(A)
Where
Allowed.
Signs defined and classified herein are allowed
in all zoning districts unless expressly stated otherwise for a particular
type of sign.
(B)
Compliance
with Other Laws and Codes.
All signs erected or maintained
pursuant to the provisions of this article must be erected and maintained
in compliance with all applicable state laws and with the Building
Code, Electrical Code, and other applicable ordinances of the City.
In the event of conflict between this article and other laws, the
most restrictive standard applies.
(C)
Duration.
Legal signs specifically defined and classified herein are allowed
to remain in place for an unlimited period of time, unless specifically
stated otherwise for a particular type or sign, or on the sign permit,
provided that they have a valid sign permit (if required), and that
they are not required to be removed under some provision in this Article
5.
(D)
Number
of Signs.
Each business with a store front or main entry is entitled to display signage. The number of wall signs or attached signs is limited by allowable sign area as set forth in Section 4.78. The number of freestanding signs is limited by the type, location, and proximity to other freestanding signs as set forth in Section 4.78. Temporary signs are limited as set forth in Section 4.70 and 4.78.
(E)
Freestanding
Signs.
All freestanding signs in excess of 8 feet in height must be designed, and the plans and specifications prepared and sealed by an engineer licensed in the State of Texas. Multifamily sites are prohibited from displaying any type of freestanding sign, except for monument signs, subject to the provisions of Section 4.78(L).
(F)
Wall/Attached
Signs.
Attached signs are permitted for multifamily premises,
nonresidential districts, and nonresidential uses in residential zoning
districts, subject to the provisions of Section 30.106 of the City
Code, except that they must have a maximum sign area of one-half times
the width of the building with a maximum of 160 square feet. All signs
attached to any type of structure or building shall be reviewed by
the Building Official. Plans and specifications for attached signs
must be prepared and sealed by a licensed engineer if, in the reasonable
opinion of the Building Official, the sign is of a size, weight, dimension,
or mounting design that it might pose a structural or safety risk
to the building, property or persons visiting the site.
(G)
Noncombustible
Materials.
All freestanding signs must be constructed
of materials that are noncombustible or slow burning (as in the case
of plastic inserts or facings) and must be supported by only noncombustible
material and finished in a presentable manner. Untreated wood or unpainted
or nongalvanized steel supports are specifically prohibited.
(H)
Weatherproofing.
All signs must be designed and constructed in a manner to prevent
the accumulation of water.
(I)
Vertical
Clearance.
All freestanding and projecting signs must
maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 8 feet above any sidewalk
or pedestrian travel surface, and 14 feet above any vehicular parking
or circulation surface (including streets, alleys, drive aisles, fire
lanes, or parking spaces).
(Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19)
(A)
Prohibited
Signs.
Signs that are not expressly authorized under
this article, by specific requirements in another portion of this
chapter, or otherwise expressly allowed by the City Council are prohibited.
Signs are prohibited in all Districts unless:
(B)
Signs
in Residential Areas.
Signs, except as expressly provided for herein, are prohibited in residential zones and on property used for non-transient residential uses. A model home may have one sign on a premises subject to the provisions and limitations of below Section 4.71.
(C)
Handbills
and Placards.
Miscellaneous commercial advertising matter
may not be scattered or placed on or suspended from buildings, poles,
sidewalks, or fences; no person may paste, stick, stack, nail, affix,
paint, mark, inscribe, or otherwise place any commercial advertisement,
handbill, flyer, placard, inscription or any other type of written
matter or object (including any goods, wares, or merchandise) for
any commercial purpose upon any building, light or utility pole, post,
structure, fence or wall, railing, tree, sidewalk, parkway, driveway,
or parking area, or on any other public property other than a sign
defined, regulated, and allowed by this article or other City ordinance
(except street address numbers that are placed in compliance with
the International Residential Code, as adopted by the City Code, are
allowed on curbs and on residential fences to identify house numbers
for emergency and service personnel);
(D)
Certain
Illuminated and Animated Signs.
(1)
Any
type of sign that is illuminated to an intensity, or in a manner,
which causes a glare of brightness to a degree that constitutes a
hazard to traffic or a nuisance to adjacent properties is prohibited.
