These conditions are established as a reasonable and impartial method of regulating advertising structures in order to ensure safe construction to reduce hazards at intersections, and to protect property values of the entire community; the regulations for signs and other advertising structures are as follows.
(A) General regulations in any zoning district. In any zoning district where signs are permitted, the following general regulations shall apply.
(1) No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where by reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color it may obstruct or interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic-control sign, signal, or device. No sign shall be erected in any position where it obstructs, or physically interferes with, the driver’s view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
(2) No illuminated sign where the light source moves or is not of constant intensity and color, or where any light bulb can shine directly into the eyes of any occupant of any vehicle traveling upon any highway, driveway, or parking area or into any window of any residence within 300 feet, or where the illumination interferes with the visibility or readability of any traffic sign or device, shall be permitted. This shall not be applied to prevent the erection or maintenance of signs, which convey changing information, such as time or temperature, by words, letters, or pictures represented by lights of uniform color on a black background.
(3) No illuminated sign shall be permitted within 50 feet of property in any Residential District unless the illumination of such sign is so designed that it does not shine or reflect light onto such property.
(4) No billboard or advertising sign shall be erected to exceed 20 feet above the ground level or 50 feet in length. The bottom coping of every ground sign shall be at least three feet above the ground or street level.
(5) All roof signs shall be so constructed as to leave a clear space of not less than six feet between the roof level and the lowest part of the sign. No portion of any roof sign shall project beyond an exterior wall. No roof sign shall be at any point over 24 feet above the roof level. Roof signs shall not exceed the height limit of the zoning district.
(6) Billboards and other similar outdoor advertising structures shall be erected or placed in conformity with the side and rear yard requirements of the district in which located; however, no billboard shall be erected or placed closer than within 100 feet of any Residential District, and it shall be setback from the established right-of-way line of any street or highway at least as far as the required front yard depth for a principal use in such district; and for every square foot by which such billboard exceeds 100 square feet such setbacks shall be increased by one-half foot but not to exceed 300 feet.
(7) No advertising sign shall be located in any area designated by the Common Council as one of scenic beauty or historical interest.
(8) No building walls shall be used for display of advertising, except that pertaining to the use on the premises.
(9) Temporary signs may be erected or posted for a period not to exceed 60 days. Any sign posted for a longer period must meet the requirements for permanent signs. No temporary sign shall exceed 150 square feet in area.
(10) A sign shall not be suspended across public streets or other public places, except as permitted by the Common Council.
(11) No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly-owned signs, such as traffic-control signs and directional signs.
(12) Signs erected and overhanging any sidewalk must be placed at least nine feet above the sidewalk and may extend over the sidewalk a distance equal to two-thirds the width of the sidewalk, but in no case exceeding ten feet. This regulation does not imply any authority to grant the use of the public domain for private advertising.
(13) Pole signs shall be not over 30 square feet in area and shall be located not closer than ten feet to any street right-of-way line and five feet from any other property line.
(14) Professional signs for home occupations, where permitted, shall not exceed three square feet in area, provided such sign is a wall sign attached to the building.
(15) The area of a sign shall be determined by the smallest circle, triangle, or rectangle that can be used to enclose the sign, exclusive of supporting members that bear no message. A sign designed to be viewed from two opposite directions shall be considered as one sign, provided that the two sign faces shall not be more than two feet apart if parallel, nor form an angle of more than 90 degrees if angular. Where more than one sign is permitted on a lot, the net sign area shall be the sum of those signs designed to be viewed from one direction, and such signs shall be not less than 20 feet apart.
(B) Residential Districts regulations. In Residential Districts, the following regulations shall apply.
(1) For single-family and multi-family dwellings, nameplates not to exceed two square feet in area shall be permitted for each dwelling unit, and such nameplates shall indicate nothing other than the name and/or address of the occupants, premises, announcement of boarders, or customary home occupation.
