§ 152.44 GENERAL AND DISTRICT REGULATIONS.

   (A)   Scope. The regulations in this § 152.44 apply to signs in all zoning districts.

   (B)   Prohibited Signs

      (1)   The following signs are prohibited in all districts:

         (a)   Signs not specifically authorized under this § 152.44.

         (b)   Portable signs, except for temporary traffic control devices in temporary traffic control zones as required by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or portable signs specifically permitted in this § 152.44 (J).

         (c)   Signs designed to resemble official traffic control devices are prohibited in all districts, except signs that are used to control traffic on private property.

         (d)   Abandoned signs.

         (e)   Blank signs.

         (f)   Permanent off-premises signs.

   (C)   Permitted signs.

      (1)   The following signs are required or permitted in every zoning district:

         (a)   An assigned street address marking its property with the street address numerals is required, so that emergency services providers can easily identify the address from the public street. The identification may be on the curb or on the principal building of the property. The size and location of the identifying numerals must be proportional to the size of the building and the distance from the street to the building. In cases where the building is not located within view of the public street, or where the building is located more than 150 feet from the public street, the identifier must be located on the mailbox or other suitable device that is visible from the street.

         (b)   Traffic control devices on private or public property must be erected and maintained to comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices adopted in this state.

         (c)   Permanent and temporary signs required by law or ordinance for regulatory/notification purposes.

         (d)   Permanent freestanding signs on properties with more than 20 parking spaces, provided the signs have a maximum sign area of seven square feet and a maximum height of six feet.

         (e)   Temporary off-premise commercial signs are permitted in all districts, provided the signs comply with the following:

            (i)   must be at least five feet from the edge of a public street and must not obstruct driver visibility at intersections;

            (ii)   are limited to one per parcel of property for the same topic, location, event, or matter;

            (iii)   may only be displayed between 6:00 a.m. on a Thursday and 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday; and

            (iv)   must be no larger than three square feet in area and no higher than six feet above the ground to which it is attached.

         (f)   In all districts, any sign authorized in this chapter is allowed to contain noncommercial copy in lieu of any other copy. For new signs posted with a noncommercial message, the sign fee is waived until such time as the sign is converted to contain a commercial message.

   (D)   Location requirements.

      (1)   Signs may not be located on property without the permission of the property owner.

      (2)   Unless specifically noted otherwise, all signs must maintain a 10-foot setback from all lot lines. The City may require a greater or lesser setback because of public safety reasons which may include the following conditions: vehicle sight distance, distance from intersection, designation of adjacent right-of-way.

      (3)   Signs may not be mounted on a roof surface and may not project above the roof line of a structure if either attached to the structure or cantilevered over the structure.

      (4)   Signs may not be attached to trees or utility poles.

      (5)   Signs may not be located within public right-of-way except for official traffic control devices.

      (6)   Signs may not be attached to fences.

      (7)   Signs may not be located so as to obstruct the vision of pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists traveling on or entering public streets in a manner that presents a hazard to public safety.

      (8)   Signs may not be located so as to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress for any structure.

   (E)   Changeable Messages and Font size.

   A message that is not permanently attached to the sign face but that is not a dynamic display may occupy no more than 50 percent of the actual copy and graphic area. The remainder of the sign must not have the capability to change messages even if not used. Every line of copy and graphics in a sign must be at least four inches in height.

   (F)   Sign Illumination.

      (1)   All illuminated signs must meet the following standards:

         (a)   External illumination on signs must be directed so that the illumination does not interfere with safe traffic operations;

         (b)   Illuminated signs must not be directly oriented to a residential district;

         (c)   No sign may be brighter than is necessary for clear and adequate visibility.

         (d)   No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver with average eyesight or to otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle.

         (e)   No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device or signal.

      (2)   The person owning or controlling the sign must adjust the sign to meet the brightness standards in accordance with the City's instructions. The adjustment must be made immediately upon notice of non-compliance from the City.

      (3)   All signs installed after January 1, 2023 that will have illumination by a means other than natural light must be equipped with a mechanism that automatically adjusts the brightness in response to ambient conditions. These signs must also be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display or lighting if it malfunctions, and the sign owner or operator must immediately turn off the sign or lighting when notified by the City that it is not complying with the standards in this section.

   (G)   Sign Construction and Maintenance.

      (2)   All signs must conform to the following standards.

