The erection and maintenance of all signs shall conform to the provisions
of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
DESIGN
Shall include, but not be limited to, the lettering (font and size),
logos, symbols, colors, size, shape, material, height, location, and lighting.
FREE SPEECH SIGNS
Noncommercial signs which solely set forth constitutionally protected
free speech, including but not limited to political and election signs.
SIGN
Any outdoor billboard, poster, panel, bulletin, advertising structure,
advertising sign, or other advertising or attention-attracting device or display.
VILLAGE
The Village of Port Washington North.
All signs shall be removed by the person, firm or corporation erecting,
owning, maintaining or displaying the same or, in default of removal by the
person, firm or corporation thus primarily charged with such duty, by the
owner or tenant of the premises upon which the structure or display is maintained,
within 30 days from the date of the expiration or revocation of the permit
for same or within 30 days after the business is no longer operating at the
premises for which the sign was approved, whichever is the sooner to occur.
The erection or maintenance of pole signs, ground signs and tower signs
within the Village is hereby prohibited, except as specifically regulated
by this chapter.
A. In residence districts. Ground signs requiring fees shall be
erected only on undeveloped property or subdivisions being developed, shall
not exceed 20 square feet in area, shall advertise only the sale or rental
of premises upon which they are maintained, and shall be set back at least
20 feet from all property lines. Such signs shall conform to the established
front and side yard setbacks for the districts in which they are maintained.
No renewal of such sign permit shall be issued beyond a period when development
of the subdivision has reached 90% of completion.
B. In business and industrial districts. On undeveloped property,
ground signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from all property lines. On
developed property, ground signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from any
front property line; provided, however, that if the average front yard setback
of existing buildings on the same side of the street within the same block
is 10 feet or less, the front yard setback of such signs shall conform with
the established setback of such buildings, except that no part of the sign
structure shall extend closer than five feet to a front property line. The
area between the sign structure and the street line shall be maintained free
of grass, weeds and debris.
Signs which seek to advertise businesses, activities, products or services
which are not conducted or sold on the property where such signs are located
or which are not expressly permitted by other sections of this chapter are
prohibited.
The classes of signs and announcements which are exempt from fees and may be erected or maintained upon permit issued by the Building Inspector are described in this section. Such signs shall be subject to the provisions of §§
135-3 through
135-5, inclusive, of this chapter, except that it shall not be necessary for the owner thereof to make application for renewal as is provided for signs requiring fees, unless there is a change in ownership or an alteration of said sign.
A. In residence districts:
(1) One sign displaying the street number and name and profession
of the occupant of the premises, not exceeding one square foot in area; professional
signs only to be illuminated.
(2) Except upon real property improved with a one- or two-family
dwelling, one sign containing four square feet or less upon real property,
stating that the property or part thereof is for sale or rent. When not attached
to a building, the same shall be located to conform to the minimum front and
side yard setbacks of the district in which it is erected.
(3) Engineers', architects', building contractors' and/or subcontractors'
signs maintained on buildings or structures only while construction is actually
taking place, provided that no such sign shall exceed four square feet in
area or be located nearer to the street line than the minimum setback in the
district in which it is erected.
(4) A notice or advertisement required by law in any legal proceeding
or put up by public authority.
(5) A notice of any railroad, transportation company or corporation, necessary for the direction or information or safety of the public, said sign to project not more than 12 inches into the right-of-way and to conform to the provisions of §
135-8B(1),
(2) and
(5) of this chapter.
B. In other than residential districts:
(1) Signs permitted in residence districts are also permitted in
other than residential districts and, in addition thereto, the signs hereinafter
described.
(2) One sign displayed, painted, applied or attached to each exterior
wall of a building or storefront facing on a public street, when used for
advertising the sale or rental of the premises on which it is erected or any
business conducted or products sold in such building. The display surfaces
of such signs shall be parallel with the wall of the building, and no part
of the sign structure shall extend more than 12 inches from the wall of the
building. The maximum dimensions of such signs shall not exceed those hereinafter
specified:
(a) On buildings or storefronts having a total street frontage of
15 feet or less, for each individual business, a maximum vertical measurement
of 2 1/2 feet and a maximum horizontal measurement of 80% of the total
street frontage.
(b) On buildings or storefronts having a total street frontage of
more than 15 feet and not more than 25 feet, for each individual business,
a maximum vertical measurement of three feet and a maximum horizontal measurement
of 80% of the total street frontage.
