[Added 1-9-2002 by L.L. No. 1-2002]
A.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect
the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed
advertising signs and signs of all types. It is intended to protect
property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate,
enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community. It is
further intended hereby to reduce sign or advertising distractions
and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce
hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over
public rights-of-way, provide more visual open space, and curb the
deterioration of the community's appearance and attractiveness.
B.
The provisions of this article shall govern the construction,
erection, alteration, repair and maintenance of all signs together
with their appurtenant and auxiliary devices.
Signs in the Business District shall comply
with the following regulations:
A.
The only signs permitted are those which state the
names or trademarks or addresses of the persons, firms or corporations
doing business on the premises, the nature of the business carried
on there, the products or classes of products sold or dealt with and
real estate signs advertising the property on which they are located
for sale or for rent.
B.
No sign shall project over the sidewalk or over any
public property. Subject to the issuance of a permit by the Building
Inspector, this prohibition shall not apply to signs installed flat
against the building and projecting not more than six inches therefrom.
C.
Unless otherwise indicated, a permit issued by the
Building Inspector is required for every sign in, upon or over private
property, and for every illuminated sign, regardless of size, including,
in all cases, signs located inside the building, which are visible
from the adjacent street or from the sidewalks on either side of such
street. In determining whether to issue a permit, the Building Inspector
shall take into account factors, such as excessive similarity, dissimilarity
or inappropriateness of design, color, size or placement of the sign,
which would adversely affect or be detrimental to the appearance,
character, property values, or development of the properties in the
vicinity.
D.
Street level exterior signs.
(1)
Number. One exterior wall sign shall be permitted
per premises on the wall fronting on a public street. When authorized
by the Building Inspector, a premises located on a corner lot, which
has frontage on more than one street, may be granted one additional
sign. The installation or painting of signs on walls not fronting
on a street is prohibited.
(2)
No sign shall be permitted on the side of a building
fronting on a public or private parking lot unless that side has an
entrance regularly used by the public.
(4)
Color. Signs shall have a dark background and light-colored
letters and shall only use those colors from samples located in Village
Hall, as set by resolution of the Board of Trustees. Signs shall be
limited to two colors, white and black being considered colors.
(5)
Content. The content of a sign may display only the
name of the occupant of the premises and, in no more than three words,
may also identify the nature of the service or business.
(6)
Signs consisting of individually placed letters shall
be of matte finish.
(7)
Internally illuminated signs shall be of stencil-cut
type, such that, when illuminated, only the letters are displayed
and not the background.
E.
Signs above street level.
(1)
Signs on floors above the first story of a building
shall be mounted behind or shall be painted on the back face of a
window facing the street and shall use letters with no background.
(2)
Said sign shall not be illuminated; and
(3)
Said sign shall not cover more than two square feet
per premises.
F.
No freestanding or ground-level exterior sign shall
be permitted.
G.
No sign shall be erected on the roof of any building
or structure, nor shall any part of a sign project higher than the
roofline.
H.
Window and interior signs for street-level premises.
(1)
No new or existing sign or window display, excluding
the street address, the numbers of which shall not exceed five inches
in height, shall be affixed to any door or window of any storefront.
(2)
All interior signage and display of merchandise shall
be placed and maintained a minimum of 12 inches from the storefront
window or door. Such signage shall only be illuminated indirectly.
(3)
A vacant premises shall be permitted to display one
"For Rent," "For Sale," or "Opening Soon" type sign, which shall occupy
no greater than four square feet of window area.
J.
Signs made of cardboard, paper, canvas or other impermanent
materials are not permitted on the exterior of the building.
K.
Only indirect illumination of signs is permitted,
with all light sources totally concealed from view from the street
or from any adjoining properties. Flashing, moving, sound-producing
or intermittently illuminated signs or other attention-seeking devices
are prohibited.
L.
All wall signs shall be safely and securely attached
to the building wall.
M.
All signs must be maintained as originally approved.
N.
Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer
advertises a bona fide business conducted, product sold or activity
or service being conducted shall be taken down and removed by the
owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building,
structure or lot upon which such sign may be found within 14 days
of such cessation. Upon failure to comply within the time specified,
the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to order removal or such
sign, within 14 days of a written notification, and expenses incident
thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, structure or lot
to which such sign is attached.
A.
Electric lights, lamps, or illuminated tubes of any
type shall not be used for design, background, or perimeter decoration
or illumination purposes of any type.
B.
Signs permitted under § 212-91 of this article, other than real estate signs, may be illuminated by artificial means, subject to the following conditions and not otherwise:
(1)
Electric lights, lamps or illuminated tubes of any
type shall not be used for the letters, numerals or other symbols
of the sign or for its design, background or decoration.
(2)
The lights or other means of illumination shall be
shielded and shall not be directly visible from adjacent streets and
other properties.
(3)
No flashing or intermittent lights or means of illumination
are permitted.
(4)
In the case of religious organizations, electric lights,
lamps and other means of illumination may be used in accordance with
their customs, practices and usages.
