Outdoor signs of all types are to be regulated to protect property
values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance
and protect the physical appearance of Stratford, and preserve the
scenic and natural beauty of the Village. It is further intended to
reduce sign or advertising distraction and obstructions that may contribute
to traffic accidents, to reduce hazards that may be caused by signs
overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way, and to provide
more open space.
The following definitions are used in this article:
AWNING
A temporary hood or cover which projects from the wall of
a building, which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the
face of a supporting structure.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign designed to give any artificial light directly through
any transparent or translucent material from a source of light originating
within or on such sign.
DIRECTORY SIGN
Any sign on which the names and locations of occupants or
the use of a building is given. This shall include office and church
directories.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE UNIT SIGN
Any sign whose message may be changed by electronic process,
including such messages as copy, art, graphics, time, date, temperature,
weather or information concerning civic or charitable events or the
advertising of products or services for sale on the premises. This
also includes traveling or segmented message displays.
FLASHING SIGN
Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign on which artificial
light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color
at all times when in use.
GROUND SIGN
Any sign which is supported by structures or supports in
or upon the ground and independent of support from any building. (Also
referred to as "freestanding sign.")
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign which carries only the name of the firm, major enterprise,
institution or principal products offered for sale on the premises
or combination of these.
MARQUEE
A permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building
wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting
beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed
to provide protection against weather.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to and made part of a marquee.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground which is
designed to be easily moved from one location to another.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign extending more than 18 inches but less than five
feet from the face of a wall or building.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent the
property upon which the sign is placed.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected upon or over the roof or parapet of any
building.
SIGN
Includes anything that promotes, calls attention to or invites
patronage of (or anything similar to the aforementioned) a business,
location or product.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign intended to be displayed for a short period of time,
including real estate, political or construction site signs and banners,
decorative-type displays or anything similar to the aforementioned.
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached to, erected on or painted on the wall of
a building or structure and projecting not more than 18 inches from
such wall.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and
visible from a public way.
The following types of signs do not require the issuance of
a sign permit:
A. Real estate for sale and for rent signs. A sign advertising the sale,
lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located not
to exceed 32 square feet in area, except in the R-1 through R-4 Districts,
where the area of the sign shall not be more than six square feet,
except that signs up to 32 square feet may be used to advertise undeveloped
lots in a new subdivision for a period no longer than two years after
the issuance of a sign permit and where such signs are located at
least 150 feet from the nearest dwelling.
B. Professional nameplates. Professional nameplates not to exceed one
square foot in area.
C. Address signs. Signs denoting the name and address of the occupants
of the premises and not to exceed two square feet in area.
D. Garage sale signs. Garage or porch sale signs of less than four square
feet which are removed within two days after the event.
E. Political signs or other temporary signs. See §
590-75.
No billboards shall be erected within 100 feet of the intersecting
right-of-way of signalized intersections, and no billboards shall
be erected within 50 feet of the intersecting right-of-way of all
other streets.
All signs considered to be obsolete or to be abandoned, such
as signs identifying or advertising businesses, services or products
no longer available, shall be removed within 90 days of notice by
the Village at the owner's expense or at the expense of the sign contractor
to whom the last permit was issued. Signs that normally employ changeable
copy shall not be subject to this provision except in cases where
the sign went with no copy or obsolete copy for a period exceeding
six months.
Exceptions from the sign requirements in this article may be
authorized by the Plan Commission and approved by the Village Board
after specific finding by the Plan Commission that such exception
is reasonable and necessary under special circumstances for which
the exception is requested and that such exception will not violate
the intent of these provisions. Exceptions shall be processed as conditional
uses subject to necessary public hearings and all of the other provisions
of this chapter with respect to conditional uses. The Plan Commission
may stipulate conditions it deems necessary to protect the public
health, safety and welfare.
All billboards, signs and other advertising structures shall
be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less
than 30 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed to
receive dead loads as required in the Building Code or other ordinances
of the Village of Stratford.