All signs and advertising or commercial information media erected, constructed or maintained within the corporate limits shall comply with the following regulations.
(a) Ground Sign Boards.
(1) Property owners' consent. No person shall erect, construct or maintain any ground sign board in any block on any public street without the written consent of the owners, or their duly authorized agents, who own a majority of the property frontage on both sides of the street in the block in which the ground sign board is maintained or to be erected, constructed or located. Such written consent shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of any permit for such board by the City Planning Commission.
(2) Fireproofing sign. No person shall erect or construct any ground sign board within the fire limits of the City which is not constructed entirely of fireproof materials.
(3) Height. No ground sign board erected, constructed or maintained within the corporate limits shall be, at any point, over twenty feet above the ground level. However, if the sign is an illuminated one, the lighting reflectors may project not more than six feet beyond the top edge of the board.
(4) Placement of Lower Edge of Sign. Every ground sign board shall be stoutly constructed and anchored in a secure and substantial manner and shall use one of two options in determining the placement of the lower edge of the sign as follows:
A. The lower edge of the ground sign board may rest entirely upon the ground or a base that is an integral part of the sign structure design; or
B. Ground sign board may have an open space of not more than 30 inches. Braces and vertical supports shall be an integral part of the ground sign board design and not merely structural in nature
(5) Upkeep. Any person occupying any vacant lot or premises with a ground board sign shall be subject to the same duties and responsibilities as the owner of the lot or premises, with respect to keeping the same clean, sanitary, inoffensive and free and clear of all noxious substances in the vicinity of such board.
(b) Roof Sign Board.
(1) Projection. No roof sign board shall be placed on the roof of any building as to prevent free passage from one part to another of the roof, or to interfere with any openings in the roof. No sign placed upon the roof of any building shall project beyond the edge of the roof in any direction.
(2) Clearance space. All roof sign boards shall be constructed to leave a clear space of not less than six feet between the roof level and the lowest part of the sign structure, and at least a five-foot clearance between the vertical supports thereof.
(3) Setback. All roof sign boards shall be set back at least four feet from the face of any front, rear or side wall. Lighting reflectors may project not more than six feet beyond the building line.
(4) Construction. All roof sign boards shall be constructed entirely of steel or fireproof materials, including uprights, supports and braces. All roof signs must be constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than thirty pounds to the square foot of area subject to such pressure. When erected upon buildings not constructed entirely of fireproof materials, the bearing places of the sign shall bear directly upon the masonry walls or steel girders which are supported on the masonry walls and intermediate columns in the building.
(5) Height. No roof sign structure having a tight, closed or solid surface shall be, at any point, over thirty-one feet above the roof level. Roof sign structures not having a tight, closed or solid surface may be erected upon fireproof buildings to a height not exceeding seventy-five feet above the roof level and upon nonfireproof buildings to a height not exceeding fifty feet above the roof level, but the portions of such structure covered and exposed to wind pressure shall not exceed thirty-five percent of the area thereof. All such signs shall be thoroughly secured to the building upon which they are installed, erected or constructed, by iron or metal anchors, bolts, supports, chains, stranded cables, steel rods or braces.
(6) Maintenance. Every roof sign and all the supports, braces, guys and anchors thereof shall be kept in repair and, unless made of noncorroding material, shall be thoroughly and properly painted at least once every two years.
(c) Wall Bulletins.
(1) Height and other specifications. No wall bulletin shall extend more than twelve inches beyond the building line of the building to which it is attached, except that lighting reflectors may extend not more than six feet beyond said building line, provided that the reflectors and supports shall, at a distance of twelve inches from said building line, be at least twenty feet above the street or sidewalk level at the lowest point.
(2) Means of attaching bulletins. All wall bulletins must be safely and adequately attached to the building wall by means of iron or metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws.
(3) Blocking exits and openings. No wall bulletin shall be erected as to cover the doors, windows or other openings of any building, or otherwise to prevent or hinder free ingress to and egress from any window, door or fire escape of the building.
(4) Edging. The bottom edges of wall bulletins shall be:
A. Not less than three nor more than four feet; or
B. At least eighteen feet above the street or sidewalk level.
(d) Projecting Signs.
(1) Construction. Every projecting sign must be constructed and braced to withstand a horizontal wind pressure of thirty pounds for every square foot of surface exposed. Every projecting sign shall be securely attached to the building wall by iron or metal anchors, bolts, supports, chains, stranded cables or steel rods.
(2) Extension limits. Signs projecting from the building wall may extend to within one foot of the curb line, provided that the sign shall be not less than ten feet above sidewalk level at its lowest point.
(3) Prohibited placement. No projecting shall be erected on the front, rear or side wall of any building so as to project above the roof or cornice wall or above the roof level where there is no cornice wall.
(e) Marquee and Marquee Signs.
(1) Limited placement. Marquee and marquee signs shall be limited to places of public assemblage. No marquee or marquee sign shall extend beyond the curb line, nor shall its lowest part be less than ten feet above the sidewalk level.
(2) Safety factors. No permit for the construction of a marquee or marquee sign shall be issued until expert opinion is submitted to the effect that the proposed construction provides the necessary safety factor to carry the weight of the marquee, together with the weight of the sign, in addition to the probable weight of any show load.
(3) Attaching signs. Illuminated or nonilluminated signs may be authorized to be attached or affixed to any authorized marquee or marquee sign. Such signs may be attached either on the edges, sides or front, or hung beneath a marquee or marquee sign, provided that the same are securely fixed to the marquee or marquee sign and do not extend more than five feet above nor more than one foot below the marquee or marquee sign.
(f) Other Devices. All other devices for display of outdoor advertising, or giving commercial information, shall be constructed or maintained in strict compliance with the general regulations set forth in Section 1490.02.
(1978 Code §110.03) (Ord. 2015-35. Passed 10-5-15.)