[Amended 5-24-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-001]
A. 
Purpose and applicability. The regulations established by this article are intended to appropriately limit the placement, type, size, and number of signs allowed and to require the proper maintenance of signs. The purposes of these limitations and requirements are to:
(1) 
Ensure that signs safely attract and direct persons to various destinations;
(2) 
Protect public and private property values and investment;
(3) 
Reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians which result from excessive, confusing, and distracting signs; and
(4) 
Preserve and enhance the aesthetic and historic quality of the community.
B. 
Applicability.
(1) 
Any sign erected, placed, attached, altered, reconstructed, or modified shall conform to this article.
(2) 
Existing or nonconforming signs shall not be altered or moved unless in compliance with this article.
A. 
Applications.
(1) 
No sign shall be installed, constructed, or altered unless a sign permit and/or, where applicable, a sign program approval is first obtained in compliance with this article, or the sign is allowed without sign permit approval as provided in § 120-6.5.4.
(2) 
An application for a sign permit shall be prepared and filed with the Zoning Administrator. The application shall include required application fees, elevations and plans of all proposed signs drawn to scale, with all dimensions noted. The plans submitted shall also show the location of each sign on buildings and/or the site.
(3) 
The Zoning Administrator shall review and approve or deny all sign permit applications for signs located outside of the Historic District. Within the Historic District, the Historic District Commission shall review applications for sign permits and adopt and file with the Planning Commission certificates of approval or rejection. The Planning Commission shall consider the Historic District Commission certificate in its review and approval or denial of a permit. The review authority may require conditions of approval as are reasonably necessary to achieve the purposes of this article.
(4) 
After approval of a sign permit and/or sign program, each sign installed and maintained on the subject site shall comply with the permit and program.
B. 
Sign programs.
(1) 
A sign program shall be required for any multiple occupancy commercial, professional, industrial, residential, or institutional sites or separately identifiable building group, such as a medical complex or shopping center, or an individual site of at least one acre in size or with a proposed development exceeding 10,000 square feet of total building space.
(2) 
The purpose of the sign program shall be to establish signage for all tenants and users of a complex, center or development site. An approved sign program shall prescribe the standards for all signs within the area covered by the program, including size, number and types of signage permitted.
(3) 
A sign program shall be approved by the Planning Commission. Within the Historic District, prior approval of the Historic District Commission shall be required.
(4) 
A sign program shall comply with all provisions of this article and is not intended to provide special or additional signage.
C. 
Permit and program findings for approval. The approval of a sign permit or sign program shall require that the review authority first make all the following findings:
(1) 
The proposed signs do not exceed the standards of this article and, as applicable, are of the maximum size and height necessary to enable motorists and pedestrians to readily identify the facility or site from a sufficient distance to safely and conveniently access the facility or site.
(2) 
The proposed signs are in substantial conformance with the design criteria as may be maintained by the Town.
D. 
Approval period and expiration. A sign permit or program approval shall expire one year from its date of approval unless the sign or signs have been installed within the period or a later expiration date is stated in writing at the time of approval.
E. 
Sign design guidelines. The Zoning Administrator may maintain guidelines for applicants for sign permits and sign programs regarding the placement, appearance, design, and construction materials and may use such guidelines to assist applicants in complying with the purpose and provisions of this article.
A. 
In relation to location.
(1) 
No signs shall be attached to utility poles, traffic signal poles, traffic control posts/signs, rocks, or trees visible from the public right-of-way whether on public or private property.
(2) 
Except for official public way finding signs and official directional, safety or traffic signs, no sign whether temporary or permanent shall be placed within any public rights-of-way within the Town unless specified within this article.
(3) 
No sign shall be located which will interfere with traffic visibility along the right-of-way of any street or along any private driveway exiting or entering a site or on any slope or drainage easement of a street.
(4) 
No signs shall be attached to the sloped section of a roof structure, except in the General Commercial District.
(5) 
No sign may be painted directly on any wall or roof of a building or on a fence visible from the public right-of-way.
B. 
In relation to sign character.
(1) 
No sign shall project any intermittent, light-emitting diode, or flashing illumination except for official public road or street signs intended to promote traffic safety. New electronic message centers (EMCs) and digital electronic signs of any kind are prohibited.
