[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
The purposes of sign regulations are:
(1) 
To encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the City.
(2) 
To maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the City's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth.
(3) 
To improve pedestrian and traffic safety.
(4) 
To minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property.
(5) 
To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions.
(b) 
This article 1332 is adopted under the zoning authority of the City in furtherance of the more general purposes set forth in the Zoning Ordinance.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in the City only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this article.
(b) 
The effect of this article as more specifically set forth herein is:
(1) 
To establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial zones, and a limited variety of signs in other zones, subject to the standards and the permit procedures of this article.
(2) 
To allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive, and incidental to the principal use of the respective lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of this article.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
Words and phrases used in this article shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Words and phrases not defined in this section but defined in Article 1322 - Definitions, of the City shall be given the meanings set forth in said Article 1322. Principles for computing sign area and sign height are contained in Section 1332.04. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings and captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this article.
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
BANNER
Any sign or lightweight fabric or similar material that is secured to a pole or a building at one or more edges. National flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.
BEACON
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same zone lot at the light source; also any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD SIGN
A sign, which advertises or directs attention to a use, commodity or service not related to the premises which the sign is located.
BUILDING MARKER
Any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
BUILDING SIGN
Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a freestanding sign.
CANOPY SIGNS
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face of the surface of the sign.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE
Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity.
DIRECTOR
The City Zoning Officer.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, or other entity.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure.
GROUND SIGN
A freestanding sign with no clearance between the bottom edge of the sign and the ground.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the zone lot on which it is located, such as "no parking," "entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar directives.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
MARQUEE
Any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a marquee.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this article.
PENNANT
Any lightweight, plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
PERMIT OFFICER
The permit issuer (Building Code Official).
PERSON
Any association, company, corporation, firm, organization, or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.
POLE SIGN
A freestanding sign with clearance between the bottom edge of the sign and the ground.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames, menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
The building in which is conducted the principal use of the zone lot on which it is located. Zone lots with multiple principal uses may have multiple principal buildings, but storage buildings, garages, and other clearly accessory uses shall not be considered principal buildings.
PROJECTING SIGN
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 such building or wall.
RESIDENTIAL SIGN
Any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contains no commercial message except advertising for goods or services legally offered on the premises where the sign is located, if offering such service at such location conforms with all requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected and constructed wholly on or over the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
ROOF SIGN, INTEGRAL
Any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches.
SETBACK
The distance from the property line to the nearest part of the applicable building, structure, or sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line.
SIGN
Any device, fixture, placard, or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
STREET
See Article 1322, Definitions.
STREET FRONTAGE
The distance for which a lot line of a zone lot adjoins a public street, from one lot line intersecting said street to the furthest distant lot line intersecting the same street.
SUSPENDED SIGN
A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.
WALL SIGN
Ay sign attached parallel to, but within 12 inches of a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within the limits of any outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign, pictures, symbols or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service, that is placed inside a window and is visible from the exterior of the window.
ZONE LOT
A parcel of land, on which the principal building is located, in single ownership that is of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for area, coverage, and use, and that can provide such yards and other open spaces as required by the zoning regulations.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
The following principles shall control the computation of sign areas and sign height:
(1) 
Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
(2) 
Computation of area of multi-faced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
(3) 
Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of (1) existing grade prior to construction, or (2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign.
(4) 
Computation of maximum total permitted sign area for a zone lot. The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs on a zone lot shall be computed by applying the formula contained in Table 1332.05(B), Maximum Total Sign Area, to the lot frontage, building frontage or wall area, as appropriate, for the zoning district in which the lot is located. Lots fronting on two or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage. However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot's total sign area allocation that is derived from the lot, building, or wall area on that street.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
Signs shall be allowed on private property in the City in accordance with, and only in accordance with, Table 1332.05(A). If the letter "P" appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is allowed without a permit, in the zoning districts represented by that column. If the letter "S" appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is allowed only with permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column. Special conditions may apply in some cases. If the letter "N" appears for a sign type in a column, such a sign is not allowed in the zoning districts represented by that column.