(2)
Except
as otherwise expressly provided for in this article, a sign, including
a programmable sign, may not emanate a luminance more than 0.3 footcandles
above the natural ambient light level of the location at the time
of measurement, as measured from a point 250 feet from the sign face.
(3)
Except
as otherwise expressly provided for in this article, moving, flashing,
animated, intermittently lighted, changing color, beacons (except
for aircraft directional and warning beacons required by the FAA),
revolving, swinging, fluttering, or similarly constructed signs are
prohibited.
(E)
Roof
Signs.
Except as otherwise expressly provided for in
this article, roof signs of all types are prohibited.
(F)
Temporary
and Portable Signs.
Temporary and portable signs are
prohibited, except for certain temporary signs that may be expressly
allowed for limited time periods in this article.
(G)
Searchlights.
Searchlights of all types are prohibited.
(H)
Location
Prohibitions.
Any sign constructed, placed, or maintained
that does not meet all of the following minimum standards is prohibited.
Any sign allowed by this article, and not otherwise exempted, must
be placed:
(1)
So
that it maintains a vertical and horizontal clearance of at least
10 feet from any overhead or underground power line, utility pole,
telephone wire or cable, electrical streetlight standard or other
above- or below-ground utility equipment or structure, or as required
by the City’s electrical code (whichever is more stringent),
except that such clearance is not required from the electrical feeder
line to the sign itself, or to feeder electrical or telephone wires
or cables that serve the building(s) on the same premises where the
sign is to be located;
(2)
So
that it is not attached to or will not interfere in any way with the
use of any fire escape, exit, or standpipe;
(3)
So
that it will not obstruct any required building openings to such an
extent that light or ventilation is reduced below that required;
(4)
Completely
outside of all public rights-of-way and easements (unless otherwise
authorized in this article or other City ordinance), including street
parkways and medians, except for governmental signs, special events
signs that are authorized by the City, and subdivision entrance signs
that are expressly authorized by the City;
(5)
So
that it will not block any fire lane, fire hydrant, or other fire
hose connection; and
(I)
Signs
Encroaching Rights-of-Way or Easements.
Signs encroaching into or over a public right-of-way or easement are prohibited, unless the encroachment is authorized under a licensing agreement with the City, in accordance with Section 31.117 of the City Code.
(J)
Obscene,
Indecent, and Immoral Matter.
It is unlawful for any
person to display upon any sign obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
(Ordinance 6773 adopted 5/19/15; Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19; Ordinance
7196, sec. 3, adopted 2/2/21)
(A)
Authorized
Signs.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this GDC,
the following signs are authorized in every district:
(1)
Although these regulations do not apply to signs erected, maintained or posted by the City, state, or federal government, these regulations clarify that governmental signs are allowed in every zoning district which form the expression of the City when erected and maintained and include the signs described and regulated in this subsection and subsections (A)(2)–(4) of this Section 4.70, when erected and maintained pursuant to law.
(2)
Traffic-control
devices, not including directional signs, on private or public property
must be erected and maintained to comply with the Manual on Uniform
Traffic-Control Devices adopted in this State and if not adopted by
this State with the Manual on Uniform Traffic-Control Devices adopted
by the Federal Highway Administration. Comment: The Federal Highway
Administration has established uniform standards for signs that regulate
traffic or that are erected and maintained within road rights-of-way
or adjacent property. These uniform standards serve an extraordinarily
important public function and are intended to be used by the owners
of private property that is open to the public to reduce confusion
and limit the risk of accident.
(3)
Every improved property within the City shall be marked using numerals that accurately identify the address of the property so that public safety departments can easily identify the address from public right(s)-of-way. Property owners shall comply with Section R319.1 of the International Residential Code, Section 505.1 of the International Fire Code as amended by Section 30.226, and Section 21.01 of the City Code.
(4)
Where
a federal, State or local law requires a property owner to post a
sign on the owner’s property to warn of a danger or to prohibit
access to the property either generally or specifically, the owner
must comply with the federal, state or local law to exercise that
authority by posting a sign on the property that meets the standards
and dimensions required by applicable law.
(B)
Noncommercial
flags.
