The purpose of these rules and regulations are to provide uniform
sign standards and regulations in order to insure public safety and
to promote a positive City image reflecting order, harmony and pride,
and thereby strengthening the economic stability of Flatonia’s
business, cultural, historical, and residential areas.
(Ordinance 304 adopted 12/21/00)
The distance or length of the primary building on the property
adjacent and generally parallel to the business frontage. In the case
of multi-tenant buildings, each tenant space shall be lease space
portion of the building frontage.
A lot or a portion of a lot or a combination of lots when
used for construction of one (1) building or commercial center.
The distance along the adjacent street frontage between the
two (2) side lot lines. On corner lots, the business frontage shall
be measured along a highway or street. Lot lines shall be those established
by the most recent deed to the property as recorded in the real property
records of the County Clerk of Fayette County, Texas. If one business,
or integrated business, occupies and utilizes more than one lot, the
frontage distance of all lots occupied by the business, or integrated
business, may be combined.
The City Manager of the City of Flatonia, Texas, or his agent.
A commercial business in which more than one business owner
operates and which meets one or more of the following criteria:
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Each business owner shares of stock or partnership interest
in a corporation that owns the grounds and building(s);
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Each business owner owns his own space under an undivided interest
arrangement or a condominium arrangement;
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Each business owner rents/leases his own space within the same
building; or
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Each business owner is a member of a merchants’ association
that contributes to the joint promotional efforts of the center.
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The party responsible for a sign shall be the person whose
name of business is being advertised on the sign and the owner of
the property upon which the sign is located.
An individual, partnership, corporation, firm or organization.
Any letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, or devices designed
to inform people or attract the attention of persons or to an individual,
firm, profession, business, commodity or service, and which is recognizable
from any public right-of-way, and which is more specifically defined
as follows:
See definition of “Unattached Sign.”
The square foot area enclosed by the perimeter of the sign
face with each face contributing to the aggregate area. The sign face
shall exclude decorative wood or metal devices, frames, and sign supports,
but shall include sign supports that are defined as a monolith. However,
double-faced sign faces shall be counted only as the area of one face.
In cases where the sign, or portion thereof, is composed only of letters,
figures, or other characters, standing against no sign face background
or secured to monolith, then the sign face area shall be the sum of
the area of an imaginary figure (circle, triangle, rectangle, or other)
which fully contains all words, figures, devices, designs, or trademarks
which constitute the sign.
Any sign attached to a building or canopy indicating general
information, such as trading stamps, credit cards, official notices
or services required by law, or giving directions to offices, restrooms,
exits, and like facilities. References to a product, service, business,
name or pricing shall disqualify a sign as an auxiliary sign.
A sign intended to be hung without frames made of paper,
plastic, or fabric of any kind that may possess colors, characters,
letters, illustrations, or ornamentations. Flags of governmental jurisdiction
and flags carrying the emblem of a business or institution are not
to be considered a banner for the purpose of this Ordinance.
A sign where the frame of the sign face is set at a grade
with the ground as an earthen berm.
A sign that is designed for changeable copy, so the characters,
letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged within a fixed
sign face which advertises a business, organization, event, person,
place or thing not located on the same site (or property) as the billboard.
A sign attached to a canopy that extends over a public right-of-way
that is attached to or an extension of a building.
A sign that solicits support for or advertises a nonprofit
community use, social institutions, or public use. Such signs may
include, but shall not be limited to, seasonal holidays such as Christmas
or Easter, school activities, charitable programs, religious activities,
or location of places or events of community or tourist interest and
may include business advertising provided that the same shall constitute
not more than 25% of the sign.
A sign temporarily placed on a construction site identifying
the project, and/or owner, developer, contractor, architect, and may
include other information regarding the project.
A sign, which is unsafe, unsecured, disfigured, or broken.
An on-premise sign that is freestanding, the primary purpose
of which is to give directions to parking lots, exits, entrances,
drive-through windows, or similar directions. Reference to a product,
service, business, name other than a subordinate business name or
logo, shall disqualify a sign as a directional sign.
