(A) General Regulations of Temporary Signs.
(1) Signs that meet the standards of this section are exempt from the standards for permanent signs and are not counted in the total square footage of permanent signage allowed on any particular property or site. Signs that do not meet the standards of this subsection are subject to the standards for permanent signs.
(2) Unless otherwise stated, a sign permit for temporary signs shall be required for temporary signs that exceed 12 square feet.
(4) Temporary signs proposed to be placed over a public right-of-way shall be reviewed and approved by the Village Administrator.
(5) Except as limited by the standards in § 150.359(E), there is not a limit on the number of temporary signs permitted in this section provided the aggregate total square footage of sign area does not exceed the area allowed in this section.
(B) Standards that Apply to all Temporary Signs.
(1) Temporary signs shall not be posted in any place or in any manner that is destructive to public property including, but not limited to, rights-of-way, utility poles, and public trees.
(2) Temporary signs shall not be mounted, attached, affixed, installed, or otherwise secured in a manner that will make the sign a permanent sign, and shall not require a foundation, support, wiring, fittings, or elements that would traditionally require a building permit or electrical permit.
(3) No temporary sign shall be mounted, attached, affixed, installed, or otherwise secured so as to protrude above the roofline of a structure.
(4) Unless otherwise specifically stated, temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(5) All temporary signs shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent swinging or other significantly noticeable movement resulting from the wind that could pose a danger to people, vehicles, or structures.
(6) Portable signs on wheels, runners, casters, parked trailers, parked vehicles, or other temporary or movable signs shall not be permitted unless otherwise specifically stated in this chapter.
(7) Temporary signs shall be removed or replaced when such sign shows signs of deterioration, such as but not limited to faded colors or lettering, torn or damaged sign face, and rusted stakes.
(C) Temporary Signs in Residential Districts. The following temporary signs are permitted in Residential Districts and the P/OS District, as well as on lots used for residential-only purposes in a business district:
(1) Each lot shall be permitted to erect one temporary sign per dwelling unit provided that no such sign shall be larger than five (5) square feet or a height greater than four (4) feet and the combined area of all temporary signs on the site shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area.
(2) A temporary sign shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from all lots lines and rights-of-way.
(3) Temporary signs shall be limited to yard signs and signs posted in a window subject to the sign-specific standards in § 150.359(E), and shall be displayed for a duration not to exceed forty-five (45) days.
(4) Temporary Signs on Properties for Lease or Sale.
(a) In addition to any other permitted sign, one (1) unlighted temporary sign may be permitted on an individual lot (without a zoning certificate) when the property is being offered for sale or lease. Such sign shall be limited to five (5) square feet or less in sign area and four (4) feet in height, and shall be located on private property.
(b) For properties that are five acres or larger, such temporary sign shall be permitted with a maximum sign area of 24 square feet and a maximum height of eight feet. Such sign shall be set back 10 feet from all lot lines.
(c) Such temporary sign shall be removed within ten (10) days of the completion of said sale (title transfer, lease, or rental).
(5) In lieu of the above regulations, any nonresidential use located in a residential zoning district shall be permitted to have temporary signs with a commercial message in the same size, height, and manner as temporary signs allowed in Nonresidential Districts, pursuant to this section.
(D) Temporary Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts. The following temporary signs are permitted in B-1, B-2, B-3, and M-1 districts:
(1) Up to 12 square feet of temporary signs is permitted year-round, without time restrictions, provided the signs are of the following type, subject to the standards for each specific type of sign:
(a) Temporary A-Frame sidewalk signs.
(i) Sidewalk signs are permitted outside on the sidewalk only during the hours of the establishment’s operation, and shall be stored indoors when the business is closed. There shall be no limit on the number of days sidewalk signs are permitted to be displayed.
(ii) Each business establishment shall be limited to one sidewalk sign displayed at any one time.
(iii) Such sign shall not exceed three feet in height or two feet in width and shall be located within five feet of such business entrance.
(iv) The sign may be located on a public or private sidewalk or walkway provided it is placed on pavement and not in any landscaped areas or on pavement used for vehicles (e.g., driveways and parking lots).
(v) If the sign is placed on a sidewalk or walkway, the sign shall be placed only where the paved sidewalk or walkway width, not including curb top, is at least seven feet wide. The width and placement of the sign shall be such so that there shall be a minimum width of four feet of clear and passable sidewalk or walkway for pedestrians.
(vi) The sign shall be free-standing and shall not be affixed, chained, anchored, or otherwise secured to the ground or to any pole, parking meter, tree, tree grate, fire hydrant, railing, or other structure, and shall not obstruct access to any feature legally in the right-of-way.
(vii) The sign shall be internally weighted so that it is stable and windproof.
(viii) The Village of Swanton shall be held harmless from any liability resulting from accident or injury caused by the placement and/or maintenance of such sign.
(b) Temporary Banner Signs on Private Property.
(i) Banner signs may be attached to a building, fence, or other similar structure, provided such banner sign does not encroach on the public right-of-way.
(ii) Banner signs attached to posts and mounted in a yard or landscaped area shall be regulated as a temporary yard sign.
(iii) The maximum height standard for temporary signs shall not apply to a banner sign but such signs shall not be mounted in a manner that extends above the roofline of a building or the top of the structure on which it is mounted.
(iv) For zoning permit applications related to the establishment of a new use within an existing building where there is existing permanent sign, a banner sign that is installed so to cover the existing sign may be approved for up to 60 consecutive days. Such banner sign shall not exceed the sign area of the permanent sign and shall require a sign permit.
(c) Temporary yard signs.
(i) There shall be a maximum of two faces to the sign, mounted back-to-back.
(ii) The maximum height shall be five feet.
(2) Limited Temporary Sign Allowance. In addition to the temporary signage allowed year- round, each lot in nonresidential districts shall be permitted the use of additional temporary signage on a limited time basis.
(a) Each lot is permitted to have an additional 24 square feet of temporary signs for a period of 30 consecutive days, up to four times per calendar year.
(b) The limited temporary sign allowance may include any of the following sign types subject to any applicable standards established for each sign type in this chapter.
(i) Banner signs;
(ii) Temporary window signs; and
(iii) Temporary yard signs.
(3) Temporary Signs on Properties for Lease or Sale.
(a) In addition to any other permitted sign, each lot shall be permitted one (1) unlighted temporary sign not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area when the property is being offered for sale or lease. Such temporary sign shall be located on private property at least twenty (20) feet from the edge of pavement.
(b) Such temporary sign shall be removed within ten (10) days of the completion of said sale (title transfer, lease, or rental).
(E) Temporary Sign for Properties Under Construction. In addition to any other permitted sign, one (1) unlighted sign not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area may be located and maintained upon a property during active construction, with the issuance of a six (6) month renewable zoning certificate. Such sign shall not be located closer than twenty (20) feet to the road pavement edge.
(Ord. 2023-03, passed 2-27-2023)