A. 
Intent. Signs have a strong visual impact on the character and quality of the community. As a prominent part of the scenery, they attract or repel the viewing public, affect the safety of vehicular traffic, and their suitability or appropriateness helps to set the tone for the neighborhood. The city relies upon its scenery and physical beauty to attract commerce; aesthetic considerations assume economic value. It is the intent of the city, through this chapter, to protect and enhance the city's historic and residential character and its economic base through the provision of appropriate and aesthetic signage. In addition, it is the intent of the city to limit the size, type and location of signs in order to minimize their distracting effect on drivers and thereby improve traffic safety.
B. 
Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare through a comprehensive system of reasonable, effective, consistent, content-neutral and nondiscriminatory sign standards and requirements. This chapter has also been adopted to:
1. 
Promote and accomplish the goals, policies and objectives of the city's comprehensive plan and the Edgewood Municipal Code (EMC), specifically this title, Development Standards;
2. 
To provide minimum standards in order to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare, and promote traffic safety by controlling the design, quality of materials, construction, illumination, size, location and maintenance of signs and sign structures;
3. 
Recognize free speech rights by regulating signs in a content-neutral manner;
4. 
Promote the free flow of traffic and protect pedestrians and motorists from injury and property damage caused by, or which may be fully or partially attributable to, cluttered, distracting, or illegible signage;
5. 
Protect the beauty of the city's built environment by encouraging signs that are compatible with the architectural style, characteristics, and scale of the building to which they may be attached, and to encourage signs that are compatible with adjacent buildings and businesses;
6. 
Protect property values, the local economy, and the quality of life by preserving and enhancing the appearance of the streetscape;
7. 
Provide consistent sign design standards;
8. 
Encourage creative and innovative approaches to signage, and signs that are of a quality design, pleasing in appearance and are appropriate in size, materials and illumination to the surrounding neighborhood;
9. 
Provide an improved visual environment for the citizens of and visitors to the city;
10. 
Adopt clear, understandable regulations which enable the fair and consistent enforcement of this chapter; and
11. 
Address emerging trends in digital and electronic sign technologies and provide regulations that facilitate the use of such technologies while ensuring the protection of motorists and pedestrians from the hazards of glare, startling bursts of light, and use of virtual movement and animation intended to attract driver attention, hold driver gaze, or otherwise distract drivers from the safe operation of their vehicles. Protect neighborhoods, surrounding development, and the night sky from the nuisance factors associated with such glare, movement, and animation of digital and electronic signs.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A))
A. 
This chapter applies to all signs, as defined in EMC § 18.97.300, Definitions, within the city that are visible or audible from any street, sidewalk, or public place, regardless of the type or nature.
B. 
This chapter is not intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, restrict speech on the basis of its content, viewpoint, or message. Any classification of signs in this chapter which purports to permit speech by reason of the type of sign, identity of the sign user or otherwise shall be interpreted to allow commercial or noncommercial speech on the sign. No part of this chapter shall be construed to favor commercial speech over noncommercial speech. To the extent that any provision of this chapter is ambiguous, the term shall be interpreted not to regulate speech on the basis of the content of the message.
C. 
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a person from holding a sign while picketing or protesting on public property that has been determined to be a traditional or designated public forum, e.g., a sidewalk or park, so long as the person holding the sign does not block ingress to and egress from buildings; create a safety hazard by impeding travel on sidewalks, in bike or vehicle lanes, or on trails; or violate any other reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions adopted by the city. (See EMC § 18.97.230, Sign walkers.)
D. 
Compliance with these regulations does not remove an applicant’s obligation to comply with applicable provisions of any other federal, state, or local law or regulation.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 25-0687, 8/26/2025)
The following signs or activities relating to signs are not subject to the permitting requirements of this chapter, as long as they meet the standards set forth below:
A. 
Changes to the face or copy of changeable copy signs, digital signs, or EMCS, provided such changes do not change the material, appearance, size, or dimensions of the sign as originally permitted by the city.
B. 
The normal repair and maintenance of conforming or legal nonconforming signs.
C. 
Temporary signs meeting the requirements in EMC § 18.97.240, Temporary signs.
D. 
Building identification signs that meet one or more of the following four criteria:
1. 
Signs not exceeding one square foot in area for residential buildings, or not exceeding two square feet in area for nonresidential buildings.
2. 
Business name and address signs on an entry door that do not exceed two square feet in area.
3. 
Certain stone or cement plaques and cornerstones with engraved or cast text or symbols that are permanently embedded in the building's foundation or masonry siding materials; provided, that none of these exceed four square feet in area.
4. 
Other building identification signs meeting these requirements as required pursuant to the city's building code (EMC Title 15, Buildings and Construction) or zoning code (this title, Development Standards), public works standards, or any other city or state code, ordinance, or regulation.
E. 
Governmental Signs. Signs installed by the city, county, or a federal or state governmental agency for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. 
Emergency and warning signs necessary for public safety or civil defense;
2. 
Traffic or wayfinding signs erected and maintained by an authorized public agency;
3. 
Signs required to be displayed by law;
4. 
Signs showing the location of public facilities; and
5. 