(c) On buildings or storefronts having a total street frontage of
more than 25 feet and not more than 40 feet, for each individual business,
a maximum vertical measurement of 3 1/2 feet and a maximum horizontal
measurement of 20 feet or 75% of the total street frontage, whichever is greater.
(d) On buildings or storefronts having a total street frontage of
more than 40 feet and not more than 75 feet, for each individual business,
a maximum vertical measurement of four feet and a maximum horizontal measurement
of 30 feet or 70% of the total street frontage, whichever is greater.
(e) On buildings or storefronts having a total street frontage in
excess of 75 feet, for each individual business, a maximum vertical measurement
of 4 1/2 feet and a maximum horizontal measurement of 52 1/2 feet
or 50% of the total street frontage, whichever is greater.
(f) If such sign is irregular in shape, it shall not, at its greatest
vertical dimension, extend more than six inches above its permissible vertical
measurement, nor shall such extension exceed 10% of the maximum horizontal
measurement.
(g) The top of the sign shall be not more than 18 feet above ground
level, and no sign shall be placed upon any portion of the roof of a building.
(3) A sign upon a marquee constructed and maintained in connection
with a hotel or theater, not exceeding 15 inches in height, extending to the
permissible outer limits of said marquee, no part of which shall be less than
10 feet above the street surface.
(4) An identification sign over the rear entrance of a building or
store facing a parking area, showing only the trade name of the occupant of
said store or building, such sign to be limited to a maximum vertical measurement
of two feet and a maximum horizontal measurement of 14 feet and a maximum
overall height of 18 feet above the surface of the ground. If such signs are
illuminated, illumination shall be by indirect lighting (nonflickering/nonblinking
type). Such signs shall be illuminated only during the hours when the store
or building is open to the public.
(5) One ground sign on either an undeveloped plot where business
is permitted or on a developed plot where a business is conducted in a building
having a front yard setback. Said sign shall not exceed three feet in height,
nor five feet in width, nor one foot in depth. The top of the sign shall not
exceed seven feet from the grade directly beneath the sign. The grade beneath
the sign shall not be raised from the area generally within a twenty-foot
radius of the sign. Said sign shall be set parallel to the street line. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, on corner lots, at the option of the owner, the sign may be
set diagonally to the corner, so long as the Building Inspector finds that
the proposed location will not adversely impact upon sight lines of drivers
approaching or at that intersection. Signs as described in this subsection
shall only be permitted where there is no other sign or advertising device
erected or placed upon a building on the premises. Such signs shall conform
to the minimum front yard setback requirements for principal structures, as
provided for the district within which they are maintained; however, in no
event shall any sign or part thereof be located within five feet of the front
property line, nor within five feet of any property line which abuts a street.
An open space of at least three feet shall be maintained between the bottom
of the sign and the ground. The area between the sign structure and the street
line shall be maintained free of grass in excess of six inches in height,
weeds, and debris.
(6) Such signs shall advertise only the business conducted or products
sold on the premises. The maximum overall horizontal measurement shall not
exceed 25% of the street frontage of the plot upon which such sign is erected,
and the maximum overall vertical measurement shall not exceed three feet.
(7) Such signs, including the sign structure, shall not exceed a
total height of 15 feet when measured from the established street grade.
(8) Signs for the advertisement of the selling price of gasoline,
to be used by gas filling stations and battery and tire service stations:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell
or offer for sale at retail for use in internal combustion engines in motor
vehicles any gasoline unless such seller shall post, and keep continuously
posted on the individual pump or other dispensing device from which such gasoline
is sold or offered for sale, a sign or placard not less than seven inches
in height and eight inches in width nor larger than 12 inches in height and
12 inches in width and stating clearly and legibly, in numbers, the selling
price or prices per gallon of such gasoline so sold or offered for sale from
such pump or other dispensing device, together with the name, trade name,
brand, mark or symbol, and grade or quality classification, if any, of such
gasoline.
(b) No other sign or placard stating or referring to the price or
prices of gasoline shall be placed or maintained on any part of the premises
upon which gasoline is sold or offered for sale or upon which any gasoline
filling station and battery and tire service station business is conducted.
No sign relating to an event of limited duration may be erected more
than 30 days before the commencement of such event, and such sign must be
removed no later than two weeks after the conclusion of such event.
[Added 12-18-2006 by L.L. No. 4-2006]
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a violation
pursuant to the Penal Law, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by
imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Each day’s continued violation shall constitute a separate and distinct
offense.