[Amended 7-1-2003 by Ord. No. 03-04; 5-17-2005 by Ord. No. 05-01]
A. 
Purpose and scope.
(1) 
The purpose of this article is to create the legal framework for a comprehensive but balanced system of signs and thereby to facilitate an easy and pleasant communication between people and their environment. Further, it shall be the purpose of this article to prohibit new off-premises and billboard- type outdoor advertising signs in furthering the advancement of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Village of New Glarus. With this purpose in mind, it is the intention of this article to authorize the use of signs which are:
(a) 
Compatible with their surroundings;
(b) 
Appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain;
(c) 
Expressive of the identity of individual proprietors or the community as a whole; and
(d) 
Legible in the circumstances in which they are seen.
(2) 
The sections contained in this article shall be binding alike upon every owner of a building, every lessee, and every person in charge of or responsible for or who causes the construction, repair, relocation or alteration of any sign in the Village of New Glarus.
(3) 
This article shall apply to all signs.
B. 
Rules and definitions.
(1) 
Rules. In the construction of this article, the rules and definitions contained in this section shall be observed and applied, except when the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) 
Words used in the present tense shall include the future.
(b) 
The word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary.
(c) 
The word "may" is permissive.
(d) 
The word "building" includes all structures of every kind.
(2) 
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACTIVITY
Each unique occupant or tenant of a site or building occupied by one or more nonresidential uses. As examples: a multitenant commercial building (strip center) with three tenant spaces has three activities; a hardware store or gas station/convenience store without any separate leasable space for another business entity has only one activity; and a commercial building with separate leasable spaces for two businesses under different ownership has two activities. In the final example and similar instances, each business must lease at least 25% of the gross floor area of the building, and any residential use in such building is not an additional activity. A product line is not an activity, though an activity may choose to advertise a product line within its permitted signage.[1]
[Added 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
BUSINESS SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold, offered, or manufactured upon the premises where the sign is located.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SIGN
Any permanent sign, which may have changeable copy and which is limited to the display of information of interest to the general community regarding scheduled public events and public activities, and is not to be part of a business sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign, which indicates only the name and direction to a facility. Directional signs shall be limited to government facilities, library, schools, churches, historical sites, and entrances and exits to parking lots.
GROSS AREA
Each surface of the sign.
GROUND AND/POLE SIGN
Any sign, which is supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support from any building.
GROUP SIGN
Any sign displaying the collective name of a group of uses, such as the title of a shopping center, industrial park and its tenants, or multiple tenants of a single building. Portions of a group sign containing names of individual tenants shall be considered as part of the area of a group sign.
OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign which directs the attention of the public to an activity conducted or product sold or offered at a location not on the same premises where such sign is located. For purposes of this article, easements and other appurtenances and noncontiguous parcels under the same ownership shall be considered off the premises of the parcel of land on which the business or activity is located or conducted. The following types of signs are excluded from the definition of an "off-premises advertising sign":
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
(a) 
Signs that are not more than 12 square feet in area per side, no more than six feet in height above normal grade, and providing only directions to an activity.
(b) 
Governmental, community entryway, and directional and wayfinding signs erected by a public agency, including temporary, changeable, and variable messages on such signs.
(c) 
Temporary off-premises signs advertising temporary activities, where each such sign is specifically approved by the Building Inspector prior to its installation, and as promptly removed following the completion of the associated temporary activity.
(d) 
Signs for shopping centers and business or industrial parks that are located within the development, but may or may not be located on the lot in which one or more occupants indicated on the sign are located.
(e) 
Not more than one sandwich sign per nonresidential building, provided that there is not adequate space available on the premises to place the sign on private property in a manner that is visible to the public, the sign is placed directly in front of the business to which it is related or on real property adjacent to the nearest street intersection, no part of the sign is any closer than three feet from the face of the public street curb, and where located on a sidewalk a minimum of four feet in width of unobstructed travel way remains available in all directions at all times.
PORTABLE/TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground, intended to be displayed for a short period of time, and is designed to be easily moved from one location to another. This includes, but is not limited to, real estate signs, political signs; banners.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign extending more than 18 inches, but less than five feet from the face of a wall or building.
SANDWICH SIGN
A movable sign of not greater than six square feet per side and six feet in height above normal grade; serving a nonresidential use; placed by hand outside the building while the use is open; removed at the time the use closes each day; self-supporting and stable even on windy days because of its design; and located on premises or in certain off-premises locations per the definition of "off-premises advertising sign." There shall be not more than one sandwich sign per lot.[2]
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a structure, intended to be displayed for a short period of time, and designed to be easily moved from one location to another or discarded after short-term use, but not including a sandwich sign, political sign, or holiday decorations.