(1)
Purpose
and Intent.
It is the intent of this GDC to limit the
aesthetic impact of signs on properties to prevent clutter and protect
streetscapes, thereby preserving property values and protecting traffic
safety. The unreasonable accumulation of signs adversely affects these
goals, property values, and public safety.
(2)
Noncommercial
flags do not require a permit for display.
There are
no time limitations for the display of noncommercial flags. The display
of noncommercial flags are subject to the following provisions:
(a)
Commercial, Industrial, and Retail Districts.
(i)
The maximum aggregate surface area of noncommercial flags located
on a property or tract of land located within a commercial, industrial,
or retail zoning district may be no greater than 200 square feet.
(ii)
Noncommercial flags attached to a building located on property or
tract of land within a commercial, industrial, or retail zoning district
may not exceed the height of the building. Freestanding flags must
be attached to poles and may not exceed the height of the building
or a maximum of 12 feet, whichever is less.
(iii)
In addition to the display of noncommercial flags allowed by
above subsections (i) and (ii), a single freestanding noncommercial
flag that is a maximum of 375 square feet may be flown on a property
or tract of land located within a commercial, industrial, or retail
zoning district that is immediately adjacent to IH635, IH30, and State
Highway 190, at a height of no greater than 80 feet, as long as it
is attached to a properly permitted and approved flagpole.
(iv)
All freestanding noncommercial flags must be securely attached to
a structure or the ground capable of withstanding a 70 mph wind and
be setback a minimum of 15 feet from the edge of the street or the
back of the curb or a distance equal to the height of the pole, whichever
is greater.
(b)
Residential Zoning Districts.
(i)
Freestanding noncommercial flags may not exceed the height of the
primary structure located on the property or tract of land.
(ii)
All freestanding noncommercial flags must be securely attached to
a structure, or the ground, capable of withstanding a 70 mph wind
and be setback a minimum of 15 from the edge of the street or back
of the curb.
(C)
For purposes of this Section 4.70 the lessor of a property is considered the property owner where the lessor holds a right to use exclusive of others (that is, the sole right to occupy). In the event there are multiple lessors of a property, then each lessor shall have the same rights and duties as the property owner as to the property the lessor leases and has the sole right to occupy and the size of the property shall be deemed to be the property that the lessor has the sole right to occupy under the lease.
(D)
One banner
may be used as a temporary sign at the same location to which the
owner has properly submitted a new application for a permanent sign
or is in the process of replacing the old sign with a new one. The
temporary banner sign may only remain until such time as the new sign
is installed or for 60 days, whichever occurs first. The temporary
banner must be similar in size as the permanent sign described in
the owner’s application for the permanent sign.
(E)
Vehicle
Signs.
A vehicle sign is a type of sign that is mounted
on, attached to, or painted on a vehicle, trailer, skid, or other
wheeled or mobile conveyance.
(1)
Vehicles
with attached signs being primarily used to create additional on-premises
signage for a business are prohibited.
(2)
Vehicles
with attached signs that cannot lawfully operate on a public street
and are visible from a public right-of-way are prohibited.
(3)
Vehicles
with attached signs parked on vacant property, land, or a structure,
and that are visible from a public right-of-way are prohibited.
(Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19)
The following provisions apply to all signs in residential zoning
districts, including signs within 25 feet of a residential district
boundary, signs within 25 feet of a public park of more than one acre,
or signs located where a multifamily residential use occurs within
a nonresidential zoning district:
(A)
Sign
Illumination.
A sign, including a programmable sign,
may not emanate a luminance more than 0.2 footcandles above the natural
ambient light level of the location at the time of measurement, as
measured from the nearest residential property line; and
(B)
Electronic
programmable signs.
An electronic programmable sign located within a residential district or within 25 feet of a residential district are prohibited from displaying illuminated messages between 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and must be oriented so that the sign face is facing perpendicular, as near as possible, to the street frontage on which the sign is located, and must comply with all limitations and regulations of Section 4.78(O).
(C)
Sign
Movement.
No portion of any sign may move, flash, rotate, or change its illumination or copy except for programmable signs that are expressly allowed by this Section or Section 4.78(O) for legal nonresidential uses in residential districts. Non-illuminated changeable message signs which meet all the requirements of either the attached or freestanding sign provisions are allowed.
