(a) For Sale, Rent or Lease Signs. Signs advertising a property for sale, rent or lease upon which the signs are located are permitted in any district, providing that such signs do not exceed nine square feet of total display surface. Permits are not required for signs of this type.
(b) General Sign Requirements. Requirements for signs which identify a location or advertise goods or services related to the property upon which they are located, are specified with respect to size, type and location in each zoning district.
(c) Requirements for Zoning Permits. Zoning permits are required for all types of new signs as well as for any existing sign modification such as size structural components, illumination, or location.
(d) Modification of Existing Signs and Repair of Damaged Signs. Except for routine maintenance, no existing sign of any type may be modified, changed or altered in any way except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Whenever a nonconforming sign is damaged or partially destroyed for any reason, such that more than half of the value is lost, then such a sign may not be reconstructed and placed in the same location without being made to be in compliance with the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance.
(e) Safety.
(1) Designs. Signs and supporting structures shall be so designed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than forty pounds per square foot of area.
(2) Placement. No sign of any kind shall be attached to or placed upon any building or otherwise located in such manner as to obstruct or interfere with any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind, except for the direction of traffic by the village, shall be attached to, or placed upon poles, trees, or any area of the street right-of-way or the area between the sidewalk and the street.
(3) Content. Signs shall not constitute a traffic hazard and shall not incorporate any word, language, symbol or device or be so designed or otherwise located in such manner which might tend to mislead or confuse traffic.
A. Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting a light of constant intensity, or clear or white colors only and be twenty-five watts or less and no more than 200 watts of illumination of each side of the sign.
B. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
(4) Condition. Signs shall be so kept and otherwise maintained as to prevent deterioration and unsightliness.
(5) Removal. Unsafe signs, unlawful signs, unsightly or dilapidated signs and signs of discontinued businesses may be ordered removed by the Zoning Inspector upon thirty days written notice.
(f) Exempted Signs. The following types of signs do not require a zoning permit and are exempt from these regulations.
(1) The flag, pennant or insignia of any school team, family, nation, sate, city or political unit, or any duly constituted government body;
(2) Cornerstones or official historical signs;
(3) Traffic directional signs., or any sign placed in a location by a duly constituted government body;
(4) Residential identification signs under two square feet in size;
(5) Political signs which are removed within 10 days following a given election;
(6) Signs denoting the name and occupation or profession of occupant of the building not exceeding five square feet and located on the premises, provided, further, however, that in a residential district no such sign shall have any dimension greater than two feet and shall be attached flat against the building.
(g) Maximum Sign Height. The maximum height of any free standing sign in any zoning district shall be ten feet. (Ord. 2000-0-03. Passed 3-13-00.)