The purpose of these regulations is to provide minimum control
of permanent signs to promote the health, safety, and general welfare
of the public by lessening hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic,
by preserving property values, and by preventing a proliferation of
unsightly and incompatible development which has a general blighting
effect on the City. For "temporary signs" see other applicable Ordinances.
For the purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
An office or individual having specific authority to administer
the regulations of this article.
BILLBOARD (OFF-PREMISES SIGN)
A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise,
service, or entertainment, which is not sold, produced, manufactured,
or furnished at the property on which said sign is located, such as
billboards or outdoor advertising signage.
CANOPY (OR MARQUEE)
A permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all
of a building face onto which signs may be placed.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (AUTOMATIC)
A sign with a time interval of 15 seconds or greater such
as an electronically controlled message board where different copy
changes are shown. Electronically controlled public service time,
temperature and date sign message boards may have a minimum time interval
of three seconds.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL)
A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, such
as reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD
A sign attached to the exterior of a church or located elsewhere
on church premises and used to indicate the services and/or other
activities of the church, and including the church name, if desired.
CITY
City of Moscow Mills, Missouri and its agencies, departments,
agents and employees acting within their respective areas of authority.
CITY PROPERTY
Property of the City of Moscow Mills, whether or not the
property is at the time being used for a public purpose, and includes
that property which is owned, rented or leased to the City of Moscow.
This definition shall not apply to property owned by the City which
is leased or rented to others.
COPY (PERMANENT)
The wording on a sign surface either in permanent or removable
letter form.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign which serves solely to designate the location or
direction of any place or area.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED
Any sign designed to provide artificial light either through
transparent or translucent material from a light source within the
sign.
ELECTRICAL SIGN
Any sign containing electrical wiring which is attached or
intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, re-hang, place, affix,
or relocate and includes the painting of lettering for signs.
EVENT
A noteworthy social occasion or happening of a non-commercial
nature.
EXEMPT SIGNS
Signs exempted from normal permit requirements and fees.
FACADE
The front or main part of a building facing a street; for
purposes of this article the facade is defined as measured from the
ground elevation to the parapet line.
FACE OF SIGN
The entire area of sign on which copy could be placed. For
purposes of this article, the area in square feet of the smallest
geometric figure which describes the area enclosed by the actual copy
of a sign. For fascia signs, the copy area limits refer to the message,
not to the illuminated background.
FACIA SIGN (OR WALL SIGN)
A sign attached to or erected against a wall of a building
with the face horizontally parallel to the wall.
FLAG, NON-COMMERCIAL
A flag of the Federal, State or local government or one having
the name and/or corporate logo or symbol of the business establishment.
FLASHING SIGN
A sign or accessory light which is illuminated on an intermittent
cycle except changeable copy sign (automatic).
FLUTTERING SIGN
A sign which flutters and includes banners and commercial
flags.
GRADE
The average level of the finished surface of the ground adjacent
to a sign or the exterior wall of the building to which a sign is
affixed.
GROUND OR POLE SIGN
A freestanding sign resting upon the ground or attached to
it by means of one or more poles or standards.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The measurement from the top of the highest structural element
of the sign to the average level of the finished ground surface or
grade.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign containing only the name and address of the occupant
or business establishment.
LOGO
A letter, character, or symbol used to represent a person,
corporation or business enterprise.
MEMORIAL SIGN
The permanent part of a building which denotes the name of
the building, date of erection, historical significance or similar
information.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN (LEGAL)
Any advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected
and maintained prior to such time as it came within the preview of
this article and any amendments thereto, and restrictions of this
article, or a non-conforming sign for which a variance has been issued.
NON-ELECTRICAL SIGN
Any sign that does not contain electrical wiring or is not
attached or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind, or any lawful successor thereto
or transferee thereof.
PREMISES
That portion of a lot or building occupied by a single occupant,
exclusive of common area, if any, shared with adjacent occupants.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any letter, word, sign device or representation used in nature
of an advertisement or announcement projecting perpendicularly from
the building.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
That part of any street, road, alley or avenue dedicated
for public use as a walkway or thoroughfare for pedestrians or motor
vehicles, whether or not the public improvements thereon extend to
the full dedicated limits of such right-of-way.
ROOF LINE
The top edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever
forms the top line of the building silhouette.
ROOF SIGN
A sign mounted on the roof of a building or projecting above
the top of the roof line (except a ground or pole sign).
ROTATING SIGN
A sign or portion of a sign which moves in a revolving or
similar manner.
SIGN
Any identification, description, illustration, or device
illuminated or non-illuminated which is visible to the general public
and directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person,
institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed
or situated merchandise; or any emblem, painting, flag, banner, pennant,
or placard designed to advertise, identify or convey information.
Sign supports are not considered part of the sign.
STRUCTURAL TRIM
The molding, battens, nailing strips, latticing, and platforms
which are attached to the sign structure.
SUBDIVISION SIGN
A permanent ground sign identifying a subdivision entry,
subdivision name, and/or street names within the subdivision.
SUPPORTS
Sign supports shall apply to all structures by which the
sign is held up, including for example: poles, braces, guys and anchors.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign or banner:
A.
Erected or placed for the purpose of advertising or promoting
a specific civic, political, charitable, religious, or commercial
event which is not a continuous event;
B.
Advertising a garage sale, estate, or yard sale;
C.
Supporting or promoting a political position or candidate in
an upcoming election;
D.
Advertising a business' sale or liquidation;
E.
Advertising the construction, financing, or sale of residential
or commercial real estate; or
F.