         (a)   Construction specifications. All permanent signs must be constructed in accordance with the following:

            (i)   the Minnesota State building code;

            (ii)   all electric signs must be approved and labeled as conforming to the standards of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., the United States bureau of standards or other similar institutions of recognized standing. All illuminating elements must be kept in satisfactory working condition or immediately repaired or replaced. Signs that are partly illuminated must meet all electrical requirements for the portion that is illuminated;

            (iii)   all permanent freestanding signs must have self-supporting structures erected on and permanently attached to concrete foundations;

            (iv)   for wall signs, the wall must be designed for and have sufficient strength to support the sign;

            (v)   signs may not be painted on the wall of a building; and

            (vi)   Unless otherwise specified in this section, the maximum angle permitted between faces of a double face freestanding sign is 45 degrees.

         (b)   Sign maintenance and repair. All signs must be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, cleaning and other items required for maintenance of the sign. Vegetation around, in front of, behind, and underneath the base of ground signs for distance of ten feet must be neatly trimmed and free of weeds. Rubbish or debris under or near the sign that would constitute a fire or health hazard must be removed.

   (H)   Removal of Abandoned Signs, Signs in Disrepair and Signs Located in Public Right-of-Way.

      (1)   Abandoned signs and signs in disrepair. An abandoned sign or sign in disrepair is prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the premises within 30 days after notification. If compliance with the provisions of this section is not achieved within 30 days, the City may remove the sign as a public nuisance by following the procedure as specified in § 92.23 of the City Code. If an abandoned sign remains in good condition and without holes or other evidence of disrepair or damage, the sign shall not be considered as abandoned for a period of one year.

      (2)   Signs on public property or within public right-of-way: The City may at any time and without notice may impound signs that have been installed on public property or within public right-of-way or easement. The sign owner may retrieve the signs according to the following:

         (a)   a fee must be paid to the city as established in City Code Chapter 34. For each subsequent impoundment in a calendar year, the specified fee shall be doubled;

         (b)   the sign may be retrieved from a designated impound area during routine business hours and within 15 days from the date of impounding. After 15 days, the City will dispose of the sign; and

         (c)   the City may not be held liable for any damage to impounded signs.

   (I)   Nonconforming Signs.

   Any sign that complied with all applicable laws and ordinances at that time that it was erected but that has been or is made nonconforming due to a subsequently enacted amendment of this City code is governed by § 152.57.

   (J)   District Regulations

      (1)   Residential District.

      Within a residential zoning district, signs are permitted as provided in this subsection. Except as expressly permitted in this subsection, commercial signs are not allowed:

         (a)   Permanent signs, must comply with Table 152.1. In addition:

            (i)   One wall sign is permitted per building.

            (ii)   One freestanding sign is permitted per development. Sign may be single or double-faced. The sign must be perpetually maintained by a homeowners association or responsible property owner.

            (iii)   Internal illumination is not allowed if a sign faces residential properties. External illumination may not include exposed light sources.

Table 152.1 Permanent Signs in Residential District
Property Type	Max. Area	Max. Copy & Graphic Area	Max. Height	Illumination Type	Other
Permanent Wall Signs
Any Residential use***	2 sq. ft.	2 sq. ft.	1 ft.	External only
Conditionally permitted principal use	50 sq. ft. or 10% of the wall in which the sign is located, whichever is less	50 sq. ft. or 10% of the wall in which the sign is located, whichever is less	2 ft.	Internal or External
Permanent Freestanding Signs
Residential**	75 sq. ft. per entrance	30 sq. ft. per entrance	6 ft.	External	Must be located at primary entrance(s), two signs permitted per development
Conditionally Permitted Use****	75 sq. ft.	30 sq. ft.	8 ft.	Internal or External
Public Building and Park	32 sq. ft.	32 sq. ft.	8 ft.	Internal or External	Hours of illumination 6 am to 10 pm only
Athletic Field, with structured seating for 2000 or fewer people	410 sq. ft. per sign face	410 sq. ft. per sign face	35 ft.	Internal only
** Allowed only for single-family developments of at least 6 lots and two-family development with at least 12 dwelling units. *** Sign permit not required. **** Includes educational, religious, institutional, or nursing home uses.

 

         (b)   Temporary non-commercial signs are limited to three per residence and:

            (i)   Must not be illuminated;

            (ii)   May be a maximum of 6 square feet per sign;

            (iii)   Must not be more than 3 feet high; and

            (iv)   Must be located at least 5 feet from the edge of a public street and must not obstruct driver visibility at intersections and must be placed with the consent of the property owner.

         (c)   Temporary commercial signs must comply with Table 152.2. Temporary signs may not be illuminated.

Table 152.2 Temporary Commercial Signs in Residential District
Property Type	Sign Type	Max. Number of Signs	Max. Area	Max. Height	Display Duration
Development Properties
Residential*/**	Freestanding	1 per development	32 sq. ft.	8 ft.	Must be removed When building permits have been issued for 90% of lots.
For Sale or Lease Properties
Residential**	Freestanding	1 per property	6 sq. ft.	6 ft.	Must be removed 7 days after a property is no longer for sale or lease
General Commercial Signage
Conditionally Permitted Principal Use	Banner	1 per property	30 sq. ft.	N/A	Two occasions per calendar year for a maximum of 10 day display for each occasion
* Allowed for low-density developments with at least four lots under development. ** Sign permit not required.

