[CC 2000 §410.010; Ord. No. 1072 §1, 1-29-1996]
As to this Chapter, the following words and/or phrases shall have the following meanings as set out herein:
SIGN
A name, identification, description, display, distinctive and unusual architectural element or unusual color or combination of colors or illustration which is affixed to or points out a building, structure or piece of land or which directs attention to an object, product, place, person, activity, institution, organization or business.
SIGN GROSS AREA
The gross area of a sign shall include the entire area within the boundary limits of the sign.
SIGN HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the ground below the sign to the highest point of the sign.
[CC 2000 §410.020; Ord. No. 1072 §2, 1-29-1996]
A. 
Classifications of signs are as follows:
1. 
Accessory sign. A sign which names, without the use of illustrations or trademarks, a major service or commodity offered on the premises on which the sign is located.
2. 
Billboard. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, industry or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted elsewhere than on the premises upon which the sign is located or to which it is affixed.
3. 
Bulletin board. A structure on which notices are posted in the form of removable letter or posters pertinent to the business on the premises.
4. 
Construction sign. A sign pertaining to the construction, alteration, rehabilitation or remodeling of real estate.
5. 
Freestanding sign. A sign which is supported by posts or braces in or upon the ground and which is not attached to any other support. The posts or other supporting structure shall be considered as a part of the sign, except that they shall not be included in the gross sign area.
6. 
Identification sign. A sign pertaining only to the use of the premises on which the sign is located. Depending on the uses permitted in the zoning district where the sign is located, it may contain any of the following information: the name of the owner, occupant or management of the use; the address; the kind of business, profession, service or activity; the type or types of products offered.
7. 
Open lettered sign. A sign consisting of individual letters or connected script lettering that, although mounted against either a building, wall or integral architectural building element, stands out in relief from that surface. The surface on which the letters are mounted may not be illuminated from behind.
8. 
Painted sign. A sign painted on the outside wall or roof of a building or structure.
9. 
Paper sign. A sign normally for temporary use made of paper, cardboard or similar material.
10. 
Parking direction sign. A sign indicating the entrance or exit to a parking lot.
11. 
Parking regulation sign. A sign stating the regulations for use of a parking lot.
12. 
Permanent sign. All signs which are not temporary signs.
13. 
Portable sign. A sign which is not permanently affixed to one (1) location and has the capability of being moved from one site to the next without disassembly.
14. 
Real estate sign. A sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of real estate.
15. 
Roof sign. A sign which is erected, constructed or maintained on a roof.
16. 
Temporary signs. A sign of non-combustible or combustible material, with or without a frame, which is usually attached to the outside of a building on a wall or storefront, fence, tree, utility pole or temporary structure for a limited period of time; or a sign which is not permanently attached to the ground, building or other load-bearing structure. Temporary signs shall include, but not be limited to, real estate signs, construction signs, banners, pennants and wind-propelled signs.
17. 
Wall signs. A sign attached and parallel to a wall or other similar surface which is an integral part of a building.
18. 
Window signs. A sign painted on or posted in a window.
[CC 2000 §410.030; Ord. No. 1072 §3, 1-29-1996]
A. 
The following signs are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter:
1. 
Official public notices and notices posted by public officers in the performance of their duties.
2. 
Governmental signs for the control or direction of traffic and other regulatory purposes.
3. 
House numbers, "No Parking", "No Trespassing", "No Solicitation", "Beware of Bad Dog" signs which are no larger than one (1) square foot in gross sign area.
4. 
Flags, emblems, insignia or posters of any nation or temporary displays of patriotic, religious, charitable or civic character.
5. 
Any sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in gross sign which is used to advertise professional services or home occupations permitted in the zoning district where the sign is located, if the sign is attached to a building or is set back at least twenty (20) feet from the nearest curb line.
6. 
A single identification sign for all buildings other than single-family homes and two-family dwellings not exceeding fifteen (15) square feet in gross sign area and indicating only the name and address of the building and the name of the management thereof.
7. 
Window signs in commercial districts not exceeding one (1) square foot in gross sign area for each business located on the premises.
8. 
Single identification signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in gross sign area which are hung below a canopy or awning so long as they allow a clearance of seven (7) feet from the sidewalk.
9. 
Any sign warning the public of immediate danger.
[CC 2000 §410.040; Ord. No. 1072 §4, 1-29-1996]
A. 