(2) 
No flashing or rotating signs shall be permitted.
(3) 
Pennants, streamers, and moving, flashing, windblown and all other fluttering, spinning, or similar type signs, which includes strings of light bulbs, balloons or other inflated objects, are prohibited, with the exception of special events, where you may apply to the Zoning Administrator for an exception to this section for the period of the event.
(4) 
Except for official traffic signs, no sign shall be displayed, visible from the public right-of-way, which uses the word "stop" or "danger" or that implies a need for or requirement of stopping or the existence of danger.
(5) 
Signs that are obscene, illegal, hazardous to traffic, imitative of official government signs (i.e., stop, danger, caution, etc.) or obstructive to public visibility, so as to create a hazard to the public, are prohibited.
(6) 
Signs, attached to a parked motor vehicle, exceeding 12 square feet in area or the maximum allowable height for freestanding signs in the zoning district shall be prohibited. Signs attached to a motor vehicle which exceed four square feet but are less than 12 square feet are allowed only under the following conditions:
(a) 
The vehicle is a registered, tagged, and operable vehicle and is parked in an approved parking space associated with the physical address of the sign applicant
(b) 
The area of the sign attached to a motor vehicle shall count against the allowable sign area and/or total number of signs for the site on which the vehicle is legally parked.
(7) 
Billboard signs are prohibited.
C. 
In relation to safety, condition and neglect.
(1) 
No sign shall be permitted which becomes unsafe or endangers the safety of a building, premises, or person. The Zoning Administrator shall order such signs to be made safe, to be repaired, or to be removed and such order shall be complied with within seven days of the receipt of such order, unless the condition is such that a shorter compliance period is required for public safety considerations.
(2) 
No sign shall be permitted to remain which through damage, disrepair or lack of maintenance has become impaired in its functionality or blighted in its appearance. The Zoning Administrator shall order such sign to be repaired, replaced, or removed and such order shall be complied with within 45 days of the receipt of such order.
(3) 
Failure to comply with the Zoning Administrator's order provided for in Subsection C(1) and (2) above shall result in the loss of any legal nonconforming status which may exist for the sign and require the sign to be removed and/or to come into compliance with this chapter.
(4) 
When a sign structure does not include a sign for a period of 90 consecutive days, such sign structure shall be deemed a violation and shall be removed.
A. 
No permit required. The following signs are permitted without obtaining a sign permit or sign program approval subject to conditions set forth below:
(1) 
Official traffic and parking signs provided they are erected by a governmental agency.
(2) 
Temporary signs provided the following conditions are adhered to:
(a) 
A property shall not display any temporary sign for more than 90 days in a year.
(b) 
In all districts, the sign is no larger than six square feet in area and four feet in height.
(c) 
In all districts, no more than two temporary signs shall be permitted at the same time on a given property except on properties displaying at least one legal nontemporary sign. In such a case, the property shall be limited to only one temporary sign at a time.
(d) 
In all districts, temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(3) 
Signs accessory to parking lot uses provided the following conditions are adhered to:
(a) 
Signs designating entrances and exits shall be limited to one sign per entrance and one per exit and neither sign shall exceed two square feet in area.
(b) 
One additional sign limited to a maximum area of nine square feet is permitted which may be used to set forth conditions of use or identify the ownership of the parking area.
(c) 
No such sign shall exceed six feet in height.
(4) 
Commemorative plaques. Signs commemorating a historical building, its name register and/or erection date, when cut into or affixed to a permanent surface and not exceeding four square feet per building.
(5) 
Street number, address, and/or name. Two such signs for each building not exceeding one square foot each in the TND District and three square feet each in all other zoning districts are allowed without a sign permit.
(6) 
Window displays and signs. Signs erected or suspended in the interior of a structure to be viewed from the outside provided the following conditions are adhered to:
(a) 
No more than 25% of the window area is covered in signage.
(b) 
The area of window signage shall be included in the count of maximum allowable sign area and sign number for the site.
(c) 
No such sign shall be an internally lighted sign.
B. 
