The provisions of this chapter shall govern the construction,
alteration, repair and maintenance of all signs and outdoor structures,
together with their appurtenant and auxiliary devices in respect to
structural and fire safety.
Where more restrictive in respect to location, use, size, or height of signs and outdoor structures, the limitations of Chapter
370, Zoning, shall take precedence over the restrictions of Chapter
111, Building Construction.
Terms used in this chapter mean as follows:
CLOSED SIGN
A display sign in which the entire area is solid or tightly
enclosed or covered.
COMBUSTIBLE PLASTIC
A plastic material more than 1/20 inch in thickness which
burns at a rate of not more than 2 1/2 inches per minute when
subjected to the ASTM standard test for flammability of plastics in
sheets of six-hundredths-inch thickness.
DISPLAY SIGN
A structure arranged, intended designed, or used as an advertising
announcement or direction, and includes a sign, sign screen, billboard,
poster panel and advertising device of any kind.
GROUND SIGN
A display sign supported by uprights or braces in or upon
ground surface.
MARQUEE SIGN
A display sign attached to, or hung from, a marquee canopy
or other covered structure projecting from and supported by the building
and extending beyond the building wall, building line, or street line.
NONCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
Shall have definition as set forth in Wisconsin Administrative
Code § NFPA 220 4.1.5.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. III)]
OPEN SIGN
A display sign in which at least 50% of the enclosed area
is uncovered or open to the transmission of wind.
PROJECTING SIGN
A display sign attached directly to the building wall and
which extends more than 15 inches from the face of the wall.
ROOF SIGN
A display sign erected, constructed and maintained above
the roof of the building.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A display sign, or other advertising device constructed of
cloth, canvas, fabric or other temporary material, with or without
structural frame, intended for a limited period of display, including
decorative displays for holidays or public demonstrations.
WALL SIGN
A display sign painted or attached directly to the building
wall and which extends not more than 15 inches from the face of the
wall.
No permit shall be required for signs or outdoor display structures
as specified below. Such exceptions, however, shall not be construed
to relieve the owner of the sign from responsibility for its erection
and maintenance in a safe manner.
A. Any unlighted wall sign, independent of other signs, erected on a
building or structure, which is not more than one square foot in area;
B. Letters, number or symbols painted or attached to walls or windows,
intended to give the location or street address of the building;
C. Signs used to advertise public demonstrations or promote civic welfare
or charitable enterprises, when such activities have been approved
by the Village Board;
D. Legal notices required to be posted by the ordinances of the Village,
state or federal law;
E. Political signs portraying bona fide candidates or issues. Such signs
shall be limited in area to 32 square feet, may not be placed sooner
than 60 days prior to election day and must be removed within 10 days
following the day of election;
F. Signs erected on a municipal state, county or federal building which
announce the name, location, nature of occupancy and information as
to the use of or admission to the premises;
G. Signs erected to announce the sale or rent of the property upon which
they are located provided such signs are not in excess of limitations
imposed according to the zoning district in which they are located
according to the following provisions:
(1) Such signs in the R-1 through R-3 districts shall not exceed three
feet in height and nine square feet in area.
(2) Such signs in the C-1 and C-2 districts shall not exceed four feet
in height and 32 square feet in area.
(3) Such signs in the I-1 through I-2 districts shall not exceed six
feet in height and 60 square feet in area.
H. Construction signs, engineer's and architect's signs, authorized
by the Building Inspector, in connection with construction operations
provided such signs do not exceed six feet in height or 60 square
feet in area.
Signs shall be designed in accordance with good engineering
practice and constructed to the provisions for materials, loads and
stresses of this section.
A. Wind loads. The effect of wind pressure shall be thoroughly considered
in design; but in no case shall the wind load be assumed less than
30 pounds per square foot of net exposed area for roof signs or 20
pounds per square foot for ground signs.
B. Illumination. No sign shall be illuminated by other than electrical
means and electrical devices and wiring shall be installed in accordance
with the requirements of the Electrical Code. In no case shall any
open spark or flame be used for display purposes unless specifically
approved by the Building Inspector for locations outside the fire
limits.
