[CC 1997 §23A-1; Ord. No. 286 §25.010, 7-20-1970]
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
Includes banners and pennants affixed on poles, wires, ropes
or streamers, wind-operated devices and other similar advertising
devices or techniques of any kind.
A structure, building wall or other outdoor surface used
for the display of lettered, pictorial or other matter intended to
make known or to aid, directly or indirectly, in the sale of a commodity
or service, excluding "identification", "real estate", name plates
and political signs, all as hereinafter defined.
See "Advertising sign".
A sign attached to the exterior of a church, or located elsewhere
on the church premises, used to indicate the services or activities
of the church and including its name, if desired.
Decorative displays or signs used for holidays, public events,
promotion of civic causes or for charitable or not-for-profit purposes
and on which there is no commercial advertising.
Temporary signs used during construction of new buildings
or reconstruction of or additions to old buildings.
A sign intended as a public convenience in directing persons
to places of public or semi-public accommodation such as parks, playing
fields, golf courses, airports and other public institutions but not
including commercial establishments; including any highway markers
and public transportation notices.
A sign supported by one (1) or more upright structural members
set in the ground surface.
A sign, building wall or other outdoor surface used to display
and identify the name of the individual, business, profession, organization
or institution occupying the premises upon which it is located.
Signs erected within a building.
A sign designed to be moved about from one place to another
rather than set in or fixed to the ground or other surface.
A sign erected by the City for street or other purposes.
A one (1) square foot or less lettered plate or sign indicating
the name and profession or business of the occupant of the premises
upon which it is located.
A sign made of paperboard or other material advocating or
opposing any political propositions or candidate for public office.
A sign which is attached directly to a building wall or other
upright surface and which projects more than twelve (12) inches from
the face of the wall or surface.
A sign pertaining only to the prospective rental, lease or
sale of the property on which it is located and only during the period
of time the property is for rent, lease or sale.
Any panel or surface, whether painted, printed, illuminated
or otherwise illustrated, advertising or announcing to the public
the name of a person, firm, product, service, meeting, cause or candidate
for office.
Signs not otherwise classified herein, including group commercial
or special commercial promotional uses.
A sign which is painted on or attached to a building wall
and which does not extend more than twelve (12) inches from the face
of the wall
[CC 1997 §23A-2; Ord. No. 286 §25.020, 7-20-1970]
A.
The outside,
extreme or greatest dimension of the printed or lettered or painted
or other area of all faces of signs, name plates and other advertising
boards will be considered part of the allowable sign area.
B.
Except as provided by Section 525.040(D), no sign shall hereafter be erected, constructed or altered unless the permit required by this Chapter has first been obtained therefor. All signs shall comply with the construction details of the City Building Code.
C.
No advertising
sign shall be permitted which does not pertain solely to the advertisement
of the services rendered, business conducted or products sold on the
premises on which such sign is located. No sign, commonly known as
a "billboard", shall be permitted to exist within the City.
D.
No sign
shall exceed the height of the regulations of the district in which
it may be located.
E.
Except
as otherwise herein provided, the aggregate of all signs shall not
exceed two (2) square feet for each one (1) linear foot of street
frontage of the premises on which the sign is permitted to exist.
If the premises are on a corner lot, in computing the maximum sign
area, the frontage on the street upon which the sign faces shall determine
the number of linear feet for such computation; the two (2) street
frontages shall not be combined for any one (1) sign unless such sign
is located at the corner point.
[CC 1997 §23A-3; Ord. No. 286 §25.030, 7-20-1970]
A.
Ground Signs.
1.
Ground
signs may have more than one (1) face but shall not be erected so
that the bottom of any face provides less than seven (7) feet six
(6) inches clearance above the ground level, except municipal signs.
The clearance herein required shall not apply to real estate, political
or civic activity ground signs.
2.
All
ground signs shall be erected so that all parts of the sign shall
be at least three (3) feet from the street curb line, except municipal
signs.
3.
The total sign area of any such sign, computing the total area of all of its sides, shall be considered as part of the aggregate sign area and shall in no event exceed such total aggregate area as calculated under the provisions of Section 525.020(E).
4.
No one
(1) face ground sign shall exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total
allowable sign area.
5.
No more
than one (1) ground sign shall be permitted upon any premises, unless
such premises are upon a corner lot or at an intersection, in which
event one (1) sign may face upon each such street.
B.
Projecting Signs. No such sign shall extend more than eight
(8) feet from the wall of any building. In no case shall any such
sign project to within three (3) feet of the curbline, nor have clearance
of less than seven (7) feet six (6) inches from ground level.
