Town of Pinedale, WY Article XIX Signs

[Amended 2005 by Ord. No. 367; 8-23-2010 by Ord. No. 461; 8-25-2014 by Ord. No. 522; 6-26-2017 by Ord. No. 614; 3-11-2020 by Ord. No. 662]

§ 475-155 Applicability; compliance; state regulations.

The regulations set out in this article shall apply to signs erected, altered and maintained by and for permitted uses in all districts. Signs governed by several regulations shall comply with all such regulations. If state regulations for signs along highways are in conflict with this article, the more restrictive rules shall apply.

§ 475-156 Exemptions.

The following types of signs shall be deemed to be outside the scope of these regulations and shall not require a permit:

A. Signs required by law or authorized for a public purpose.

B. Nameplates and addresses for structures.

C. Cornerstones and historical markers.

D. Decorations of a temporary nature.

E. Window displays of actual merchandise.

F. Real estate "for sale," rental or lease signs not exceeding six square feet in area.

G. Noncommercial signs which are informational and directional signs with no advertising.

H. Danger or warning signs of a cautionary nature.

I. Traffic signs.

§ 475-157 Prohibited signs.

A. No "revolving beacon," "fountain" or "flashing" signs which are of such intensity and so located that they could detract a motorist's vision from normal safe driving shall be permitted in any district.

B. No sign in any district shall conflict in any manner with the purpose or operation of public devices controlling public traffic.

C. Except as otherwise allowed in this article, no overhanging or freestanding signs, including but not limited to political signs, business signs or personal signs, shall be permitted in any public right-of-way, or extend over the curb, gutter or roadway except those traffic control and direction devices erected and approved by a public agency having jurisdiction or as otherwise allowed herein.

D. No sign shall be located in a manner to constitute a traffic hazard.

§ 475-158 Permitted signs by district.

Only the following signs and no others shall be erected and maintained in the following zoning districts:

Type of Sign	Permitted Districts
Business sign	A, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2
Flashing sign	C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2
Illuminated sign	A, C-1, C-2, R-4, MH, I-1, I-2
Sandwich sign	C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2
Building complex sign	R-2, R-2A, R-4, MH
Bulletin sign	A, R-S, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-4, MH, C-1, C-2
Home occupation sign	A, R-S, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-4, MH, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2
For-sale sign	All districts
Temporary construction sign	All districts

§ 475-159 Maintenance and safety.

Signs shall be maintained in a good state of repair. Broken signs, signs unreadable because of deterioration, signs on vacant buildings, temporary signs not complying with § 475-166 and signs constituting a safety hazard may be ordered repaired or removed by the Zoning Administrator.

§ 475-160 Business signs.

The following applies to business signs:

A. In figuring the gross surface area (in square feet), the total surface area of each and every sign of the business shall be added together for a total surface area, all signs large or small. If two signs are back-to-back, only the surface area of one side of the sign shall be included in this calculation. The total gross surface area (number of square feet) of the business sign, or combination of business signs, shall not exceed two times the number of linear feet of frontage of the building. The total surface area shall not exceed 400 square feet for each face of the sign. Individual letters, with no background, shall be measured by the minimum rectangular area necessary to encompass such letter or by a combination of rectangles as are necessary to encompass letters of irregular dimension.

B. Any sign located within three feet of a driveway or parking area or within 50 feet of the intersection of two or more streets shall have its lowest elevation at least 10 feet above curb level. In a unified shopping center in single ownership or control, one additional sign may be erected to identify the center. The sign may be freestanding or attached to a building wall. The sign shall display no more than the name and location of the shopping center. The sign shall not exceed 30 feet in height and 15 feet in width, and its bottom edge shall be at least eight feet above ground level.

C. Signs within 50 feet of a residential district shall be affixed to or be a part of the building.

D. Overhead hanging and projecting signs, attached to buildings or awnings, are permitted on Pine Street but must conform to the WYDOT signage policies and regulations. These signs may only advertise the business which they are mounted to.

E. Flashing signs shall be permitted after it is first determined by the Zoning Administrator that the location and colors will in no way create confusion with traffic lights and with lights on emergency vehicles, and that the direct rays of light are not directed into any dwelling district.

F. Illuminated nonflashing signs shall be permitted, providing the sign is illuminated only during business hours when the sign is located adjacent to a residential district; providing that, where the sign is illuminated by a light or lights reflected upon it, direct rays of light shall not beam upon any residential building or into any residential district or into any street. Lighted signs in direct vision of a traffic signal shall not be in red, green or amber illumination. Clocks and/or thermometers for public convenience and information are exempt from the time limitation.

