A. Regulation By County: The county will regulate the size, amount and location of signage as provided by this title.
B. Discussed In Comprehensive Plan: Signs are also discussed in the comprehensive plan under the community design section of the plan.
C. Requirements: All signs within the unincorporated areas of the county shall conform to the following requirements:
1. Flags, Rotating Beam, Beacon Or Flashing Illumination: No rotating beam, beacon or flashing illumination that may resemble an emergency light shall be used with any sign display. There shall be no blinking, rotating or moving parts or components on temporary or permanent signs. Signs shall not have pennants, balloons, flags, or portable signs or wheeled trailers. Moving parts is defined as flags, feathers, or other devices that are meant to attract attention or acts as a signal or waves. However, one open flag is allowed per business so long as it is not larger than 3' x 5'.
2. Responsibility To Remove When Use Discontinued: It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property and/or improvements to remove any sign or signs where the associated land use has been discontinued for more than ninety (90) days. If a onetime event, the removal of signs shall take place within seven (7) days after the event closure.
3. Preview Sign: If a preview sign has been erected for a future use, it shall be for a business that has received a conditional use permit to operate and meet the provisions of this chapter. If the use is permitted, the preview sign must also meet the requirements of this chapter.
4. Size: The size shall be not greater than a thirty two (32) square feet per face, for example: that of four feet by eight feet (4' x 8'). Cut out or molded letters, or advertising when applied to buildings, shall not be greater than a thirty two (32) square foot field on the building. In designated city areas, the size can be increased to forty eight (48) square feet per face if located a minimum of eighty feet (80') from the centerline of the highway; or, up to sixty four (64) square feet, if over one hundred thirty feet (130') from the centerline of the highway. The area of all signs shall not be greater than twenty percent (20%) of the area of the side of the building where the sign is attached.
5. Permanent Signs: Permanent signs shall be rural in character and appearance and the materials shall be of wood or stone character or accent. Signs may be painted, sandblasted, carved or constructed by other technically feasible methods. Shiny metal or shiny plastic signs shall not be allowed. Unnatural colors such as neon, fluorescent, etc., shall not be allowed.
6. Design: The design shall incorporate a well thought out layout design with clean lines and an uncluttered appearance.
7. Construction: The sign construction shall be completed in a workmanlike manner.
8. Message: The message may include: service, business, owner name, address, telephone number, a logo, or graphic illustration of the product(s) or service(s) offered.
9. Ground Mounted Signs: On ground mounted signs, the top of the signs shall be mounted not more than ten feet (10') off the ground. If the street/road elevation is greater than the elevation of the mounting site, street/road elevation may be used to determine the height. The total height of the mounting structure shall be no greater than twelve feet (12'). The sign shall be placed a minimum of ten feet (10') from the property line, unless characteristics of the site require less. The intent is to keep the sign within the vision triangle of the motor vehicles. Special attention must be given to the placement of signs near intersecting roads to assure there is no obstruction of vision from any vehicle. Special consideration can be given to the height and placement of the sign when the view of the driver will be blocked, i.e., buses or motor homes, or is subject to damage from snow removal or road maintenance.
10. Number Of Signs Limited: No more than three (3) permanent signs may be placed at a given land use. One sign is allowed on the building. One two-way sign, or two (2) one-way signs facing each direction, is allowed in the land use area.
11. Commercial Malls Or Planned Unit Developments: For commercial malls or planned unit developments (industrial or commercial or a combination of land use), not more than one ground mounted sign structure shall be allowed on each road or street frontage. The sign may be used as a land use and occupant identification sign. A projecting or a swinging sign is not allowed. One sign shall be allowed to be mounted flat to the building front of each shop, store or land use.
12. Placement Upon County Street Or Right Of Way: No sign or sign structure, for any purpose other than approved county, state and federal signs, shall be placed upon any county street or highway right of way. At no time shall any sign be mounted or affixed to any utility pole or structure other than as may be required by the utility owner or law.
13. Mixed Use District: In the county, a mixed use district, buffering impacts of signage will still be a conditional use permit process.
14. Flashing Signs Placed Inside Window: If placed inside a window, flashing signs must be not less than three hundred feet (300') from any residentially zoned lot. Distance shall refer to the linear measurement in any direction with relation to the street that the sign faces.
15. Projection Above Roofline: At no time shall a sign or portions of it be allowed to project above the roofline of the building on which the sign is mounted.
16. Off Premises Or Outdoor Advertising Signs: Off premises or outdoor advertising signs are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of the county.
17. Signs Not Regulated: An application for any sign or advertising display or structure for which no specific regulation appears in this chapter shall receive appropriate planning and zoning and building department staff review as outlined in this chapter and this title, if not exempt.
18. Illumination: Signs may be illuminated by shielded or directed light sources and shall comply with section 9-5B-2 of this title.
19. State Highway 55 Or Byway 55: Any signs placed along State Highway 55 or Byway 55, a scenic byway, must meet the standards of the department of transportation and the county.
20. Off Premises Directional Signs: Off premises directional signs for approved uses, not including subdivisions, can only be located at key intersections in the public right of way. The off premises directional signs can be a maximum of eighteen inches by thirty inches (18" x 30"). They must be placed on four inch by four inch (4" x 4") wood posts, the existing signpost, or breakaway steel posts as approved by the road department. The location of the post in the right of way and height of the sign will be reviewed on an individual basis. In the event that too many signs are located at an intersection, the county can require collocation of signs on any of the posts previously approved or may require consolidation of signs in a standardized kiosk. The road department shall approve all off premises directional signs with regard to public safety, snowplowing, and preservation of the sign. (Ord. 10-06, 8-23-2010; amd. Ord. 21-08, 6-28-2021)