One structure containing either one (1) sign with two (2)
faces back-to-back oriented in opposite directions, or two (2) signs
back-to-back with faces oriented in opposite directions with a distance
of not more than three (3) feet between the two (2) signs.
A sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source
that is detached from the sign.
A sign with lights that illuminate intermittently (for example,
a sign with blinking, or moving lights) regardless of wattage, whether
directly or indirectly illuminated, except for time and temperature
signs.
A sign which is secured to the ground, and which is not affixed
to a building. Secured is defined in the definition of “Unattached
Signs.” Freestanding signs include berm, monument, and pylon
signs.
A sign indicating a public works project, or other program
or activity conducted or required by any governmental subdivision.
This is also considered a Community Service Sign.
The vertical distance between the highest part of the sign
or its supporting structure, whichever is higher, and the average
established ground level beneath the sign, unless curb elevation is
higher than the ground level, in which case the height shall be measured
from curb level.
A memorial sign or tablet, name of a building or date of
erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of
bronze or other incombustible material mounted on the face of a building.
A sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source
as an integral part of the sign.
A sign hung from or affixed to a marquee. It shall be synonymous
with a canopy sign.
A two (2) sided panel bearing a decorative figure or relief
or identifying emblem and limited to the business, address, proprietor
and date of establishment.
Permanent sign where the entire bottom of the sign is affixed
to the ground, not to a building.
A sign that does not conform to the regulations of this or
other City Ordinances, but which was placed or constructed in accordance
with City Ordinances existing at the time of its placement or construction.
A sign designed for identifying or advertising a specific
establishment, merchandise, service[,] product, or entertainment,
which exists or is sold, produced, manufactured, and/or furnished
at a place other than on the property on which said sign is located.
See definition of “Unattached Sign.”
A sign denoting only the name, occupation and address of
an occupant in a commercial, public, or institutional building.
A sign, other than a wall sign, which is affixed to any building
or wall, and whose leading edge extends more than two (2) feet beyond
such building or wall. A canopy or marquee sign is not defined as
a projecting sign.
Freestanding signs that are supported by a structure extending
from and permanently attached to the ground by a foundation or footing,
with a clearance between the ground and the sign face.
A sign that is used to offer property for sale, lease, or
rent.
A sign that is mounted on, and is wholly supported by the
roof of a building and does not extend beyond the wall line.
See definition of “Unattached Sign.”
See definition of “Medallion Sign.”
A sign made of any material when such sign is tacked, nailed,
posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes,
fences, or other objects, and the advertising matter appearing thereon
is not applicable to the use of the premise upon which such sign is
located.
A sign to be hung with frames, made of paper, plastic, fabric
of any kind, wood, or metal which may possess colors, characters,
letters, illustrations, or ornamentations.
A sign which utilizes lights to form letters, words, figures,
symbols, etc., and on which the letters, words, figures, symbols,
etc. are changed more often than once every four (4) minutes.
A sign which is carried, wheeled, or moved about without
having to detach the sign from a secure anchoring device which is
set in the ground or to a building which is set on an approved foundation,
or a sign which is not secured in a manner approved by the City Manager
and designed to withstand wind pressures as specified in the building
code adopted by the City of Flatonia, Texas. Such signs are considered
to be unattached if they can reasonably be expected to be blown out
about in high winds [and] may cause injuries to pedestrians and traffic
hazards. Said signs include portable signs, “A-Frame”
signs, and sandwich signs. The following signs are not included in
this definition: realty signs, individual contractor signs, political
signs which are six (6) square feet in area or less, signs intended
for temporary use for safety reasons due to construction, dangers,
or traffic control, and governmental or community service signs which
are to inform the public.
A sign that is painted on, or attached to and erected parallel
or approximately parallel to the face of, or erected and confined
within the limits of, the outside wall of any building and supported
by such wall or building and which displays only one surface for display/advertising.
(Ordinance 304 adopted 12/21/00)
RESERVED
(Ordinance 304 adopted 12/21/00)
