The intent of these provisions is to promote and protect the
public health, safety and welfare by providing comprehensive time,
place and manner of restrictions on signage which shall include controls
on size, height, quantity, location, spacing, shape, scale, proportion,
lighting, motion, design and appearance. More specifically, the provisions
of this article are intended to accomplish the following:
A. Protect and enhance community appearance.
B. Encourage commercial signs and graphics to be designed so as to be
functional and compatible with the aesthetic appearance of the building
they are located on and the surrounding neighborhoods.
C. Reduce the frequency and magnitude of hazards to motorists and pedestrians
caused by sign obstructions and distractions.
D. Preserve and create more attractive business and residential environments.
E. Conserve the value of buildings and properties and preserve existing
neighborhood character.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A-FRAME SIGN
A portable sign with two or more steeply angled sides not
to exceed six square feet on each side.
ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICE
Any flag, streamer, spinner, light, balloon or similar device
or ornamentation used for purposes of attracting attention for promotion.
AWNING and/or CANOPY
A roof-like protective cover over a door, entrance, window
or outdoor service area that projects from the face of a structure
and is constructed of durable materials, including but not limited
to fabrics and/or plastics.
AWNING and/or CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy
or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door,
entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
BANNER
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is
permanently mounted to a pole or a building by a permanent frame at
one or more edges.
BANNER, TEMPORARY
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is
temporarily mounted to a pole or a building. The banner shall not
exceed two square feet for each linear foot of width of the building
or space.
BILLBOARD
A surface whereon advertising matter is set in view conspicuously
and which advertising does not apply to premises or any uses of premises
wherein it is displayed or posted.
BUILDING DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign listing the tenants or occupants of a building or
group of buildings and that may indicate their respective professions
or business activities.
BUILDING FRONTAGE
The width of a building facing a street or public parking
lot; in the case of a corner lot, it may be either frontage at the
option of the applicant. Where a mall exists, "building frontage"
shall mean that portion of the building perimeter facing a street
or designated parking area; in the case of two such perimeters, it
may be either frontage at the option of the applicant.
CHANGEABLE-COPY SIGN
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations
that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the
surface of the sign.
CHANGEABLE-COPY SIGN, TEMPORARY or PORTABLE
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations
that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the
surface of the sign. Such sign is mounted on wheels or easily transported.
COPY
Characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed
or rearranged on a changeable-copy sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign limited to directional messages, principally for
pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as "one-way," "entrance" and
"exit."
EXTERIOR ENTRANCE
A direct entrance from a public way to a habitable or tenantable
space.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors,
patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision
or other entity.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign supported by one or more upright poles, columns or
braces placed in or on the ground and not attached to any building
or structure. Such sign may have permanent or changeable copy.
GRAPHIC SIGN
A sign which is an integral part of a building facade. The
sign is painted directly on, carved in or otherwise permanently embedded
in the facade.
HOLIDAY DECORATION SIGN
Temporary signs, in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental
to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local
or religious holiday.
ILLUMINATED (INDIRECTLY) SIGN
A sign illuminated with a light so shielded that no direct
rays therefrom are visible elsewhere on the lot where said illumination
occurs.
LOGO
Any picture, shape or drawing, with or without letters or
words, used to identify a product, service, business or organization.
MARQUEE
Any hood, awning or permanent construction that projects
from a wall of a building, usually above an entrance.
[Amended 7-30-1998 by L.L. No. 6-1998]
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign lawfully existing at the date of adoption of this
chapter or any amendment thereto that does not meet the requirements
of this article.
POLE SIGN
A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other supports.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates
or issues in connection with any national, state or local election
or caucus.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign, whether on its own trailer, wheels or otherwise designed
to be mobile and not structurally attached to the ground, a building,
a structure or another sign.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign other than a wall sign that is attached to and projects
from the wall or face of a building or structure.
REFLECTIVE SURFACE
Any material or device which has the effect of intensifying
reflected light, such as Scotchlite (trademark), Dayglo (trademark)
or glass beads.
ROOF SIGN
A sign that is mounted upon the roof of a building.
