A. Messages:
1. No sign shall be permitted which purports to be or is an imitation of, or resembles an official traffic sign or signal.
2. No sign shall make use of the words "Stop", "Go Slow", "Caution", "Warning", "Look", "Drive In", "Danger" or any word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
3. No sign shall recite that real property is zoned for land uses, or will be zoned for land uses in the future, under the zoning rules and regulations of the village, when in fact such real estate is not so zoned.
4. No sign on real estate shall declare that the property is reserved for or is being held for future land use which is inconsistent with the then existing zoning classification of the village for the land, or any words of like import of a similar nature.
5. The primary emphasis of sign messages shall be on business identification not product or service advertisement. Not more than thirty percent (30%) total of the face may be used for product or service reference. Selling slogans or other nonindexing messages are not permitted.
B. Compliance With Village Provisions: All signs must conform to the regulations and design standards of the building code, the electrical code and all other applicable ordinances and regulations of the village.
C. Location: The following restrictions shall govern sign location:
1. No sign shall be erected or placed so as to prevent free ingress and/or egress from any door, window or fire escape, nor shall such sign be attached to any standpipe, fire escape or any other safety related device.
2. No sign shall interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
3. Signs shall be located in such a way that they maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors in accordance with national electrical code specifications 1 , depending on voltages concerned. However, in no case shall a sign be installed closer than twenty four inches (24") horizontally or vertically from any conductor or public utility guywire.
4. No sign may be so located as to obstruct the view from a public thoroughfare of any existing sign, display window or major entrance of an adjacent business.
5. No sign shall be maintained at any location where by reason of its position, size, shape or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
6. No sign shall be located in any of the following vision triangles formed by intersecting streets: At any intersection where at least one of the intersecting streets is a major or collector street as defined in the official map of the village. The sides of the triangle formed by the centerlines of the intersecting streets shall be one hundred twenty feet (120') in length as measured outward from the point of intersections of said centerlines along such centerlines. At all other intersections, each of such sides shall be eighty feet (80') in length.
7. No signs shall be nailed, tacked or otherwise affixed to trees or other vegetation.
8. No advertising other than a permitted sign shall be placed on any sign support.
9. No signs shall be placed on parked vehicles or trailers where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
10. Any projecting or hanging sign must have a vertical clearance from the bottom of the sign to the grade below of eight feet (8'). (Ord. 2010-07-23, 7-15-2010)
11. No sign facing the side or rear lot line of an abutting residentially zoned lot shall be located within twenty five feet (25') of that residential lot line. (Ord. 2016-06-15, 6-2-2016)
D. Movable Sign Parts:
1. No sign or its parts shall be permitted to be movable or rotating; nor shall any sign have illuminated effects which convey the illusion of movement. (Ord. 2010-07-23, 7-15-2010)
2. With the exception of approved bulletin boards, theater signs, electronic message centers and certain temporary signs, no sign may contain movable letters or other changeable copy. (Ord. 2016-06-15, 6-2-2016)
3. All manually movable items on a sign, such as covers to service openings, shall be secured by chains or hinges.
E. Maintenance: All signs (including those for which no permit is required) and their supports shall be kept in a safe, presentable and good structural condition in accordance with the following requirements and with the applicable codes and ordinances of the village:
1. The owner of any sign shall keep the sign and support structure clean and properly treated so as to prevent rust, peeling, flaking or fading.
2. Broken panels, missing letters, flaking or peeling paint and other damage to a sign or support structure shall be repaired within thirty (30) days of its occurrence.
3. The area surrounding all signs shall be maintained free of any debris or nuisance and any related grassed area or landscaping shall be kept trimmed and in a healthy condition.
F. Removal Of Signs:
1. The village may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
2. Any sign which is located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of three (3) months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or persons having the beneficial use of the structure or property upon which such sign may be found. Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change of ownership or management may be granted an additional three (3) month time extension by the village board after written application. (Ord. 2010-07-23, 7-15-2010)
Notes
| 1 | 1. See subsection 9-1-1F of this code. |