(A) Prohibited graphics or signs. The following graphics or signs are prohibited everywhere in this city:
(1) Mobile/portable signs.
(2) Graphics which contain or consist of banners, pennants, streamers, ribbons, strings of exposed light bulbs, spinners or similar devices.
(3) Graphics attached to trees, fences or public utility poles other than warning signs or those graphics issued by public utilities and attached to public utility poles.
(4) Abandoned signs including the posts and other supports which advertise or identify an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises where such graphic is located. If the business or service advertised or identified by a nonconforming sign ceases to be conducted for a period exceeding 90 calendar days, the nonconforming sign shall be classified as an "abandoned sign", and shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having beneficial use of the premises or lot upon which the sign is located within 30 days following receipt of written notice as stated in the Administrative and Enforcement section of this chapter by the Building & Zoning Official concerning its removal. The Building & Zoning Official can take into account the fact that a sign may be resold as part of the sale of a business when presented with documentation depicting such effort should the Building & Zoning Official decide not to send a written removal notice.
(5) Roof-mounted graphics that extends more than three feet above the highest point of the roof.
(6) Off-premises signs except as provided by a special use permit or in accordance with the State Highway Advertising Control Act, ILCS Ch. 225, Act 440, §§ 1 through 16.
(7) Snipe signs.
(B) Permitted graphics. Every graphic enumerated below that complies with the indicated requirements may be erected in any zoning district of this city without a permit, unless indicated otherwise. The area of such graphics shall not be debited against the displaying establishment's sign area allowance:
(1)
Temporary for sale or for lease signs advertising the development of a new residential subdivision shall not exceed 32 square feet or remain more than 90 days after the subdivision is completed or 90% of all lots are sold. Only one such sign per the entire development, posted on the subdivision property is permitted. In commercial and industrial zoning districts, temporary construction signs identifying the architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, and/or announcing the character or purpose of the building but not advertising any product. Only one such sign per building is permitted, not exceeding 32 square feet in area, confined to the site of the construction, and removed within ten working days after construction has been completed.
(2) On-premises directional signs such as signs identifying entrances, exits, parking areas, no-parking areas, restrooms, public telephones, walkways, and similar features or facilities. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area.
(3)
Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government (ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5, § 11-80-17). A maximum of three flags are allowed per establishment or, if residentially zoned, per house.
(4) Governmental or public signs, such as traffic control signs, railroad crossing signs, legal notices, and such temporary emergency signs as may be authorized by the Building & Zoning Official.
(5) House numbers and/or resident-only name signs located on the lot to which the sign pertains. Such signs shall not exceed three square feet in area for single-family dwellings nor six square feet for multiple-family dwellings.
(6) Integral signs, memorial signs or tablets carved into stone or inlaid to become part of the building, and containing such information as date of erection, name of the building, and memorial tributes.
(7) Interior signs located in any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings or interior enclosed/fenced sporting areas.
(8) Property regulation signs such as no trespassing, beware of dog, no hunting, no fishing, etc. Such signs shall not exceed three square feet in area.
(9) Temporary signs.
(a) Temporary event signs may be displayed without a permit, provided that all such signs comply with the following:
1. No more than 15 temporary signs may be displayed no more than six times per year and during a period not to exceed 14 days before the scheduled event or season to which they advertise or are related, and shall be removed within seven days after that event is over or that season has ended.
2. In residential zoning districts, temporary signs shall not exceed eight square feet. In commercial and industrial zoning districts, temporary signs shall not exceed eight square feet if located in a C-1 zoning district; 24 square feet if located in a C-2 zoning district; 32 square feet if located in a C-3 zoning district; 24 square feet if located in a C-4 zoning district; 24 square feet in a C-5 zoning district; and 32 square feet if located in I-1 or I-2 zoning districts.
3. Only one temporary sign per business is allowed on each street frontage.
4. If mounted on a building, temporary signs shall be in weather-resistant permanent frames.
5. Shall not be placed in any of the following locations: on any public property; on any public right-of-way; on any utility pole or tree; on any street or road sign or sign pole; on any other person's property without express verbal permission; and/or in any location that blocks or tends to block sight lines for vehicular traffic.
(10) Residential development identification structures at major entrances designed to identify a residential subdivision, apartment complex, or planned development; containing no commercial advertising; and not exceeding 75 square feet in total area including the monument and located on-premises.
(11) Utility company signs that serve as an aid to public safety or that show the location of public telephones, underground cables, etc.
(12) Historic building signs or plaques containing no advertising and limited to four square feet in area. Applicants desiring a historic sign status shall comply with all requirements of the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
(13) Public signs such as street identification signs, traffic signs, and other public interest signs erected by the city or the State of Illinois.
