§ 153.171 GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS.
   (A)   Billboards. For the purpose of this subchapter, BILLBOARDS, or OFF-PREMISE ADVERTISEMENT SIGN, shall be defined as a freestanding sign advertising a business, commodity, service, activity, or entertainment not taking place on the premises upon which the billboard is located. No new billboards shall be permitted in any zone in the city limits. All existing billboards which are destroyed or damaged to greater than 50% of their replacement value, or which are not maintained in good condition on a continuous basis, shall be given written notice by certified mail to comply with this subchapter in the time frame specified in the written notice.
   (B)   Signs. All signs shall be permanent and fixed in place as provided in this subchapter and/or as specifically identified as permissible.
      (1)   Setbacks. All signs, unless otherwise specified in this subchapter, shall be set back from the established right-of-way of any road or highway at least as far as three-quarters of the required front yard depth for the principal building in the zone in which it is located.
      (2)   Real estate signs. No sign or billboard (off-premise advertisement sign), other than real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or leasing of the premises, shall be permitted in any residential zone except as provided by § 153.172. Said real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area, not more than eight feet above ground, and shall be displayed at least ten feet from all lot lines.
      (3)   Projecting signs. No new projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from the front or face of any building for a distance greater than two feet, including those projecting from the face of any theater, hotel, or motel marquee. No sign shall be placed on the roof of any building. Awnings shall be construed as part of the building to which they are attached and a sign may be mounted flush thereto.
      (4)   Banners and pennants.
         (a)   No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving devices. Such devices, as well as strings of lights, shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention when not part of the sign. The use of banners and pennants for advertising specific sales shall be permitted in commercial districts as temporary permitted signs and shall be posted no earlier than 70 days prior to a specific sale and shall be removed no later than 14 days following said sale, or in the case of an ongoing sale any such banners and pennants shall in no event remain in place any longer than 90 days. The Zoning Administrator shall be notified prior to placement of such banners and pennants. A maximum of two banners per commercial enterprise shall be permitted at one time.
         (b)   Such temporary banners and pennants shall not be posted or displayed in such a manner as to obstruct vision or interfere with traffic flow in any manner. Minimum setback requirements shall apply.
      (5)   Window signs. No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected, or attached in any form, shape, or manner to a fire escape, or any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
      (6)   Wall signs. No building wall shall be used for display of advertising except that pertaining to the use carried on within such building.   
   (C)   Illuminated signs.
      (1)   Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting a constant intensity and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light or lights. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams or illumination to be directed or beamed upon a public street, highway, sidewalk, or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance nor shall any sign be erected or maintained which would involve lighting or motion resembling traffic or directional signals or warnings or display words such as “stop” or “danger.”
      (2)   All wiring, fittings, and materials used in construction, connection, and operation of the electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National Electric Code or the local electric code in effect.
   (D)   Temporary signs. All temporary signs must be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the centerline on the adjacent road or ten feet from the right-of-way of the road whichever is a greater distance from the edge of the pavement and ten feet from any adjoining property. Political signs shall be posted no earlier than 45 days prior to the election and shall be removed no later than 14 days following the date of the election. Yard sale signs may be posted no earlier than seven days prior to the start of the yard sale and must be removed no later than two days following the final day of the yard sale. Under no circumstances shall political or yard sale signs be posted on utility poles or government signs. All violations of this division (D) will be penalized in accordance with this subchapter and KRS 100.991. Provisions regarding the regulation of other temporary signs apply as required in other sections of this subchapter.
   (E)   Government signs. Any official information or directional sign or historic marker erected by a governmental agency is permitted in all zones and does not require a location or building permit.
   (F)   Sign area. The surface area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular geometric form or combinations of regular geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not being advertising matter shall not be included in computation of surface area.
   (G)   Lack of conflict. In no way shall the provisions of this subchapter be taken to be in conflict with any state or federal regulations regarding obstructions or the placement of structures in state or federal rights-of-way. In all cases, the most restrictive provision will apply.
(Ord. 680-00, passed 10-16-2000; Ord. 700-02, passed 12-9-2002; Ord. 743-07, passed 12-10-2007)