[Amended 4-6-2005 by Ord. No. 324; 10-18-2006 by Ord. No. 335; 9-14-2009 by Ord. No. 347; 10-18-2011 by Ord. No. 360; 10-9-2012 by Ord. No. 367; 8-11-2014 by Ord. No. 373; 7-15-2020 by Ord. No. 399]
A. 
No sign or light shall move, flash, or make noise. (Indications of time and temperature are exemptions.) Signs that contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, outdoor wall murals, or other similarly moving devices are prohibited. (See § 500-56I and J for exemptions.)
B. 
Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate shape, size or color of traffic or railroad signs, signals or devices which use such words as "Stop," "Look," "Danger," "Go Slow," "Caution" or "Warning." Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of traffic or railroad signs, signals or devices. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
C. 
Permanent and temporary signs affixed to or painted upon rocks, trees, utility poles or other such structures are prohibited.
D. 
No advertising signs shall be designed and erected so as to be intentionally seen or read from any water area, unless authorized by a conditional permit.
A. 
Sign definitions and standard. The following definitions shall be applicable in this article:
ABANDONED SIGN
Any on or off-premises sign which is in an obvious state of neglect, or one which advertises a business no longer in operation for which the owner is unknown.
AWNINGS; MARQUEES
Any fixed or collapsible frame structure or device of any kind otherwise known as a marquee or an awning erected or placed over any sidewalk and attached to a building or structure for the purpose of providing shelter from wind, sun, rain, or any other element of weather or upon which advertising is shown, painted or displayed.
BILLBOARD
Any sign with a surface area of 150 square feet or more, supported by posts set into the ground, which is used to display printed or painted advertising matter.
DIRECT ILLUMINATION
Illumination by light sources which are a part of a sign.
DIRECTIONAL
A sign located on premise, directing or guiding vehicular or pedestrian traffic onto the property and/or toward parking or other identified locations on the property and are not intended to advertise a specific business but may include the business name or business logo.
FREESTANDING GROUND SIGN
A sign standing along on its own foundation free of architectural or supporting frame or attachment.
IDENTITY SIGN
Any sign which carries only the name of the firm, the major enterprise or the principal product offered for sale on the premises, or a combination of these.
INDIRECT ILLUMINATION
Illumination which is derived from light sources which are not a part of the sign.
NONPROFIT EVENT SIGN
Portable, temporary sign advertises the occurrence of a public event held within the City of Bayfield by one or more nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit event signs shall only advertise specific, time-limited, events, and shall not simply advertise general information about the nonprofit organization.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, product, service, or entertainment not conducted, sold, or offered upon the property where such sign is located.
OFFICIAL SIGNS
Signs or notices of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by or in the order of a public official in the performance of his or her public duty.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which directs attention to the name of the building or the name of the building management firm or to a business, principal product, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered upon the property where such sign is located.
PROJECTING SIGNS
A sign, other than a wall sign, which projects from, and is supported by, a wall or a building or structure.
ROOF SIGN
A sign located on or above the roof of any building.
ROOFLINE
Either the edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette and, where a building has several roof levels, this roof or parapet shall be the one belonging to that portion of the building on whose wall the sign is located.
SERVICE CLUB AND RELIGIOUS SIGNS
Signs or notices relating to meetings of nonprofit service clubs, charitable associations or religious services.
SIGN or GRAPHIC
Any letters, pictorial representation, symbol, flag, emblem, illuminated devices, displayed in any manner whatsoever, which directs attention of persons off the premises on which the sign is displayed to any object, subject, place, or business. However, this shall not include any official flag, emblem, or insignia of a government, school or religious groups when displayed for official purposes.
SIGN, MALL
A directory listing a number of similar identity and/or directional signs, located in one central location, and viewed by pedestrian traffic.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A banner, pennant, poster or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, plastic sheet, cardboard, wallboard or other like materials.
UNUSED SIGN
Any on- or off-premises sign in an obvious state of neglect, but for which the owner is known.
WALL-FLAT SIGN
One affixed directly to or painted on or otherwise inscribed on an exterior wall and confined within the limit thereof of any building and which projects from that surface less than six inches at all points.
WAYFINDING
A sign located off-premises, specifically designed to provide destination information. Wayfinding signs will contain information about public places owned or operated by federal, state, or local governments, educational, historic or cultural sites, and areas of natural scenic beauty deemed to be in the interest of the public. Wayfinding signs may only be erected by the City of Bayfield, will be written in the languages of Anishinaabe and English, where feasible, and are not intended to advertise.
B. 
Sign permits. No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, constructed, extended, converted, or structurally altered without a permit and without being in conformity with the provisions of this article. These permits are available from the Building Inspector, unless otherwise indicated herein.
C. 
Signs not requiring permits.
(1) 
Official signs.
(2) 
Temporary signs.
(3) 
Way finding signs.
D. 
Nonconforming signs. Nonconforming signs are prohibited.
(1) 
Any nonconforming sign that is either abandoned or unused for one year shall be removed.
