All signs permitted by this chapter, whether with or without a permit, shall comply with the following standards:
A. Sign Measurement.
1. Area to Be Included. The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall be omitted in measuring the area of the sign unless such structure or bracing is made part of the message or face of the sign. When a sign has more than one display face, all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign; provided that, if the distance between the sign faces of a two-faced sign does not exceed 12 inches, the area of the sign shall be measured as the area of one face.
2. Area of Sign With Background Panel. A sign placed or painted on a background panel shall be measured by computing the area of the background panel.
3. Area of Sign Without Background Panel. A sign with individual letters or symbols placed separately on a building wall, window, awning, or other structure without a background panel shall be measured as the sum of the areas of the smallest regular geometric figures that can separately encompass all words, letter areas, figures, emblems, and other elements of the sign.
4. Sign Height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the adjacent natural grade, to the highest point of the sign.
B. Illumination.
1. Location and Design of Light Source. The source of light for any externally illuminated sign shall be located, shielded and directed so as not to be directly visible from any dwelling or public street. No receptacle, device, fixture or housing for a light fixture shall project more than three inches into the right-of-way of any public street, sidewalk, parkway, alley or public place (except that such an electrical device more than eight feet above the adjoining sidewalk may project a maximum of twenty (20) inches into a public right-of-way).
2. Location of Externally Illuminated Signs on Building. No externally illuminated signs, whether displayed on a building or as a window sign, shall be displayed above the second floor window sill level of the building.
3. Externally Illuminated Signs Adjacent to Residential Zoning Districts. No externally illuminated sign shall be located within, or within one hundred (100) feet of the boundary of, any residential zoning district, if an illuminated face of such sign is parallel with or at an angle of less than forty-five (45) degrees from the residential zoning district boundary or otherwise has an adverse visual impact on adjacent residential properties; provided that, this restriction shall not apply if the property is in a multifamily zoning district and is not used for residential purposes.
4. Display Case Sign Light Source. The source of light for any externally illuminated display case sign shall be located, shielded and directed so as to direct the light to the contents of the display case sign only, and shall not be directly visible from any dwelling or public street.
C. Electrical Elements. All signs and appurtenant light fixtures in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall comply with the Building Code.
D. Structural Design. All signs shall comply with the Building Code and shall be designed and constructed adequately and safely to support their weight and to withstand wind and other stresses to which they may be subjected.
E. Obstruction of Accessways. No sign shall be erected, relocated, maintained, or otherwise permitted to obstruct or prevent free ingress and egress from any window, door, fire escape or stairway of any building or structure. No sign shall be attached to a fire escape.
F. Traffic Safety. No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained where by reason of its position, shape, color or wording, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, nor shall it otherwise cause a safety hazard.
G. Sign Maintenance. In addition to complying with all other applicable provisions of this code, all signs and awnings shall be kept and maintained in a safe, neat and orderly condition and appearance, including, without limitation, keeping all changeable copy in a display case sign unfaded, legible, and in a condition that is not worn, torn or shredded. The owner of a sign shall be responsible for providing such maintenance for freestanding signs. Maintenance shall also require that the ground area, for a distance of not less than ten (10) feet in all directions, be kept free and clean of weeds, trash and other debris. In the event that a sign is not maintained in a safe, neat and orderly condition by the owner, the sign shall be subject to removal.
H. Removal of Signs. Whenever any business, service or other use moves from or vacates premises previously occupied by it, or if, for any reason a sign is no longer applicable to the premises or has been abandoned, the sign and related mounting hardware and electrical service shall be removed from the premises within ten (10) days from the date of such cessation of the business or occupancy. In the event that such sign is not removed by the owner or operator of such business, service or use, the owner of the premises upon which such sign is displayed shall be liable for such removal within ten (10) days.
I. Civic Event Signs. Areas of land designated by the Village Council as community information areas may have civic event signs posted subject to the following:
1. Application for civic event signs shall be filed with, and approved by the Director, subject to issuance of a certificate of appropriateness as provided in this chapter.
2. Such signs shall be constructed of wood or similar material and shall be securely fastened to the ground.
3. Such signs shall be no more than thirty-two (32) square feet in area and no more than twelve (12) feet in height.
(MC-01-2023 § 4, Amended, 01/03/2023; MC-3-2020 § 6, Amended, 8/18/2020; Ord. MC-209-98 § 2 (part), 1998: prior code § 27.13)