The intent of this article is to acknowledge that the reasonable
display of signs is appropriate as a public service and necessary
to the conduct of competitive commerce and industry. Provisions of
this article are intended to establish minimum standards which regulate
the design, erection and display of signs based on land use, public
safety, neighborhood values and aesthetic quality.
[Amended 5-14-2014 by Ord. No. 3546; 7-22-2015 by Ord. No. 3586]
A. Location. In addition to the requirements of this section, the following
conditions shall apply to any special sign and/or sign device:
(1) No sign or sign device shall be sited, placed or displayed to encroach
into or over the public right-of-way unless otherwise allowed by this
section.
(2) Signs and/or sign devices shall not be mounted on a roof, attached
to fences, trees, traffic signs, directional signs or utility poles,
and shall not be illuminated or situated to impair the view or visibility
of the operator of any motor vehicle, obstruct or impair the movement
of any pedestrian or motor vehicle, or in any manner create a nuisance,
hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public.
(3) Signs and/or sign devices shall be located entirely on the property to which they relate. Off-site signs shall be prohibited except for civic events or special events, marches, or public assemblies, as defined in Chapter
562 of the Code of the City of Fond du Lac.
[Amended 2-13-2019 by Ord. No. 3684]
B. Real estate. One sale or lease sign per street frontage is permitted
for a residential property. No other type of advertising or promotional
device, including pennants, streamers, flags, banners, etc. shall
be permitted. Real estate sale or lease signs shall not exceed six
square feet in size for properties in one- and two-family residential
zoning districts and 32 square feet in multifamily districts. Maximum
height for a ground sign or ground-mounted banner shall not exceed
10 feet. Sign size in commercial and industrial districts is not restricted,
provided such signage is proportionate to the size of the building
and/or land it serves.
C. Development. Three signs to identify the construction or future development
of a lot or subdivision, to provide information related to the project,
shall be permitted, to be removed upon final occupancy of the affected
building(s). Aggregate sign area shall not exceed 64 square feet.
D. Building identification. An identification sign to denote the name
and/or address of occupants of the premises shall not exceed two square
feet in area for each residential building or for each nonresidential
tenant or space.
E. Directional. Four on-premises directional signs to provide general
information related to the property or use shall be permitted, each
not to exceed 4.5 square feet in area and four feet in height. The
siting of a directional sign shall reflect the vision clearance requirements
of this chapter and the setback requirements of the affected zoning
district. Refer to Schedule VIII.
[Amended 5-27-2020 by Ord. No. 3708]
F. Building marker. A building name and construction date may be cut
into a masonry surface or permanently affixed to an exterior wall
when said sign is constructed of bronze or a noncombustible material,
up to four square feet in area.
G. Awnings and canopies. Lettering and/or pictorial matter affixed to
an awning or canopy attached to and/or part of a building shall constitute
a wall sign; such sign area shall be charged to the total area permitted
for a use or property.
H. Freestanding canopy. Signage shall be limited to canopy facades which
face a public right-of-way, not to exceed 25% of the area of the facade
to which the signs are affixed. Canopy signage shall not be charged
to the allowable sign area of a use.
I. Window signs. Signs affixed to or painted on the interior of a window
surface shall not exceed more than 25% of the window area.
J. Political signs. Political signs shall be placed in accordance with
§ 12.04, Communication of political messages, of the Wisconsin
Statutes and any subsequent amendments thereafter.
K. Athletic scoreboards. One board per athletic field; permit required.
No signage shall be affixed to the back of the scoreboard; ancillary
advertising shall not be oriented to be viewed from outside the event
area. Illumination shall be limited to the time period of an athletic
event.
L. Temporary signs. To advertise a grand opening, sale, promotional
event or special event, temporary signage may be utilized on the property
where the use or event is located. A portable changeable message or
electronic message center to advertise a community or charitable event
may be utilized off-site on private property that is not occupied
by a residential use. Temporary signs and sign devices shall be permitted
quarterly for a fifteen-day period, upon issuance of a permit from
the Building Inspector. An outdoor display may include two of the
following temporary elements: streamers, pennants, one banner or one
wave banner, one portable sign, one inflatable or three-dimensional
sign device. Ground-mounted banners shall not exceed 32 square feet;
banners affixed to any part of a building shall not exceed 50% of
the business or store frontage.
(1) Milestone banner. One wall-mounted banner associated with a milestone
event such as rebranding, acquisition, anniversary, or a community-related
award shall be permitted for an institutional, educational, commercial
or manufacturing location (one or more properties that comprise a
campus) that exceeds five acres in size. A milestone banner shall
be permitted for a one-year period, upon issuance of a permit from
the Building Inspector. Banner size shall not exceed 50% of the linear
frontage of the building to which it is affixed; the installation
of lighting for the banner shall be prohibited.
[Added 1-24-2018 by Ord.
No. 3651]
M. Flags. Flags displayed for commercial and/or noncommercial purposes
shall be permitted for a nonresidential use when pole-mounted on a
building wall or affixed to a permanent freestanding flag pole or
privately owned light pole. Flags shall be maintained in good condition.
N. Electronic message center. One electronic message center may be allowed
per property, integral to and part of an allowable ground sign as
permitted by Schedule VIII. The use of an electronic message center as a primary sign
is not permitted. The total area of a message center shall not exceed
50% of the allowable area of a ground sign; where a proposed sign
is less in area than the allowable permitted, the message center shall
not exceed 50% of the total sign area proposed.
(1) The minimum interval between copy changes shall be not less than
two seconds. Video displays are prohibited.
(2) No part of a message or background shall in any way be similar to
traffic signals and/or emergency signals.
(3) The use of an electronic message center as part of a permanent ground
sign for a property shall prohibit the use of a temporary portable
electronic sign on that site.
