[Amended 5-11-2009; 3-28-2016 by Ord. No. 1827-16]
The purpose of this article is to create the legal framework
for a comprehensive and balanced system of signage. This article will
preserve the right of free speech and expression, provide easy communication
between people and their environment, and avoid excessive levels of
visual clutter or distraction that are potentially harmful to traffic
and pedestrian safety, property values, business opportunities, and
community appearance. With these purposes in mind, it is this article's
intent to authorize the use of signs that are:
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A sign composed on a lightweight or fabric material that
may be secured or mounted on a building or pole(s).
Any sign that is part of or attached to an awning or other
fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance,
window, or outdoor service area, excluding marquees.
MULTIPLE-MESSAGE SIGNA sign whose messages are on triangular louvered facings and are changed by electronic rotation of the louvers.
VARIABLE-MESSAGE SIGNA sign without moving parts whose message is changed by electronic process through the use of moving or intermittent light or lights.
A usually rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design,
attachable by one edge to a pole or rope.
A public sign for control of traffic and other regulatory
purposes, danger or caution, public way finding, railroad crossings,
and public utilities.
Any sign supported by structures or supports that is intended
to be permanently placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that is
independent from any building or other structure.
A permanent, rooflike structure projecting over an entrance.
Any sign lawfully in existence that does not conform to the
requirements of this article.
Any sign advertising goods, products, or services not located
or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
A sign which is intended to be permanent and is cut into
a masonry surface, inlaid so as to be part of a building, or as an
inscribed tablet usually made of metal or other noncombustible material.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, such as
those transported by means of wheels, excluding such vehicles used
in the day-to-day operations of the business. A portable sign may
have changeable lettering or electronic copy.
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that
its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of
the building or wall.
Any sign located wholly on and over the roof structure.
Any structure that has a display visible from a public right-of-way
and designed to identify, announce, direct or inform.
The distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to
the top of the highest attached component of the sign. "Normal grade"
is the existing grade prior to construction or the newly established
grade after construction, not including any filling or mounding solely
for the purpose of locating the sign.
Any sign that is used temporarily and not permanently mounted.
Any sign attached parallel to, but within six inches of,
a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within
the limits of an outside wall of, any building or structure which
is supported by such wall or building and which displays only one
sign surface.
A freestanding ground sign that is intended for temporary use that is located in a yard as defined in § 690-9.
No sign shall hereafter be altered, located, erected, moved,
reconstructed, extended, enlarged, or structurally altered without
a permit except as provided herein. A permit may be required for any
sign type not specifically covered in this chapter and will be reviewed
on a case-by-case basis by the Zoning Administrator to meet the spirit
and intent of this chapter.
Application for a permit shall be made, in writing, to the Zoning
Administrator and shall contain the following information:
A.
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
B.
Location of the building, structure, or land to which or upon which
the sign is to be erected.
C.
A sketch, drawing or other blueprint showing a description of the
construction details of the sign, position of lighting or other extraneous
devices, a location plan showing the position of the sign on any building
or land, and its position in relation to nearby buildings or structures
and to any private or public street or highway.
D.
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land which
or on which the sign is to be erected, in the event the applicant
is not the owner thereof.
E.
A copy of any required or necessary electrical permit issued for
said sign or a copy of the application thereof.
F.
Fees for permits are per the current City Fee Schedule on file in
the City's offices or available on the City's website.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator, upon the filing
of an application for a permit to erect a sign, to examine such plans,
specifications and other data submitted to the Zoning Administrator
with the application. If it shall appear that the proposed sign is
in compliance with all the requirements of this article and other
laws and ordinances of the City of Reedsburg, the Zoning Administrator
shall then issue a permit for the erection of the proposed sign or
forward to the Plan Commission, as required. If the sign authorized
under any such permit has not been completed within six months from
the date of the issuance of such permit, the permit shall become null
and void.
No sign, whether new or existing, shall hereafter be erected
or altered, except in conformity with the provisions of the local
law. However, notwithstanding any provisions contained herein, the
sign must be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards,
such as, but not limited to, faulty wiring and loose fastenings, and
must be maintained at all times in such safe condition so as not to
be detrimental to the public health of safety.
In the event of a violation of any of the foregoing provisions,
the Zoning Administrator shall give written or personal notice to
the named owner of the sign and the named owner of the land upon which
the sign is erected, sent to the addresses as stated in the application
for the sign permit. The notice shall specify the violation and direct
the sign owner and/or landowner to conform or remove such sign. The
sign shall thereupon be conformed by the owner of the sign and the
owner of the land within 30 days from the date of said notice. In
the event such sign shall not be so conformed within 30 days, the
Zoning Administrator shall thereupon revoke the permit and such sign
shall be removed by the named owner of the sign and/or the named owner
of the land.
