The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all signs erected in the city except for the following which shall be exempt in accordance with the following provisions. No sign shall be exempt from any provision of this chapter or other applicable law concerning the safety of signs, the public or property.
A. Construction signs having an area not in excess of fifty (50) square feet, provided that such signs are erected no more than sixty (60) days prior to the construction, are confined to the site of construction, and are removed not more than thirty (30) days after completion and prior to occupancy.
B. Direction or instructional signs which do not advertise a business, but which identify restrooms, public telephones, walkways or signs providing direction such as parking lot entrance and exit signs and those of similar nature.
C. Governmental signs for traffic control, for direction to public facilities, or for regulatory notice, warning or other public purposes.
D. Holiday decorations and signs of a decorative nature, incidental and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday, provided such signs are located outside the vision triangle.
E. House numbers, nameplates, home occupation signs, "no trespassing", "beware of dog" or "no dumping" signs.
F. Memorial tablets or tablets containing the name, date erected and use of buildings, when built into the walls of the buildings and constructed of bronze, brass, marble, stone or other noncombustible materials.
G. Window signs, except in residential zones, provided the total copy area of such signs occupies no more than twenty five percent (25%) of the total window area.
H. Political signs, provided such signs shall be posted no more than sixty (60) days before an election, removed within two (2) weeks following election day, not be destructive to public property upon posting or removal, not posted in any public right of way or on any utility pole, and vision triangles are maintained. No electric political signs shall be allowed in residential use districts.
I. Religious, charitable, educational, institutional or other signs determined to be similar not exceeding one square foot in area for each three (3) linear feet of frontage of the main building on the principal street shall be allowed within residential or agricultural use districts, provided no sign shall exceed thirty two (32) square feet in area. Such signs may be floodlighted or illuminated, shall require a sign permit and shall comply with all other locational requirements of this chapter.
J. Picket signs, provided they are hand carried.
K. Temporary signs pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations, provided said signs are not placed more than thirty (30) days prior to and removed within seven (7) days of the end of the drive or event.
L. Other temporary business signs not exceeding three feet (3') in height or more than three feet (3') in width. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted per business, and signs shall only be displayed during regular business hours and shall not be located on sidewalks, streets or other public rights of way. As an exception to the above, temporary business signs may be placed on sidewalks in commercially zoned districts subject to compliance with the following:
1. Signs shall not exceed three feet (3') in height nor three feet (3') in width.
2. Not more than one sign shall be permitted per business.
3. Signs shall only be displayed during the hours in which the business is open.
4. Signs shall not be placed at locations which impede the vision of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or shall not be placed within ten feet (10') of a street corner or alley.
5. Signs shall be placed so as to allow a minimum of five feet (5') of free and unobstructed sidewalk area.
6. Signs shall be self-supporting so as to keep them from blowing over.
7. Signs shall be constructed in a professional manner. No broken, unsightly, inferior or old worn materials may be utilized.
M. Signs permitted or required by other provisions of law, e.g., signs required by subsection 5-2-6D of this title.
N. Searchlights, hot air or helium balloons greater than ten feet (10') in their widest dimension, or other devices determined to be similar, which do not advertise, but which are intended to provide direction or attraction to a business, service, or activity subject to the following:
1. No searchlight beam shall flash against any building, cause any visual or traffic hazard, sweep an arc greater than forty five degrees (45°) from vertical and the searchlight shall be set back at least thirty feet (30') from any public right of way.
2. No searchlight or balloon shall be used by a new or existing business or enterprise more than four (4) times yearly for a maximum period of seven (7) consecutive days.
O. Bus stop benches may have flat, poster or painted signs fastened to their back supports/rests. Signs so attached to bus stop benches must be securely fastened. Portable signs may not be chained, tied, propped upon or otherwise affixed to benches. (Ord. 527, 3-14-2005)