C.
Movable Signs. Such signs shall contain not more than twelve
(12) square feet per side and there shall not be more than one (1)
such sign on any premises unless such premises are upon a corner lot
or at an intersection, in which event two (2) signs are permitted,
one (1) facing upon each street.
D.
Traffic Control Signs. Those identifying entrances or exits
of parking areas shall not exceed three (3) square feet of surface
area. Adjacent to Federally designated highways of four (4) or more
lanes, in addition to all other allowable sign area, traffic control
signs of twelve (12) square feet or less identifying entrances, exits
and the name of the business conducted on the premises may be permitted.
[CC 1997 §23A-4; Ord. No. 286 §25.050, 7-20-1970; Ord. No. 717 §2, 6-14-2006]
A.
Prior
to the issuance of any required permit for the erection of a sign
or outdoor display structure, an application therefor shall be filed
with the Building Commissioner, which such application shall, when
required by the Building Commissioner, include the plans and specifications
for such sign, including the dimensions, materials and required details
of construction, including weights and methods of anchorage.
B.
The application
shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner or lessee
of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected. Before the issuance
of each required sign permit, a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00)
for the permit and thirty dollars ($30.00) per inspection shall be
paid in advance to the City at the time their application is filed.
C.
No sign
shall be enlarged or relocated except in conformity with the provisions
of this Chapter for new signs, nor until a permit has been issued.
The changing of movable parts of an approved sign, that is designed
for such changes or repainting or reposting of display matter, shall
not be deemed an alteration; provided, that the conditions of the
original approval and the requirements of this Chapter are not violated.
D.
Except
as hereinafter provided, no permit shall be required for the signs
hereinafter listed; provided however, that such exemption shall not
relieve the owner of the sign from responsibility for its erection
and maintenance in a safe manner, from responsibility from compliance
with all provisions of this Chapter or from responsibilities for damages
or injuries to property or persons:
1.
Construction signs. Construction signs, engineers' and architects'
signs and other similar signs authorized by the Building Commissioner
in connection with construction operations. The type, size, number
and design of such signs shall be approved by the Building Commissioner
and may be ordered and removed by him/her provided there is no substantial
work on the project within a sixty (60) day period.
2.
Identification signs. Not larger than three (3) square feet
and which are not animated or illuminated, except that in the case
of such signs for public or semi-public buildings, the Mayor may authorize
same in excess of the aforementioned area limitation where, in his/her
opinion, such larger sign area is necessary or desirable.
3.
Municipal signs.
4.
Civic activity signs. Any person or organization desiring
to erect a civic activity sign shall notify the Mayor who shall have
authority to deny permission for the installation and maintenance
of such civic activity sign if, in his/her opinion, the proposed display
or sign will adversely affect the neighborhood or create a nuisance
in the area surrounding the proposed location of the sign or signs.
If the Mayor or designated representative does not, within five (5)
days after receipt of such notice, deny permission, the sign may be
erected in any zone, without public hearing, for a period not exceeding
thirty (30) days.
5.
Political signs. Political signs shall not be erected or
affixed on or to any public property or utility poles and in no event
may political signs be erected or affixed by any person other than
the owner or his/her agent on or to any property without the written
consent, filed with the City, of the owner of such property. No such
sign shall be erected or affixed more than thirty (30) days prior
to the election with which the contents of such sign are concerned
or to which such sign relates and must, in any event, be removed within
five (5) days after the election to which such sign is related. Such
total sign area shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.
6.
Real estate signs. Real estate signs shall be unlighted,
twelve (12) square feet or less, made of paperboard or other material.
[CC 1997 §23A-5; Ord. No. 286 §25.060, 7-20-1970]
A.
The following
signs and advertising devices are hereby declared to be unlawful and
a public nuisance and, upon written notice from the Building Commissioner
to the owner or lessee of the property upon which the sign or advertising
device is located, shall be reconstructed or removed forthwith:
1.
An illuminated sign of the flashing, blinking, revolving, rotating beacon or animated type, except as provided in Section 525.080(B); provided further, that rotating signs in existence, as of the adoption of this Chapter, may be permitted, so long as such rotating part shall be no less than fifteen (15) feet from the surface of the ground immediately below such a sign.
2.
A sign
advertising an article or product not manufactured, assembled, processed,
repaired or sold upon the premises upon which the sign is located,
advertising any unlawful activity whatever or containing scurrilous,
scandalous or obscene matter.