(D)
Model
Homes.
A model home may have one temporary sign in residential
subdivisions. Model home signs are subject to, and must comply with,
the following provisions:
(1)
Maximum
height:
The maximum height for a model home sign is 15
feet.
(2)
Maximum
size/area:
The maximum sign area for a model home sign
is 32 square feet.
(3)
Location:
Model home signs are allowed in all single-family (including
townhouses) and two-family residential zoning districts.
(4)
Placement/setbacks:
Model home signs must be placed no closer than 5 feet from any
property or right-of-way line.
(5)
Maximum
number:
Each builder within a development may have a
maximum of one model home sign on each model home lot.
(6)
Duration:
A model home sign may not remain on a premises once the premises
or 80 percent of the lots in the development where the sign is located
have an approved building inspection by the City.
(7)
Illumination:
A model home sign may not be blinking, fluctuating, or moving.
Lighting for the sign must be direct (that is, 90 percent of the emitted
light must be directed onto the sign) and may not emanate a luminance
more than 0.2 footcandles above the natural ambient light level of
the location at the time of measurement, as measured from the nearest
residential property line.
(E)
Subdivision
Entrance Signs.
The Plan Commission may approve the placement
of a subdivision entrance sign(s) on any legally placed structure
at the entrance and within the common area of a subdivision, which
is owned and maintained by a home owners’ association for single-family
or duplex residential subdivision. The maximum sign area of a subdivision
entrance sign may not exceed forty square feet. The maximum number
of signs allowed for each subdivision is two signs per street entrance
into the platted subdivision area. The sign height, maximum sign area,
location on the site, setbacks, a graphic representation of the sign,
and the total number of signs per subdivision must be prominently
indicated on the plans submitted for consideration by the Plan Commission.
Exception - Administrative Approval. The
Building Official may approve, and issue a sign permit for, a subdivision
entrance sign that complies with the criteria above, with all other
applicable provisions in this article, and with both of the following
additional criteria:
(F)
Temporary
Signs.
The following are Temporary signs that are allowed
at any time in residential zoning districts or on property used for
residential purposes:
(1)
A
property owner may place one or more temporary signs, not including
a noncommercial flag, with an aggregate sign face area of no larger
than 36 square feet, and at a maximum height of 6 feet, on the property
at any time; and
(2)
A
property owner may place one or more temporary signs, not including
a noncommercial flag, with an aggregate sign face area of no larger
than 9 square feet in one or more windows on the property at any time.
(3)
Commercial
signs or advertisements may not be displayed on any lot, tract, or
property that is lawfully used as a residential use.
(Ordinance 6773 adopted 5/19/15; Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19; Ordinance
7107, sec. 75, adopted 12/3/19)
(A)
Nonconforming
Signs.
(1)
Continuation
Generally.
A legally nonconforming sign is allowed to
remain as is in the same location as it existed on the effective date
of this GDC. The right for a legally nonconforming sign to continue
existing as is will terminate, and the sign must be removed within
15 calendar days (unless otherwise provided below), if and when one
or more of the conditions stated below exists or occurs:
(a)
A sign becomes an illegal sign when it is altered, moved, or relocated
without a Sign Permit pursuant to the provisions of this article;
(b)
A sign is damaged or destroyed and the cost to repair it exceeds
60 percent of the replacement cost of the sign on the date of damage;
or
(c)
A sign that is intended to be perpendicular (90 degrees) to the ground leans at an angle 75 degrees or less, unless a variance is granted in accordance with Section 4.81 of this article (or, for a sign that was purposefully placed at an angle upon installation, its angle to the ground decreases by 15 degrees or more; no sign, regardless of its original installation angle, is allowed to remain at less than a 45 degree angle to the ground).
(2)
Signs
with Special Historic or Architectural Significance.
Any sign designated by official action of the City Council as having
special historic or architectural significance is exempt from the
provisions of this article.
(3)
Signs
on Property Acquired by a Governmental Entity.
