A. The purpose of this section is to establish standards for the fabrication, erection, and use of signs, symbols, markings, and advertising devices within the city. These standards are enacted to protect the public health, safety and welfare of persons within the community. They are intended to aid in the development and promotion of business and industry by providing sign regulations which encourage aesthetic creativity, effectiveness and flexibility of the design of such devices without creating detriment to the general public. They are also intended to promote clear views of the natural surroundings by minimizing visual clutter.
B. All signs must adhere to the following regulations:
1. No signs shall be placed in any public right of way except publicly owned signs.
2. No sign imitating or resembling an official traffic or government sign or signal shall be placed on property visible from any public right of way.
3. No sign shall be constructed or erected so as to create a traffic hazard.
4. No sign shall emit audible sound, odor, smoke, steam, laser or hologram lights.
5. It is the obligation of the owner of every sign within the city to maintain the sign in a good state of repair at all times. A sign which, due to structural weakness, design defect, or other reason, constitutes a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of any person or property, must be repaired, replaced or removed within thirty (30) days of notice from the city.
6. All signs shall be constructed in accordance with applicable building and electrical codes.
7. Abandoned signs or any sign which identifies or advertises an activity, business, service or event which is no longer produced, conducted, performed or sold on the premises where the sign is located is prohibited and must be removed within thirty (30) days of the use being vacated.
C. The following signs are allowed within the R-1 zone in conformance with the size and setback standards set forth:
1. House number signs are required.
2. Real estate signs permitted provided they are no greater than six (6) square feet in size. No real estate sign shall be posted in the public right of way.
3. Nonilluminated signs for a permitted home occupation shall be permitted, not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area and a maximum of four feet (4') in height. Home occupation signs may be wall, freestyle or monument signs and shall meet accessory building setback requirements for this chapter. Signs with a closer setback may be allowed by special use permit.
4. Mobile signs and A-frame signs advertising services or goods for sale shall be permitted on private property during hours of operation for a permitted home occupation, not to exceed six (6) square feet per side.
5. Political signs provided that, such signs shall not be posted in any place or in any manner that is destructive to public property upon posting or removal or creates a traffic hazard. No political sign shall be posted in a public right of way nor shall any such sign be posted on a utility pole. All candidates for public office, their campaign committees or other persons responsible for the posting of campaign material shall remove such material within two (2) weeks following election day.
6. Signs or bulletin boards for a church, school or any other public or religious or educational institution within residential districts shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in size and may be erected not less than ten feet (10') from the right of way line of any street or highway provided such sign or bulletin board does not obstruct traffic visibility at street or highway intersections.
7. Subdivision monument signs are permitted provided they do not exceed thirty two (32) square feet in size, have a maximum height of four feet (4'), and are landscaped around the base of the sign. (Ord. 398, 8-14-2009)