Nonpermit signs not exempt from regulations. While the above-listed signs are permitted without a sign permit, each must still be in compliance with the terms of this chapter. Signs installed, with or without a permit, in conflict with the terms of this chapter are in violation and subject to the penalties herein.
A. 
Standards are maximum allowable. The dimension requirements provided in this article represent the maximum size or area or distance allowed. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to imply that these regulations confer a right to the maximum.
B. 
Computations of area and height.
(1) 
Area.
(a) 
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, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets the requirements of this chapter and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
(b) 
The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces.
(2) 
Height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at the average finished grade of the width of the sign to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
(3) 
Sight visibility.
(a) 
No sign shall obstruct a clear view to and from traffic along any street right-of-way, entrance, or exit.
(b) 
A sight visibility triangle shall be kept free of obstructions to vision between the heights of 2 1/2 feet and 12 feet above the street.
C. 
Illumination/lighting of sign. Except within the General Commercial (GC) and Marine Commercial (MC) Districts, no internally lighted signs shall be permitted within Town. Where illumination of a sign is permitted, it shall be permitted only by indirect means external to the sign face.
D. 
General development opening signs.
(1) 
In General Commercial (GC) and Marine Commercial (MC) Districts, one sign associated with the opening of a development is permitted, provided:
(a) 
It is no greater than 64 square feet in size and no greater than eight feet in height.
(b) 
It is removed upon the dedication of associated public streets and/or utilities or within one year of its installation. Reinstatement of the sign for up to one one-year period following the expiration shall require an extension of the sign permit.
(2) 
In the TND, Village Center, Village Commercial, and RC Districts, one sign associated with the opening of a development is permitted, provided:
(a) 
It is no greater than 32 square feet in size and no greater than eight feet in height.
(b) 
It is removed upon the dedication of associated public streets and/or utilities or within one year of its installation. Reinstatement of the sign for up to one one-year period following the expiration shall require an extension of the sign permit.
A. 
Freestanding sign.
(1) 
One freestanding sign is permitted per site. An approved sign program may provide for an additional freestanding sign when a lot exceeds five acres in size or has two public street frontages.
(2) 
Freestanding signs shall not be located within parking lots. The area of freestanding signs shall not exceed 30 square feet. The base of the freestanding sign shall be permanently attached to the ground.
(3) 
The base of all freestanding signs shall be set back a minimum of eight feet from any property line. No part of a freestanding sign shall be located within or overhang into a public or private right-of-way, sidewalk, or adjoining property.
(4) 
Freestanding signs shall not exceed a maximum height of six feet.
B. 
Projecting signs. Signs attached to a building shall not project more than 38 inches from the face of the building and shall have a minimum clearance of eight feet above the ground/sidewalk.
C. 
Window signs. Signs may be erected or suspended in the interior of a structure to be viewed from the outside provided the following conditions are adhered to:
(1) 
No more than 25% of the window area is covered in signage.
(2) 
The area of window signage shall be included in the count of maximum allowable sign area and sign number for the site.
D. 
Wall- or flat-mounted signs.
(1) 
Wall-mounted signs shall be no higher than the second-floor windowsill on a building.
(2) 
No single wall-mounted sign shall exceed 30 square feet in area.
(3) 
Notwithstanding the above standard, in no district shall one wall-mounted sign exceed 7% of the total area of the face of the building wall inclusive of windows and door openings.
E. 
Marquee signs. One marquee sign is permitted provided the sign area for the site does not exceed the maximum allowable sign area in that district.
F. 
A-frame signs (placard, easel-type, sandwich board). Within the General Commercial, Marine Commercial, Village Commercial, and Village Center Districts, two A-frame signs are permitted in the public right-of-way per business provided the following conditions are met:
(1) 
The sign shall not exceed six square feet if one-sided, 12 square feet if double-sided, and four feet in total height.
(2) 
The sign shall not impede pedestrian traffic (minimum of 36 inches of clearance) or motor vehicle visibility and if posted along a road with speed limits greater than 35 miles per hour, it shall be placed at least 60 feet from the street right-of-way.
(3) 
Signs shall be removed at close of business.
