(a) Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
(1) Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are situated, or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way.
(2) Miscellaneous traffic and other official signs of any public or governmental agency such as railroad crossing signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating danger, or signs used as aids to service or safety.
(3) Any flag, emblem or insignia of the nation, a political unit, or school, when used for official purposes.
(4) Any official notice of a public office or court. Such notices shall include, but not be limited to, notices of public hearings, condemnation notices, eviction notices, and stop work orders.
(5) Any sign which is located completely within an enclosed building, and which sign is not visible from outside the building.
(6) Tables, grave markers, headstones, statuary, or remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in nature.
(7) Works of fine art when not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise which may receive direct commercial gain from such display.
(8) Temporary decorations or displays celebrating the occasion of traditionally accepted patriotic or religious holidays.
(9) Signs on a truck, bus, trailer, or other vehicle while operated in the normal course of a business which is not primarily the display of such sign.
(b) Prohibited Signs. The following signs shall not be permitted, erected, or maintained in any district:
(1) Signs which incorporate in any manner flashing or moving lights. This does not include the change from one message to the next message on an electronic message sign.
(2) Banners, pennants, spinners, and streamers, except specifically permitted temporary signs.
(3) String lights used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes, other than Christmas decorations.
(4) Any sign which has any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means, including intermittent electrical pulsations, or by action of normal wind current. This does not include the change from one message to the next message on an electronic message sign.
(5) Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, or constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment, or is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it.
(6) Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit way.
(7) Any sign which makes use of words such as "Stop," "Look," "Danger," or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters, in such a manner to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
(8) Any sign or other advertising structure containing any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
(9) Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.
(10) Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold.
(11) Portable signs, except as allowed in Section 1276.06 hereof.
(12) Any sign attached to a standpipe, gutter drain, or fire escape, or any sign erected so as to impair access to a roof.
(13) Any advertising signs within a Residential District or within seventy-five feet of any Residential District boundary lines, except as allowed in Section 1276.06(h) or unless said sign is completely screened from said Residential District by a building, solid fence, or evergreen planting, which planting shall be equal to or higher than the height of the sign at the time said evergreens are planted. Said evergreens shall be spaced not more than one-half the height of the tree for regular varieties and one-third the height of the tree for columnar varieties of trees. Said evergreen planting shall be continuously maintained.
(14) Any sign which would project above the parapet line of any roof.
(15) Any sign which would project into any public right-of-way or other accessway.
(16) Any single face wall sign located on the exterior of a building which would project more than eighteen inches therefrom, except as provided for in subsection (c) hereof.
(17) Any other sign not specifically authorized by this Zoning Code.
(c) Marquee Signs, Awnings, and Canopies.
(1) Where limitations are imposed by this Zoning Code on the projection of signs from the face of the wall of any building or structure, such limitations shall not apply to identification canopy or marquee signs indicating only the name of the building or the name of the principal occupant of the building or the principal product available therein on any marquee or canopy, provided that any identification sign located on a marquee or canopy shall be affixed flat to the vertical face thereof, and provided, further, that all marquee signs and canopies shall maintain the following clearances.
A. Height. All marquee signs shall maintain a vertical clearance of not less than twelve feet above grade. All identification canopies shall maintain a vertical clearance of not less than seven feet and six inches above grade.
B. Projection. No marquee or canopy sign shall project into a public right-of-way.
(2) Signs on awnings shall be exempt from the limitations imposed by this Zoning Code on the projection of signs from the face of the wall of any building or structure, provided that any sign located on the awning shall be affixed flat to the surface thereof, shall be nonilluminated and shall indicate only the name and/or address of the establishment, and provided, further, that no such sign shall extend vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of said awning, and provided, further, that all awnings shall maintain the following clearances:
A. Height. All awnings shall maintain a vertical clearance of not less than seven feet and six inches above grade.
B. Projection. No awning shall project into a public right-of-way.
(d) Temporary Political Signs. Temporary political signs may be erected upon private property under the following conditions. The person or organization responsible for the erection or distribution of any such signs, or the owner, or his or her agent, of the property upon which such signs may be located, shall cause the removal thereof within fourteen days after the primary or special elections to which they are pertinent, unless such signs shall continue to be pertinent to a general election to be held within ninety days. The person or organization responsible for the erection or distribution of any such signs, or the owner, or his or her agent, of the property upon which such signs may be located, shall cause the removal thereof within fourteen days after the general election to which they are pertinent. No political sign shall exceed twenty square feet in area or five feet in length, except that in Residential Districts no political sign shall exceed ten square feet in area, three feet in height, and five feet in length. A maximum of seven such signs may be placed on a building or on a zoning lot.
(e) Obsolete and Nonconforming Signs.
(1) Obsolete signs, as defined in this Zoning Code, shall be removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such copy or message may be found, within thirty days after written notification from the Building Inspector, and upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such notice, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such copy or message, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, sign, or structure upon which such copy or message is displayed. Upon vacating a commercial establishment, the proprietor shall be responsible for the removal of all signs used in conjunction with the business.
(2) No nonconforming business sign or advertising sign shall be altered or reconstructed, unless the alteration or reconstruction is in compliance with the provisions of this section. For the purpose of this section only, the term "altered or reconstructed" shall not include normal maintenance; changing of sign content, ornamental moulding, frames, trellises, or ornamental features or landscaping below the base line; or the addition, construction, installation, or charging of electrical wiring or electrical devices, backgrounds, letters, figures, or characters, or other embellishments.
(f) Construction and Maintenance. The construction, installation, erection, anchorage, and maintenance of all signs shall be subject to the regulations of the Building and Housing Code. All electrical wiring associated with free-standing signs shall be installed underground.
(g) Mounting of Signs. All signs shall be mounted in one of the following manners:
(1) Flat against a building or wall.
(2) Back to back in pairs, so that the backs of signs will be screened from public view.
(3) Clustered in an arrangement which will screen the backs of the signs from public view.
(4) Otherwise mounted so that the backs of all signs or sign structures showing to public view shall be painted and maintained a neutral color or a color that blends with surrounding environment.
(h) Limitation on Number of Signs. In those districts within which a reduction in total sign area is applied as the number of signs increases, the following exemption is offered. If more than four establishments occupy a single zoning lot, the twenty percent reduction in total sign area shall not apply if all signs are grouped in a single location or are part of a common sign for the entire zoning lot. In such instances, each establishment shall be permitted an additional wall-mounted sign of more than sixteen square feet in area and projecting not more than twelve inches from the face of the wall or structure of the building.
(i) Signs Accessory to Parking Areas. Signs accessory to parking areas shall be permitted in all districts subject to the following controls:
(1) Area and number. Signs designating parking area entrances or exits shall be limited to one sign for each such exit or entrance, and to a maximum size of two square feet each. One sign per parking area, designating the conditions of use or identity of such parking area and limited to a maximum size of six square feet, shall be permitted. On a corner lot, two such signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted. Directional signs, no parking signs, and signs identifying parking spaces for the handicapped shall be permitted as needed within parking areas.
(2) Height. No sign shall project higher than five feet above grade level where it is mounted.
(Ord. 106. Passed 12-9-81; Ord. 106-A45. Passed 10-10-07; Ord. 106- A92. Passed 12-10-14.)