All signs regardless of zoning district or use type, including those identified as exempt in § 154.472(C) are subject to the following regulations.
(B) No sign shall contain pennants, banners, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or similarly fixed or moving devices. Such attention-getting devices, which are similarly displayed, but not attached to or part of any sign displaying a commercial or non-commercial message are likewise prohibited.
(C) No permanent sign shall be located or project into a public right-of-way, except as noted in § 154.475(A).
(D) Electrical wiring serving free-standing signs must be underground.
(E) No permanent free-standing sign may be erected closer than 40 feet to any intersection with the exception of those signs incidental to the legal process and necessary to the public welfare or wall signs attached to the building or businesses closer than 40 feet to an intersection.
(F) All signs erected within 100 feet of any intersection must be constructed so as not to obstruct traffic sight lines.
(G) Signs shall comply with applicable commercial building and electric codes.
(H) Any sign permitted by this chapter which may show severe structural deterioration shall be replaced or removed at the owner's expense upon proper citation by the Zoning Inspector.
(I) All signs associated with a business which has vacated the premises must be removed within 60 days of the date the business ceases to operate on the premises. Freestanding signs that have been vacated or unused for 365 consecutive days or longer shall be removed within 90 days after receipt of notice from the Zoning Inspector ordering the removal of said freestanding sign. For purposes of this section, sign removal involving freestanding signs shall include removal of the sign face; sign frame; the supporting structure; and capping all utilities to the sign at the base or foundation to which the supporting structure was attached.
(J) Plantings arranged so as to spell out a business or building identification, services offered or other commercial or non-commercial message will be considered a sign rather than landscaping and shall be subject to the area and height restrictions for freestanding signs in the zoning district in which they are located.
(K) All permanent window graphics and signs not identified as exempt in § 154.472(C) shall require review and permit approval as per § 154.482. Permanent and temporary window graphics and signs shall not cover more than 70% of the window area. The display area of permanent window graphics and signs shall be included when determining the total sign display area.
(L) Building signs shall not cover more than 30% of the wall area on which it is located and shall not exceed the area allocation as noted in Tables A through E of § 154.486.
(M) No permanent or temporary sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct sight distance along any public or private highway or otherwise create a public nuisance.
(Ord. 117-91, passed 3-17-92; Am. Ord. 130-95, passed 12-29-95; Am. Ord. 98-138, passed 12-1-98; Am. Ord. 04-039, passed 7-20-04; Am. Ord. 07-045, passed 7-17-07; Am. Ord. 13-135, passed 1-21-14) Penalty, see § 154.999