3.
A sign
relating to the lease, hire or sale of a building or premises other
than the building or premises upon which the sign is displayed.
4.
A sign
advertising a service not rendered on the premises upon which the
sign is located.
B.
The following
signs are hereby declared to be unsafe and dangerous signs:
1.
When
any sign becomes insecure, in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe
or if any sign or advertising device shall be unlawfully installed,
erected or maintained in violation of the provisions of this Chapter,
the Building Commissioner shall give written notice thereof to the
owner or the person or firm maintaining same requiring the correction
of such condition. If the sign or advertising device constitutes an
immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare, the Mayor
or his/her duly designated representative shall order immediate correction
or removal. In all other cases, the owner or persons or firm maintaining
such sign or advertising device shall be required to correct the deficiencies
or remove the sign or advertising device within ten (10) days of receipt
of such notice from the Building Commissioner. If, within ten (10)
days, the order is not complied with, the Mayor may remove such sign
or advertising device and the expense for removing same may be assessed
against the owner or occupant of the property upon which the sign
or advertising device is located.
2.
Advertising
devices such as banners and pennants affixed on poles, wires, ropes
or streamers, wind-operated devices and other similar advertising
devices or techniques of any kind are, because of the hazard of falling,
pulling loose, becoming entangled upon live wires and noise and clatter
and similarity to traffic signs, distracting to the public, declared
to be dangerous and a public nuisance and are prohibited, except for
a limited period of time not to exceed two (2) weeks for openings,
announcements and the like and then only after approval of the Mayor
or his/her duly designated representative. Only non-metallic supports
shall be used for such signs.
[CC 1997 §23A-6; Ord. No. 286 §25.070, 7-20-1970]
A.
All signs
for which a permit is required, together with all their supports,
braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair in accordance with
the provisions of this Chapter and the Building Code.
B.
All signs
which are not galvanized or constructed of approved corrosion-resistive,
non-combustible materials shall be painted whenever, in the opinion
of the Building Commissioner, it is necessary to prevent corrosion.
C.
It shall
be the duty and responsibility of the owner or lessee of every sign
to maintain the immediate premises occupied by the sign in a clean
and sanitary condition.
D.
All wiring
and electrical connections shall be in accordance with the Electrical
Code of the City and all other laws or ordinances controlling wiring
and electrical connections within the City.
[CC 1997 §23A-7; Ord. No. 286 §25.080, 7-20-1970]
A.
No sign
heretofore approved and erected shall be repaired, altered or moved,
nor shall any sign or any substantial part thereof, which is blown
down, destroyed or removed, be re-erected, reconstructed, rebuilt
or relocated unless it is made to comply with all applicable requirements
of this Chapter; provided however, that nothing herein shall be construed
to prevent the repair or restoration, as directed by the Building
Commissioner, of any part of an existing sign when damaged by storm
or other accident.
B.
All movable
signs shall be brought into compliance with the provisions of this
Chapter within one (1) year after its adoption and all other signs,
except those exempted herein, shall be brought into compliance with
the provisions of this Chapter within three (3) years after its adoption.
Those signs and devices declared herein to be unlawful or a public
nuisance shall be removed immediately upon passage of this Chapter.
Signs or devices not brought into compliance or removed within the
time herein specified may be removed by the City and the cost thereof
charged to the owners or occupants of the property on which the signs
are located.
C.
Any sign
which is moved to another location, either on the same or to other
premises, shall be deemed a new sign and a permit shall be secured
for any work performed in connection therewith as required by this
Chapter.
[CC 1997 §23A-8; Ord. No. 286 §25.090, 7-20-1970]
A.
A sign,
including group commercial or special commercial promotional uses,
not otherwise classified herein shall be designated a special sign
and may only be constructed, erected, located and maintained in accordance
with this Chapter and the rules and regulations as may be promulgated
by the Building Commissioner from time to time with approval of the
Mayor.
B.
Signs
that rotate or are animated or illuminated with flashing or blinking
lights, meeting all of the other requirements of this Chapter, will
be permitted only after the issuance of a special use permit. The
Plan Commission shall determine, before the issuance of any such permit,
that the sign or display:
[CC 1997 §23A-9; Ord. No. 286 §25.100, 7-20-1970]
Any person, firm or corporation feeling itself aggrieved by
any decision of the Building Commissioner may file an appeal with
the Building Commissioner directly to the Board of Adjustment of the
City and the Board of Adjustment shall have the power to affirm, modify
or reverse the decision of the Building Commissioner.
