(A) (1) All sign illumination shall be from the interior or from top mounted, downward directed floodlight projection.
(2) Signs may not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and sunrise, unless the use they advertise is open to the public during those hours.
(3) If illumination is provided, all lights must be installed and used in conformance with § 17, Lighting, of this zoning code.
(4) A banner sign may only be illuminated if it is installed over a legally lighted sign.
(B) No sign shall rotate or simulate movement by means of fluttering, spinning or reflective devices.
(C) (1) No sign may encroach upon or overhang any adjacent property.
(2) No sign shall be attached to any tree.
(3) No sign shall be attached to any utility pole, light standard or any other public facility and no sign may be placed in any public right-of-way without the approval of the town and the government with jurisdiction.
(D) Canopy signs shall not project above the canopy; signs attached to a building shall not project above the eave line, except as approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(E) The square footage of a sign made up of letters, words or symbols within a frame shall be determined from the outside edge of the frame itself. The square footage of a sign composed of only letters, words or symbols shall be determined from imaginary straight lines drawn around the entire copy or grouping of such letters, words or symbols. Only those portions of the construction elements that are an integral part of the sign itself shall be considered in the allocation of square footage allowed.
(F) All signs shall be structurally safe and shall be maintained in good condition in the opinion of the Town Manager or designee. Furthermore, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the land and/or improvements to remove any sign or signs on premises where the use has been discontinued for a period of six months. The Town Manager or designee may allow the owner of the land and/or improvements to remove the sign message in lieu of removing the structure that contains the sign message.
(G) (1) All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors shall be kept in good condition.
(2) The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times. Also, all weeds shall be removed periodically as necessary.
(3) The Town Manager or designee may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Town Building Code.
(H) No cloth, paper, plastic or similar advertising signs, banners or devices other than in rigid frames shall be permitted, except as permitted herein.
(I) For retail commercial uses in any zone where such uses are listed as permitted or conditional uses, window signs may be permitted. Signage exceeding 25% of the window area is prohibited. Window signs above the ground floor shall be considered equivalent to a wall sign and shall be included in the overall signage calculation.
(J) No roof signs shall be permitted. However, where no building setback is provided, roof signs may be permitted, subject to the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(K) Projecting signs shall not extend out more than 32 inches from the wall to which they are attached and shall not exceed ten square feet in area. A minimum of eight feet of clearance between the ground and the bottom edge of the sign shall be provided.
(L) No person shall exhibit, post or display upon any sign or wall any statement, symbol or picture of an obscene nature.
(M) No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, modify or relocate any sign in the town without first obtaining a building permit, as applicable, for each such sign. Where said sign is electrical or illuminated by electricity, a separate electrical permit shall be obtained.
(N) The following signs shall not require a sign permit: real estate for sale, rental and open house signs (see § 16.4(A)(2)), residential nameplates (see §§ 16.5(A) or 16.6(A)(1) as applicable) and residential construction signs (see § 16.4(A)(2)(c)). A sign permit shall be obtained for all other signs prior to their installation.
(O) Signs shall not blink, flash or be animated by lighting in any fashion.
(P) The operation of searchlights or similar lighting sources for advertising, display or any other commercial purpose is prohibited.
(Q) No sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device or obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic. A clear sight triangle shall be maintained at all street intersections and driveway entrances. Such clear sight triangle shall be determined by measuring 25 feet along each property line at street intersections, and along the property line and the driveway for driveway entrances. Signs that are to be located in such clear sight triangle shall not exceed three feet in height.
(R) Signs that are placed on gasoline pumps or on spanners above gasoline pumps that do not exceed one- quarter square foot in area shall not be counted toward the maximum number of wall signs allowed for each use. One such sign may be placed on each side of a gasoline pump or spanner. If such signs exceed one-quarter square foot in area they shall be considered wall signs and will be counted toward the maximum number of wall signs allowed for each use.
(S) Fluorescent signs or signs with fluorescent lettering, illustrations or features are prohibited.
(T) The base of a freestanding sign shall be located in a planter box or other landscaped area.
(U) Sign height:
(Ord. 2012-04, passed 12-5-2012)