G. Signs should be of permanent nature and vinyl banners are not permitted.

H. The following applies to off-site signage:

(1) Signage must conform to the regulations that apply to the premises where the sign is located.

(2) Requires property owner permission.

(3) A single business can only advertise at a maximum of two locations off site.

(4) The business being advertised must be located within Town limits.

(5) The sole purpose of the sign is to provide information or direction to the subject business.

(6) Vacant property: The maximum square footage of signs is the frontage of the parcel or 200 square feet, whichever is smaller. Individual signs cannot exceed 40 square feet.

(7) The off-site sign should be mounted flat against a building wall if possible. If on a vacant property, the off-site sign should be constructed of permanent material.

§ 475-161 Building complex signs.

In a mobile home subdivision, planned mobile home development or institutional or residential building complex, in addition to other signs which may be allowed, a sign may be erected to identify the building complex. The sign may be freestanding or attached to the building wall. The sign shall display no more than the name and location of the building complex. The sign shall not exceed 100 square feet in area.

§ 475-162 Bulletin signs.

Bulletin boards and signs may be erected for churches and other similar public institutions in the designated districts subject to the following limitations:

A. One sign or bulletin board shall be permitted on each street frontage if located on the same site as the principal building.

B. If the sign or bulletin board is illuminated, the lights shall be directed away from adjoining residential uses.

C. No sign or bulletin board shall exceed 24 square feet in area.

D. No sign shall be located closer than eight feet from any side or rear property line.

E. A sign or bulletin board located in the front yard shall be no closer to the street line than 1/2 the required front yard.

F. A sign or bulletin board, affixed to a building, shall not project higher than one story, or 10 feet above the ground level, whichever is lower.

G. Ground signs shall be permanently anchored to the ground and shall not exceed a height of six feet above normal grade.

H. Buildings constructed on the property line prior to the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be allowed one identification sign only when the sign is a flat wall sign and permanently attached to the building.

I. On corner lots, no sign shall be so constructed or so located that will obstruct the view of traffic approaching the street intersection.

§ 475-163 Home occupation signs.

Any sign advertising a home occupation shall be subject to the following limitations:

A. The sign shall consist only of a nonilluminated nameplate.

B. The nameplate shall not exceed six square feet in area.

C. The nameplate shall show only the name and/or address of the applicant.

D. There shall be no more than one nameplate for each dwelling unit.

E. The nameplate shall be affixed to the dwelling unit, flat against the wall.

§ 475-164 For-sale or for-rent signs.

For-sale or for-rent signs not exempted from the provisions of these regulations shall be subject to the following conditions:

A. Only one such sign shall be permitted for each front line of a zone lot.

B. No sign shall exceed five square feet in area.

C. Signs shall be located no closer than five feet from any property lines, providing the sign does not obstruct traffic.

D. When the sign is affixed to a building, it shall not project higher than one story or 10 feet above the ground level.

E. Ground signs shall not project higher than six feet above ground grade.

§ 475-165 Temporary signs.

A. Construction signs.

(1) No more than two such signs shall be allowed on any zone lot where construction or development is taking place. Only one sign permit shall be issued per each building permit issued.

(2) No sign shall exceed 10 feet in height.

(3) The total sign area for any zone lot shall not exceed 64 square feet.

(4) Signs may be illuminated but shall not be flashing or animated or have moving parts.

(5) Permits for such signs shall be valid only for the duration of the construction or development activity.

B. Other temporary signs.

(1) Permitted for temporary uses such as farm stands, Christmas tree sales, special events and one-time grand openings.

(2) Temporary signs may be on display for 30 days and must be removed within five days after the event.

C. Sandwich signs.

(1) Permitted one sandwich board per business and during business hours only.

(2) Placement must be on private property.

(3) Maximum frontage size is three feet by four feet.

§ 475-166 Sign area measurement.

A. The structure or bracing of any sign shall be omitted from measurement unless such structure or bracing has been made an integral part of the message.

B. Where a sign has two or more display faces, the area of all faces shall be measured unless such faces join back-to-back, are parallel to each other and are no more than 24 inches apart.

C. The area of any backing or background material that is a part of the sign display shall be included in the sign area to be measured.

D. The area of any sign shall be measured by determining the sum of the area of each square, rectangle, triangle, circle or portion or combination thereof that encompasses the outer limits of all portions of the sign, message or display.

§ 475-167 Political signs.

A political sign is a sign that promotes the nomination or election of a particular candidate, a particular political party or particular election issues during any phase of the election process. Political signs are allowed on private property without a permit at any time.

§ 475-168 Town signs.

This article shall not apply to signs of any type placed or otherwise installed by the Town of Pinedale.