The following types of signs are prohibited in all zoning districts of the City of Pagedale:
1. 
Moving signs of which all or any part of the sign moves or which appears to move by any means, including fluttering or rotating. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, pennants, flags, propellers.
2. 
Signs displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except for time and temperature signs.
3. 
Strips or strings of lights outlining property lines, sales areas, roof lines, doors, windows, wall edges or other architectural features of the building.
4. 
Signs on public land, other than those erected at the direction or with the permission of a public authority.
5. 
Signs which are not securely affixed to the ground or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure.
6. 
Signs attached to, painted on or placed on any vehicle including a trailer that is parked on private property. This provision is not to be construed as prohibiting the identification of a firm or its principal products on a vehicle operating during the normal course of business.
7. 
Signs visible from a public right-of-way that use the word "stop" or "danger" or otherwise present or imply the need or requirement of stopping, caution, the existence of danger or which for any reason are likely to be confused with any sign displayed or authorized by a public authority.
8. 
Signs which blend with or can be confused with traffic signals.
9. 
Painted wall and roof signs that are visible from the public right-of-way.
10. 
Signs remaining thirty (30) days after the person (either owner or tenant) to whom the sign refers has vacated the premises.
11. 
Signs installed, erected, enlarged or structurally altered in violation of the provisions of this Chapter.
12. 
Signs which have become deteriorated or damaged to an extent that the cost of the reconstruction of such sign is in excess of fifty percent (50%) of its replacement value exclusive of foundations.
13. 
Signs not lettered in accordance with professional standards.
14. 
Other signs not expressly permitted by the ordinance.
[CC 2000 §410.050; Ord. No. 1072 §5, 1-29-1996]
A. 
The following types of signs, subject to the limitations prescribed for them, shall be the only signs permitted in all residential districts:
1. 
Real estate signs as provided by Section 410.070.
2. 
Construction signs as provided for in Section 410.080.
3. 
Signs for a garage sale, yard sale, etc. These signs may be allowed by an ordinance regulating such sales.
4. 
Political message signs or other signs expressing a particular belief, philosophy or message.
[CC 2000 §410.060; Ord. No. 1072 §6, 1-29-1996]
A. 
Signs in commercial districts, other than those signs specifically exempted by Section 410.030 of this Chapter and those regulated by Section 410.090 Automobile Service Signs, shall conform to the following provisions:
1. 
Area regulations. The total of the gross sign areas of all the permitted signs, except parking direction and parking regulation signs, shall not exceed twenty-five (25) square feet in gross sign area per business occupying the ground floor of the premises. This total gross sign area may be increased to forty (40) square feet if the building frontage of the part of the building occupied by the business exceed nineteen (19) feet and this total gross area may be increased to sixty percent (60%) if the building frontage part of the building occupied by the business exceeds ninety (90) feet.
2. 
All signs in commercial districts shall be located within the property line or not less than fifteen (15) feet from the nearest curb line of the street, whichever is greater, except when the structure is within fifteen (15) feet of the curb line at the street. The sign may be affixed flat against the structure.
3. 
A permit must be obtained from St. Louis County before the erection of any sign.
[CC 2000 §410.070; Ord. No. 1072 §7, 1-29-1996]
A. 
Regulations for real estate signs are as follows:
1. 
One (1) temporary non-illuminated sign which advertises the property for sale, lease or rental is permitted for each parcel of property. Said signs will be located at least ten (10) feet from the curb line.
2. 
Each such sign shall not exceed seven hundred twenty (720) square inches but may have two (2) faces.
3. 
Each sign must be mounted in or on the ground and may not exceed a height of four (4) feet.
4. 
A "sold" sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot in area and must be removed within five (5) days following removal of the property from the market.
5. 
Real estate signs for residential property shall contain a statement indicating the maximum number of persons that the structure will lawfully accommodate.
6. 
A permit must be obtained from the Building Commissioner for real estate signs. The fee for such a permit shall be seven dollars ($7.00).
7. 
Before a permit for a real estate sign shall be issued and the sign installed, the property must have been inspected in accordance with Chapter 505 of this Code.
[CC 2000 §410.080; Ord. No. 1072 §8, 1-29-1996]
One (1) temporary construction sign is permitted on each parcel of ground where construction is taking place. The sign shall not exceed seven hundred twenty (720) square inches and must be removed within five (5) days following completion of the project to which it refers. Such signs shall be located at least twenty (20) feet from the closest curb line of the street.
