(A) Regulations applicable to signs in all districts. The following provisions apply and govern in all districts.
(1) No sign shall be erected or maintained unless it is in compliance with the regulations for the district in which it is located.
(2) No sign shall be erected or continued in operation which in any manner constitutes a nuisance because of glare, focus, animation or flashing.
(3) All signs hereafter erected, constructed or modified shall comply with sign setback requirements of the districts in which they are located.
(4) No sign shall be attached to any utility pole, tree, hedge or shrub.
(5) No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
(6) No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of its position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any traffic signal or device; or which makes use of the words, “stop”, “look”, “drive-in”, “danger” or any other phrases, symbols or characters in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(7) No person shall display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
(8) No sign shall be erected or maintained in any R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, PD-I, PD-2, PD-3 or AG Zoning District unless the sign complies with all of the following conditions.
(a) It is erected and maintained for a permitted use for the district in which the sign is located.
(b) It is clearly incidental and customary to, and commonly associated with, the operation of the use.
(c) It is limited in location to the premises on which the use is located.
(d) It is limited in subject matter to the name, design, picture or trademark of the owner, operator, builder, sales agent, managing agent, lessor or lessee of the premises or of the activities (including merchandise handled or services rendered) on the premises on which such sign is located, and does not include any general commercial advertising unrelated to or extending in substantial degree beyond the enumerated permitted subjects.
(9) No sign shall be located on or over a public right-of-way, except as allowed by this chapter.
(B) Exemptions. The provisions and regulations of these zoning regulations shall not apply to the following signs when maintained on private property, provided they are not illuminated nor animated and that there is not more than one such sign per use per each street front of the lot on which the sign is located:
(1) Real estate signs not exceeding four and one-half square feet in area that advertise only the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which such signs are located;
(2) Professional or occupational nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area;
(3) Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or multiple dwelling and not exceeding two square feet in area;
(4) Construction signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed upon work under construction, and not exceeding four square feet in area, to be removed upon completion of the building;
(5) Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and dates of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials and when not exceeding two square feet;
(6) Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs and such temporary emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be authorized by Village Council;
(7) Political signs, provided that:
(a) They are not more than four and one-half square feet in area; or
(b) They are not posted more than 60 days prior to the election to which the sign relates and are removed within seven days after the election to which the sign relates.
(8) The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit, or any political, educational, charitable, philanthropic, civic, professional, religious or like campaign, drive, movement or event.
(Prior Code, § 1288.04) (Ord. 652, passed 11-8-1999)