In addition to the purposes set forth in §
164-2 of this chapter, the purpose of the requirements set forth in this article which regulate the location, size, placement and certain features of signs is to enable the public to locate goods, services and facilities without difficulty, danger or confusion, to prevent wasteful use of natural resources in competition among businesses for attention, to prevent hazards to life and property and to assure the continued attractiveness of the City and the protection of property values.
No sign may be erected in any zone, nor a permit
issued therefor, unless such sign is specifically permitted by this
article and complies with all of the requirements of this chapter.
In furtherance of the purpose and intent of this article as set forth in §
164-117, the following general requirements shall be applicable to all signs except those erected by a governmental agency:
A. No sign shall be erected which obstructs any window,
door, fire escape, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide
light, air, ingress or egress for any building or structure or which
otherwise endangers the safety of a building, premises or person.
B. No sign shall be erected which, by reason of its position,
size, shape or color, may interfere with, obstruct the view of or
be confused with any traffic sign, signal or device or railroad sign
or signal or which makes use of any word, phrase, symbol or character
in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
C. No sign which uses the word "stop" or "danger" or
which presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or the
existence of danger shall be displayed.
D. No sign shall be erected which utilizes rotating,
blinking, flashing or fluttering illumination or illumination which
varies in color or intensity.
[Amended 9-28-2015 by Ord. No. 860]
E. Variable electronic message signs (VEMS) are allowed as permitted under §
164-121.
[Added 9-28-2015 by Ord.
No. 860]
F. No sign shall be erected by or placed by any person
on any public property or right-of-way, including sidewalks.
G. No sign shall be erected in such a location as to
interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation onto or off of
the property on which it is located.
H. No motor vehicle shall be parked in any zone under
circumstances reasonably indicating an intent to make principal use
of such motor vehicle as a sign for any person, firm, group, organization,
place, commodity, product, service, business, profession, enterprise
or industry.
I. No sign shall be permitted which contains statements,
words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character or
such as will offend public morals or decency.
J. No sign shall be placed on rocks, trees or on poles
maintained by public utilities.
The following signs are permitted without a
permit in any zone, provided that the following conditions are adhered
to:
A. Signs indicating the name and/or premises or accessory
use of a home for a home occupation, its residents or professional
purposes, not exceeding one square foot in area.
B. Signs, not exceeding 30 square feet, on a farm advertising
farm products primarily grown on the premises, provided that they
are located off the highway right-of-way and do not interfere with
traffic visibility.
C. Any directional or informational or historic marker
of a public or quasi-public nature, such as those containing the meeting
date of a community or civic club, the advertising of an event of
public interest or noncommercial information for the convenience of
the traveling public.
D. Temporary real estate signs, not exceeding eight square
feet and located on and advertising the subject property for sale
or lease.
E. Freestanding signs or signs attached to fences no
larger than two square feet warning the public against trespassing,
dangerous animals or the like.
F. Seasonal displays and decorations not advertising
a product, service or entertainment.
G. Building contractors' and professional persons' temporary
signs on buildings or subdivisions under construction, limited to
a total area for all such signs on said buildings or subdivisions
of 150 square feet during the period of construction.
H. Temporary signs, not exceeding 30 square feet in area,
announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational
or religious organization. Such signs may not be posted more than
one month before and may not be displayed beyond seven days after
such campaign, drive or event.
I. Political campaign signs. Signs announcing candidates
seeking public political office and other data pertinent thereto shall
be permitted up to a total area of nine square feet for each premises
in a residential zone and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial
zone. The signs shall be confined within private property and shall
not be less than 15 feet or the back edge of the sidewalk, whichever
is greater, and 100 feet from the nearest curb intersection of any
street or road.
[Amended 10-27-2008 by Ord. No. 789]
Outdoor advertising signs, commonly referred
to as "billboards" or "poster panels," shall be subject to the following
regulations:
A. Outdoor advertising signs shall be permitted in the
P-I, I-R and I-G Zones. No sign shall be located within 200 feet of
any residential zone, nor shall such sign be located within 300 feet
of an intersection on a two-lane or proposed two-lane highway or within
100 feet of any other intersection.
B. All outdoor advertising signs shall be spaced at least
300 feet apart. In the case of existing two-lane highways, each side
of the two-lane highway shall be considered separately in determining
spacing requirements. In the case of non-dual-lane highways, spacing
shall be determined and measured between signs, regardless of the
side of the highway on which they are located and proposed.
C. No outdoor advertising sign shall be closer than 100
feet to any property line nor located closer than 660 feet to the
right-of-way line of any highway which is part of the interstate highway
system nor closer than 200 feet to the right-of-way line of any other
street or road.
D. Outdoor advertising signs shall be no higher than
30 feet.
E. No sign shall exceed more than 260 feet in area.
F. No outdoor advertising sign shall be permitted in
the following scenic areas in a residential zone within the City along
the following Maryland routes: Route Nos. 31, 97 and 140.
A sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises is no longer conducted on the premises. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign, the Zoning Administrator may remove it in accordance with §
164-126. These removal provisions shall not apply where a succeeding owner or lessee conducts the same type of business and agrees to maintain the signs as provided in this article or changes the copy on the signs to advertise the type of business being conducted on the premises, provided that the signs comply with the other provisions of this article.
Upon denial of a sign permit or an order of
removal by the Zoning Administrator or where a variance is denied,
the sign owner or owner of the property on which a sign is located
may file an appeal within 30 days of the date of action of the Zoning
Administrator to the Board of Appeals. The appeal shall be in writing
in such form as required by the Board.
Any person who violates this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to the penalty contained in §
164-159.