[CC 2000 §410.090; Ord. No. 1072 §9, 1-29-1996]
A. 
For automobile service and filling stations in any zoning district, only the following signs are permitted subject to the stated conditions:
1. 
A maximum of two (2) oil company signs, only one (1) of which may be freestanding, shall be permitted. The area of any oil company sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet. On all service and filling station windows the area between three and one-half (3½) feet and seven (7) feet above the ground floor shall remain clear of all signs.
2. 
Price signs shall not exceed one (1) square foot in gross sign area and shall be mounted on pump tops or wall-mounted bulletin boards.
[CC 2000 §410.100; Ord. No. 1072 §10, 1-29-1996]
A. 
All existing signs which are not specifically permitted or which do not comply with all the provisions of this Chapter shall not be considered non-conforming signs and may not after January 29, 1996, be enlarged, structurally altered, replaced or extended unless such signs shall be made to comply with all the provisions of the Chapter.
B. 
Normal repairs and repainting of non-conforming signs is permitted. However, when a non-conforming sign is damaged or destroyed by any means to the extent of fifty percent (50%) of its present day replacement value, it shall not thereafter be restored, unless such sign shall be made to conform to all the provisions of this Chapter.
[CC 2000 §410.110; Ord. No. 1072 §11, 1-29-1996]
A. 
The City may remove any prohibited or non-conforming temporary sign.
1. 
Notice shall be posted at the premises where the sign was located stating that the sign was removed as evidence of a violation of this Chapter. It will be held by the City and may be reclaimed by the owner of the sign with the payment of ten dollars ($10.00) to cover the cost of removing and storing the sign.
2. 
The City, before returning the offending sign, shall determine that the person reclaiming the sign is the legal owner and take a receipt for the sign from that person.
3. 
If the sign is not reclaimed within thirty (30) days, the City may dispose of the sign.
B. 
Permanent Signs.
1. 
The City shall give written notice to the owner or person or firm maintaining the sign requiring the removal or correction of the condition that makes the sign violate the provisions of this Chapter.
2. 
If a prohibited permanent sign has not been removed or made to conform with the provisions of this Chapter within fifteen (15) days after notice has been given to conform, the provision of Subsection (A) shall govern the treatment of said sign.
3. 
Other permanent non-conforming signs. Owners of all other permanent non-conforming signs shall have three (3) years from the date such signs first become non-conforming with respect to this Chapter (or any previous sign provision) or five (5) years from the date construction of said signs was completed, whichever period shall terminate last, to remove them or bring them into conformity with the provisions of this Chapter. If this provision is not complied with, the Building Commissioner may then initiate whatever action is necessary in order to achieve compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
[CC 2000 §410.120]
A. 
The owner or person maintaining any sign within the City of Pagedale shall maintain in a safe, presentable and good condition; including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign. No person, firm, association or corporation shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him/her any sign which is in a dangerous or defective condition. Any such sign shall be promptly removed or repaired by the owner. All commercial signs displayed on premises must be directly related to the business being conducted on the property.
B. 
Unsafe Signs. When any sign becomes insecure, in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe or if any sign is installed without a permit having been issued therefor as required by local, County, State or Federal Building Code regulations, the Building Commissioner or duly designated deputy shall give written notice thereof to the owner, person, firm, association or corporation, maintaining same, requiring correction of such condition. If the sign or advertising device constitutes an immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare, the Building Commissioner or duly designated deputy shall order immediate correction or removal. In all other instances, the entity maintaining such sign shall be required to correct the deficiencies or remove the sign within ten (10) days of receipt of such notice. If within such period the order is not complied with, the City may remove such sign and the expense for removing same may be assessed against the owner or occupant of the property on which the sign or advertising device is located.
[Ord. No. 1199 §§1 — 4, 12-14-2000]
A. 
No temporary sign shall be displayed for more than thirty (30) days within any period of forty-five (45) successive days.
B. 
No temporary sign of a banner nature shall exceed twenty-four (24) inches by thirty-six (36) inches in size and no more than three (3) temporary signs of a banner nature shall be permitted at any location.
C. 
All signs within the commercial zone districts shall be located within the property line and not less than fifteen (15) feet from the nearest curb line of the street.