[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Council of the Village of Michiana by Ord. No. 1990-021 (Section 12.000 of the 2001 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Municipal civil infractions — See Ch. 28.
Zoning — See Ch. 360.
Nameplates for residential use shall be permitted, subject to the following conditions:
A. 
Nameplates shall not exceed one foot in height or three feet in length, and letter or numeral height shall not exceed seven inches in height. Only one face of double-faced signs shall be included in the computation of permissible area. A double-faced sign is one where each of the two sides face in opposite directions.
B. 
Sign face may be either internally illuminated or by floodlight. No blinking, flashing, rotating or animated signs shall be permitted that are visible from the exterior of a building or other structure.
C. 
Nameplates shall either be flat or wall type and secured in place, or supported on a post located in the front yard area. If of the latter type, it shall:
(1) 
Project a maximum of 16 inches.
(2) 
Not extend over public property, nor be erected so as to obstruct street sight lines or traffic control lights, signs at street intersections, or signals at railroad crossings.
(3) 
Signs visible from the sight lines along a street shall not contain an arrow or such words as "stop," "go," "slow," etc., or in any other manner resemble highway traffic signs.
D. 
Nameplates shall display only the:
(1) 
Name of the premises upon which it is displayed; and
(2) 
Name of the owner or lessee of said premises; and
(3) 
Address of said premises; and
(4) 
No indication shall be included relating to any possible home occupation engaged in on said premises, nor to names of other than principal occupants.
E. 
No nameplates shall be permitted above the first-floor level.
Bulletin boards for institutional uses, including parks and other public facilities, churches, private clubs and similar uses, shall be permitted, subject to the following regulations:
A. 
One freestanding sign for each main use per frontage:
(1) 
The sign shall contain only the name and address of the building, its occupants and the services rendered.
(2) 
The sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area, exclusive of architectural features. The sign structure shall not exceed eight feet in height.
(3) 
The sign face shall not be internally illuminated but may be floodlighted. No blinking, flashing, rotating or animated signs shall be permitted that are visible from the exterior of a building or other structure.
(4) 
Signs shall be set back 15 feet from public rights-of-way; however, this setback may be reduced to 10 feet, subject to approval of a special exception. In no case shall signs be located within required rear or interior side yards.
B. 
One sign attached to the outside face of the main building:
(1) 
The same shall contain only the name of the building and its occupants.
(2) 
Letter or numeral heights shall not exceed one foot.
(3) 
The sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in area.
(4) 
The sign face shall not be internally illuminated but may be floodlighted. No blinking, flashing, rotating or animated signs shall be permitted that are visible from the exterior of the building.
(5) 
No such sign shall be allowed to appear above the first-floor level.
A. 
Types permitted shall be limited to flat and wall signs indicating name and nature of the principal occupant only or the name and address of the owner. These signs shall be attached to the building in which the occupant is located. Projecting signs shall not be permitted.
B. 
The following regulations shall apply to signs for each occupancy:
(1) 
The total area of all business signs on any one street frontage of the premises shall not exceed 4/10 of a square foot per linear foot of such street frontage or 37 1/2 square feet, whichever is smaller. Corner signs shall not be allowed. A corner sign is defined to be any sign placed near the intersection of the two street frontages and designed to be visible from both streets. Building frontage to be used in calculating the permitted sign area shall include frontage whereon a public entrance to the occupancy is located. Separate calculations may be made for front, side and rear entrances, and separate signs may be erected on each of these building frontages.
(2) 
Signs shall not extend over a public sidewalk or right-of-way, nor obstruct street sight lines or traffic control lights, signs at street intersections, or signals at railroad crossings. Signs visible from the sight lines along a street shall not contain an arrow or such words as "stop," "go," "slow," etc., or otherwise resemble highway traffic signs. All sign faces shall be mounted on or attached to the building.
(3) 
No blinking, flashing, rotating or animated signs shall be permitted on the exterior of any building in this district.
(4) 
In cases where the store has a rear parking lot, signs may be located on the side or rear of the building and shall be developed to the same standards as are required in the front of said store; provided, however, that said signs shall not be lighted in such manner as to be disturbing to the abutting residential district, and such lighting shall be terminated not later than 9:30 p.m.