(b) 
Although permitted under the previous paragraph, a sign designated by an "S" or "P" in Table 1332.05(A) shall be allowed only if:
(1) 
The sum of the area of all building and free standing signs on the zone lot conforms to the maximum permitted sign area as determined by the formula for the zoning district in which the lot is located as specified in Table 1332.05(B).
(2) 
The size, location, and number of signs on the lot conform with the requirements of Tables 1332.05(C) and 1332.05(D), which establish permitted sign dimensions by sign type, and with any additional limitations listed in Table 1332.05(A).
(3) 
The characteristics of the sign conform with the limitations of Table 1332.05(E), Permitted Sign Characteristics, and with any additional limitations on characteristics listed in Table 1332.05(A).
(c) 
A Key To Tables 1332.05(A) Through 1332.05(E). On the tables in this article, which are organized by zoning district, the headings have the following meanings:
R-1
=
Low Density Residential District
R-2
=
Medium Density Residential District
R-3
=
High Density Residential District
INS
=
Institutional Uses Permitted in Residential Zoning Districts
C-1
=
General Business District
C-2
=
Central Business District
M-1
=
Light Industrial District
M-2
=
Heavy Industrial District
M-2A
=
Heavy Industrial District
Table 1332.05(A)
Permitted Signs by Type and Zoning District
Sign Type
R-1
R-2
R-3
C-1
C-2
M-1
M-2
M-2A
INS1
FREESTANDING
Banner4
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Billboard
N
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
N
Flag5
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Ground6
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Incidental
N
N
S
P
P
P
P
P
P
Pole6
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Portable4
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Temporary4, 6
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
BUILDING
Banner4
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Billboard
N
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
N
Building Marker2
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Canopy3
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Flag5
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Incidental
N
N
S
P
P
P
P
P
P
Marquee3
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
N
Portable4
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Projecting3
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Roof
N
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
N
Roof, Integral3
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
N
Suspended3
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Temporary4, 6
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Wall6, 3
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Window6
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
KEY:
P
=
Allowed Without Sign Permit
S
=
Allowed only with Sign Permit
N
=
Not Allowed
NOTES:
1.
This column does not represent a Zoning District. It applies to institutional uses permitted under the Zoning Ordinance in residential zoning districts. Such uses may include, but are not necessarily limited to, churches, schools, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
2.
May include only building name, date of construction, or historical date on historical site; must be cut or etched into masonry, bronze, or similar material.
3.
If such a sign is suspended or projects above a public right-of-way, the issuance and continuation of a sign permit shall be conditioned on the sign owner obtaining and maintaining in force liability insurance for such a sign in such form and such amount as the Solicitor may reasonably from time to time determine, provided that the amount of such liability insurance shall be at least $500,000 per occurrence per sign.
4.
The conditions of Section 1332.11 of this article apply. Temporary sign: real estate sales sign, development sign, and construction sign.
5.
Flags of the United States, the state, the City, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided that such a flag shall not exceed 60 square feet in area and shall not be flown from a pole the top of which is more than 40 feet in height. These flags must be flown in accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Strips. Any flag not meeting any one or more of these conditions shall be considered a banner sign and shall be subject to regulation as such.
6.
In Residential Districts, no commercial message allowed on sign except for a commercial message drawing attention to an activity legally offered on the premises.
Table 1332.05(B)
Maximum Total Sign Area Per Zone Lot by Zoning District
Sign Type
R-1
R-2
R-3
C-1
C-2
M-1
M-2
M-2A
INS1
The maximum total area of all signs on a zone lot except flags2 shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
Maximum Number of Total Square Feet
6
6
16
200
200
400
400
400
50
Percentage of Ground Area of Principle Building3
N/A
N/A
N/A
6%
6%
2%
2%
2%
N/A
Square Feet of Signage Per Linear Foot of Street Frontage
N/A
N/A
.5
3.0
4.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
.3
KEY:
N/A
=
Not Applicable
NOTES:
1.
This column does not represent a Zoning District. It applies to institutional uses permitted under the Zoning Ordinance in residential zoning districts. Such uses may include, but are not necessarily limited to, churches, schools, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
2.
Flags of the United States, the state, the City, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction, provided that such a flag shall not exceed 60 square feet in area and shall not be flown from a pole the top of which is more than 40 feet in height. These flags must be flown in accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Stripes. Any flag not meeting any one or more of these conditions shall be considered a banner sign and shall be subject to regulations as such.
