The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum standards to safeguard life and property and promote public welfare and community aesthetics by regulating the appearance, construction, location and maintenance of all signs.
(Prior code § 10-1-80; Res. 05-04)
No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a zoning permit except those signs excepted in AMC § 18.100.030 and without being in conformity with the provisions of this title. The sign shall also meet all the structural requirements of the building code.
(Prior code § 10-1-80; Res. 05-04)
All signs are prohibited in all residential or agricultural districts except the following:
(a) 
Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business establishment announcing without display or elaboration only the name and occupation of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet in height and 10 feet in length.
(b) 
Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located.
(c) 
Name, home, occupation, professional office, and warning signs not to exceed two square feet located on the premises.
(d) 
Farm signs giving the name of the farm, farm owner or commodities produced shall not exceed 15 square feet in total area.
(e) 
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions not to exceed eight square feet in area located on the premises.
(f) 
Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a structure.
(g) 
Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions, information, and notices.
(h) 
Temporary signs, including portable signs or banners, when authorized by the plan commission in the village, or by the joint extraterritorial zoning committee when in the extraterritorial area.
(i) 
Political signs that conform with Section 12.04, Wis. Stats.
(j) 
Signs permitted as allowed in Section 7.03, Wis. Stats.
(Prior code § 10-1-81; Res. 05-04)
(a) 
Signs are permitted in all business and manufacturing districts subject to the following restrictions.
(b) 
Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings shall not extend more than six inches outside of a building's wall surface, shall not exceed 400 square feet in area for any one premises, and shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean centerline street grade.
(c) 
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by structures shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises; shall not extend more than six feet into any required yard; shall not extend more than three feet into any public right-of-way; shall not be less than 10 feet from all side lot lines; shall not exceed a height of 20 feet above the mean centerline street grade; and shall not be less than 10 feet above the sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
(d) 
Ground signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean centerline grade, shall meet all yard requirements for the district in which they are located, and shall not exceed 100 square feet in total advertising area.
(e) 
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof, shall meet all the yard and height requirements for the district in which they are located, and shall not exceed 300 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(f) 
Subdivision signs not to exceed 32 square feet in size may be in an agricultural transition district in a subdivision which has been given final plat approval, or in a residential district in a subdivision. Signs will be issued a permit only after review by the plan commission. A permitted sign advertising lots for sale will be issued a permit that requires renewal after five years. A permitted sign only identifying the subdivision will be issued a permanent permit. No more than two permitted signs of all types per subdivision will be allowed.
(g) 
Combinations of any of the above signs shall meet all the requirements for the individual sign.
(Prior code § 10-1-82; Res. 05-04)
Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape; and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
(Prior code § 10-1-83; Res. 05-04)
Signs lawfully existing at the time of adoption or amendment of this title may be continued although the use, size, or location does not conform with the provisions of this title. However, it shall be deemed a nonconforming use or structure; and the provisions of Chapter 18.120 AMC shall apply.
(Prior code § 10-1-84; Res. 05-04)
At the termination of an advertised use, all signs advertising that use shall be removed from public view within 30 days. Signs constructed, erected or put in place in violation of this title shall be removed by the property owner, or by the lessee of the property if the sign is constructed, erected or put in place by a lessee, within 24 hours of written notice from the village if in a public right-of-way, or within 10 days of written notice from the village if not in a public right-of-way. If such sign is not removed, the sign may be removed by the village and all costs and expenses thereof shall be paid by the property owner or lessee and the village shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to such sign as the result of its removal. A sign removed by the village pursuant to this provision shall not be returned to the property owner or lessee until the costs and expenses of removal together with any forfeiture are paid in full.
(Prior code § 10-1-85; Res. 05-04)
No flashing, moving, or apparently moving signs shall be permitted except for time and temperature displays.
Lighted signs shall be shielded to prevent glare onto adjoining properties or onto the public street.
No sign shall be placed on a tree.
(Prior code § 10-1-86; Res. 05-04)
Off-premises directional signs no larger than 32 square feet in surface area may be permitted in any district on properties abutting town roads. Such signs shall be located on the portion of the property adjacent to the town road, out of the right-of-way, and shall comply with the traffic visibility standards of AMC § 18.110.010. No business shall have more than one directional sign. No more than one directional sign shall be permitted on a parcel. Such signs shall also be subject to any additional conditions imposed by the joint extraterritorial zoning committee.
When a conditional use has been appropriately permitted or applied for in a residential district for a bed and breakfast establishment, daycare center, nursing or group home, a charitable or nonprofit institution or facility, a church, or a funeral home, signage of a type, size and location appropriate to the nature of the neighborhood and the proposed use may be considered and approved as part of the conditional use permit by the plan commission.
(Prior code § 10-1-86; Res. 05-04)