(14) Home occupation interior or exterior business signs shall not be larger than two square feet in area, unlighted, and installed only on the dwelling building itself.
(C) Residential zone districts. Upon the effective date of this chapter, no signs or other graphics except those listed in the permitted graphics section of this chapter shall be erected in any residential portion of a planned development, planned development district, or in any other residential district.
(D) Commercial and industrial zone districts. No establishment located in any commercial district, any commercial or industrial portion of a planned development, or any industrial district shall display a total area of signs in excess of its sign area allowance as required in the graphic area allowance section of this chapter. Additionally, signs in any commercial district, any commercial or industrial portion of a planned development district or in any industrial district shall conform to the requirements indicated in the divisions below.
(1) Flush-mounted graphics. The total square footage of the flush-mounted graphics area shall not exceed 10% of the total square footage of the building face upon which it is placed. No flush-mounted graphic shall:
(a) Project more than 18 inches from the wall or surface to which it is attached. If such wall or surface is not vertical, the projection shall be measured from the closest point of the wall or surface to the graphic; or
(b) Extend more than three feet above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
(2) Projecting graphics. One projecting graphic per street frontage may be substituted for the flush-mounted graphic. No projecting graphic shall:
(a) Project over a public right-of-way or closer than two feet to the curb or edge of such vehicular way (ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5, § 11-80-14);
(b) Project more than three feet from the building to which it is attached;
(c) Extend below a point eight feet above the ground or pavement;
(d) Extend more than three feet above the roofline of the building to which it is attached (not on top of the roof); or
(e) Exceed 12 square feet in area.
(3) Window graphics. Any commercial, industrial or institutional establishment may display permanent window graphics. Permanent window graphics shall cover no more than 20% of any window or 20 square feet of window, whichever is less. Permanent window graphics shall be debited against the total area of all graphics permitted.
(4) Awning, canopy, and marquee with graphics. Graphics mounted flush against awning, canopy, or marquee shall be considered flush-mounted graphics, and shall comply with the regulations of such. Graphics suspended beneath any awning, canopy or marquee shall be considered projecting graphics, and shall comply with the regulations of such. An awning, canopy or marquee graphic may be painted on directly and shall comply with the graphic area allowances section of this chapter.
(5) Shopping/office center monument graphics. A shopping/office center - as an entity - may erect an identification sign under the provisions of this chapter:
(a) Shopping/office center identification graphics shall not exceed 100 square feet when identifying only the shopping center.
(b) Monument graphics shall not exceed 200 square feet when identifying the shopping/office center and/or tenants.
(c) No shopping/office center shall have more than one monument graphic per street entrance identifying the shopping center and/or tenants.
(d) Tenants identified on the shopping/office center monument graphic shall have the square footage included as part of the tenant's overall allowable signage.
(e) Outlots with street frontage shall be allowed a freestanding graphic under the freestanding graphics section of this chapter. This does not apply to outlots in the C-5 zoning district.
(f) No point of any monument graphic shall project over or intrude into any public right-of-way or private lot line and no monument graphic shall be higher than two feet in the intersection sight triangle.
(g) A monument graphic shall not extend more than the maximum height allowed in the freestanding graphics section of this chapter.
(6) Freestanding graphics.
(a) No establishment in any zoning district may have more than one freestanding graphic on any lot, except in C-3, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts. In these zoning districts, an establishment may have a maximum of two freestanding graphics on any lot, with one freestanding graphic not exceeding the height allowed under the freestanding graphics section of this chapter and one freestanding graphic not extending 25 feet above the ground.
(b) Minimum distance apart for two freestanding graphics on one parcel in C-3, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts: If an establishment in these zoning districts erects two freestanding graphics on one parcel of land and both freestanding graphics are located in the front half or both freestanding graphics are located in the back half of the property, the minimum distance apart shall be one-half of the parcel's street frontage. If an establishment in these zoning districts erects one freestanding graphic on the front half of the property and the other freestanding graphic on the back half of the property, the minimum distance apart shall be one-half of the parcel's depth. The front half of the property shall be determined by the legal address. Under no circumstance shall two freestanding graphics constructed on one parcel in these zoning districts be placed closer than 150 feet apart.
(c) Freestanding graphics shall comply with the following regulations:
1. No point of any freestanding graphics shall project over or intrude on a private lot line, and no freestanding graphic shall be higher than two feet in the intersection sight triangle.
2. No freestanding graphic shall exceed 100 square feet in area or 12 feet in any dimension, except for freestanding graphics in C-3, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts which shall not exceed 300 square feet in area. This paragraph does not apply to shopping center identification graphics.