Table 1332.05(C)
Number, Dimensions and Location of Individual Signs by Zoning District
Sign Type
R-1
R-2
R-3
C-1
C-2
M-1
M-2
M-2A
INS1
Individual sign shall not exceed the applicable maximum number, dimensions, or setbacks shown on this table and in Table 1332.05(D).
FREESTANDING
Area (Square Feet)
2
2
12
100
160
80
80
80
40
Height (Feet)
3
3
5
243
367
367
367
367
122
Setback (Square Feet)4
3
3
3
53
0
5
5
5
5
Number Permitted:
Per Zone Lot
1
1
1
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1
Per Feet of Street Frontage5
N/A
N/A
N/A
1 per 200
1 per 200
1 per 500
1 per 500
1 per 500
N/A
BUILDING
Area (max. square feet)
4
4
4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
20
Wall Area (%)
N/A
N/A
N/A
15%
20%
5%
5%
5%
N/A
KEY:
N/A
=
Not Applicable
NOTES:
1.
This column does not represent a zoning district. It applies to institutional uses permitted under the Zoning Ordinance in residential zoning districts. Such uses may include, but are not necessarily limited to, churches, schools, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
2.
Maximum sign height is 12 feet, and minimum setback is five feet; however, in no case shall the actual sign height exceed the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot that is zoned and used for residential purposes. For example, if the sign is set back seven feet from such a lot, it may be no more than seven feet in height.
3.
Maximum sign height is 24 feet, and minimum setback is five feet; however, in no case shall the actual sign height exceed the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot that is zoned and used for residential purposes.
4.
In addition to the setback requirements on this table, signs shall be located such that there is at every street intersection a clear view between heights of three feet and 10 feet in a triangle formed by the corner and points on the curb 30 feet from the intersection or entranceway.
5.
Lots fronting on two or more streets are allowed the permitted signage for each street frontage, but signage cannot be accumulated and used on one street in excess of that allowed for lots with only one street frontage.
6.
The percentage figure here shall mean the percentage of the area of the wall of which such sign is a part or to which each such sign is most nearly parallel.
7.
Maximum sign height is 36 feet, and minimum setback is zero feet; however, in no case shall the actual sign height exceed the actual sign setback from any adjacent lot that is zoned and used for residential purposes.
8.
Temporary signs on private property shall not exceed an area of 12 square feet, shall not exceed six feet in height, shall be located at least three feet from the property line, and shall comply with the provisions of Temporary Signs in Article 1332.11.
Table 1332.05(D)
Number and Dimension of Certain Individual Signs by Sign Type
No sign shall exceed any applicable maximum numbers or dimensions, or encroach on any applicable minimum clearance shown on this table.
Vertical Clearance
Number Allowed
Maximum Sign Area
From Sidewalk
From Public Street or Private Drive or Parking
FREESTANDING:
Banner
1 per zone lot
See Table 1332.05(C)
9 feet
12 feet
Billboard
1 per zone lot
See Table 1332.05(C)
9 feet
N/A
Flag
N/A
60 square feet
9 feet
12 feet
Ground
See Table 1332.05(C)
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Incidental*
2 per access drive
2 square feet
N/A
N/A
Pole
See Table 1332.05(C)
See Table 1332.05(C)
9 feet
12 feet
Portable
1 per zone lot
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Temporary
1 per zone lot
12 square feet
N/A
N/A
BUILDING:
Banner
1 per zone lot
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Billboard
1 per building
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Building Marker
1 per building
2 square feet in R-1, R-2, R-3
4 square feet in all others
N/A
N/A
Canopy
1 per building
50% of vertical surface of canopy
9 feet
12 feet
Flag
N/A
60 square feet
N/A
N/A
Incidental
See Table 1332.05(C)
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Marquee
1 per building
See Table 1332.05(C)
9 feet
12 feet
Projecting
1 per building
40 square feet
9 feet
12 feet
Roof
1 per building
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Roof, Integral
1 per building
See Table 1332.05(C)
9 feet
12 feet
Suspended
1 per entrance
See Table 1332.05(C)
9 feet
12 feet
Temporary
N/A
12 square feet
N/A
N/A
Wall
See Table 1332.05(C)
See Table 1332.05(C)
N/A
N/A
Window
See Table 1332.05(C)
25% total window area
N/A
N/A
KEY:
NA
=
Not Applicable
*
Maximum of three feet height, minimum setback is one foot from any property line.