[Added 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached to or erected on the wall of a building or structure, and projecting not more than 18 inches from the wall.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "awning" of the 2003 Code, which immediately followed, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II); see now § 305-106.
[2]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "sign" of the 2003 Code, which immediately followed, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
A. 
No sign shall be placed within any vision corner of intersecting streets, highways, and driveways, per § 305-136.
B. 
No sign will be permitted that resembles the size, shape, form, or color of official traffic control signs, signals, or devices. No sign shall be placed or illuminated so as to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal or to impair the vision of any motor vehicle driver.
C. 
No sign shall contain, include, or be composed of any conspicuous animated or moving part.
D. 
No sign shall contain, include, or be illuminated by flashing lights, except for those exclusively providing public service information, such as time, date, and/or temperature.
E. 
All sign lighting shall meet the requirements of § 305-85 and Article XVIII. No light source illuminating any sign shall be directed into any public street or highway or into any residential zoning district.
F. 
Any sign that encroaches over or upon a public road, street, easement, alleyway, sidewalk, or lane shall have a vertical clearance of not less than 14 feet, except that in the C-1 District the minimum clearance above any public sidewalk shall be not less than 10 feet.
G. 
No sign shall be taller than the maximum permitted building height in the associated zoning district, and no building-mounted sign shall extend higher than 10 feet above the roofline.
H. 
No one sign shall contain more than 64 square feet in gross area per side visible from any one location, except by site plan approval under § 305-94.
I. 
Off-premises advertising signs are not permitted. See the definition of "off-premises advertising sign" in § 305-48B for similar signs that are permitted.
J. 
No sign shall be painted, erected, or maintained directly on a tree, rock, or other natural feature, except for deliberately designed and installed stone monuments and similar.
K. 
Advertising on vehicles.
(1) 
Parking of advertising vehicles is prohibited. No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property or on private property so as to be seen from a public right-of-way which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign for the basic purpose of directing people to a business activity located on the same or nearby property or any other premises.
(2) 
This section shall not prohibit business vehicles actively used in a business operation or "for sale" signs on vehicles for sale, provided that the vehicle for sale is not parked on a public right-of-way.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
The following sign uses and purposes are permitted in all zoning districts without the need for a sign permit. Such signs shall not count as part of the maximum permitted sign quantities or area in the zoning district in which they are located.
A. 
Address numerals and similar sign information required to identify a location by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, provided that such sign does not exceed two square feet in area per officially assigned address, or the size required by any law, order, rule or regulation, whichever is greater.
B. 
Architectural elements, including integral decorative or architectural elements of buildings or works of art, so long as such elements or works do not contain a commercial message, trademark, moving parts or moving lights.
C. 
Auxiliary signs for nonresidential uses, such as on-site directional signs, "open" signs, and parking lot rule signs, where each such sign does not exceed six square feet.
D. 
Bulletin boards, not exceeding 12 square feet for public, philanthropic or religious institutions located on the premises of said institutions.
E. 
Farm field signs, provided that no such sign exceeds 12 square feet in area.
F. 
Flags, standards, emblems and insignia of governmental, civic, philanthropic, religious or educational organizations, not exceeding 48 square feet, when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
G. 
Fuel canopy signs, not exceeding two signs and a total sign area not exceeding 12 square feet per canopy.
H. 
Historical markers, commemorative plaques, memorial tablets, or emblems of official historical bodies, not exceeding 12 square feet, placed flat against a building, monument stone, or other permanent surface.
I. 
Holiday decorations of a primarily decorative nature, in connection with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays.
J. 
Interior signs located on the interior of a premises and which are three feet or more from any window to the outdoors.
K. 
Political signs.
L. 
Regulatory signs and government information signs not exceeding 64 square feet.
M. 
Required signs by state or federal statute or regulation.
N. 
Residential signs. Signs erected on a lot in a residential zoning district or serving a residential use, not greater than six square feet each and not more than two such signs per lot.
O. 
Sandwich signs, per associated limitations in § 305-48B(2).
P. 
Temporary signs, which if advertising a special event, auction or sale shall be removed within two weeks of the conclusion of the event, auction or sale. In no case shall a temporary sign be displayed longer than 120 days in any calendar year, unless extended in writing by the Zoning Administrator upon request and under exceptional circumstances. There shall be not more than two temporary signs per lot at any one time in the R-1, C-1, and W Districts and four per lot at any one time in all other districts.