(2) For multi-family and group dwellings, identification signs not to exceed nine square feet in area shall be permitted, and such sign shall indicate nothing other than the name and/or address of the premises, and the name of the management. Such sign shall be attached flush with the principal building and may have indirect illumination.
(3) For announcement of church, school, or public building, bulletin boards or identification signs, not to exceed 30 square feet in area, shall be permitted, and such bulletin boards or identification signs shall indicate nothing other than the name and/or address of the premises, and schedule of services or other information relevant to the operation of the premises. Such sign shall be located not closer than one-half the required setbacks and may have indirect illumination.
(4) Only one sign per street frontage shall be permitted.
(5) Flashing or intermittent illumination is prohibited.
(6) Billboards and other advertising structures are prohibited.
(C) Commercial/Industrial District regulations. In the Commercial/Industrial District, the following regulations shall apply.
(1) For public recreation uses, community facilities, and medical facilities, bulletin boards or identification signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(2) For gasoline service stations, two pole signs not exceeding 30 square feet each in surface area. Other business signs, the aggregate area of which does not exceed one square foot for each one lineal foot of lot adjoining a public street.
(3) For other permitted principal uses, business signs shall be permitted as incidental uses not to exceed the number of signs, nor to exceed the net area for all such signs permitted as follows.
(4) Business signs not to exceed two square feet of surface for each one lineal foot of lot fronting on a public street, but in no case shall the surface area be limited to less than 50 square feet. All signs shall be mounted either on buildings or on sign display devices affixed permanently to the ground. All signs shall be located not closer to any property line than one-half the required setbacks.
(D) Permitted signs in any district. In any district, the following signs shall be permitted.
(1) For each permitted or required parking area that has a capacity of more than four cars, one non-illuminating sign, not more than two square feet in area, designating each entrance to, or exit from, such parking area, and one non-illuminating sign, not more than nine square feet in area, identifying or designating the conditions of use of such parking area.
(2) One non-illuminated “For Sale” or “For Rent” sign, not exceeding four square feet in area advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which the sign is located. A larger sign shall be permitted for two or more lots in single ownership or for properties in excess of 100 feet in width, provided that the area of such sign shall be increased on a graded scale of one square foot increase in area for each additional five feet of frontage over 100 feet, but in no case shall the sign exceed 200 square feet. Such sign shall be a ground or wall sign and located not closer than 20 feet from the street line.
(3) For each real estate subdivision that has been approved in accordance with the ordinances of the city, one sign not over 100 square feet in area, advertising the sale of property in such subdivision. Such sign shall be permitted only when located on some portion of the subdivision being advertised for sale and shall not encroach upon any required yard. Such sign may be illuminated, but no flashing, intermittent, or animated illumination is permitted. Such sign shall be maintained only during such time, as some portion of the land is unsold. Permits for such sign shall be issued for a one-year period and may be renewed for additional one-year periods.
(4) For construction on, or development of, a lot, one sign, not more than 12 square feet in area, giving the names of contractors, engineers, or architects, but only during the time that construction or development is actively underway.
(5) Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency.
(6) For special events of public interest, one sign, not over 24 square feet in area and located upon the site of the event. Such sign shall not be erected more than 30 days before the event in question and shall be removed immediately after such event. Also directional signs, not more than three square feet in area, showing only a directional arrow and the name of the event of public interest. Such sign shall not be erected more than ten days before the event in question, and shall be removed immediately after such event.
(E) Unsafe and unlawful signs. The following regulations shall apply to unsafe and unlawful signs and for the maintenance of signs whenever it shall appear to the Building Inspector that any sign has been constructed or erected, or is being maintained, in violation of the terms of this section, or is unsafe or insecure, such sign shall either be made to conform with all sign regulations as provided by this section or shall be removed within ten days after written notification thereof by the Building Inspector. Such sign shall be removed at the expense of the owner or lessee thereof.
(Prior Code, § 152.059)