(5) 
Lights used to illuminate signs or advertising structures shall be so installed as to concentrate the illumination on the sign or advertising structure and to minimize glare upon a public street or adjacent property.
(6) 
No sign shall be installed above the first-floor level.
(7) 
No signs shall be erected which are freestanding, projecting, on poles, the ground, above marquees, on top of buildings, or in any other form or manner, except as specified elsewhere in this chapter.
A. 
"For Rent" or "For Sale" signs shall be limited to a single sign per dwelling unit or buildable lot which shall not exceed 5.1 square feet; no single dimension exceeding three feet in length or width. Only one face of a double-faced sign shall be included in the computation of permissible area. A double-faced sign is one where each of the two sides face in opposite directions.
B. 
Announcement signs such as "Open House" or "Grand Opening" shall be limited to one off-premises sign not to exceed 5.1 square feet, with no single dimension exceeding three feet in length or width. Garage sale signs shall be limited to six off-premises signs, not to exceed three square feet each. Only one face of a double-faced sign shall be included in the computation of permissible area. Said signs shall not be located any closer than five feet from the improved portion of any right-of-way, and the written consent of the property owner shall be obtained prior to application for permit.
C. 
Special events of short duration and public interest, such as a county fair, civic or church activity, shall be permitted. Such informational signs shall be limited to:
(1) 
Announcement signs, which shall not be:
(a) 
Over 10 square feet in area.
(b) 
Erected more than 30 days before the event in question and shall be removed within 12 hours thereafter.
(2) 
Directional signs, which shall:
(a) 
Not be more than three square feet in area.
(b) 
Show only a directional arrow and the name of the public interest event.
(c) 
Not be erected more than 14 days before the event in question and shall be removed within 12 hours thereafter.
D. 
Flags, banners, balloons and other paraphernalia associated with temporary signs, or associated with promotion of the activities constituting the subject matter of signs regulated under this section, shall be limited to a period commencing 24 hours prior to the event and terminating not less than 12 hours after the event. No such materials shall be allowed with reference to general real estate listing signs for sale or rent.
E. 
Placement. All temporary signs erected under the provisions of this article shall be placed no closer than five feet from the public right-of-way and shall not block vehicle or pedestrian traffic or be situated in a fashion to endanger public safety.
[Amended by Ord. No. 1991-003, effective 9-26-1991]
This chapter shall not apply to any municipal sign, bulletin board, traffic control device or any other informational device of the Village or other governmental entity.
[Amended 4-12-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-002[1]]
Any person, group or entity seeking to erect a sign, either temporary or permanent, in the Village of Michiana shall apply for a permit under the provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to issuance of a permit by the Village Clerk and payment of fees pursuant to the attached fee schedule, which is adopted and incorporated by reference herein, and which may be amended from time to time by the Village Council by resolution.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[2]
Editor's Note: The current fees schedule is on file in the Village offices.
[Amended by Ord. No. 1991-003, effective 9-26-1991]
A. 
Any signs installed, erected, placed or constructed in violation of this chapter shall be removed:
(1) 
Upon the expiration of 24 hours after posting of a sticker on said sign stating that the sign violates the chapter and will be removed after the expiration of said 24 hours; or
(2) 
Upon the expiration of 24 hours after mailing of a notice setting forth that the sign violates the chapter and will be removed anytime after 3:00 p.m. on the day following the mailing.
B. 
Said sticker or mailed notice shall indicate the location where the sign may be collected.
C. 
If the owner or agent shall fail to request return or collect said signs within 60 days of the date of removal, the Village shall be free to dispose of such signs.
A violation of any section of this chapter shall be punishable as a municipal civil infraction as set forth in Chapter 28, Municipal Civil Infractions, of this Code. In addition to the penalties provided by this section and Chapter 28 of this Code, the Berrien County Court shall have equitable jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, writ or order necessary to enforce any provision of this chapter, including but not limited to abatement of violating condition or the granting of injunctive relief.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).