(2) 
At the time a business owning nonconforming signs is purchased by a new party, all nonconforming signs on the premises must be altered or removed so as to conform with the provisions of this article. This shall be done within 90 days.
(3) 
All businesses have two years to come into compliance with any subsequent ordinance revisions.
E. 
Nonprofit event signs. If erecting one to six nonprofit event signs, a permit, including approval of the specific locations of signs must be obtained in advance from the City zoning administrator. If erecting seven or more nonprofit event signs, a permit, including approval of the specific locations of signs, must be obtained in advance from the Plan Commission. One sign permit fee will apply for each event or series of events, such as a concert series. The acceptable locations for such nonprofit event signs are boulevards, City trash receptacles, sidewalks near buildings, and private property if approved by property owners. Such nonprofit event signs may be displayed for 24 hours before event and must be taken down by noon the next day. The maximum size of such nonprofit event signs shall not exceed two feet by three feet.
F. 
New zoning districts. If any zone is omitted from this chapter, or if a new zone is created after enactment of this chapter, no signs shall be permitted therein until this chapter shall be amended to include this zone.
G. 
Indirect illumination. Indirect lighting of signs is allowed. Provided the lighting conforms with the lighting ordinance (Ord. No. 273).
(1) 
The light source shall be exterior to the sign and shielded so that it will not cast a direct beam toward vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any street or sidewalk.
(2) 
Any sign which is so placed that the bottom of the sign is at least eight feet above the ground shall be illuminated from the top only.
(3) 
No moving, flashing, flashing neon, strobe, or colored lights shall be used to illuminate any sign.
H. 
Direct illumination. All direct illumination and stationary neon signs will require conditional use permits (see sections beginning at § 500-33).
(1) 
No moving, flashing, flashing neon, strobe or colored lights shall be used to illuminate any sign.
A. 
The following signs are allowed in Residential Districts:
(1) 
One sign, a maximum of two square feet in area, shall be permitted where a home occupation or professional office has been established in a residential zone. The sign may contain the name and profession or occupation of the occupant of the premises.
(2) 
Boarding home, bed-and-breakfast establishments, motels and apartments or multifamily dwellings allowed in the R-2 District will be allowed one identity sign not to exceed 32 square feet.
(3) 
Boarding homes, bed-and-breakfast establishments, motels, apartments, or multifamily dwellings allowed in the R-1 District by conditional use permits shall be allowed one identity sign not to exceed 12 square feet.
B. 
Permitted signs shall not project beyond any property line. If ground mounted, the top shall be not over five feet above the ground; if building mounted, shall be flush mounted, shall not be mounted on any roof of the building, and shall not project above the roofline.
A. 
Content. Signs allowed in the Commercial and Waterfront Zones shall be identity signs only, and only two identity signs shall be allowed per business. If two signs are mounted, they shall be on different sides. The second sign shall not exceed six square feet.
B. 
Roofline projection. No sign shall project above the rooflines.
C. 
Size. Maximum allowable sign area will be determined by the type of sign. The following types of signs are allowed within the Commercial District and the Waterfront District:
(1) 
Projecting signs shall not exceed 18 square feet and shall be placed so that the bottom of the sign is at least eight feet above the ground and shall not project into any street right-of-way more than four feet.
(2) 
Wall-flat signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings shall not extend more than six inches out from the building's wall surface, shall not exceed more than 40 square feet or 7% of the wall surface area (whichever is less) on which it is placed for any one premises, and shall not extend above the wall upon which it is placed. Signs painted directly on walls will also be governed by these specifications.
(3) 
Freestanding ground signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height, measured from above the mean center-line street grade to the top of the sign, and shall not exceed 16 square feet.
D. 
Multifloored offices. When a building contains offices or business establishments above the first floor, one additional sign may be erected on the front of such building located at a first-floor level. This sign shall be a directory type sign only for the purpose of listing such offices or business establishments located in said building. Each listing thereon shall be limited to one square foot.
E. 
Multicustomer entrances. When any business establishment has more than one customer or service entrance, said establishment shall be allowed additional signing to be erected on, over, or adjacent to each regular customer entry, not to exceed six square feet; or service entry, not to exceed two square feet. Applicants need to submit their request to the Plan Commission for approval.
F. 
Additional signs. Additional signs will be allowed if more than one business or service is conducted on the premises; a premise that operates two or more separate ventures. Applicants must submit a sign plan to the Plan Commission prior to installing any additional signs. In general, such signs shall not exceed six square feet in size.
G. 
Awnings and marquees. Signs may be on the vertical faces of awnings and marquees and may project below the lower edge of the awning or marquees not more than six inches. The bottom of such signs shall be no less than eight feet above the sidewalk or grade at any point. No part of the sign shall project above the vertical awning or marquee face. Awning and marquee signs shall be included in the total number of signs allowed.
H. 