Table 1332.05(E)
Permitted Sign Characteristics by Zoning District
R-1
R-2
R-3
C-1
C-2
M-1
M-2
M-2A
INS1
Animated2, 3
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
N
N
Changeable Copy6
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Illumination, Internal2
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Illumination, External2
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Illumination, Exposed Bulb2
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Neon2, 4, 5
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
KEY:
S
=
Allowed only with Sign Permit
N
=
Not Allowed
NOTES:
1.
This column does not represent a Zoning District. It applies to institutional uses permitted under the Zoning Ordinance in residential zoning districts. Such uses may include, but are not necessarily limited to, churches, schools, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
2.
No direct light or significant glare form the sign shall be cast onto any adjacent zone lot that is zoned and used for residential purposes.
3.
Animated signs require Zoning Hearing Board approval.
4.
Neon signs, which cumulatively measure over 20 feet2, require Zoning Hearing Board approval.
5.
Freestanding neon signs require Zoning Hearing Board approval.
6.
Portable, changeable copy signs cannot be converted to permanent signs.
(d) 
The following signs are not regulated by this Zoning Ordinance:
(1) 
Historic sign. Memorializes an important historic place, event, or person and that is specifically authorized by the City, County, State or Federal agency.
(2) 
Holiday decorations. Commemorates a holiday recognized by the City, Council, State, or Federal Government, does not include advertising, and is specifically authorized by the City.
(3) 
Not readable sign. Not readable from any public street or any exterior lot line, and is specifically authorized by the City.
(4) 
Official sign. Erected by the State, County, City or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized by City Ordinance or resolution, and which exists for public purposes.
(5) 
Required sign. Only includes information required to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the City, and is specifically authorized by the City.
(6) 
Right-of-way signs. Posted within the existing right-of-way of a public street and officially authorized by the City or PennDOT.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
If a sign requiring a permit under the provision of this article is to be placed, constructed, erected, or modified on a zone lot, the owner of the lot shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection, or modification of such sign in accordance with the requirements of Section 1332.11. Furthermore, the property owner shall maintain in force, at all times, a sign permit for such sign in accordance with Section 1332.11. Applications for sign permits shall be submitted to the Permit Officer on an application form as prescribed by the City.
(b) 
No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except in accordance with Section 1332.08 and the permit requirements of Section 1332.12.
(c) 
No sign permit shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this article.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
All signs shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the following standards:
(1) 
All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the Building Code and the Electrical Code of the City at all times.
(2) 
Except for banners, flags, temporary signs, and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this article, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building, or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure.
(3) 
All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this code, at all times.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except for the following, with authorization by the City.
(1) 
Permanent Signs: Permanent signs, including:
A. 
Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
B. 
Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company;
C. 
Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes, or facilities; and
D. 
Awning, projecting, and suspended signs projecting over a public right-of- way in conformity with the conditions of Table 1332.05(A) of this article.
(2) 
Emergency signs. Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of- way.
(3) 
Other signs forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation by the City. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the City shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign, the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this article:
(1) 
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance;
(2) 
Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which such sign is located;
(3) 
Works of art that do not include a commercial message;
(4) 
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only between November 15 and January 15;
(5) 
Traffic control signs on private property, such as Stop, Yield, and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort;
(6) 
Any poster or sandwich board sign which does not prohibit pedestrian or traffic flow, which is no more than 36 inches wide and 62 inches high, and which is displayed only during business hours;
(7) 
Temporary exemptions may be permitted for special circumstances by action of City Council.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
All signs not expressly permitted under this article or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the previous section are prohibited in the City. Such signs include, but are not limited to: 1) Beacons; 2) Flashing Signs; 3) Oscillating Signs; 4) Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under the previous section.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
Signs identified as "P" or "S" on Table 1332.05(A) shall be erected, installed or created only in accordance with a duly issued and valid sign permit from the Permit Officer. Such permits shall be issued only in accordance with the following requirements and procedures:
(1) 
Permit for new sign or for sign modification. An application for construction, creation, or installation of a new sign or for modification of an existing sign shall be accomplished by detailed drawings to show the dimensions, design, structure, and location of each particular sign. One application and permit may include multiple signs on the same zone lot.