3. Freestanding graphics shall have a decorative post/pole wrap consisting of comparable construction materials. Any advertising on the wrap will contribute to the total square footage of the sign.
4. Height of sign—districts.
a. When attached to a post or other supports, a freestanding graphic shall not extend more than 80 feet above the ground or pavement in C-3, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts except on those parcels of ground contiguous to U.S. Highway 40 from Alarth Drive to the eastern city limits which shall not extend more than 25 feet above the ground or pavement in C-3, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts.
b. When attached to a post or other supports, a freestanding graphic shall not extend more than 25 feet above the ground or pavement in a C-2 zoning district.
(7) Off-premises signs.
(a) Off-premises signs are permitted on either side of a federal interstate highway for 660 feet from the nearest edge of the right-of-way, in accordance with the State Highway Advertising Control Act, ILCS Ch. 225, Act 440, §§ 1 through 16 and as it may hereafter be amended and which is exempt from this chapter.
(b) Off-premises signs are permitted by special use permit only on Edwardsville Road/Highway 162 and Highway 40 with the following requirements.
1. No such off-premises signs shall be located closer than 300 feet to another off-premises sign, on either side of the roadway.
2. All off-premises signs shall be constructed upon a single pole made of steel or metal of equivalent strength.
3. No off-premises sign shall exceed 25 feet at its highest point.
4. Off-premises signs shall not be permitted within or over the public right-of-way.
5. No more than five off-premises signs are permitted per mile on each side of the roadway. Nonconforming off-premises signs shall be included in this determination.
6. The graphic area allowance for off-premises signs shall not exceed 100 square feet.
7. Other regulations contained in this chapter may also apply to off-premises signs.
(8) Planned development (PD) and planned development districts. Signage shall comply with the city's sign ordinance unless the applicant for a PD district designation elects to submit a "Comprehensive Sign Plan" as defined in the Planned Development section of the Zoning Ordinance. The Planning Commission may recommend, and the City Council may approve, a comprehensive sign plan, which shall be made part of the approved planned development district. The Zoning Ordinance may contain conditions, requirements or standards regarding signs that may be stipulated by the City Council, along with the criteria used to evaluate the sign plan.
(9) Electronic message center signs (EMCS).
(a) An electronic message center sign shall be permitted only as an integral component of a freestanding sign or, to the extent permitted by these regulations, as an integral component of a building sign.
(b) Electronic message center signs (EMCS) may be substituted in place of other permitted signs under this section. Portable or temporary EMCS are prohibited. The EMCS shall be further restricted by the additional standards in this division.
(c) Area. An electronic message center sign shall comprise less than 50% of the overall sign area of the sign structure and shall not, in any case, exceed 32 square feet in area. An electronic message center sign shall be compatible with the design of the sign structure, including width, depth, and color of the cabinet.
(d) Message duration. Advertising messages, information, images and background shall remain in a fixed, static position for a minimum of eight seconds. The change sequence must be accomplished within two seconds or less.
(e) Illumination. The outdoor advertising sign shall have an automatic dimmer (factory set to the illumination intensities as follows) and a photocell sensor to adjust the illumination intensity or brilliance of the sign so that it shall not cause glare or impair the vision of motorists and shall not interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle. The sign shall not exceed a maximum illumination of 7,500 nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours and a maximum illumination of 500 nits between dusk to dawn as measured from the sign's face at maximum brightness. Any external illumination devices shall be effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of a street or highway, or any residential use.
(f) Limitations. No moving, rotating, fluttering, blinking, or flashing elements are permitted. No animation, video, audio, pyrotechnic, or bluecasting components are permitted.
(g) In addition, the following standards shall apply to all EMCS:
1. The EMCS shall contain a default design that will freeze the sign in one position if a malfunction occurs or in the alternative shut down; and
2. The EMCS shall not display any message that moves, appears to move, scrolls, or changes in intensity during the fixed display period.
3. When in the opinion of the Building & Zoning Official an EMCS is proposed for a project or building or within the C-4 zoning district, review and approval of said EMCS shall be conducted by the Planning Commission when determined satisfactorily that the requested EMCS will pose no substantial harm to the historic character of said structure, project or area.
(10) Sign package.
(a) Required. A sign package is required for review by the Planning Commission for the following signs:
1. Electronic message center signs in the C-4 zoning district; or
2. In the opinion of the Building & Zoning Official, any sign can be brought to the Planning Commission for review and approval including projects with multiple buildings or tenants, unique circumstances such as poor visibility or irregularly shaped sites, or when a uniquely creative approach to signage design is proposed.
(b) Specific intent The specific intent of this procedure is to provide a process to evaluate the number, size, location, height, and design of signage within a project on a comprehensive basis to ensure that it is installed as a consistent, integrated component of the development and zoning district.
