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Windsor Heights Overview
Windsor Heights, IA Code of Ordinances
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA CODE OF ORDINANCES
ORDINANCES PENDING CODIFICATION
SUPPLEMENT RECORD
CHAPTER 1 CODE OF ORDINANCES
CHAPTER 2 CHARTER
CHAPTER 3 BOUNDARIES
CHAPTER 4 MUNICIPAL INFRACTIONS
CHAPTER 5 OPERATING PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 6 CITY ELECTIONS
CHAPTER 7 FISCAL MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 8 URBAN RENEWAL
CHAPTER 9 HOTEL-MOTEL TAX
CHAPTER 10 DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR CITY EMPLOYEES
CHAPTER 11 URBAN REVITALIZATION
CHAPTER 15 MAYOR
CHAPTER 16 MAYOR PRO TEM
CHAPTER 17 CITY COUNCIL
CHAPTER 18 CITY CLERK
CHAPTER 19 FINANCE DIRECTOR/TREASURER
CHAPTER 20 CITY ATTORNEY
CHAPTER 21 CITY ADMINISTRATOR
CHAPTER 22 PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
CHAPTER 23 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
CHAPTER 30 POLICE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 30.11 UNBIASED POLICING POLICY
CHAPTER 31 ALARM SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 35 FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 36 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SPILLS
CHAPTER 37 FIRE CODE
CHAPTER 40 PUBLIC OFFENSES
CHAPTER 50 NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 51 DAMAGED OR INOPERABLE VEHICLES
CHAPTER 52 ABANDONED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 53 LITTER CONTROL
CHAPTER 54 NOISE POLLUTION
CHAPTER 55 ANIMAL PROTECTION AND CONTROL
CHAPTER 56 DANGEROUS DOGS
CHAPTER 57 ILLEGAL OR DANGEROUS ANIMALS
CHAPTER 60 TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES
CHAPTER 90 WATER SERVICE SYSTEM
CHAPTER 91 CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL
CHAPTER 95 SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
CHAPTER 96 BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS
CHAPTER 97 USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS
CHAPTER 98 ON-SITE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 100 REGULATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER AND COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER
CHAPTER 101 STORM WATER DRAINAGE UTILITY
CHAPTER 102 ILLICIT DISCHARGE TO STORM SEWER SYSTEM
CHAPTER 105 SOLID WASTE CONTROL AND RECYCLING
CHAPTER 106 COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE
CHAPTER 107 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
CHAPTER 110 NATURAL GAS FRANCHISE
CHAPTER 111 ELECTRIC FRANCHISE
CHAPTER 112 FRANCHISE FEES
CHAPTER 113 CABLE TELEVISION REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 120 LIQUOR LICENSES AND WINE AND BEER PERMITS
CHAPTER 121 CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO PERMITS
CHAPTER 122 PEDDLERS, SOLICITORS AND TRANSIENT MERCHANTS
CHAPTER 123 HOUSE MOVERS
CHAPTER 124 PAWNBROKERS
CHAPTER 125 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES
CHAPTER 126 PUBLIC DANCE HALLS
CHAPTER 135 EXCAVATIONS OF PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER 136 SIDEWALK REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 137 VACATION AND DISPOSAL OF STREETS
CHAPTER 138 STREET AND SIDEWALK GRADES
CHAPTER 139 NAMING OF STREETS
CHAPTER 140 DRIVEWAY REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 141 FIBER OPTIC CABLE LICENSE
CHAPTER 142 PARKLETS
CHAPTER 150 BUILDING NUMBERING
CHAPTER 151 TREES AND VEGETATION
CHAPTER 152 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 153 TEMPORARY SIGNS
CHAPTER 155 BUILDING CODES
CHAPTER 156 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND RENTAL HOUSING CODE
CHAPTER 157 STANDARD CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
CHAPTER 158 MECHANICAL CODE
CHAPTER 159 PLUMBING CODE
CHAPTER 160 CONSTRUCTION SITE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL
CHAPTER 161 POST-CONSTRUCTION STORM WATER CONTROL
CHAPTER 162 FUEL GAS CODE
CHAPTER 163 DEMOLITION & RAZE PERMIT
CHAPTER 165 ZONING CODE - GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 166 ZONING CODE - DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER 167 ZONING CODE - USE TYPES
CHAPTER 168 ZONING CODE - ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 169 ZONING CODE - OVERLAY DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 170 ZONING CODE - DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN STANDARDS
CHAPTER 171 TEMPORARY USES AND STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 172 ZONING CODE - SUPPLEMENTAL SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 173 ZONING CODE - LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING STANDARDS
CHAPTER 174 ZONING CODE - OFF-STREET PARKING
CHAPTER 175 ZONING CODE - SIGN REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 176 ZONING CODE - NONCONFORMING DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 177 ZONING CODE - ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 178 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CHAPTER 179 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
CHAPTER 180 CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
CHAPTER 181 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
CHAPTER 183 MOBILE FOOD UNITS
CHAPTER 185 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
175.02 DEFINITION OF TERMS.
   The following definitions shall be used for terms contained in this chapter that are not otherwise defined in this Code of Ordinances.
