(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:
(1) 
Constructed pursuant to a valid sign permit when required under this GDC; and
(2) 
Authorized under this GDC.
(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
(6) 
So that it will not obstruct or interfere with the minimum sight line standards as set forth in Chapter 33 (Transportation), Article VI, Section 33.66 of the City Code.
(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.
(5) 
For convenience stores signs, also see Section 26.163 for additional limitations on window signs and other required signs.
(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:
(1) 
The sign is attached to a screening wall that is not located within the street right-of-way; and
(2) 
The sign is not animated or illuminated in any way.
(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.
(b) 
For signs not located in an area described in above subsection (a), the sign must be a legally conforming monument sign that meets the restrictions, requirements, and provisions of Section 4.78(K).
(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:
(a) 
the light intensity has been factory programmed to comply with the maximum brightness and dimming standards of this subsection; and
(b) 
the light intensity is protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected software or other method satisfactory to the Building Official.
(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)