The following signs may be located without a permit being issued
unless otherwise required.
A.
Banners are permitted in business, government/institutional and industrial
zones, subject to the following:
B.
Directional and instructional signs intended for on-site traffic
control and safety which do not exceed eight square feet each in area.
C.
Interior signs. Located within the interior of any building or structure,
which are not visible from the public right-of-way. This does not,
however, exempt such signs from the structural, electrical, or material
specifications of this chapter.
D.
Flags in any zoning district.
E.
Government signs in any zoning district or right-of-way.
F.
Plaques in any zoning district.
G.
Portable reader board signs in B1 and B2 Business Zones, one per
parcel and maximum 32 square feet in size.
H.
Temporary window signs shall not be placed on door windows or other
windows which would negatively affect pedestrian safety.
I.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs in B1 Commercial District. Temporary signs not
exceeding 12 square feet per face and having only two faces may be
placed upon the sidewalk in front of the associated business, provided
that the sign does not obstruct pedestrian traffic and that the sign
is removed during nonbusiness hours.
(2)
Temporary signs at Reedsburg Airport. Temporary signs that are
located in the front yard of the Reedsburg Municipal Airport and approved
by the City of Reedsburg. Also any temporary signs elsewhere on City-owned
property and approved by the City of Reedsburg.
[Amended 10-10-2022 by Ord. No. 1945-22]
(3)
Temporary signs in the downtown right-of-way. Temporary banners
that are attached to public light posts on Main Street from Granite
Avenue to Locust Street and are controlled and approved by the City
of Reedsburg.
(4)
Temporary ground or wall signs that comply with the standards
of § 12.04, Wis. Stats., provided that such signs are not
located in the fifteen-foot vision triangle at a street intersection
corner nor over or in the public right-of-way.
J.
Vehicle signs. Signs painted on or attached to a body of a truck,
bus, trailer or other vehicle while operating in the normal course
of business.
A.
One ground sign and one wall sign for public, charitable or religious
institutions, not to exceed a combined total of 32 square feet in
area.
B.
One unlighted ground or wall sign, not to exceed two square feet
in area, shall be permissible on a residential property that contains
a conditional-use-approved, on-site home business.
C.
Ground or wall signs in R3 Districts shall not exceed 20 square feet.
A.
Except as provided herein, one ground sign is permitted for an industrial
park or shopping center, mall or office complex. The area of this
sign shall not exceed 150 square feet. If a shopping center has frontage
on more than one street, a second ground sign may be permitted, for
a maximum 100 square feet. Wall signs in shopping centers shall not
be more than 200 square feet per business.
B.
Except as provided herein, ground signs on outlots may not be larger
than 32 square feet. Wall signs on outlots shall not exceed 200 square
feet per business.
B.
Electronic signs, or that portion of the overall sign, shall be a maximum 35 square feet or less, as permitted in this article, per zoning district; signs with an electronic component of just time and temperature are exempt from § 690-106.
C.
The spacing between electronic signs shall be a minimum 100 feet.
D.
Electronic signs may not be located in such a manner as to obscure,
or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of, an official
traffic sign, signal or device; or obstruct or physically interfere
with the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
E.
No message may be displayed for less than 1/2 of a second.
F.
No message may be repeated at intervals of less than two seconds.
G.
No traveling message may travel at a rate slower than 16 light columns
per second or faster than 32 columns per second.
H.
The louver rotation time to change a message shall be one second
or less and the time a message remains in a fixed position shall be
six seconds or more.
I.
No variable-message sign may be illuminated to a degree of brightness
that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility.
J.
Electronic signs may be used to advertise activities conducted on
the property on which the signs are located, to promote on- or off-premises
fund drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious
organizations, or to present public service information.
A.
Internally or externally illuminated signs shall be located as to
prevent the light from being cast directly onto adjacent properties.
B.
Signs that contain, include or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent
or moving light or lights which create a hazard to vehicle or pedestrian
traffic are prohibited.
C.
External lighting shall be shielded and directed downward so as not
to impair traffic or become a nuisance to adjacent properties.
A.
No sign presently erected which is altered, damaged or destroyed
beyond 50% of its replacement cost shall be reconstructed, rebuilt,
or relocated unless it complies with all requirements of this article.
