A. Construction Standards:
1. Applicable Regulations: All signs erected in the city after April 12, 1995, shall comply with the current standards of the National Electrical Code, and adopted building code, all provisions of this chapter and any other applicable provisions of this title or other applicable regulations.
2. Engineering Required: All sign permit applications for freestanding signs shall be engineered to conform with the applicable provisions of the adopted building code and, where required by the building official, shall be accompanied by an engineering drawing stamped and signed by a structural engineer licensed by the State attesting to the adequacy of the proposed construction of the sign and its supports.
B. Ownership Shown on Signs: The name of the sign owner and sign erector of all signs shall be in plain and public view. Signs not carrying such an imprint will be presumed to be owned by the owner of the property on which the sign is located.
C. Clearance Between Sign and Ground: A minimum clearance of eight feet (8') shall be provided between the ground and the bottom of any pole, projecting sign or flag.
D. Signs Not to Constitute a Traffic Hazard: No sign shall be erected along any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where by reason of its position, shape, color or words, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or block visibility for driveway ingress or egress. (See also Subsection 21A.46.060.B of this chapter.)
E. Repair of Building Facades: A building facade damaged as the result of the removal, repair, replacement or installation of any signs shall be repaired by the property owner within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the damage.
F. Maintenance of Signs: Every sign shall be kept in good maintenance and repair. The ground space within a radius of ten feet (10') from the base of any freestanding sign shall be kept free and clear of all weeds, rubbish and flammable material. The building official shall inspect and enforce this section pursuant to the provisions of Section 21A.46.150
of this chapter.
G. Sign Removal: The sign face identifying a discontinued use on the property shall be removed from the property when the use is discontinued. The removal of nonconforming signs shall be regulated by Section 21A.46.140.
H. Lights and Lighted Signs: No spotlight, floodlight or lighted sign shall be installed in any way which will permit the rays of such sign's light to penetrate beyond the property on which such light or lighted sign is located in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance. Signs alleged to be a nuisance, by reason of light, by the neighboring property owners or tenants shall be subject to the zoning administrator's review to consider the validity of the nuisance complaint. If the sign is determined to be a nuisance, by reason of light, by the zoning administrator, the owner of the sign shall be required by the zoning administrator to take the appropriate corrective action.
I. Height and Elevation of Building Signs: The height and elevation of building signs shall conform with the following provisions:
1. Awning Signs: Awning signs shall not be located above the second floor level of the building.
2. Flat Signs: Flat signs may extend a maximum of two feet (2') above the roofline or parapet wall of the building on which they are located.
3. Marquee and Canopy Signs: Marquee and canopy signs shall not be located above the main entry level of the premises.
4. Nameplates: Nameplates shall not be located above the first floor level of the building.
5. Projecting Building Signs: A projecting building sign shall not exceed the top of the vertical building wall on which it is located.
6. Projecting Business Storefront Signs: A projecting business storefront sign shall be located at the main pedestrian entry level of the building.
7. Projecting Parking Entry Signs: A projecting parking entry sign shall be located at the parking entry level of the building.
8. Roof Signs: The height of the sign face of roof signs shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the height of the building or ten feet (10'), whichever is less.
9. Wall Signs: Wall signs may extend to the top of the vertical building wall.
10. Window Signs: In the RB, RO, R-MU, CN and CB districts only, window signs shall not be located above the first floor. In other districts where window signs are allowed, they may be located on all floors.
11. Outdoor Television Monitor: Shall not be located above the second floor of the building.
J. Signs on Public Property: Except for portable signs authorized pursuant to Section 21A.46.055 of this chapter, no sign shall be located on publicly owned land or inside street rights of way, except signs erected by permission of an authorized public agency, or the city pursuant to the city's right of way encroachment policy.
K. Extension of Building Signs: The following building signs shall be allowed to extend beyond the face of buildings or structures in conformance with the following provisions:
1. Flat Signs: A flat sign, with no copy visible from the sides, may extend a maximum of two feet (2') from the face of the building, even when the extension extends over the public right of way, subject to the city's right of way encroachment policy.
2. Projecting Building Signs: Projecting building signs may extend a maximum of four feet (4') from the face of the building but shall not extend over a public right of way, unless such projection complies with the city's right of way encroachment policy.
3. Awning/Canopy and Marquee Signs: As authorized in other sections of this chapter.
L. Roof Signs: Roof signs shall conform to the following standards:
1. The height of the sign face of roof signs shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the height of the building or ten feet (10'), whichever is less;
2. No guywires, braces or secondary supports visible from the ground shall be used;
3. Roof signs shall be designed to appear as extensions of the exterior building wall as shown in Figure 21A.46.020 of this chapter or be located on the elevator/mechanical penthouse or, on buildings taller than one hundred feet (100'), may be located on blank walls at the highest inhabitable level; and
4. Roof signs shall not exceed the maximum permitted height for the zoning district in which it is located.
M. Marquees: Marquees designed to project over public property shall:
1. Frontage Requirement: Extend across a major portion of the building entrance.
2. Height Limitation: Be located on the main entry level of the premises.
3. Thickness: Have a vertical face height or cross section dimension not exceeding three feet (3').
4. Clearance: Have a clearance of at least ten feet (10') above the sidewalk.
5. Projection: Extend a maximum of twelve feet (12') from the face of the building but must not project closer than two feet (2') to the back of the curb.
6. Location: Be so located as not to interfere with the operation of any exterior standpipe or to obstruct the clear passage of stairways or exits from the building.
7. Shelter: In order to provide pedestrian shelter, a marquee shall have its first six feet (6') of projection form a rectangle with the sides ninety degrees (90°) to the building face and the plane at least six feet (6') from the building parallel with the front property line. The remaining projection of the marquee can assume a configuration compatible with the architecture of the building.