A legally
nonconforming sign located on property acquired by the City or another
governmental entity may be temporarily relocated on-site provided
the sign is removed or rebuilt to conform to this article (and any
other applicable City codes or ordinances) within 365 calendar days
following relocation of the sign. Relocation is limited to the same
physical sign with no increase in height, area, or change in other
physical attributes. For the purposes of this provision, a property
acquisition by the City does not include right-of-way dedicated in
the subdivision platting process.
(B)
Cessation
of Business Operations.
If a sign is nonconforming, to
maintain its status as a legally nonconforming sign, the business
must remain in operation and conduct normal business activities on
the premises on a regular basis. If regular business operations cease
for more than 365 calendar days, then the City may require the relocation,
reconstruction, or removal of the sign.
(C)
Illegal
Signs.
(1)
Illegal
Conforming Signs.
Owners of illegal conforming signs
must apply for and obtain a sign permit from the City within 15 calendar
days following notification of noncompliance.
(2)
Illegal
Nonconforming Signs.
The owner of an illegal nonconforming
sign that requires a sign permit must apply for a permit and upgrade
the sign to conforming within thirty calendar days following original
notification. If a sign permit is not granted, then the sign must
be removed by the property owner within 60 calendar days following
original notification. In the case of painted wall signs for which
a Sign Permit is not in effect, such signs must be removed or painted
over (with a paint material and color that matches the exterior finish
of the affected building facade such that the sign’s location
in not visible) within 30 calendar days following original notification
of violation.
(D)
Removal
of Signs.
(1)
Obsolete
or Abandoned Signs.
In the event a business ceases to
conduct regular business activities on the premises upon which a sign
is located for a period of more than 365 calendar days, then the City
may require the relocation, reconstruction, or removal of the sign.
However, if the premises containing the sign or sign structure is
leased the City may not require removal under this subsection sooner
than the second anniversary after the date the most recent tenant
ceases to operate on the premises.
(2)
Unsafe
Signs.
Any sign that is determined by the Building Official to be unsafe is subject to removal, upon notice per subsection (4) below, if the Building Official determines that removal is necessary in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
(3)
Notice
to Remove Sign or to Correct Noncompliance.
(a)
Upon a determination that a sign must be removed, or that a sign
is not in compliance with one or more provisions of this article,
the Building Official shall give written notice to the owner of the
premises upon which the sign is located, as indicated on city utility
and tax appraisal records, to remove the sign, or to bring it into
compliance, within 15 calendar days after notice is served. The written
notice shall be sent to the property owner, who must remove the sign
(or correct any noncompliance, as applicable) within 15 calendar days.
(b)
The notice period, and removal/compliance period, for all temporary
signs that are not in compliance with this article shall be 72 hours
rather than 15 calendar days.
(4)
Storage
of Impounded Signs.
(a)
The City shall store impounded signs for a minimum of 20 calendar days before destroying the signs pursuant to below subsection (c). The owner of the signs may claim them after paying all costs associated with their removal, transportation, and storage, as applicable.
(b)
Within 3 business days of taking possession of an illegal or abandoned
sign on private property, the City shall send written notice to the
owner of the property on which the sign was taken, as indicated or
any known party having control over the real property. The notice
shall:
i.
Give the location of the facility in which the sign is being held;
ii.
State that the sign can be reclaimed not later than the 20th day
after the date of the notice on payment of towing, preservation, and
storage fees; and
iii.
State that failure of the owner to claim the sign during the 20 day
holding period is a waiver by that person of all right, title, and
interest in the sign.
(c)
Any impounded signs not claimed within 20 calendar days may be destroyed
by the City. In calculating the length of the storage period and the
storage fee, the first working day after the date of the impoundment
shall be considered day number one; thereafter, all days including
weekends and holidays shall be counted.
(Ordinance 6773 adopted 5/19/15; Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19)
(A)
Certain conventional billboards may be modified to use digital display technology subject to the restrictions and provisions of this Section 4.73.
(B)
Application.
(1)
The
conversion of a conventional faced billboard to a digital billboard
is prohibited except under the following conditions:
(a)
For signs located adjacent to, and oriented toward, the main travel
lanes or service roads of, IH-635, IH-30, and State Highway 190, the
sign must have a conventional sign face with a minimum square footage
of 350 feet.