The erection, alteration, use or maintenance
of any billboard within the Village of Lawrence is hereby prohibited.
No signs shall be erected or maintained in a
residence district of the Village, except:
A.
Signs stating the name of the premises or the name
of the owner or occupant thereof and, in the case of a duly licensed
professional person, the letters or symbol designating his profession.
B.
Signs stating the street and number of the building
or premises where the sign is located.
C.
Subject to a permit issued by the Building Inspector,
in the case of multiple dwellings, houses of worship, schools, libraries,
public museums, clubs, public parks and playgrounds, municipal golf
courses, docks and landings, one sign stating the name of the building
or of the organization, the nature of its activity and, in the case
of religious organizations, such other symbols, displays, information
and announcements as may be in accordance with their customs, practices
and usage.
D.
Directional or warning signs for the convenience of
persons desiring to enter the premises, such as "tradesmen," "deliveries,"
"entrance," "private," "children," "beware of dog," "no peddling allowed,"
and the like.
E.
Real estate signs advertising the real estate on which
the sign is located for sale or for rent.
The size of signs in the residence districts
shall conform to the following requirements:
Signs in the residence districts shall be located
as follows:
A.
Signs permitted under § 212-94A, B and D of this article may be erected and maintained within the required front yard, required side yard or required rear yard, provided that the highest point of the sign is not more than five feet above the level of the ground where it is located and the highest point of the post or standard on which it is mounted or to which it is attached shall not be more than six feet above the level of the ground where it is located.
B.
Signs permitted under § 212-94AC and E of
this article are prohibited within a required front yard, required
side yard or required rear yard.
Real estate signs shall conform to the following
conditions and requirements:
A.
Only one sign shall be permitted for a single building
plot or premises, such sign not to exceed three square feet in area.
B.
Every such sign shall have a space of no less than
three feet between the bottom of the sign and the ground.
C.
The highest point of the sign and of the post or standard
on which it is mounted or to which it is attached shall not be more
than six feet above the level of the ground where it is located.
D.
Every such sign shall be so placed as to conform to
the front yard, side yard and rear yard restrictions applicable to
the principal building or use in the district in which the same is
situated.
E.
No illumination, attachments, or other attention-seeking
devices shall be permitted.
No advertising sign or advertising display of
any character whatsoever, whether illuminated or otherwise, shall
be constructed, altered or enlarged without a permit previously obtained
from the Building Inspector of the Village of Lawrence, upon payment
of the license and inspection fee specified in Chapter A219, Fees,
of this Code of the Village of Lawrence.
Any billboard, sign, advertisement, display
or structure erected or maintained in violation of this chapter is
hereby declared a public nuisance, and the Building Inspector is hereby
authorized and empowered to cause the same to be removed without notice,
and the cost or expense thereof shall be charged against the owner
or occupant of the premises upon which the same is situated.
[Amended 9-11-2002 by L.L. No. 5-2002]
Any person committing an offense against any
provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty
of a violation pursuant to the Penal Law of the State of New York,
punishable by a fine up to a maximum of $1,000 or by imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
The continuation of an offense against the provisions of this chapter
shall constitute, for each day the offense is continued, a separate
and distinct offense hereunder.
A.
Signs erected prior to the effective date of this
article and for which no sign permits are in effect and which do not
conform to the provisions or standards of this article shall be removed
within 30 days after the effective date of this article.
B.
All interior signage erected prior to the effective date of this article which does not conform to the provisions or standards of this article, shall be permitted to remain subject to the restrictions of § 212-91H(2).
Each separate provision in this article shall
be deemed independent of all other provisions herein, and if any provisions
shall be deemed or declared invalid, all other provisions hereof shall
remain valid and enforceable.
[Added 12-8-2016 by L.L.
No. 3-2016]
A.
Legislative intent. The Board of Trustees has found that the efforts
of first responders responding to night-time emergencies can be slowed
or impeded by their inability to identify house numbers on dark or
dimly lit streets in the Village. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees
finds that it shall be in the interests of the public health, safety
and general welfare for addresses posted on residential properties
in the Village to feature illumination that makes the address readily
visible from the street at night.
B.
All residential buildings in the Village shall feature address numbers
conforming to the requirements stated in this section. Any residential
building not in compliance with this section on the date of enactment
shall come into compliance with this section no later than six months
after such date.
C.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary, address
numbers posted on residences in the Village shall meet the following
requirements:
(1)
They shall be visible from the street on which the property
fronts;
(2)
They shall be no less than four inches and no greater than eight
inches in height; and
(3)
They shall be illuminated from sundown to sunrise by internal
or external means, provided that all light sources shall be constant
and fixed, as opposed to flashing and moving, and shall be positioned
and designed in such a way that they do not cast light off the subject
premises or into a public right-of-way.
D.
Failure to comply with this section shall be a violation of the Village
Code punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. Each week a violation
persists shall constitute a separate offense.