Any sign, posting, notice, or similar sign placed by or required by a governmental agency in carrying out its responsibility to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
F. 
Flags. Any flags; provided, that they conform to all provisions of this chapter for signs.
G. 
Interior Signs. Signs or displays located entirely inside of a building and located at least three feet away from transparent doors and windows.
H. 
Nondiscernable Signs. Signs and associated sign support structures that are not visible, odorous, or audible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located, or from any public right-of-way.
I. 
Vehicle Signs. Any sign on a vehicle not prohibited by EMC § 18.97.040(I) and placed in accordance with EMC § 18.97.070(B).
J. 
Temporary Signs in Windows. Any temporary sign taped or otherwise affixed to the inside of a window, in such a manner as to be easily removed; provided, that the total area of such sign in any one window does not exceed the size limitations in EMC § 18.97.250, Window signs, and EMC § 18.97.240, Temporary signs.
K. 
Bench Signs. Any outdoor bench or furniture with any signs, other than plaques, that do not exceed one square foot in area.
L. 
Private Signs. Privately maintained traffic control signs in a subdivision with private roads or privately maintained traffic control signs in a private parking lot.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A))
No person shall erect, alter, maintain, or relocate any of the following signs in the city:
A. 
Animated Signs. Rotating or revolving signs, or signs where all or a portion of the sign moves in some manner. This includes any sign animated by any means, including fixed aerial displays, balloons, pennants, spinners, propellers, whirling, or similar devices designed to flutter, rotate or display other movement under the influence of the wind, including flag canopies not otherwise allowed in EMC § 18.97.150, Awning or canopy signs, streamers, tubes, or other devices affected by the movement of air or other atmospheric or mechanical means. This does not include historic signs and historic replica signs where the applicant is able to prove, through documentation or other evidence, that the original historic sign produced the same motion or movement and is proposed in the same location.
B. 
Rotating Signs. Any sign in which the sign body or any portion rotates, moves up and down, or any other type of action involving a change in position of the sign body or any portion of the sign, whether by mechanical or any other means.
C. 
Nuisance Signs. Any sign which emits smoke, visible particles, odors or sound, except that speakers in drive-through facilities shall be permitted in accordance with any other applicable restrictions contained within the EMC.
D. 
Bench or Furniture Signs. Any sign on a bench or other furniture that is greater than one square foot in area.
E. 
Flashing Signs or Lights. A sign that contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or a sign that includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent light source. Flashing light sources are prohibited. Signs with an exposed light source, exceeding the equivalent of 25 watts per lamp, including clear light bulbs which do not flash on a theater marquee except for neon incorporated into the design of the sign, are also prohibited. EMCS and digital signs are allowed under the provisions of EMC § 18.97.110, Digital signs, and EMC § 18.97.120, Electronic message center signs (EMCS).
F. 
Hazardous Signs. Any sign that constitutes a traffic hazard or detriment to traffic safety by reason of its size, location, movement, or method of illumination, or by obstructing the vision of drivers, or by distracting from the visibility of an official traffic control device by diverting or tending to divert the attention of drivers of moving vehicles from traffic movements on streets, roads, intersections, or access facilities. No sign shall be erected so that it obstructs the vision of pedestrians or by glare or method of illumination constitutes a hazard to pedestrians or traffic. No sign may interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
G. 
Impeding Signs. Any sign that impedes free ingress to and egress from any door, window, or exit way required by building and fire regulations.
H. 
Permanent Signs or Signs Posted or Carried on Portable, Nonmotorized or Motorized Wheeled Vehicles That Are Placed on Vacant Lots, Parcels, or Easements. Any permanent sign located on a vacant lot, parcel, or easement. Signs may only be established as an accessory use to a principally permitted use and may not be the principal use of a lot, parcel, or easement.
I. 
Certain Movable Signs. Portable, nonmotorized wheeled vehicles or motorized, wheeled vehicles containing or carrying signs that are: (1) for the primary purpose of advertising; (2) not permanently affixed (painted directly on the body of the vehicle or applied as a decal); (3) that extend beyond the overall length, width or height of the vehicle; and (4) parked on any public street within city limits.
J. 
Abandoned Signs. Any sign that meets the definition of "abandoned sign" in EMC § 18.97.300.
K. 
Support Signs. Any sign tacked, painted, burned, cut, pasted, or otherwise affixed to utility poles, fences, poles, trees, rocks, posts, ladders, or similar supports visible from and/or within public rights-of-way.
L. 
Off-Site Signs. Any sign that is not located on the property for which it supports.
M. 
Roof-Mounted Signs. A sign mounted on, and supported by, the main roof portion of a building, or above the uppermost edge of a parapet wall of a building, and that is wholly or partially supported by such a building.
N. 
Feather Signs. Any temporary, portable sign made of lightweight materials that is prone to move in the wind, and that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff that is driven into the ground or supported by means of an individual stand. This definition includes such signs of any shape including flutter, bow, teardrop, rectangular, shark, and U-shaped.
O. 
Except as permitted with a city street use permit or otherwise specifically authorized in this chapter, signs may not be placed within, on, or projecting over a city right-of-way or within, on, or over other city property.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-603 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 25-0687, 8/26/2025)