(A) All signs erected or maintained after 1-1-2000, except official, public traffic, and street signs, shall conform with the provisions of this section and other city code provisions. The following regulations shall apply to all signs hereinafter permitted in all zoning districts.
(1) Signs shall not be permitted within the public right-of-way or easements.
(2) Flashing or rotating signs resembling emergency vehicles shall not be permitted.
(3) No sign shall be permitted to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, or opening intended to provide light, air, or access to any building or structure.
(4) Upon notification by the City Council or Zoning Administrator that a sign is rotted, unsafe, or unsightly, the owner of the sign or owner of the property where the sign is located shall remove or repair the sign. If the sign is not removed or repaired, the city shall remove the sign at the owners' expense after notice to the owner of the sign and like notice to owner of the property and hearing thereon.
(5) The owner, lessee, or manager of any ground sign and owner of the land on which the same is located shall keep grass or weeds and other growth cut and shall clean and remove debris and rubbish from the lot on which a sign is located.
(6) Political signs are allowed in any district on private property with the consent of the owner of the property. The signs must be removed within 7 days following the election to which they apply. All political signs of any size may be posted from August 1 until 10 days following the election.
(B) Signs in residential districts shall conform to the following regulations:
(1) A nameplate sign identifying the owner or occupant of a building or dwelling unit, provided the sign does not exceed 2 square feet in surface area. The signs may be illuminated;
(2) A sign pertaining to the lease or sale of the building or property, provided the sign does not exceed 6 square feet in surface area. The signs may not be illuminated;
(3) A temporary sign identifying an engineer, architect, contractor, or product engaged in or use in the construction of a building. This sign may not exceed 4 square feet and must be removed before occupancy of the building. The signs may not be illuminated;
(4) One identification sign not exceed 24 square feet in surface area displaying location information for churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, clubs, libraries, or similar uses. The signs may be illuminated;
(5) Directional, non-illuminated signs not exceeding 2 square feet in surface area displaying directional information for churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, clubs, libraries, or similar uses excluding office or commercial establishments. Each use shall be limited to 1 sign per thoroughfare approach; and
(6) Public street identification signs, traffic signs, and directional signs in any parking area when the signs are necessary for the orderly movement of traffic.
(C) Signs in the commercial districts may be erected in subject to the following provisions.
(1) The total surface area of all business signs on a lot shall not exceed 2 square feet per lineal foot of lot frontage or 10% of the building frontage area or 75 feet in area, whichever is less. Signs may be illuminated.
(2) Advertising sign structures shall be limited to 1 for a lot of 100-foot frontage or less and to only 1 for each additional 100 feet of additional lot frontage.
(3) The advertising structure may not contain more than 2 signs per facing, nor exceed 55 feet in total length.
(4) No advertising sign may be erected within 100 feet of an adjoining residential district.
(5) For corner lots, the frontage used to determine allowable sign area shall be the least dimension along a street, but an equivalent sign area shall be allowed facing the intersecting street.
(6) No sign shall project higher than 6 feet above the height of the building or 32 feet above the average grade at the building line, whichever is greater.
(7) Signs painted on a building shall be governed by the square footage limitations specified in this section. The signs shall be maintained in good condition and shall be repainted, removed, or painted out when, in the opinion of the City Council or Zoning Administrator, they are not so maintained.
(8) Where a sign is illuminated, the source of light shall not be visible from any public right of way, and the light shall be directed away from any residential district.
(9) No signs shall project more than 1-foot perpendicular to the building.
(10) Rotating or flashing signs shall not be permitted.
(D) Signs in the industrial districts may be erected subject to the following.
(1) Advertising sign structures shall be limited to 1 for a lot of 100-foot frontage or less, and to only 1 for each additional 100 feet of additional lot frontage. The structures shall not exceed 55 feet in length. No advertising sign may be erected within 100 feet of a residential district. The signs may be illuminated.
(2) Sign lighting shall not be directed toward public rights-of-way or any residential district.
(3) The total surface area of all business signs on a lot shall not exceed 3 square feet per lineal foot of lot frontage or 20% of the building frontage or 300 square feet in area, whichever is less. The signs may be illuminated.
(Ord. 239, § 1010, passed 1-22-2000) Penalty, see § 10.99