B.
The only alterations allowed of nonconforming signs are minor repairs
and maintenance to keep it structurally safe and sound assuming the
costs do not exceed 50% of the sign's replacement cost.
C.
Any sign that is moved to a new location either on the same or different
parcel shall be considered a new sign and must meet the requirements
of this article.
A.
The owner of any sign shall keep it in good maintenance and repair.
B.
If the owner of such sign or the owner of the premises on which such
sign is shall fail to comply with the orders of the Zoning Administrator
relative to the painting, repair, alteration, maintenance or removal
of said sign pursuant to written notice thereof and within 14 days
after the notice to said owner:
(1)
The
costs of such removal of said sign shall be assessed to the owner
of the property upon which said sign is erected and shall be certified
in the proper manner to have them levied as special charges against
such property, and proper officers of the City are authorized and
directed to enter such charges on to the tax roll.
A.
Off-premises advertising by billboards, signboards, reader boards
and other advertising signs, signals and displays or devices except
as may be otherwise specifically provided for in this article of the
Code.
B.
Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size,
form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices in
order to help protect traffic control and safety.
C.
Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad
or traffic signs, signals or devices in order to help protect traffic
control and safety.
D.
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic
visibility.
E.
Swinging signs that are constructed to not withstand wind pressures.
It is the intention of this chapter to create individual restrictions
for noncommercial speech, whether on or off premises. Noncommercial
speech is intended to be favored over commercial speech. No preference
to types of noncommercial speech is intended. To the extent that this
chapter or future amendments to this chapter create such a conflict,
this chapter is to be interpreted such that it will be in conformance
with this section.
Overall sign standards, except as provided herein.
|
P — Allowed With Sign Permit
N — Not Allowed
| ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
B1
|
B2
|
B3
|
I1
|
I2
|
I3
|
I4
|
A
|
C/ RC
| |
|
Ground signs
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
|
Other signs
| ||||||||||||
|
Canopy
|
N
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
|
Marquee
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Projecting
|
N
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
|
Roof
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Wall
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
|
Electronic
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
N
|
P
|
P
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
|
Ground Signs — 1 per premises, as permitted
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
B3
|
I1
|
I2
|
I3
|
I4
|
A
|
C/RC
| |
|
Sign area
(square feet)
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
20
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
50
|
20
|
20
|
|
Height (feet)
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
|
Front setback
(feet)
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
15
|
2
|
2
|
|
Side setback
(feet)
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
15
|
10
|
10
|
|
*See § 690-102
|
|
Ground Signs — B1, B2
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lanes/Speed
|
Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Height
(feet)
|
Front Setback
|
Side Setback
|
|
2/0-34
|
35
|
12
|
2
|
5
|
|
2-3/35+*
|
35
|
20
|
2
|
5
|
|
4-5/0-34
|
35
|
12
|
2
|
5
|
|
4-5/0-34, B2 Zone only*
|
50
|
20
|
2
|
5
|
|
4-5/35-44*
|
50
|
20
|
2
|
5
|
|
4-5/45+*
|
100
|
25
|
2
|
5
|
|
To encourage higher quality of design and increased effectiveness
of graphics, the City seeks to reward this effort through an increase
of sign face area following a review by the Plan Commission. For those
zones marked (*), sign area may increase by up to 50% if constructed
of natural or decorative materials such as wood, logs, stone, brick,
etc., or a synthetic material that matches such appearance; has a
front setback at least five feet; and has a height of 15 feet or less.
|
|
Building Signs
(Parcels may include signs from the following categories,
as permitted, up to 200 square feet total; 100 square feet in B3)
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standards
|
Maximum Sign Area
| |
|
Canopy
|
1 per business; minimum 30 inches from curblines, 7 feet above
a sidewalk and 15 feet above a driveway or alley
|
200 square feet; B3, 100 square feet
|
|
Marquee
|
1 per business; minimum 3 feet side setbacks, 30 inches from
curblines, 10 feet above a sidewalk and 15 feet above a driveway or
alley
|
100 square feet
|
|
Projecting
|
1 per business; project up to 6 feet into public ROW; minimum
5 feet side setbacks, 30 inches from curblines, 10 feet above a sidewalk
and 15 feet above a driveway or alley
|
100 square feet
|
|
Roof
|
1 per business; maximum 10 feet above roof; meet district height
requirements
|
200 square feet total for all sides
|
|
Wall
|
Maximum 3 per business; maximum 12 inches from building's wall
|
200 square feet total; B3, 100 square feet
|
|