N. Marquee Signs: Signs attached to an approved marquee, as specified in Subsection N of this section, may extend over public property a maximum of twelve inches (12") from the face of the marquee. Copy is allowed on the sides of the marquee. Signs placed within or below the ceiling of a marquee shall not extend beyond the marquee face and shall be placed within the vertical plane of the marquee. Within a commercial or downtown district, a permanent sign or letters may be attached to the top of, or fascia of, or within or below the ceiling of an approved marquee, subject to the following standards:
1. Vertical Dimension: Overall vertical dimensions of the combined sign and marquee shall not exceed five feet (5').
2. Height of Sign: The height of the sign or letters shall not exceed two feet (2').
3. No Side Copy: Signs attached to marquees shall have no copy on the side portion of the sign.
4. Clearance: Signs attached to marquees shall maintain the minimum ten foot (10') clearance required for the marquee.
O. New Development Sign: New development signs shall be permitted during construction through initial occupancy of ninety five percent (95%) of floor space for a nonresidential development and through ninety five percent (95%) initial unit occupancy for a residential development. New development signs shall be removed upon two (2) years of use, regardless of the level of occupancy. See Sections 21A.46.080 through 21A.46.120 of this chapter for zoning district limitations on size, height and location of new development signs.
P. Temporary Signs: Temporary signs shall comply with the following standards:
1. Required Setback: All temporary signs shall be set back five feet (5') from all property lines, except where displayed as building signs on buildings set back less than five feet (5') or where the sign setback is otherwise specified in this title.
2. Display Period and Removal: Temporary signs shall be permitted in accordance with the standards set forth below for display period and removal, unless specified otherwise in this title:
Sign Type1 |
Display Period | Removal Required 3 Days After |
Sign Type1 |
Display Period | Removal Required 3 Days After |
Construction impact area mitigation sign | Per city guidelines2 | Per city guidelines2 |
Construction sign | Duration of construction | Completion |
Garage/yard sale sign | 2 sales per year (7 days maximum per sale) | End of sale |
Political sign | No limit | Election/voting day |
Public event banner (on public property) | Per city guidelines | Per city guidelines |
Real estate sign | Duration of listing | Closing/lease commencement date |
Special event | Duration of event | End of event |
Vacancy sign | Duration of vacancy | Date of lease or of purchase and sale contract |
Notes:
1. See Sections 21A.46.080 through 21A.46.120 of this chapter for zoning district limitations on the size, height and location of temporary signs.
2. See Section 21A.46.180, "Construction Impact Area Mitigation Signs", of this chapter.
Q. Flags of Fraternal, Religious or Civic Organizations: Flags of fraternal, religious and civic organizations are permitted as on premises signs, but shall not exceed thirty (30) square feet in area.
R. Official Flags: Official flags shall not project over a property line, except within the D-1 and D-4 Zoning Districts, where official flags are allowed to project up to eight feet (8') across the property line, but not within two feet (2') of the curb line. The pole support must be attached directly to the building and located so that all portions of the flag clear the pedestrian level of the building. Flags shall not interfere with street trees, light poles, utility lines, etc., and shall maintain a ten foot (10') clearance from the sidewalk.
S. Freeway Height Exception: The height of on premises pole signs located on properties adjacent to I-15, I-80, I-215 and the 2100 South Expressway (State Route 201) may be increased to a height of twenty five feet (25') above the pavement grade of the adjacent freeway if the sign is freeway oriented and located within three hundred feet (300') of the freeway.
T. Freeway Frontage: Freeways shall be considered street frontage for signage purposes, except for monument signs. Pole signs approved on freeway frontage shall be limited to seventy five percent (75%) of the maximum size allowed for the zone. Reduced size pole signs shall be interchangeable with other pole signs on the same site.
U. Historic District Signs: The historic landmark commission may authorize, as a minor alteration modification to an existing sign or the size or placement of a new sign in a historic district or on a landmark site, including placement of a sign type not allowed in the underlying zone, if the applicant can demonstrate that the location, size and/or design of the proposed sign is compatible with the design period or theme of the historic structure or district and/or will cause less physical damage to the historically significant structure. If a sign in a local historic district or on a landmark site has been designated a vintage sign as per Section 21A.46.125 of this chapter, the modifications allowed in that section may be authorized by the historic landmark commission subject to the appropriate standards of Section 21A.34.020 of this title.
V. Sign Area Determination: Sign face area square footage shall be determined as follows:
1. Flat Signs (Excluding Letter Signs and Backlit Awnings) and Wall Signs: The entire surface of the sign face shall be measured.
2. Backlit Awnings and Letter Signs: A polygon, not to exceed eight (8) sides, shall be drawn around the copy area to enclose as nearly as possible the space covered by the copy.
3. All Signs: Words, symbols, letters, images, logos and all other designs that are intended to convey a message shall be included in calculating the sign face area. Colors, stripes and other designs that are not intended to convey a message shall not be included. (Ord. 64-24, 2024: Ord. 44-23, 2023: Ord. 64-21, 2021: Ord. 45-18, 2018: Ord. 17-14, 2014: Ord. 73-11, 2011: Ord. 62-09 § 2, 2009: Ord. 77-08 § 1, 2008: Ord. 5-05 § 4, 2005: Ord. 13-04 § 23, 2004: Ord. 78-03 § 4, 2003: Ord. 62-03 § 1, 2003: Ord. 61-00 §§ 3 - 6, 2000: Ord. 53-00 § 4, 2000: Ord. 88-95 § 1 (Exh. A), 1995)