The purpose of this article is to regulate existing
and proposed outdoor advertising and outdoor signs of all types. It
is intended to protect property values, create a more attractive,
economic and business climate and enhance and protect the physical
appearance of the community. It is further intended hereby to reduce
sign or advertising distractions and obstructions in order to promote
and protect the public health, welfare and safety of the people.
This article may hereafter be known and cited
as the "Sign Law."
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY SIGN
Any sign related to a business service or profession conducted
upon the premises where such sign is located.
AREA DISPLAY
Square foot area of the surface of the sign bearing the advertising.
CONSTRUCT
To build, construct, alter, repair, display, relocate, attach,
hang, place, suspend, affix or maintain any sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign containing an electrical lighting device, including
reflective signs.
LIGHTING DEVICE
Any electrical lighting device so arranged as to illuminate
a sign.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company, institution or organization of any kind.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign supported by the roof of a structure or building.
SIGN
Any device for visual communication that is used for the
purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public.
Whenever in this article there is a reference
to the area of a sign, such area shall be determined by measuring
the vertical times the horizontal length of the visible face thereof.
The structure supporting a sign shall not be included in determining
the area of the sign, unless said supporting structure is designed
in a way to form an integral background for the display.
The prohibitions contained in this section shall
apply to all signs and all use districts, regardless of designation,
in the Village of Valley Stream.
A. Illumination. Any illuminated sign or lighting device
shall employ only lights emitting a light of constant intensity, and
no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent,
rotating or moving light or lights. In no event shall an illuminated
sign or lighting device be so placed or so directed as to permit the
beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public
street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare
or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
B. Projecting signs. Any sign extending more than 16
inches beyond the face of any building shall hereafter be prohibited.
C. Signs on roofs. Roof signs shall be prohibited.
D. Portable or temporary signs. No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises, except as provided in §
72-7.
E. Banners, posters, etc. Banners, posters, pennants,
ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering or
revolving devices shall be prohibited, except by special permit from
the Board of Trustees.
F. Painted signs. No sign shall be painted on any exterior
walls of any building or structure, fence or retaining wall or roof
of any building or structure.
G. Billboards. Billboards are prohibited.
All signs of portable or temporary nature, such
as political posters, banners, promotional devices and other signs
of a similar nature, may be granted a temporary permit for a period
not to exceed 90 days, provided that such signs are not attached to
fences, trees, utility poles or the like, and further provided that
such signs are not placed in a position that will obstruct or impair
vision or traffic or in any manner create a hazard or disturbance
to the health and welfare of the general public.
After the effective date of this article and
except as otherwise herein provided, no person shall erect any sign
as defined herein without first obtaining a permit therefor from the
Building Department or the Board of Trustees.
Application for the permit shall be made in
writing, in duplicate, upon forms prescribed and provided by the Building
Department and shall contain the following information:
A. Name, address and telephone number of applicant.
B. Location of building, structure or land to which or
upon which the sign is to be erected.
C. A detailed drawing or blueprint showing a description
of the construction details of the sign and showing the lettering
and/or pictorial matter composing the sign; the position of lighting
or other extraneous devices; a location plan showing the position
of the sign on any building or land and its position in relation to
nearby buildings or structures and to any private or public streets
or highways, including the size of lettering with color.
D. Written consent of the owner of the building, structure
or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected, in the event
the applicant is not the owner thereof.
E. A copy of Fire Underwriters' Laboratories' approval.
F. Fee to accompany application.
(1) There shall be a filing fee of $5 for every 24 square
feet of sign or fraction thereof.
[Amended 9-22-1980 by L.L. No. 5-1980]
(2) There shall be a filing fee of $10 for applications
requiring the permission of the Board of Trustees.
G. Answers to all parts of the application or it will
be returned without action.
H. A copy of the contractor's liability insurance and
the workmen's compensation insurance policies.
No sign, whether new or existing, shall hereafter
be erected or altered, except in conformity with the provisions of
this article. However, notwithstanding any provisions contained herein,
the sign must be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards,
such as but not limited to faulty wiring and loose fastenings, and
must be maintained at all times in such safe condition so as not to
be detrimental to the public health and safety.
In the event that a sign is erected prior to
the effective date of this article, which sign does not conform with
the provisions and standards of this article, the requisite permit,
as provided herein, shall be granted for every such sign or other
advertising structure for a period of time not exceeding five years
from the effective date of this article, and thereafter all such signs
must be in compliance with this article.
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Building Department relative to the provisions of this article or the Village of Valley Stream may appeal such decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals as provided in Chapter
99, Zoning, and shall comply with all procedural requirements prescribed by such Zoning Board of Appeals. No exceptions to this law shall be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals unless all of the conditions of the Zoning Board of Appeals as set forth under Article
XXV of the Valley Stream Zoning Code are met and complied with.
[Amended 9-17-2018 by L.L. No. 16-2018]
Every violation of this provision, upon conviction, shall be
punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,500 and/or 15 days in jail for
each such offense.