The following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign uses.
(a) Signs shall be constructed of durable material, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
(b) No sign shall be placed in such a position so as to cause a danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
(c) No sign, other than an official traffic sign, shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street, except as permitted by § 1346.06 for a “projecting sign” or an “awning sign”.
(d) No sign shall project over a public sidewalk area, except as permitted by § 1346.06 for a projecting sign” or an “awning sign”.
(e) No sign shall be painted or posted on a tree, stone, cliff or other natural object.
(f) Signs shall not attempt to direct the movement of traffic or interfere with, imitate or resemble any official sign, signal or device.
(g) Signs shall not prevent the driver of a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view of approaching or merging traffic.
(h) No sign or portion thereof, including lights, shall be permitted in any district when, by reason of its design, intensity, color, location or movement, it may interfere or cause confusion with traffic lights, signals or other controls or otherwise interfere with the operation of vehicles upon a public thoroughfare. Signs may be internally or externally illuminated, except as further restricted by city ordinances.
(i) (1) Animated signs are prohibited except public service signs such as time and temperature, revolving or changeable message signs.
(2) Existing signs not in conformance herewith shall be made to comply within five years from the effective date of this section.
(j) A permit shall be required for the erection or structural alteration of billboards or advertising signs.
(k) All signs shall be removed by the owner of the sign within 30 days when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
(l) All signs with a clearance of less than six feet above grade shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the face of any curb abutting a street or ten feet from the property line abutting any street, whichever distance is shorter.
(m) No wall sign shall extend above the top of the wall, nor beyond the left or right extremity of the wall to which it is attached nor shall it extend or project more than 18 inches from the wall upon which it is attached.
(n) (1) If the Building Official finds that any sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, he or she shall give written notice to the permittee thereof.
(2) If the permittee fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within ten days after such notice, such sign may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Official at the expense of the owner of the property on which it is located.
(3) The Building Official may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is in immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
(o) (1) No person, firm or corporation shall install, erect or maintain any sign or medium of display or advertising, electric or otherwise, without first filing with the Building Official a surety bond in the sum of $5,000. Such bond shall be approved by the Building Official and shall be conditional for the installation and erection of signs in accordance with city ordinances and state laws, and shall provide for the indemnification of the city for any and all damages or liability which may accrue against it by reason of faulty installation, erection, demolition, repair, removal, defects in or collapse of any sign for a period of one year after erection and for such period of time that the sign is maintained or serviced by or under the direction of the maker of such bond. Such bond shall further provide for the indemnification of any person, firm or corporation who, while on public property or in any public place, incurs damage for which the principal named in the bond is legally liable.
(2) In lieu of executing and filing a bond under this section, the applicant may file with the City Treasurer a certificate of an insurance company duly authorized to do business in the state that there is in effect an insurance policy in an amount equal to the penal sum required if a bond were filed, insuring the applicant and the city against any and all claims for personal injury or damage to property that in any way resulted from such a sign or marquee. The certificate shall also state that the policy shall not be canceled or in any manner amended, changed or altered without giving the City Treasurer ten days’ written notice thereof.
(3) All of the provisions of city ordinances and of this section applicable to bonds to be filed under this section shall be applicable to any certificate in accordance with the provisions herein.
(Ord. 5745, approved 4-16-1998)