 

      (2)   Commercial Business and Industrial Sign Regulations

         Within the C-1, C-2 and I districts, the following signs are permitted:

         (a)   Permanent signs.

            (i)   Freestanding signs. Signs must comply with requirements of Table 152.3. In addition,

               a)   One freestanding sign is allowed per development, except that a second sign is allowed for properties with drive-thru windows.

               b)   Signs may be single or double-faced.

               c)   Signs may be internally or externally illuminated, except internal illumination is not allowed if a sign faces residential properties. External illumination may not include exposed light sources.

Table 152.3 Permanent Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Business and Industrial Districts
	Pylon Sign		Monument Sign
Principal Structure (gross square feet)	Max. Height	Max. Sign Size	Max. Height	Max. Copy & Graphic	Max. Monument Area
Greater than 400,000	30 ft.	200 sq. ft.	21 ft.	100 sq. ft.	150 sq. ft.
100,000 - 400,000*	24 ft.	100 sq. ft.	21 ft.	100 sq. ft.	150 sq. ft.
20,000 - 100,000	18 ft.	80 sq. ft.	18 ft.	80 sq. ft.	120 sq. ft.
Less than 20,000	15 ft.	60 sq. ft.	15 ft.	60 sq. ft.	90 sq. ft.
Building with multiple screen theater	30 ft.	200 sq. ft.	21 ft.	100 sq. ft.	150 sq. ft.
Second Sign for properties with drive-thru	8 ft.	50 sq. ft.	8 ft.	50 sq. ft.	50 sq. ft.
* For multi-tenant building or limited tenant building with more than 100,000 gross sq. ft. and with 2 or more access points, one monument sign allowed at primary access and second monument allowed at second access; height and graphic limits for second monument are 50% of those in outlined in this table.

 

            (ii)   Permanent Wall signs.

               a)   One permanent wall sign is permitted per exterior wall face.

               b)   Signs must be comprised of individually dimensioned letters, unless all wall signs are incorporated into the architecture of structure and of similar design.

               c)   Signs may be internally illuminated or backlit, except illumination is not allowed if a sign faces residential properties.

               d)   Signs may be located no closer than 2 feet from any lease line.

               e)   Each tenant is permitted one wall sign per tenant exterior wall face, but no more than two total signs. For example, a tenant that occupies a corner or endcap space is allowed two wall signs, whereas a tenant that occupies an interior space is allowed one wall sign. Signage size is regulated under Table 152.4.

 

Table 152.4 Wall Signs, Multi-tenant Building
	Max. Height	Max. Copy & Graphic Area
Horizontal-mounted signs	36 inches for graphic   26 inches for copy	Defined by maximum allowed height and lease lines*
Projecting sign	Must not project above the roofline of building and provide for no less than 8 feet of clearance between the lowest portion of the sign and the grade below.
*Signs may not project out from the face of the building by more than 48 inches.

 

               f)   Temporary Signs. On-premise signs must comply with Table 152.5. Signs may not be illuminated.

Table 152.5 Temporary On-Premise Signs in C-1, C-2 and Industrial Districts
Property Type	Sign Type	Max. Number of Signs	Max. Area	Max. Height	Display Duration
Vacant Properties, During Construction*	Freestanding	1 if property is 3 acres or less	32 sq. ft.	12 ft.	Must be removed 7 days after issuance of a certificate of occupancy
Improved Properties,   For Sale or Lease*	Freestanding or Wall	2 signs if property is over 3 acres in size			Only while property is for sale or lease space is available
					Max. 30 day period to coincide with grand opening
	Banners	1 sign per tenant	30 sq. ft.	N/A	Max. 2 occasions per calendar years with each occasion not to exceed 10 days
General Temporary Signs	Sandwich Signs*/**/***	1 per tenant	12 sq. ft.	4	Allowed during business hours, but must be removed at closing
	Search Light or Inflatable***	1 per development	N/A	N/A	Max. 2 occasions per calendar year with each occasion not to exceed 3 days
	Noncommercial banner or freestanding sign*/****	3 per property	6 sq. ft. per sign,   18 sq. ft. aggregate per property	3 ft.	N/A
*Sign permit not required. ** Sign must be located directly in front the tenant space the sign is associated with and must not reduce sidewalk area to less than 4 ft. in width. *** Sign must be located on the ground. **** Signs must be located at least five feet from the edge of a public street, must not obstruct driver visibility at intersections and must be placed with the consent of the property owner.