[Added 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03[1]]
A. 
The owner of each closing business or institution, or the owner of property on which a closing business or institution is located, must remove all signs associated with the closing business or institution within 60 days of closing. In the case of signs desired with interchangeable faces, the closing business or owner may remove only the sign face and replace it with a blank sign face, provided that the sign structure remains sound and in good repair. This allowance shall not extend to any property with a closing business that is converted to a residential use. The Village make take any necessary enforcement action against either party.
B. 
Upon written notice to the sign owner, if known, or the owner of the property upon which the sign is located, the Building Inspector may order the repair, adjustment or removal of any sign that has not obtained the proper permit; that is defective, dangerous, unsafe, or dilapidated; that is an illegal nonconforming sign, or that has been erected, installed, constructed, or maintained in violation of this article.
C. 
In the event the party so notified shall fail to comply with such an order within 30 days of the date of such notice, or sooner if the Building Inspector provides a shorter time frame as a result of a public safety hazard, that party will be subject to enforcement under § 305-95.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 305-51, Abandoned signs; alterations.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and all decisions under this article may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A. 
Installation. All signs shall be properly secured, supported and braced and shall be kept in a safe structural condition and shall be kept clean and well painted at all times. Bolts or screws shall not be fastened to window frames. Every sign and its framework, braces, anchors and other supports shall be constructed of such material and with such workmanship as to be safe and satisfactory to the Building Inspector.
B. 
Prohibitions.
(1) 
No sign shall be erected so that any portion of the sign or its supports is attached to or interferes with the free use of any fire escape, exit, any required stairway, door, ventilator or window.
(2) 
No sign shall be erected that will interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic.
(3) 
At no time shall signs be permitted within a vision clearance triangle in such a manner as to restrict vision or impair safety.
(4) 
No sign located within 150 feet of a highway or street right-of-way shall contain, include or be illuminated by a flashing or rotating beam of light.
C. 
Signs on public rights-of-way. Signs shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking and directional signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter or allowed by approval of the Building Inspector.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
A. 
Signs eligible for characterization as legal nonconforming signs. Any sign located within the Village of New Glarus limits on the date of passage of this article, or located in an area annexed to the Village of New Glarus hereafter which does not conform to the provisions of this article is eligible for characterization as a legal nonconforming sign and is permitted.
B. 
Loss of legal nonconforming status.
(1) 
A sign loses its nonconforming status if one or more of the following occurs:
(a) 
The sign is structurally altered in any way, except for normal maintenance or repair, which tends to or makes the sign less in compliance with requirements of this article than it was before alteration.
(b) 
The sign is relocated.
(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 article or shall be removed.
C. 
Legal nonconforming sign maintenance and repair. Nothing in this article shall relieve the owner or user of a legal nonconforming sign or the owner of the property on which the sign is located from the provisions of this article regarding safety, maintenance and repair of signs. No legal nonconforming sign shall be rebuilt, relocated, or expanded without conforming to all of the requirements of this article.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
All signs and other advertising structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed to receive dead loads as required in the Building Code or other ordinances of the Village of New Glarus.
A. 
Signs shall not be erected or altered until a permit has been issued by the Building Inspector. Applications for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms available from the Village Clerk-Treasurer. The applicant shall file with the application plans and specifications and provide information about the sign, including dimensions, materials, illumination, wiring, height above grade, distance from lot line, and by whom it shall be erected.
B. 
When all of the provisions of this chapter or other rules relating to such sign shall have been complied with and when the applicant has paid the required fee for every such application, the permit may be granted. The Building Inspector may prescribe suitable regulations consistent with the provisions of this chapter concerning the form and contents of all applications for permits herein required.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter or relocate, within the Village, any sign as defined in this article without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspector and making payment of the fees required. All electric signs shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Electrical Code[1] and the permit fee required thereunder.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 118, Building Construction.
D. 
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector, upon the filing of an application for permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign, and if it shall appear that the proposed sign is in compliance with all the requirements of this article and all other laws and rules of the Village, he shall then issue the permit. If work authorized under a permit has not been completed within 90 days after date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
E. 
All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this article or any amendment thereto are mere permits, revocable at any time by the Building Inspector, and all such applications shall contain this provision.
If the Building Inspector shall find that any sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, he shall give written notice to the permittee thereof and the owner of the street sign or of the property on which it is located. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within five days after serving notice upon the permittee, such sign may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Building Inspector shall refuse to issue a permit to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The Building Inspector may cause any street sign which is an immediate peril to person or property to be removed summarily and without notice.