(4) An electronic message center shall not display off-premises commercial
advertising.
(5) A special use permit shall be approved by the Plan Commission for
an electronic message center for property located in a residential
district or for a commercial property that is adjacent to or faces
a residential district or property used for residential purposes.
[Amended 4-27-2016 by Ord. No. 3604; 11-28-2018 by Ord. No. 3680]
O. Sandwich board sign.
(1) One sign for each exterior building entrance shall be allowed for
use by a nonresidential tenant/occupant of the building during business
hours, placed within the frontage of the affected building and not
more than 20 feet from an entrance of the building. Signs shall be
stored within the interior of the building at the close of business
each day.
(2) The dimensions of the sign/supporting structure shall not exceed
30 inches wide by four feet high. Height shall be measured from the
sidewalk to the top of the structure when the sign is in place.
(3) A five-foot clearance shall be provided to allow unobstructed use
of the sidewalk. The sign shall not hinder the ability of persons
to exit/enter vehicles parked along the curb and/or hinder exit/entry
to a building.
(4) No sign shall have moving parts or illumination.
(5) The sign shall have no more than two sides and it shall be neat in
appearance, constructed of finished all-weather materials, and well
maintained.
(6) The sign shall not be secured, tethered or installed on traffic devices,
utility equipment, street trees, street furniture, streetlights, parking
meters, or any other public fixture.
P. Murals. All proposed murals shall be subject to review and approval
of the Plan Commission; following Plan Commission approval, a sign
permit is required. The Plan Commission shall approve, conditionally
approve or deny a proposal for a mural. Any person who is aggrieved
or affected by the decision of the Plan Commission may appeal the
decision to the City Council. An appeal request shall be submitted
within 30 days of the date of the Plan Commission's decision. Commencement
of an approved mural shall begin within six months from the date of
Plan Commission approval or the approval shall be null and void. The
following shall apply to any mural, whether existing at the time of
adoption of this chapter or proposed:
(1) The mural has attributes that enhance visual enjoyment.
(2) The mural exemplifies high artistic quality.
(3) The mural does not create a public safety issue, such as a distraction
to drivers.
(4) The mural content will not adversely affect the public welfare or
morals, or include hostile or negative connotations or representations.
(5) The content of a mural may not include graphics or text to advertise
a business, product, brand, or service, except for the bona fide historic
recreation of vintage advertising.
(6) The location of the mural shall consider the nature of adjacent land
uses.
(7) Lighting in any manner shall be prohibited.
(8) The mural shall be kept in good condition for the life of same, taking care to address color fading, degradation of materials, and vandalism. Where a mural becomes marked with graffiti, the property owner is responsible for the prompt removal of the graffiti as required by City Code §
500-6. The mural shall be removed when it becomes unsightly and/or is not maintained. Where the mural is not maintained, the City of Fond du Lac can require that the mural be covered with opaque paint in a color complementary to the building on which the mural is located or some other appropriate material.
[Added 4-25-2018 by Ord.
No. 3663]
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish special regulations
for large-screen video display signs for athletic facilities. The
Special Sign Overlay District affects properties with an enclosed
athletic field or court at a university, technical college, private
athletic/recreational facility, or a public park.
B. Procedure. The installation and use of a large screen video display
(LSVD) sign will require review and approval of the Plan Commission;
following Plan Commission approval, a sign permit is required. The
Plan Commission may approve, conditionally approve or deny a proposal
for a LSVD sign. Any person who is aggrieved or affected by the decision
of the Plan Commission may appeal the decision to the Board of Appeals.
An appeal request shall be submitted within 30 days of the date of
the Plan Commission's decision. The installation and use of an approved
LSVD sign should begin within six months from the date of Plan Commission
approval or the approval will be null and void.
C. Requirements. The following requirements apply to any large screen
video display (LSVD) sign:
(1)
One LSVD per facility or property is permitted. The sign should
be designed for view from spectator areas and displayed on the interior-facing
wall of a building, fence or other structure located within the enclosed
athletic facility. No signage may be affixed to the back of the LSVD.
(2)
Siting of the sign should consider existing and proposed landscape
elements and topography to screen the view from abutting streets and
from nearby residential development.
(3)
The surface area of a LSVD shall be limited to one sign face.
The maximum surface area, including the frame and trim, is 560 square
feet for an athletic facility with a permanent seating capacity for
1,500 or more persons. The maximum surface area, including the frame
and trim, is 280 square feet for an athletic facility with a permanent
seating capacity for less than 1,500 persons.
(4)
Maximum sign height is 30 feet. Sign height is measured from
the average height at road grade elevation to the highest point of
the sign.
(5)
Minimum sign setback from any lot line is 15 feet. Setback distance
is measured from the lot line to the outermost physical extension
of the sign.
(6)
Audio speakers and all forms of pyrotechnics are prohibited.
(7)
A large screen video display sign may be used only for the duration
of an event. The hours of operation are limited to the time period
between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. When not in use as permitted, the
sign may not be illuminated or used for any purpose, including advertising
or promotions.
(8)
A large screen video display sign should be kept in good condition
and good repair for the life of its use. In the event of damage or
disrepair, the condition of the sign must be promptly addressed by
the owner thereof. Examples of disrepair may include, but are not
limited to, failed or intermittent lighting, missing or exposed parts,
peeling paint, structural poles or framing, graffiti, or other evident
damage.
In the event of a violation of any of the foregoing provisions,
the Building Inspector shall give written notice specifying the violation
to the named owner of the sign and the named owner of the premises
on which the sign is located. The sign shall thereupon be brought
into conformance by the owner or removed within 30 days from the mailing
date of said notice. In the event the violation is not corrected within
said thirty-day period, the sign shall be removed by the owner or
by the City at the owner's expense.