(2)
The owner of a conventional billboard sign with a sign face of a minimum of 350 feet, may convert the sign to a digital billboard, subject to the restrictions and provisions of this Section 4.73, after submitting a digital billboard permit application for a face modification. The Building Official shall review the application and make a determination as to whether the subject sign qualifies for a digital billboard conversion permit. In the event the Building Official approves the permit, the owner must apply for a demolition permit to remove the existing conventional sign face area in accordance with subsection (D). The owner must complete demolition of the sign face according to the applicable ratio in below subsection (D) before the sign face is modified.
(C)
Compliance
Required.
(1)
Except as provided in this Section 4.73, digital billboards must fully comply with the size, height, spacing, setback, and all other applicable provisions in this article.
(2)
Digital
billboard support structures must be built to comply with this GDC.
(3)
Digital
billboards must comply with Title 43 Texas Administrative Code Section
21.163, “Electronic Signs,” as amended.
(4)
Both
existing and new digital billboards must comply with all lighting
and safety standards mandated by federal, state, or local rules or
statutes, including standards adopted or amended after the date of
passage of these requirements. Lighting and safety standards include
brightness, message duration, and proximity of the sign to other digital
displays, ramps, and interchanges.
(D)
Sign
Face Exchange Ratio for Digital Billboards.
(1)
Except as provided in below subsection (2), for conventional billboards with a sign face of a minimum of 350 square feet, for every one square foot of sign face modified to use digital display technology, three square feet of detached conventional sign face area on signs with a sign face of a minimum of 350 square feet must be removed from within the City (not including the face of the sign being modified), subject to the following provisions:
(a)
To receive credit for the removal of an area of detached conventional
sign face, the entire sign face and structure supporting the removed
sign face must be removed;
(b)
At least one structure removed must be within a five mile radius
of the conventional face being converted to digital, unless the structure
being removed is an interior conventional sign located adjacent to
or facing an interior street or right-of-way (that is, not adjacent
to or oriented toward I-635, I-30, or State Highway 190);
(c)
If the structure being removed is an interior conventional sign,
then the exchange ratio shall be for every one foot of sign face being
modified to use digital display technology, two square feet of detached
conventional sign face area must be removed from an interior sign.
(d)
No credit is given for the area of the conventional face being removed
for conversion to a digital display; and
(e)
The removal of the entire nonconventional sign face area, including
the entire support structure, must be completed before commencing
construction work modifying the conventional sign to use digital display.
(2)
The
new digital billboard sign face may be no larger than the preexisting
conventional billboard sign face, but in no case larger than 700 square
feet.
(E)
Location
and Number.
(1)
The
conversion of a conventional billboard to a digital billboard is limited
to detached signs with a minimum sign face of 350 square feet, located
adjacent to, and oriented toward the main travel lanes of, IH635,
IH30 and State Highway 190.
(2)
For
support structures with only one digital billboard, it must be located
a minimum of 1,500 feet from any other digital billboard oriented
to the same traffic direction along the main travel lanes of IH635,
IH30, and State Highway 190, measured linearly.
(3)
A
digital billboard may not be located within 300 feet of any lot located
in a residential district, measured radially.
(F)
Support
Structures.
(1)
Digital
billboard support structures may not exceed an overall height of 50
feet or 42.5 feet above the nearest point on the travel surface of
the highway, whichever is higher, except that no digital billboard
may be higher than the conventional sign it replaced.
(2)
Sign
support structures and faces being converted to accommodate digital
displays may not be modified to change the angle of a sign face.
(3)
Electrical
service to sign support structures with digital displays must be underground
between the property line and the sign.
(G)
Display.
(1)
All digital billboard displays must conform with the illumination restrictions of above Section 4.69(E). A digital billboard must be equipped with both a dimmer control and a photocell that automatically adjusts the display’s intensity according to natural ambient light conditions.
(2)
A
digital billboard may not increase the light level on a lot in a residential
district over ambient conditions without the digital display, measured
in footcandles at the point closest to the sign that is five feet
inside the residential lot and five feet above the ground.
