(A) Permanent Signs: Business Districts. In order to present a uniform standard, create a more attractive and economically vital business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community, reduce the incidence of signs or advertising distractions which may contribute to traffic accidents the following restrictions shall apply to all advertising signs:
(1) Advertising signs shall be located upon the premises in which the business is located and shall not encroach on any other property.
(2) Advertising signs attached flush to a building shall not be less than four feet from the ground level.
(3) Advertising signs and billboards on permanent poles eight feet above ground level shall not protrude with any portion of the sign closer than ten feet from the right-of-way line. Signs on permanent poles that are less than eight feet shall not be closer than three feet from inside of sidewalk and shall not interfere with vehicle traffic vision.
(4) No sign shall have flashing lights or be illuminated where it will cause distraction to vehicular traffic or interfere with vision.
(5) No free-standing sign shall have more than two faces per sign, and no more than two signs shall be affixed or attached to a single free-standing sign.
(6) Whenever a business is terminated, advertising signs shall be removed from said premises.
(B) Temporary Signs.
(1) Temporary signs may be placed on a property for special events not to exceed seven days; however, no temporary sign may be placed on a property more than six times in one calendar year.
(2) Temporary signs may not be placed on any portion of sidewalks, street right-of-ways or alleys.
(3) Temporary signs may be placed in residential areas for a period not to exceed three days provided they do not advertise a business operation and an improvement location permit has been issued.
(4) All temporary signs that are presently in place shall have 30 days from the date of this chapter to be removed from the premises.
(5) No person, firm or business shall place more than one temporary sign on any lot unless said lot has more than 150 feet of road frontage. The minimum distance between each sign shall be 100 feet with a maximum of three temporary signs.
(6) Semi-trailers shall not be used for advertisement on any parcel of land within the city.
(C) Home Occupation or Variance. Whenever an authorized home occupation or variance has been granted in a residential area, a sign not to exceed 30 inches by 30 inches shall be authorized advertising the business, one sign per property owner. The sign color and design shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator before it will be allowed to be installed on the property. The sign shall be mounted to two four-by-four posts (treated wood or vinyl) placed three feet in the ground, in concrete with the top of the sign no higher than five feet above grade, located no closer than three feet from the front property line. No illuminating advertising sign or other device shall be authorized.
(D) Signs; Generally. All advertising signs shall have an improvement location permit except the following:
(1) Directional signs.
(2) Political signs three feet by three feet.
(3) Public service signs.
(4) Real estate signs three feet by three feet.
(5) Real estate development signs four feet by four feet.
(E) Sign Upkeep.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to maintain any sign placed on premises. If a sign becomes distorted or becomes inactive for a period of 90 days, the owner of the sign or the owner of the property upon which the sign is located shall, upon written notice from the Zoning Administrator, remove said sign.
(2) Any person may be required to remove or relocate an advertising sign within 60 days after the Zoning Administrator has been notified that the land on which the sign is located, has been rezoned to residential or within 50 feet of a residential dwelling.
(F) Advertising Signs Off Premises. An OFF PREMISE SIGN is a sign which communicates the availability of goods, services and ideas not necessarily available on the premises on which the sign is located.
(G) Restrictions. All signs which are placed off premises shall conform to the following restrictions:
(1) No advertising sign shall be located within 50 feet of any residential dwelling.
(2) There shall be a signed contract from the property owner along with an agreement stating maintenance upkeep and assigned responsibility.
(3) No portion of an advertising sign shall be closer than ten feet from the right-of-way line.
(4) There shall be no more than two facings per sign and no such sign shall have more than 600 square feet per facing.
(5) No billboard or advertising sign shall be within 1,000 feet of another advertising sign on either side of the street, measured in linear feet along a right-of-way line.
(6) All off premises signs shall have a maximum height not to exceed 50 feet above grade level of the roadway to the top of the sign face, as measured from the centerline of the roadway to which the sign is oriented.
(7) Upon notification from the Zoning Administrator that the sign is in poor condition or in need of maintenance, the advertising sign shall be removed within 15 days from receipt of notice.
(8) Off premise signs shall be authorized in B3 and industrial zoned areas provided that the use is not being used as a residential use.
(9) Permanently attached or affixed signs legally existing prior to the adoption of this chapter but no longer conforming to this chapter shall be considered a nonconforming use. It shall not be replaced except in conformance with this chapter.
(10) All advertising signs shall have plans showing detail of construction and any sign erected shall be certified to meet the winds as outlined according to code.
(Ord. 5-2002, passed 3-4-02; Am. Ord. 13-2006, passed 4-10-06; Am. Ord. 3-2020, passed 2-3-20) Penalty, see § 151.999