SIGN
Any material, structure or device, or part thereof, composed
of lettered or pictorial matter which is located out-of-doors or on
the exterior of any building or indoors as a window sign, displaying
an advertisement, announcement, notice or name, and shall include
any declaration, demonstration, display, representation, illustration
or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person
or business or cause when such is placed in view of the general public.
SIGN PERMIT
No sign shall be hereafter erected, placed or maintained
at any place in the Village of Livionia or the Town of Livonia except
as provided by this article and only after a permit therefor has been
obtained in compliance with the provisions of this article, unless
stated otherwise.
SIGN, AREA
The area defined by the frame or edge of a sign. Where there
is no geometric frame or edge of the sign, the area shall be defined
by projected, enclosed, four-sided (straight sides) geometric shape
which most closely outlines said sign.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires
location on the ground or attachment to something having location
on the ground.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Sign applicable to business and special events. No such sign
shall be displayed for more than 30 days each calender year.
TENANT
An occupant who temporarily holds or occupies land, a building
or other property owned by another.
VEHICLE SIGN
Signs displayed on licensed and registered motor vehicles
which are used in conjunction with a business.
WALL SIGN
A sign attached to and erected parallel to the face of a
building and supported throughout its length by such building. Such
sign may have permanent or changeable copy.
WINDOW AREA
The total area of any single window pane or series of window
panes separated by mullions.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place,
painted or affixed on glass or other window material or located inside
within four feet of the window, but not including graphics in connection
with customary window display of products.
WINDOW SIGN, TEMPORARY
A window sign not permanently affixed that does not identify
the tenant, occupant or establishment and is limited to a maximum
use of 120 days.
ZONING DISTRICT
The classification of lands as established in this chapter.
Signs are important components of the streetscape. However,
signs do more than communicate information. By the quality of their
design, they can either contribute to or diminish the character or
appearance of structures as a whole. They can serve as attractive
accents, or they can clutter and detract from the street's character.
The purpose of these general requirements is to promote the visual
cohesiveness of the streetscape by encouraging signs to be harmonious
with the architecture of each building and the character of the surrounding
area.
A. No sign shall be permitted in any zoning district except in compliance
with the provisions of these regulations.
B. No sign shall be erected, altered, moved or used without first obtaining
a sign permit where required, and signs shall be used only for a permitted
use, conditionally permitted use or for a nonconforming use which
may lawfully continue in accordance with the terms of these regulations.
C. The Joint Planning Board as part of site plan or subdivision review,
or the Code Enforcement Officer in reviewing sign permits not subject
to such review, shall consider the compatibility of the sign's location,
color(s), lettering, size and overall design with on-site and adjacent
architecture and community character.
D. If any sign consists of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers,
spinners, balloons, searchlights and other similar moving, fluttering
or revolving, flashing, smoke-generating or visual signal generation
or animated devices that creates an adverse impact on safe traffic
movements or strings of lights used for the purpose of advertising,
illumination or attracting attention, the Code Enforcement Officer
will have the authority to have the offending sign or part thereof
removed.
E. Pictorial designs, logos and trademarks shall be permitted, provided
that they are incorporated in and made a part of a permitted sign
face, and the area thereof is included in calculating the total permitted
sign face area allowed under these regulations.
F. No application for approval of signs or for a sign permit shall be
processed or permitted unless permission is granted from the property
owner.
G. No sign shall project across or over a property line or lease line,
nor be in a public right-of-way.
H. All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the State of
New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
I. Roof signs shall not exceed 18 square feet in area and no more than
half of the width of the building. For buildings with multilevel roofs,
signs are permitted only on the lowest roof and shall not exceed 10
feet in height from the mounting point on the roof.
J. Maintenance of all signs:
(1) All signs and all components thereof, including supports, braces
and anchors, shall be kept in a good state of repair.
(2) If the message portion of a sign is removed or a business or other
activity is no longer operating, it shall be the property owner's
responsibility to assure that the abandoned sign is promptly removed
or properly covered to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement Officer.
K. Every principal building or structure shall have street identification
numbers subject to the provisions in the applicable Livonia Building
Numbering Law.
L. Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts.
M. Signs containing luminous material, sequin-studded letters or lettering
with fluorescent paint are prohibited.
