1. Compliance. Each sign or part of a sign erected within the zoning jurisdiction of the City must comply with the provisions of this chapter and of other relevant provisions of this Code of Ordinances.
2. Resolution of Conflicting Regulations. This chapter is not meant to repeal or interfere with enforcement of other sections of this Code of Ordinances. In cases of conflicts between Code sections, or State or Federal regulations, the more restrictive regulations shall apply, except where State law or the State Constitution preempts municipal law, in which case State law or the State Constitution will govern, or where Federal law of the U.S. Constitution preempts State and municipal law, in which case Federal law or the U.S. Constitution will govern.
3. Prohibited Signs. The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
A. Any sign which is structurally unsafe, unsafely installed, or otherwise hazardous to physical safety.
B. Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required access way to or from a building or site.
C. Any sign not maintained in good condition.
D. Any sign that blocks a driver’s clear line of sight of traffic or pedestrians, or which obscure official signs or signals.
E. Any sign that interferes with the view of, or is confused with, any traffic control sign or device, and any sign that misleads or confuses traffic flow. A sign’s position, size, shape, color, and illumination, but not its content, shall be considered when making such a determination.
F. Abandoned signs, which must be removed within six months of the date of abandonment.
G. Signs advertising activities that are illegal under Federal, State or local laws and regulations. This does not include signs which advocate for a change in the laws.
H. Rolling LCD signs which incorporate in any manner any rolling, flashing, pulsating, rotating, beacons, or moving lights.
I. Neon lights or signs, not intended to add to the overall architectural theme of the site.
J. Hazardous signs, or any sign or structure which is structurally unsafe, is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shock to persons likely to come in contact.
K. Signs which include visible moving parts, changeable copy or description by electrical or non-electrical means, or by action of wind currents; except as permitted in this section.
L. Any sign nailed, fastened, or affixed to any tree.
M. Any sign located on private property against the wishes of the property owner.
N. Any sign that otherwise violates this sign code.
O. Any sign displaying any obscene matter, as that term is defined by Iowa Code Chapter 728.
4. Exempt Signs. The following signs are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of this chapter.
A. Up to three non-temporary signs on private residential property that are smaller than 4 square feet in area.
B. Official signs authorized by a government or governmental subdivision, including public schools, which give traffic, directional, or warning information, or other official information.
C. Temporary signs less than 8 square feet for flat, or two-dimensional signs, or less than 64 cubic feet, for three-dimensional signs of displays.
D. On premise construction signs.
E. Signs, including works of graphic art painted or applied to building walls.
F. Neighborhood or subdivision identification signs under 50 square feet.
G. Street numbers.
H. Signs which are not visible from a public right-of-way, private way, or court or from a property other than that on which the sign is installed.
5. Buffer Yards. No sign other than on-premises directional signs shall be placed within any buffer yard required by Chapter 173, Landscaping and Screening Regulations, except buffer yards adjacent to intervening major streets.
6. Vision-Clearance Area. No sign may project into or be placed within a vision-clearance area defined by a triangle with legs of 25 feet from the point at which the curbs or edges of two intersecting streets, private ways, or courts or an intersecting street, private way, or court and driveway, meet.
7. Removal of Signs. If a sign owner’s business, profession, commodity, service, or other activity or use formerly occupying the site is discontinued, the sign must be removed within fifteen (15) days of closure. If the owner does not remove the sign, the City will remove it at the owners expense.