(4) 
A-frame signs to be located within the Historic District shall require the approval of the Historic District Commission.
[Amended 5-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-003]
(5) 
Additional A-frame signs are permitted to be placed within property boundaries, provided they do not exceed the maximum allowable signage area.
G. 
Maximum allowable area. The maximum allowable area for all signs on a site shall be computed as two square feet per linear building frontage up to a maximum allowable area of 170 square feet except as noted below:
(1) 
Buildings in excess of 100 feet in length may be permitted an additional one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage above 100 feet.
(2) 
Each additional building frontage facing a street or parking area may have up to 0.5 square foot of sign area per linear foot of road frontage, but such additional sign area may only be used on that side of the building frontage.
Signs permitted in the TND and RC Districts shall be limited by the following:
A. 
For public, open space, institutional uses, public assembly, and multiple-family uses.
(1) 
One freestanding sign is permitted per road frontage meeting the following standards:
(a) 
Maximum sign area is 20 square feet per sign face.
(b) 
Maximum sign height is six feet.
(c) 
Minimum distance from any other property line is eight feet.
(2) 
One wall-mounted sign is permitted at a maximum of 20 square feet.
(3) 
No sign shall project into or over a public right-of-way.
B. 
Subdivision or community entrance signs.
(1) 
One sign not exceeding 24 square feet may be located at each street entrance.
(2) 
The maximum sign height allowed for subdivision or community entrance is six feet.
C. 
Home occupations, home day care, and bed-and-breakfast uses.
(1) 
One freestanding sign per lot is permitted per road frontage meeting the following criteria:
(a) 
Maximum sign area shall be four square feet.
(b) 
Maximum freestanding sign height shall be four feet.
(c) 
Maximum distance from a property line lot shall be eight feet.
(2) 
One wall-mounted plaque or nameplate sign is permitted provided it does not exceed two square feet in size and is made to be compatible in appearance with the building.
A. 
Historic District Commission to approve. In addition to the requirements of the underlying zoning district, within the Historic District the following specific limitation on signs shall apply:
(1) 
A permit of approval from the Historic District Commission is required for all new signs and existing signs that are to be altered in size, shape, and location.
(2) 
Applicants for sign permits in the Historic District should refer to the Historic District Commission's design guidelines for signs.
B. 
Compliance upon addition to Historic District. Upon the inclusion of additional areas within the Historic District, all signs shall comply with this article within two years from the date the area is included within the Historic District.
A. 
Zoning Administrator to enforce. The Zoning Administrator shall order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of the law as it existed prior to the date of the adoption of this Zoning Code. Such a sign does not qualify as a nonconforming sign.
B. 
Nonconforming signs may continue. Signs existing at the time of the adoption of this article and not conforming to its provisions, but which did conform to previous laws, shall be regarded as nonconforming signs and these may be continued if properly maintained and repaired as provided in this article, except as provided below:
(1) 
The structure, sign face, or accessories of a nonconforming sign shall not be altered, modified, changed, reconstructed, or moved without bringing the sign in all respects into compliance with this article; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the normal maintenance or repair of any nonconforming sign.
(2) 
Under this article, a sign is inseparable from and intrinsically a part of the land use and activity of the property on which it is located. Therefore, no site plan for any property shall be approved unless it provides that all existing nonconforming signs and new signs are made to conform to the provisions of this article.
A. 
Adjustments. The Zoning Administrator may, upon application, administratively adjust the limitations for signs in the specific instances according to the procedures of § 120-2.2.4 of this chapter. An adjustment of up to 10% to the limitations set forth in this article with respect to the following dimension criteria is allowed: allowable sign area, height, and distance of permitted projection, setback of sign and/or distance from other properties.
B. 
Findings. The Zoning Administrator may only approve an administrative adjustment upon establishing the following findings:
(1) 
The adjustment is needed to resolve a practical difficulty unique to the property.
(2) 
The adjustment is the smallest necessary to grant relief of the practical difficulty.
(3) 
The adjustment shall in all other manners comply with the purposes and requirements of this article.
A. 