(2) 
Inspection. The Permit Officer shall cause an inspection of the zone lot for which each permit for a new sign or for modification of an existing sign is issued after the issuance of such permit or at such earlier date as the owner may request. If the construction is complete and in full compliance with this article and with the building and electrical codes, the Permit Officer shall notify the owner or applicant. If the construction is substantially complete but not in full compliance with this article and applicable codes, the Permit Officer shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional 30 days from the date of inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by such date, the permit shall lapse.
(b) 
Sign permits continuing.
(1) 
Assignment of sign permits. A current and valid sign permit shall be assignable to a successor as owner of the property or holder of a business license for the same premises.
(2) 
The City reserves the right to inspect any and all signs for compliance with this article, at any time.
(c) 
Temporary sign permits (private property).
(1) 
Temporary signs on private property shall be allowed only upon the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit, which shall be subject to the following requirements:
A. 
Term. A temporary sign permit shall allow the use of a temporary sign for a specified thirty-day period.
B. 
Number. Only two temporary sign permits shall be issued to the same business license holder at the same zone lot in any calendar year. The total days of two temporary sign permits shall be 30 days.
C. 
Other conditions. A temporary sign shall be allowed only in districts with a letter "S" for "Temporary Signs" on Table 1332.05(A) and subject to all of the requirements for temporary signs at noted therein.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
Except as otherwise provided herein, the owner of any zone lot or other premises on which exists a sign that does not conform with the requirements of this article or for which there is no current and valid sign permit shall be obligated to remove such sign.
(1) 
Non-conforming existing signs, permits and terms. A sign that would be permitted under this article only with a sign permit, but which was in existence on the date of enactment of this Ordinance, and which was constructed in accordance with the ordinances and other applicable laws in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design, or construction is not in conformance with the requirements of this article, shall be issued a Non- conforming Sign Permit if an application is filed. A Non-conforming sign may be repaired, reconstructed or replaced, provided that no structural alterations are made which increase the gross surface area of the sign.
(2) 
Lapse of Non-conforming Sign Permit: A Non-conforming Sign Permit shall lapse and become void under the same circumstances as those under which any other sign permit may lapse and become void.
(3) 
Sign removal required. A sign that was constructed, painted, installed, or maintained in conformance with a permit under this article, but for which the time allowed for the continuance of a non-conforming sign has expired, shall be forthwith removed without notice or action from the City.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
Any of the following shall be a violation of this article and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this article, by the Zoning Ordinance, and by State law and Building Code.
(1) 
To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the zone lot on which the sign is located;
(2) 
To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit;
(3) 
To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this article, or for which the sign permit has lapsed; and
(4) 
To continue any such violation. Each such day of continued violation shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this article.
(b) 
Each sign installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this article shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this article.
[Ord. 7903, passed 11-12-2009]
(a) 
Any violation or attempted violation of this Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code or of any condition or requirement adopted pursuant hereto may be restrained, corrected, or abated, as the case may be, by injunction or other appropriate proceedings pursuant to state law. A violation of this Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code shall be considered a violation of the Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code of the City.
The remedies of the City shall include the following:
(1) 
Issuing a stop-work order for any and all work on any signs on the same zone lot;
(2) 
Seeking an injunction or other order or restraint or abatement that requires the removal of the sign(s) or the correction of the non-conformity;
(3) 
Imposing any penalties that can be imposed directly by the City under the Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code;
(4) 
Seeking in court the imposition of any penalties that can be imposed by such court under the Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code;
(5) 
In the case of a sign that poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, taking such measures as are available to the City under the applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code for such circumstances.
(b) 
The City shall have such other remedies as are and as may from time to time be provided for or allowed by state law for the violation of the Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Code.
(c) 
All such remedies provided herein shall be cumulative. To the extent that state law may limit the availability of a particular remedy set forth herein for a certain violation or a part thereof, such remedy shall remain available for other violations or other parts of the same violation.