(3)
Before
the issuance of a digital billboard permit, the applicant must provide
an ambient light survey from adjacent residential properties and a
written certification from the sign manufacturer that:
(H)
Change
of Message.
Changes of message must comply with the following
provisions:
(1)
Each
message must be displayed for a minimum of eight seconds;
(2)
Changes
of message must be accomplished within two seconds;
(3)
Changes
of message must occur simultaneously on the entire sign face; and
(4)
No
flashing, dimming, or brightening of message is permitted except to
accommodate changes of message.
(I)
Malfunction.
Digital billboard operators must respond to a malfunction within
one hour after notification and must remedy the malfunction within
12 hours after notification. In case of sign malfunction, the digital
display must freeze until the malfunction is remedied.
(Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19; Ordinance 7107, sec. 76, adopted 12/3/19; Ordinance 7196, sec. 4, adopted 2/2/21)
(A)
General.
All signs and sign support structures, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, must be kept in good repair, in safe condition, and in a proper state of appearance and preservation. Except as provided in Section 4.72(A) above, any sign or portion of a sign or sign support that is unsafe, an obstruction to the use of any sidewalk or roadway, or that is in such dilapidated condition as to be unsightly and, therefore, detrimental to the public welfare must be repaired and maintained, or removed.
(B)
Deteriorated
Signs.
A sign of any type may not be kept in a dilapidated
or deteriorated condition. Any sign which the Building Official determines
is in an unacceptable deteriorated condition or unsafe is subject
to removal. Prior to removing any such sign, the Building Official
shall give written notice to the owner of the premises upon which
the sign is located, as indicated on city utility and tax appraisal
records, to remove the sign or remediate all defects or dangerous
conditions as expressly stated in the notice, within 15 calendar days
after notice is served. The written notice shall be sent to the property
owner, who must remove the sign (or correct any noncompliance, as
applicable) within 15 calendar days.
(Ordinance 6773 adopted 5/19/15; Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19)
Measurement of Sign Area. The measurement
of sign area is as follows:
(A)
Square
or Rectangular Signs.
The length of the sign multiplied
by the height of the sign (see Illustration 4-4).
(B)
Irregularly
Shaped Signs.
The area of horizontally oriented squares,
rectangles or circles, or combination thereof, necessary to enclose
the sign face (see Illustration 4-5).
(C)
Signs
Composed of Individual Cutout Letters or Figures.
The
sign area of a sign made up of letters, words or symbols within a
frame is determined from the outside edge of the frame of the sign.
However, the sign area of signs composed of individual letters or
figures is equal to the sum of the area of squares or rectangles necessary
to enclose each word or groupings of letters or figures (see Illustration
4-6).
(D)
Freestanding
Multi-Panel Signs.
The sign area of a sign that is comprised
of multiple separate panels (such as the three-panel shopping area
sign shown in Illustration 4-5) is calculated as the aggregate area
of all panels and does not include the space between panels, provided
that all associated panels are no greater than 2 feet apart. In the
event the space between panels exceeds the 2 feet maximum distance
allowed, each panel shall be construed as separate signs. Multi-panel
signs require only one sign permit.
(E)
Sign
Base/Support Structure.
The base or support structure of the sign is not counted as part of the overall sign area computation provided that such base or support structure has no sign, advertising, commercial, or business message on it, not including incidental plates or stickers of no greater than one square foot, which display manufacturer or owner information or address signs placed pursuant to Section 4.70(A)(3). The base or support structure does count toward overall sign height.
(F)
Illuminated
Borders.
Luminous gaseous tubing, LED lights, or other
strip lighting attached directly to a surface shall be considered
a “wall sign or attached sign” when forming a border for
the subject matter, when directing attention to the subject matter,
or when forming letters, logos, symbols, or pictorial designs of any
kind. The area of the sign shall be determined by a geometric shape
that enclosed the entire luminaire(s).
|
Illustration 4-4 Sign Area - Square or Rectangular Square
 |
|
Illustration 4-5 Sign Area - Irregularly Shaped Signs
 |
 |
 |
|
Illustration 4-6 Sign Area - Signs Composed of Individual
Cutout Words or Figures
 |
(Ordinance 6773 adopted 5/19/15; Ordinance 7040 adopted 2/19/19)