Providing direction to a residential subdivision, church, or
business.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign permanently affixed to either side of the glass of
an exterior door or window. For the purpose of this article, a glass
brick wall shall be deemed a window. This definition does not include
merchandise located in the window.
Upon approval of the sign permit a tag with the appropriate
sign permit number will be issued by the City. The applicant has the
responsibility to see that the tag is permanently affixed, at the
time the sign is erected, to the lower right-hand corner of the sign
in plain view from the nearest public street fronting the sign. All
permanent signs shall have the appropriate tag. All other signs are
considered to be temporary and shall follow those provisions related
to such.
[Amended 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 925]
A. The following signs shall be exempt from all but the maintenance
and public safety requirements of this article.
1. Awning, canopy and marquee signs. Awning signs not exceeding a gross
area of four square feet or canopy and marquee signs not exceeding
a gross area of 25 square feet, indicating only the name of the activity
conducted on the premises on which the sign is located and/or a brief
generic description of the business conducted by the activity. All
such signs shall be constructed in accordance with the Building Code
provisions of the City of Moscow Mills. Advertising material of any
kind is strictly prohibited on awning and canopy signs.
2. Agricultural business sign. Business signs, not exceeding 32 square
feet, when located on property used for agricultural purposes and
pertaining to the sale of agricultural products grown or produced
on the premises.
3. Business nameplates. Nonelectrical nameplates denoting the business
name of an occupation legally conducted on the premises, provided
that the sign area does not exceed two square feet in area.
4. Bulletin boards. Bulletin boards, not exceeding 20 square feet, for
public, charitable, or religious institutions where the same are located
on the premises of said institutions.
5. Directional signs for all zoning classifications except I-1 and I-2.
Signs not exceeding four square feet in area, which provide instruction
or direction and are located entirely on the property to which they
pertain, to identify restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking
lot entrances and exits, and features of a similar nature. The Board
of Aldermen shall have the authority to deny such signs if they are
deemed unnecessary or to be used for advertising purposes.
6. Directional signs for zoning classifications I-1 and I-2. Signs not
exceeding 12 square feet in area, which provide instruction or direction
and are located entirely on the property to which they pertain, to
identify restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking lot entrances
and exits, and features of a similar nature. The Board of Aldermen
shall have the authority to deny such signs if they are deemed unnecessary
or to be used for advertising purposes.
7. Flags, emblems and insignias (for noncommercial purposes). Flags,
emblems and insignias of political, professional, religious, educational
and corporate organizations shall not exceed a height of five feet
and a width of eight feet. Such flags, emblems and insignias may only
be used for noncommercial purposes and comply with all applicable
regulations pertaining to flag etiquette. National, state and City
flags shall be exempt from all provisions contained within the permanent
sign regulations, providing that such flags are used for noncommercial
purposes and comply with all applicable regulations pertaining to
flag etiquette.
8. Government and institutional signs. Signs of a duly governmental
body, including traffic or other similar regulatory devices, directional
signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other instructional
or regulatory signs having to do with health, hazards, parking, swimming,
dumping, and so forth.
9. House number sign. Provided such signs do not flash and that additional
numbers are placed according to 911 requirements of Lincoln County.
10. Interior signs. Signs which are fully located within the interior
of any building or within an enclosed lobby of any building which
are intended solely for information relating to the interior operation
of the building in which they are located.
11. Memorial signs. Memorial signs or tablets listing names of buildings
and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid
so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or
other incombustible material.
12. Religious and historic symbols. Religious symbols, identification
emblems of religious order, or commemoration plaques of recognized
historical agencies, provided that no such symbol, plaque, or identification
emblem shall exceed four square feet and provided further that all
such symbols, plaques and identification emblems shall be placed flat
against a building, stone, or other permanent surface.
Any person, firm, corporation or partnership who shall violate
any provisions of this article, and be found guilty of such offense,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Any owner of property who
suffers or permits such temporary signs to be placed on his/her property,
or remain on his/her property in violation of the Article shall, upon
being found guilty of such violation, be deemed to be guilty of a
misdemeanor, but the fine imposed on such property owner shall be
limited to $10 with each day constituting a separate offense. In the
event the violation is committed by a renter, leasee or mobile home
park resident, the property owners will not be penalized or held responsible
for such offense.
No person shall be issued a sign permit in accordance with this
article without first having paid the applicable license fee contained
on the approved fee schedule and obtained an "Outdoor Advertising
Signs, Billboards and Structures" Business License from the City Clerk.
The provisions of the City Code shall apply to this article and any license issued hereunder specifically including, but not limited to, the provisions which address suspension, revocation, denial or renewal of licenses, penalty fees, and the investigation fee set forth in. However, the specific provisions of this article shall control and take precedence over any provision of Article
I, to the contrary. Any provision of this article which addresses the same topic as this, but which is not in conflict with the provisions of Article
I, shall be read in conjunction with and as an alternative to the provisions of Article
I.
Written application for a license for outdoor advertising signs,
billboards and structures shall be submitted to the City Clerk on
forms provided by the City and shall include, but not be limited to,
the name, address and phone number of the person which is applying
for the license.
The license term shall be from July 1 through June 30 of each
year. The license fee shall be equal to 2% of the gross annual revenue
of each advertising sign, billboard or structure licensed. The total
license fee for those persons which are applying for licenses for
more than one advertising sign, billboard or structure in the City
shall be the aggregate sum for each advertising sign, billboard or
structure. License fees for outdoor advertising signs, billboards
and structures shall not be prorated.
In addition to obtaining a license as required herein, the applicant
must also comply with the provisions and requirements of the City
of Moscow Mills Ordinances, Standards, and Regulations.