   1.   “Abandoned sign” means a sign, including sign face and supporting structure, which refers to a discontinued business, profession, commodity, service, or other activity or use formerly occupying the site; or which contains no sign copy on all sign faces for a continuous period of six months.
   2.   “Attached sign” means a sign which is structurally connected to a building or depends upon that building for support.
   3.   “Auxiliary design elements” means terms which describe secondary characteristics of a sign, including its method of illumination and other features within the bounds of its basic shape.
   4.   “Awning” and “awning sign” mean a temporary or movable shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of non-rigid materials, except for a supporting framework. An awning sign is a message printed on such a shelter.
   5.   “Banner” means material with a printed message or graphic secured or mounted from a structure in such a way as to allow wind movement under which pedestrian or vehicle traffic passes, but does not include signs or materials under which peoples or traffic do not pass, such as that tied or secured within or to a window or porch opening, or tied or secured flush against a building.
   6.   “Building marker” means an historic or commemorative plaque, or a building name or cornerstone carved into a masonry surface.
   7.   “Business center identification sign” means a sign which identifies a building or group of commercial buildings in single ownership or control, sharing parking and access.
   8.   “Canopy” means a projecting non-movable structure cantilevered or suspended from a building, supported by the main structural members to which it is attached, and used only as a roof or fixed shelter. A canopy may include a printed message or graphic, or not, and is treated no differently as a result under this ordinance.
   9.    “Clearance” means the distance from the bottom of a sign face elevated above grade and the grade below.
   10.   “Detached sign” means a sign which is self-supporting and structurally independent from any building.
   11.   “Directional sign” means a sign which serves only to designate the location or direction of any area or place.
   12.   “Double-faced sign” means a sign consisting of no more than two parallel faces supported by a single structure.
   13.   “Frontage” means the length of a property line of any one premises abutting and parallel to a public street, private way, or court.
   14.   “Ground sign” means a detached on-premises sign built on a freestanding frame, mast, or poles with a clearance no greater than 3 feet.
   15.   “Illumination” means lighting sources installed for the primary purpose of lighting a specific sign or group of signs.
   16.   “Marquee” means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by a building and extending over public right-of-way.
   17.   “Maximum permitted sign area” means the maximum permitted combined area of all signs allowed on a specific property.
   18.   “Monument sign” means an on-premises freestanding sign with the appearance of a solid base. The width of such base shall be at least 75 percent of the width of the sign.
   19.   “Moving sign” means a sign which conveys its message through rotating, changing, or animated elements.
   20.   “Nonconforming sign” means a sign that was legally erected prior to the adoption of this chapter but which violates the regulations of this chapter.
   21.   “Pole sign” means an on-premises sign, including any flag, built on a freestanding frame, mast, or poles with a clearance greater than 3 feet, and where the support encompasses less than 75% of the width of the sign.
   22.   “Portable sign” means any sign supported by frames or posts rigidly attached to bases not permanently attached to the ground or a building and capable of being moved from place to place.
   23.    “Premises” means a tract of one or more lots or sites which are contiguous and under common ownership or control.
   24.   “Projecting sign” means a sign other than a wall sign that is attached to and projects from a building face.
   25.   “Promotional sign” means a sign that is located within a business parking lot and affixed to a light pole or cart caddy to advertise a special price or event.
   26.   “Residential sign” means a small detached or attached sign located on a residential premises. Residential signs include window signs.
   27.   “Roof sign” means any sign or part of sign erected upon, against, or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet or cornice of a building.
      A.   “Integral roof sign” means a roof sign positioned between an eave line and the peak or highest point on a roof, substantially parallel to the face of a building.
      B.   “Above-peak roof sign” means a roof sign positioned above the peak of a roof or above a parapet or cornice.
   28.   “Sign” any device, display, or structure that is visible from a public place and that has words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, logos, illumination, or projected images. This definition does not include architectural elements incorporated into the structure or façade of a building. For the purposes of this sign code, “signs” do not include those only visible from the inside of a building or athletic field/stadium; nor do “signs” include those held by or attached to a person.
   29.   “Sign type” means a functional description of the use of an individual sign, and includes owner identification, advertising, directional, electronic message, and temporary.
   30.   “Street façade” means any separate external face of a building, including parapet walls and omitted wall lines, oriented to and facing a public street, private way, or court. Separate faces oriented in the same direction or within 45 degrees of one another are considered part of the same street façade.
   31.   “Temporary sign” a sign constructed of cloth, canvas, vinyl, paper, plywood, fabric, plastic, or other lightweight material that is neither permanently installed in the ground nor permanently affixed to a building or structure that is permanently installed in the ground, and which is intended to be displayed less than 60 days. The term “temporary sign” includes, but is not limited to, A-frame signs, lawn signs, banners, inflatable signs, and window signs. The term “temporary sign” does not include flags, and signs that are intended to regularly move, such as motorized signs.
   32.   “Wall sign” means a sign attached to and parallel with the side of a building.
   33.   “Window sign” means a sign painted on or installed inside a window for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises. Window signs do not include messages, signs, or speech hung from or exercised in the interior of the home which are visible from the exterior of the homes. Residents may elect for window signs to count towards residential signs or temporary signs.
   34.   “Zone lot” means a parcel of land in single ownership that is large enough to meet the minimum zoning requirements of its zoning district and can provide such yards and other open spaces that are required by the site development regulations.