As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICE
Any nongovernmental flag, streamer, spinner, light, balloon,
or similar device or ornamentation used for purposes of attracting
attention for promotion of business use.
AWNING SIGN
Any visual message incorporated into a nonpermanent structure
projecting from a building and providing protection from the elements,
or a marquee.
BACKLIGHTING
Any indirect source of light which is located from behind
the sign surface or shielded from the viewer's eyes by a translucent
or opaque material.
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.
BUSINESS USE/BUSINESS SIGN
A sign used by or on behalf of a restaurant, retail, commercial,
industrial, service, or other business enterprise.
CHANGEABLE-COPY SIGN
An announcement sign, bulletin board, or sign which makes
provision for changing letters and other copy.
COLLECTOR STREET
A dedicated street used to carry traffic from minor streets
to primary or major thoroughfares, including the principal entrance
streets of a development and streets for circulation within a development.
ELECTRONIC SIGNS
A sign whose display (or any portion thereof) utilizes light
emitting diode (LED) technology or similar technology that permits
a sign face to present different displays by a method other than physically
removing and replacing the sign or its components.
EXTERIOR ENTRANCE
A direct entrance from a public way to a habitable or tenantable
space.
FLAG
Any state, municipal, county, or national flag. The national flag must be displayed in accordance with the Federal Flag Code (see United States Code Title 4, Chapter
1). No flag pole shall exceed 50 feet for public display, or 25 feet for home use. All flags shall be proportionate to the height of the flag pole as per the Federal Flag Code.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A single or multifaced sign affixed to a supporting structure
or embedded in and extending from the ground or detached from the
building.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas, or other artificial
light, including reflective or phosphorescent light.
LOGO
Any picture, shape, or drawing, with or without letters or
words, used to identify a product, service, business, or organization.
MUNICIPAL SIGN
Any sign relating to the use of a building or property by
a government, public agency, or municipal board.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, a structure,
or the ground.
PUBLIC INTEREST SIGNS
Signs that are necessary and for the benefit of the public
interest which are strictly limited to signs of the following nature:
signs which identify buildings via address, street number, or building
number; signs which direct people in the interest of public safety
(i.e., traffic and directional signs that are nonbusiness in nature);
signs which warn of immediate danger on-site; and signs required by
law.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
A right-of-way (such as a roadway, street, highway, etc.)
owned or otherwise under the operation and control of a municipality,
such as a village, town, city, county or state.
SIGN
Any material, structure, or part thereof, or any device attached
to a structure or painted or represented thereon, composed of or upon
which is placed numbered, and/or lettered, graphical, pictorial, or
other matter for visual communication or display, when used or located
out-of-doors or on the exterior of any building or indoors as a window
sign, to display an advertisement, notice, directional matter, name,
or if otherwise utilized to direct or draw attention to a business
use. The term "sign" does not include signs erected and maintained
pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function within this
political jurisdiction, or required by any law, ordinance, or governmental
regulation, or the flag or insignia of any nation or of any governmental
agency having jurisdiction over the Town of Walworth.
SIGN AREA
The square footage of the smallest square or rectangle which
will enclose all elements which form the sign. Supporting structures
will not be considered as part of the sign surface area unless lit
by their own specific external light source. Freestanding signs may
include an identical back without counting the identical area. Any
additional form not integral to the building's architecture will be
considered as part of the sign.
SIGN PERMIT
A permit which is issued by a Building Inspector after approval
of a sign permit application.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign (movable or stationary) which has not been approved
as a permanent sign, which is not designed as a permanent sign or
which is not otherwise used as or intended to be a permanent sign,
and which typically promotes an event that occurs at a specified time.
Such signs may be posted for the period of the event and the preceding
30 days. A temporary sign must be removed within 48 hours of the end
of the subject event. A temporary sign which advertises the same or
a substantially similar event in excess of six times within a calendar
year requires a permit.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
All signs not in compliance with any provision of this chapter,
upon the effective date specified herein, shall be deemed nonconforming.
A. A nonconforming sign shall be removed or brought into conformity
with the requirements of this chapter upon a change in message upon
the sign, or a change in use of the property it is located on.
B. A nonconforming sign related to an existing use shall be removed
or made conforming prior to the issuance of any subsequent sign permit
for such use.
C. Applications for sign approval and sign permit for the replacement
of an existing nonconforming sign to a legal conforming sign which
are submitted before two years from the effective date of this chapter
shall be exempt from all applicable fees required by this chapter,
but not from any subsequent fees.
All fees associated with this chapter shall be charged to applicant
pursuant to the Town of Walworth Fee Schedule.
Signs owned by and/or under the operation and control of the
Town of Walworth are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
All signs in the Town of Walworth shall be properly maintained
at all times. The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority
to order the painting, repair, or removal of a sign and accompanying
landscaping which constitutes a hazard to safety, health, or public
welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence,
or abandonment. Notification shall be by personal delivery or by certified
mail. If personal delivery or certified mail is not possible, notice
will be posted at the location of the sign. If the maintenance notice
is not complied with within 15 days, it shall become an order to abate
the sign or perform the maintenance or repair specified therein.