Unlawful signs. Any sign placed in public view for which no sign permit has been issued, and that is not otherwise exempted from the permit requirement of this article, is unlawful. No person shall install, place, or maintain an unlawful sign and no person shall allow or permit the installation, placement, or maintenance of an unlawful sign on property owned by the person. The Zoning Administrator shall enforce the provisions of this article.
B. 
Removal of unlawful, temporary or portable signs.
(1) 
The Zoning Administrator may require the removal of any unlawful, temporary, or portable sign that is constructed, placed, or maintained on private property that is in violation of this article or other provisions of the Town Code and shall remove any unlawful, temporary, or portable sign constructed, placed, or maintained on publicly owned property.
(2) 
Any violation of Article 6.5, Signs, shall be subject to a penalty as prescribed in § 120-2.5.2 of this chapter.
[Amended 5-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-003]
(3) 
In addition to the imposition of fines, the Town may file an action for injunctive relief in the district or circuit court for the removal of the illegal sign, if such sign is not removed by the property owner, the costs of which shall be reimbursed by the property owner to the Town within 30 days, and if such reimbursement is not made, the aforementioned costs shall be collectable by the Town in the same manner as taxes upon the real property.
Zoning District
Sign Types Permitted
Number of Signs Permitted
Maximum Signage Area per Sign
(square feet)
Maximum Height
(feet)
Illumination Permitted
Other Provisions
General Commercial (GC), Marine Commercial (MC), Village Center (V-1), Village Commercial (V-2)
Freestanding
1*
2 per linear building frontage^
6
External
Minimum 8-foot setback from any property line. No part of sign shall be located within or overhang onto a public or private right-of-way, sidewalk, or adjoining property.
*Sign program may provide for additional signs when lot exceeds 5 acres or has 2 public street frontages.
^Buildings in excess of 100 feet in length may be permitted an additional 1 square foot of sign area for each linear foot of frontage above 100 feet. Additional building frontages facing a street or parking area may have up to 0.5 square foot of sign area per linear foot of road frontage, but such sign area may only be used on that side of the building.
Projecting
Limited by signage area
2 per linear building frontage^
External
Shall project no more than 38 inches from the face of the building and shall have a minimum clearance of 8 feet above the ground/sidewalk.
^Buildings in excess of 100 feet in length may be permitted an additional 1 square foot of sign area for each linear foot of frontage above 100 feet. Additional building frontages facing a street or parking area may have up to 0.5 square foot of sign area per linear foot of road frontage, but such sign area may only be used on that side of the building.
Window
Limited by signage area
No more than 25% of the window area may be covered
External
The area of window signs shall be included in the count of maximum allowable sign area and sign number for the site.
Wall/flat
Limited by signage area
30
*
External
No wall-mounted sign shall exceed 7% of the total area of the face of the building wall inclusive of windows and door openings.
*Shall be no higher than the second floor windowsill on a building.
A-frame
2 per street frontage
6 per side
4
None
Sign shall not impede pedestrian traffic or motor vehicle visibility, shall be removed each night, and if posted along a road with speed limits greater than 35 mph it shall have a set back of 60 feet.
Marquee
1*
External
*Provided the sign does not exceed the maximum allowable sign area in that district.
Chart is intended for reference only, the body of text in Article 6.5 takes precedence in any conflict with information in chart.
All signs located in the Historic District must obtain a certificate of approval from the Historic District Commission.
Zoning District
Sign Types Permitted
Number of Signs Permitted
Maximum Signage Area per Sign
(square feet)
Maximum Height
(feet)
Illumination Permitted
Other Provisions
Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), Resource Conservation (RC)
Freestanding
1 per street frontage*
20*
6*
None
*For public, open space, institutional uses, public assembly, and multiple-family uses.
Freestanding
1 per street frontage*
4*
4*
None
*For home occupations, home day care, and bed-and-breakfast uses.
Wall-mounted
1
2
None
*For home occupations, home day care, and bed-and-breakfast uses.
Wall-mounted
1
20
None
*For public, open space, institutional uses, public assembly, and multiple-family uses. Maximum letter height of 30 inches.
Subdivision or community entrance
1 per street entrance
24
6
None
Chart is intended for reference only, the body of text in Article 6.5 takes precedence in any conflict with information in chart.