle is stopped, parked, or allowed to remain at the same location within the site for any period exceeding 24 hours or contains arrows, directional information, or promotional advertising relating to the business or activity.
(9) No lot or tract of land shall, unless otherwise permitted by this chapter, have more than 1 sign for each 300 feet of front footage, and no more than 1 sign for each 2 acres of any single tract.
(Ord. 595, passed 5-23-2006) Penalty, see § 153.99