N. No sign shall be erected or allowed to exist so as to constitute
a traffic hazard. No sign or other advertising structure as regulated
by any of the provisions of this section shall be erected at the intersection
of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision;
or at any location where, by reason of position, shape or color, it
may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized
traffic sign, signal or device or makes use of words, phrases, symbols
or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse
traffic.
Off-premises signs are not permitted except as follows, signs
permitted within this section may also be on-premises.
A. Signs necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic,
street name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings and
other official signs which are similarly authorized or erected by
a duly constituted governmental body.
B. Temporary signs directing persons to temporary exhibits, shows or events and sponsored by a nonprofit organization may be erected subject to the requirements in §§
155-95G and/or
155-95J.
C. Political signs shall be permitted to be displayed off-premises, provided that permission is granted by the owner of the property on which it is displayed and subject to the requirements in §
155-95F.
D. Signs of civic organizations.
E. Temporary signs directing persons to a real estate open house. Signs
shall be freestanding and shall be no larger than four square feet
and no higher than four feet from grade. Signs shall not be attached
to any utility poles, guardrails, fences or any other roadside structures.
No sign shall be placed until the day of the open house, and all signs
shall be removed from public view each day. A sign permit is not required.
The following signs are permitted in any appropriate district
without a permit:
A. A nameplate, which shall not exceed two square feet in area on each
side and must be attached to the building in some manner.
B. Signs denoting the name and address of the occupants of the premises,
which signs shall not exceed two square feet in area on each side.
Such signs shall comply with the Livonia Building Numbering Law.
C. Signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon
which the sign is located, which sign shall not exceed six square
feet in area, provided that such sign is erected or displayed not
less than five feet from the property line. There shall not be more
than one such sign per lot, except that on a corner lot two signs,
one facing each street, shall be permitted. Such sign shall be removed
within 24 hours after the time of sale, lease or rental.
D. Signs customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums,
social clubs or societies, which signs or bulletin boards shall not
exceed 16 square feet in area and shall be located on the premises
of such institution, provided that such signs or bulletin boards are
erected or displayed not closer than 10 feet to any property line.
There shall not be more than one bulletin board per lot, except that
on a corner lot two signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted.
E. Signs announcing no trespassing, signs indicating the private nature
of the road, driveway or premises, and signs controlling the fishing
or hunting on the premises, provided that the area of any one side
of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
F. Political signs shall be permitted to be displayed, provided that
permission is granted by the owner of the property on which it is
displayed. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet in area, and
shall not project more than four feet in height above the natural
grade on which the sign is located. Political signs may be erected
not more than 30 days prior to the election or caucus to which they
relate and shall be removed by the owner or occupant of the property
not later than seven days thereafter. There shall be no more than
one sign per candidate on each property. Any sign attached to a vehicle
shall count as one of the allowed signs.
G. Signs/banners directing persons to temporary exhibits, shows or events
and sponsored by a nonprofit organization may be erected subject to
the following requirements:
(1) Permission is granted by a property owner, including state, county,
town, village, utility companies and businesses, in writing, that
a sign may be erected.
(2) Banners shall not exceed 30 inches in height and 40 feet in length.
(3) Signs shall not be posted earlier than four weeks before the occurrence
of the exhibit, show or event and shall be removed within one week
after the exhibit, show or event.
H. Window signs are permitted in all districts, provided that the following
standards are complied with:
(1) See-through lettered window signs may not cover more than 80% of
the total window area.
(2) An opaque sign may not cover more than 20% of the total window area.
(3) In the case of a door, a window sign may not cover more than 10%
of the window space in which it is located.
I. Credit card advertisements or trade association emblems which are
displayed together in an area which does not exceed one square foot
may be displayed. Such signs shall be displayed flat on window or
door surfaces. The purpose of these signs shall be solely to offer
a service and not to advertise the business.
J. One temporary sandwich or A-frame sign is permitted to identify premises
for sale, rent, lease or directional; to identify a promotional sales
event; to identify special exhibits, shows or events; or to identify
a business conducted on the property in which said sign shall not
exceed six square feet on each side to be used during the event/business
hours only and not to exceed four feet above the natural grade on
which the sign is located. Such signs are subject to the requirements
provided in this section. No such sign shall be located in the street
right-of-way. Permanent sandwich or A-frame signs are prohibited.