No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without a permit, except those signs excepted below, and without being in conformity with the provisions of this article. The sign shall also meet all the structural requirements of the Building Code.
All signs are prohibited in the R-1, R-3 and C-1 Districts, except the following:
A. 
Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment announcing, without display or elaboration, only the name and occupation of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet in height and 10 feet in length.
B. 
Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
C. 
Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two square feet located on the premises.
D. 
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed eight square feet in area, located on the premises.
E. 
Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure.
F. 
Official signs such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information and notices.
G. 
Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the Plan Commission.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
Signs are permitted in the C-1 and M-1 Districts, subject to the following restrictions:
A. 
Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings shall not extend more than 15 inches outside of a building's wall surface, shall not exceed 500 square feet in area for any one premises, and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center line street grade.
B. 
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by structures shall not:
(1) 
Exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises.
(2) 
Extend more than six feet into any required yard.
(3) 
Extend into any public right-of-way.
(4) 
Be less than 10 feet from all side lot lines.
(5) 
Exceed a height of 20 feet above the mean center line street grade.
(6) 
Be less than nine feet above the sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
C. 
Ground signs shall not exceed 40 feet in height above the mean center line street grade, shall meet all yard requirements for the district in which it is located, shall not exceed 100 square feet on one side nor 200 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
D. 
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof, shall meet all the yard and height requirements for the district in which it is located, and shall not exceed 300 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
E. 
Window signs shall be placed only on the inside of business buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed.
F. 
Combinations of any of the above signs shall meet all the requirements for the individual sign.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this article may be continued although the use, size or location does not conform with the provisions of this article. However, it shall be deemed a nonconforming use or structure, and the provisions of Article IV of this chapter shall apply.