(c) Submittal requirements. Said sign package shall include:
1. The location of the buildings, structures, or lots on which the signs are to be installed;
2. A site plan of the property involved, showing accurate placement thereon of the proposed signs;
3. Photographs, illustrations, or renderings of the building, site, and/or other signage on the site as required to determine consistency;
4. Other materials or evidence as may be required to demonstrate compliance with the review criteria; and
5. Fees. Filing and review fees as established by the City Council.
(d) Review criteria. Signs within the proposed package may deviate from the number, size, location, height, and design criteria specified by this section for each type of sign, provided that a variance is approved.
(e) Approved sign package. The approved sign package shall be retained on file in the Building & Zoning Department.
(f) Sign permit. A sign permit shall be required to install each sign in the approved package.
(g) Amendment to sign package. Applications to amend any portion of an approved sign package shall be made to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.
(11) Sign walkers. Sign walkers shall be permitted, subject to the following regulations:
(a) Location. Sign walkers, with permission from the property owner and/or jurisdiction, shall be located only on the real property that the business, goods or services are located:
1. At grade level.
2. Prohibited locations: sign walkers shall not be located:
a. Within the public right-of-way;
b. In raised or painted medians;
c. In parking aisles or stalls;
d. In driving lanes or driveways;
e. So that less than a minimum of four feet is clear for pedestrian passage on all sidewalks and walkways, or to cause a hazard to pedestrian traffic;
f. On fences, boulders, planters, other signs, vehicles, utility facilities, or any structure;
g. Within a minimum distance of 20 feet from any other sign walker;
h. In a manner that results in sign walkers physically interacting with motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists; or
i. In the C-5 zoning district.
(b) Display. Signs shall be:
1. Displayed only during the hours the business is open to conduct business.
2. Held, worn or balanced at all times.
(c) Elements prohibited. The following shall be prohibited:
1. Any form of illumination, including flashing, blinking, or rotating lights;
2. Animation on the sign itself;
3. Mirrors or other reflective materials;
4. Attachments, including, but not limited to, balloons, ribbons, speakers; and
5. Noise making devices.
(12) C-4 Downtown Mixed-use zoning district signage. Signage in the C-4 Downtown Mixed-use zoning district shall be subject to the following:
(a) New signs and all physical changes to existing signs in C-4 shall adhere to these regulations, and shall require a sign permit from the city Building & Zoning Department;
(b) Preferred sign types include building-mounted signs that face the street, window signs, projecting signs, and signs on awnings;
(c) Pylon/pole, back-lit, neon, or scrolling LED and digital reader board signs may be permitted in C-4 based on the following considerations:
1. Consistency and compatibility of requested signage with the overall design and architecture of building it is attached to or project it is associated with; and
2. Consistency and compatibility with the intent of the Downtown Mixed-use district.
(d) Wall signs, ground/monument signs, awning signs, canopy signs and blade or projecting signs are permitted following review and approval of the Building & Zoning Official;
(e) Sandwich board signs (or "A-frame" type signs) may be placed on the sidewalk but shall not intrude into a four foot wide pedestrian access route. Sandwich board signs must be removed from the sidewalk at dusk until dawn;
(f) Signs shall not blink, flash, spin or move in any manner;
(g) Two-sided projecting signs that face up and down the street are permitted when meeting the following:
1. Located above the horizontal expression line that defines the ground floor facade;
2. Centered on the storefront or above the entryway;
3. The sign itself shall not be:
a. Greater than 42 inches in width or 42 inches in height;
b. Greater in width than in height;
c. Not extend more than 36 inches from the building face;
d. Provide a minimum ten foot vertical clearance above the sidewalk; and
e. A decorative hanger shall be required for attachment.
(h) Rooftop signs are prohibited;
(i) Sign colors shall relate to and complement the primary colors of the building facade;
(j) Sign design and placement shall fit the character of the building and should not obscure desirable architectural details;
(k) Artistic projecting signs shall be permitted provided they are proportional and complementary to the architecture of the building;
(l) Signage on awnings shall be permitted on the "fringe" portion as long as it is complementary and does not contrast the architecture of the building;
(m) Awnings may be lit from above and/or may feature lighting beneath to illuminate the sidewalk;
(n) Glowing awnings are prohibited; and
(o) Temporary product signage can be placed in display windows but is limited to 20% of the total area of glazing. These signs shall be of professional appearance.
(Ord. 2014-02, passed 1-21-2014; Ord. 2016-05, passed 3-21-2016; Ord. 2020-01, passed 1-21-2020; Ord. 2024-56, passed 9-16-2024)