C. Electrical connections. No electrical connections shall be made from
any sign to an electrical service except by an electrician licensed
with the State of Wisconsin.
D. Obstruction to exitways. No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct
any fire escape, required exitway, window or door opening used as
a means of egress, or to prevent free passage from one part of a roof
to another part thereof or access thereto.
E. Obstruction to ventilation and light. No sign shall be attached in
any form, shape or manner which will interfere with any opening required
for light and ventilation provisions of the code.
Before receiving a permit to construct, erect, alter or remove
a sign or outdoor display structure, the owner or his agent shall
pay to the Village Clerk a fee as hereinafter set forth.
A. Signs.
(1) For each square foot, or fraction thereof, of surface area: $0.15.
(2) For double-faced signs, minimum fee (double fee): $5.
B. Individual letter and figure type signs.
(1) Per square foot of letter or figure area (based on outside dimensions
of such letter or figure): $0.15.
(2) Minimum fee per letter of figure: $1.
C. Billboards.
(1) Per square foot of surface area: $0.05.
D. Signs having a common supporting system, that do not have a continuous
framing system, shall be considered to be separate signs and subject
to minimum fee.
E. Permit
fees. A permit fee shall be paid to the Village Clerk for each sign
permit issued under this chapter; provided, however, that a fee shall
not be charged for putting an existing sign in conformity with this
chapter, or for a copy change when no change in business name is involved.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. III)]
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. III)]
A. Signs eligible for characterization as legal nonconforming. Any sign
located within the Village of Footville limits as of the date of adoption
of this chapter hereafter which does not conform with the provisions
of this chapter is eligible for characterization as a legal nonconforming
sign and is permitted, providing it meets the following requirements:
(1) The
sign was covered by a proper sign permit prior to the date of adoption
of this chapter;
(2) If
no permit was required under the applicable law for the sign in question
and the sign was, in all respects, in compliance with applicable law
on the date of adoption of this chapter.
B. Loss of legal nonconforming status.
(1) A
sign loses its nonconforming status if one or more of the following
occurs:
(a) If said sign is damaged by fire, flood, explosion, earthquake, war,
riot or act of God or structurally altered in any way, except for
normal maintenance and repair, the sign may be reconstructed and used
as before if it is reconstructed within three months after such calamity,
unless the damage to the sign is 50% or more of its replacement value,
in which case the constructed sign shall comply with the provisions
of this chapter.
(c) The sign fails to conform to the Village requirements regarding maintenance
and repair, abandonment or dangerous or defective signs.
(2) On
the date of occurrence of any of the above, the sign shall be immediately
brought in compliance with this chapter with a new permit secured
therefor or shall be removed.
C. Legal nonconforming sign maintenance and repair. Nothing in this
chapter shall relieve the owner or user of a legal nonconforming sign
or the owner of the property in which the sign is located from the
provisions of this chapter regarding safety, maintenance and repair
of signs.
[Amended 3-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 030410]
Before issuance of a permit under this chapter, the Building
Inspector may require the applicant to furnish a cash or surety performance
bond inuring to the benefit of the Village in an amount determined
by the Building Inspector not to exceed $1,000. The bond shall be
conditioned upon the satisfactory removal of the sign within 10 days
after issuance of an order by the Building Inspector requiring such
removal for violation of any provision of this chapter or any condition
or other requirement specified in the permit. The Building Inspector
may waive the requirement for such bond if the Building Inspector
determines, in the Building Inspector's discretion, that the
nature of the sign is such that a bond is not warranted.
[Amended 3-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 030410]
The Building Inspector shall have the power to remove any sign
which is not properly maintained and to charge the cost of removal
to the real estate on which sign is located, such charge to be entered
on the next tax roll following 10 days' written notice of the
amount of the charge to the owner of the property.
No more than three permits for signs for any one lot shall be
granted by the Building Inspector. Additional permits may be issued
by the Village Board upon a showing of need for the additional permit.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. III)]
Violations of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties provided in §
1-4, Penalties.