Open/closed signs. Businesses in the Commercial District and Waterfront District shall each be allowed one open/closed sign. Main Street businesses (those located on Rittenhouse Avenue between Third Street and Front Street) may have one open/closed sign not to exceed two square feet. All other businesses will be allowed permission to display one open/closed sign not to exceed four square feet. Open/closed signs may be placed in their door, windows, attached to their main identifying sign, or projecting style as described in Subsection C(1) of this section except for the size requirement. No direct illuminating/neon open/closed signs will be allowed.
I. 
One "Bayfield is OPEN" banner per business will be allowed.
(1) 
The banners allowed have the following specifications:
(a) 
"Bayfield is" lettering is Brush Script Standard medium in 240-point size; white.
(b) 
"OPEN" lettering is Lucinda Sans Bold font in 520-point size with 125% horizontal scaling: white.
(c) 
Fabric is 200 denier nylon.
(d) 
Color: "Old Glory" red, same red that is on the United States flag.
(e) 
Overall size is 14 inches (wide) by 36 inches (long).
(f) 
The banner shall extend no more than 24 inches from the front of the building in which the business is located.
(2) 
Banners allowed under this provision shall be exempt from permit and fee requirements.
(3) 
Maintenance. Banners shall be kept in good repair and in a safe, neat, clean and attractive condition. Compliance shall be made within five days.
J. 
Holiday banners and decorations are allowed.
No signs are allowed in the Conservancy Zone.
The following signs shall be permitted anywhere within the City and shall not require a permit; any other portable signs shall not be used:
A. 
Construction signs which identify the architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, including any advertisement of any product, and signs announcing the character of the building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended, during the construction period. The signs shall be confined to the site of the construction and shall be removed within 14 days of the beginning of the intended use of the project. Construction signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
B. 
Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or part of the premises on which the signs are displayed, up to a total area of eight square feet. Such signs shall be removed within 14 days of the sale, rental or lease. Real estate directional signs are not permitted.
C. 
Political campaign signs announcing the candidates seeking public office and other data pertinent thereto, up to an area of four square feet for each sign. Only one sign per candidate per premises shall be confined within private property with the owner's consent, and removed by the owner within seven days after the election for which they were made.
D. 
(Reserved)
E. 
Show window signs. They need not be related in content with the display. They shall not be larger than 25% of the total window area in aggregate/per side; first floor only. This clause is meant to discourage the blocking of the view into the premises with signage or any other nontraditional window treatment/covering or merchandise display.
F. 
Daily special boards or menus will be allowed in addition to the identifying signs as long as they are placed on or within the building, are temporary in nature and do not exceed six square feet. No sandwich board signs will be allowed.
A. 
Applications. The permit application shall contain the location of the sign structure, the name and address of the sign owner and of the sign erector, drawings, showing the design, size and location of the sign and such other pertinent information as the Building Inspector may require to ensure compliance with the ordinances of the City.
B. 
Fees.
Residential Sign
Commercial Sign
Sign permit fees
As set by the Common Council
As set by the Common Council
Penalties (erecting sign without permit)
Fee x 2
Fee x 2
Fee x 4 after 30 days of noncompliance. Doubles every 2 weeks thereafter
Fee x 4 after 30 days of noncompliance. Doubles every 2 weeks thereafter
Penalties (erecting sign not eligible for a permit)
$50; $100 after 30 days of noncompliance. Doubles every 2 weeks thereafter
$50; $100 after 30 days of noncompliance. Doubles every 2 weeks thereafter
C. 
Nullification. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of the permit.
D. 
Permit exceptions. The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign and, therefore, shall not require a sign permit:
(1) 
Replacing copy. The changing of the advertising copy or message of an approved painted or printed sign or on a theater marquee and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
(2) 
Maintenance. Painting, repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure unless a structural change is made.
(3) 
Temporary signs. Temporary signs are also exempt from permit requirements.
(4) 
Municipal signs. Signs erected by the City Public Works Department and the State Highway Department are exempt from permit requirements.
A. 
Inspections. Signs for which a permit is required may be inspected periodically by the Building Inspector for compliance with this and other codes of the City.
B. 
Maintenance. All signs and components thereof shall be kept in good repair and in safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition. Compliance shall be made within five days.
C. 
Removal of sign. The Building Inspector may order the removal of any sign erected in violation of this article. He shall give five days' notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure or premises on which the sign is located, to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. The Building Inspector may remove a sign immediately and without notice if, in his opinion, the condition of the sign is such as to present an immediate threat to the safety of the public. If the sign owner does not comply with the orders of the Building Inspector, the Inspector is authorized to have the sign removed and the removal charged to the owner of the sign.
D. 
Abandoned signs.
(1) 
A sign, on or off premise, shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the business, when the business which it advertises is no longer conducted. If the owner or lessee fails to remove it, the Building Inspector shall give the owner a five-day written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Building Inspector may remove the sign at cost to the owner.
(2) 
If the sign owner cannot be located, the Building Inspector shall have the authority to remove the sign, and cost shall be borne by the City.