(a) Applicability of Article. Signs as regulated by this article shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same is placed in view of the general public.
(b) Exceptions. The provisions and regulations of this article shall not apply to the following:
(1) Any sign placed on the inside of a building.
(2) Any sign painted or lettered directly on the wall or on the surface of any window or door of a building or other structure.
(3) Name plates or professional signs not over one square foot in area attached directly to the wall of a building or other structure.
(4) Traffic signs or other municipal signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, legal notices and trespassing signs.
(5) Emergency non-advertising signs as may be approved by the Mayor.
(6) Bulletin boards not over eight square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions when such bulletin boards are located on the premises of the institutions.
(7) Nonilluminated real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet in area advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which they are maintained, provided there be not more than one such sign for any street frontage and such sign shall not project beyond property lines.
(8) Signs which are imbedded or set into a building or which are so constructed and erected as to become a part of the building, provided such signs bear only such information as the name of the owner or of the building and the nature of the business.
(9) Tablets constructed of bronze, brass, stone or other incombustible materials when built into or attached to the walls of a building or other structure, provided such tablets bear only the name of the owner, the name or use of the building, the date of erection of the building or reading matter commemorating a person or event.
(10) Signs not in excess of fifteen square feet in area announcing the names of the architect, engineer and contractors of a building under construction, alteration or repair; and signs not in excess of thirty square feet in area announcing the character of the building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended; provided such signs are painted on fences erected as barriers for the work under construction, on the temporary building, on the construction canopy or on the building under construction, and provided also that there be not more than one such sign to each street frontage.
(11) Signs used to advertise public demonstrations or to promote civic welfare to charitable enterprises placed on posts, poles, buildings or other structures when such signs are authorized and approved by Council. No signs shall be attached to poles, buildings or other structures by use of nails, tacks, screws, etc.
(12) Temporary signs used to advertise political meetings or individual candidacies.
(13) Signs of public service companies indicating danger, ownership of property, offices or places where their service is available to the public when such signs are placed flat against the wall of a building or other structure.
(c) Prohibitions.
(1) Obstructions to doors, windows or fire escapes. No sign or structure shall be so erected as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a fire escape or balcony.
(2) Traffic hazard. No sign or structure shall be erected at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color of the sign, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device; or which makes use of the words "STOP," "LOOK," "DRIVE-IN," "DANGER," or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such as manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic; or which otherwise may create a traffic hazard and pose a threat to public safety.
(3) Unsafe signs. No sign or structure shall be so erected so as to create an unsafe condition and pose a threat to public safety.
(4) Paper or fabric signs. No sign painted or printed on paper or fabric shall be posted or otherwise secured to any projecting sign, awning or canopy.
(d) Enforcement. If the Building Inspector or Mayor shall find that any sign or structure regulated herein has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of this article, the Building Inspector or Mayor shall give written notice to the permittee thereof. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within twenty (20) days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector or Mayor at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Building Inspector or Mayor shall refuse to issue a permit to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The Building Inspector or Mayor shall also have the authority to cause any sign or other structure regulated herein which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice. (Passed 11-20-18)