§ 203-1Intent.
§ 203-2Existing signs; replacement of damaged signs.
§ 203-3Prohibited signs.
§ 203-4Signs permitted in all districts.
§ 203-5Signs in commercial and industrial districts.
§ 203-6Computation of permissible sign area.
§ 203-7Traffic and safety considerations.
§ 203-8Temporary signs.
§ 203-9Nonconforming signs.
§ 203-10Maintenance.
§ 203-11Penalties for offenses.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising signs and outdoor signs of all types. It is intended to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community, preserve the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas, reduce and eliminate nuisances and provide a more enjoyable and pleasing community. It is further intended to reduce sign advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way, provide more open space and curb the deterioration of natural beauty and community environment.
Off-premises advertising signs, billboards and roof signs are not permitted in any district.
The following signs are permitted in any district:
One "for rent" and/or "for sale" sign not exceeding six square feet in residential districts, 32 square feet in other districts. Real estate agencies must secure an annual blanket permit for such signs.
Directional or information signs not exceeding four square feet.
Such signs shall be worded in plainly legible block letters, with the word EXIT for exit signs and the words TO EXIT, with a suitable pointer or arrow indicating the direction of exit, for directional signs. Letters for signs shall be conspicuous, readily discernible and at least six inches high, except that for internally illuminated signs, the height of such letters shall be at least 4 1/2 inches.
Exit and directional signs shall be illuminated either externally or internally by electric lights and shall be kept illuminated at all times when the building is occupied.
Political election signs. Political election signs must be removed within three days after the election. No permit is required.
Temporary signs. All temporary signs, such as for garage sales, church events and all civic events, cannot exceed four square feet and must not exceed a three-week duration. "For sale" signs are the exception to the rule.
Location.
One sign for each establishment on each side of a building facing a public street shall be permitted. The total sign area on each side shall not exceed two square feet for each linear foot of the exterior wall of the building on the single side on which the sign or signs is or are located.
One sign for each establishment on each side of a building not facing a public street, not facing a contiguous residential district but containing a public entrance shall be permitted. The total area on each side shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of the exterior wall of the building on the single side on which the sign or signs is or are located.
A shopping center or an industrial park may have one ground sign to identify the shopping center or industrial park and its occupants, located facing each street providing direct vehicular access. No signs shall be painted on buildings.
Where a covered walk extends across the front of a building, signs may be mounted on the roof of the walkway to a height of three feet. Signs related to the entrance of the individual business establishment may also be hung from the underside of a covered walkway, the maximum size of such signs to be eight inches by four feet.
At the entrance to business establishments above the first floor, the nameplate of such establishments may be mounted flat at the side of such entrance, the size thereof not to exceed 9 inches by 18 inches.
Professional offices. A professional office may be identified by a single nonilluminated sign not exceeding four square feet in area and indicating only the name and address of the occupant or a permitted profession. Such sign may be attached to a building or may be on a separate support not more than four feet in height and shall be at least five feet from any property line or street line.
Maximum size of permitted signs in commercial and industrial districts.
Ground signs shall not:
Exceed 32 square feet in area.
Project into a public right-of-way.
Be placed less than five feet from a street line nor less than 10 feet from any other property line.
Exceed 25 feet in height above ground level.
Have less than five feet from the bottom of the sign to the ground.
The total area of all signs shall not exceed the requirements set forth in this chapter.
Existing signs shall be included in the computation.
Signs consisting of freestanding letters, numerals or other devices shall include any intervening spaces between them.
Only the larger face area of a double-faced or V-type sign shall be used.
Back-to-back signs may be counted as one sign.
A permit shall be required for all temporary portable signs. The size of the sign shall be limited to 50 square feet. The edge of the sign shall be located no closer than five feet to the front property line and 20 feet to any other lot line. No flashing lights, streamers or animated or fluttering lights are permitted. The permit will expire after 30 days if not renewed. Businesses using temporary portable signs must direct the sign on their own property only.
All other temporary signs advertising an event cannot be erected more than four weeks prior to the event and must be removed within three days after the event.
No person, partnership, corporation, or other business entity of any kind whatsoever shall place upon its business or primary residential property any portable sign as is heretofore defined under Chapter 203 of the Code of the Village of Blasdell without first securing a permit for each sign placed upon such property from the Village Clerk/Administrator of Blasdell.
No permit shall be issued unless the applicant fully fills out an application for the placement of each portable sign, stating the purpose for which each sign shall be placed and duration of said placement.
Commensurate with the execution of the portable sign application, the applicant shall pay a filing and permit fee of $100 per sign for any sign to be utilized by the applicant for any purpose. The fee shall pertain to the processing of the application, $25, and be apportioned to the extent of $75 for inspections for any period not exceeding one year from the date of the filing of the application with the Village of Blasdell.
The foregoing amendments, effective September 1, 2003, shall pertain to all portable signs placed for advertisement purposes, and such placed upon private property for sale or lease to the public.
Nonconforming signs containing banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices and all nonconforming portable and temporary signs shall be removed within three months of the enactment of this chapter.
Nonconforming signs shall be removed when any use of the property on which the sign is located is discontinued.
Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, extended, relocated or altered in any way except to make them conform to the provisions of this chapter. This provision shall not restrict the routine maintenance of nonconforming signs involving replacement of electrical parts and repainting.
All signs will be maintained in a good state of repair, and the Variance Board will contact any person who has a sign in a poor state of repair, requesting that it be corrected within a time limit determined by the Variance Board. If said sign is not repaired within a period of 30 days, then the right to maintain the sign shall cease and the owner of the sign must remove it within 10 days thereafter. The owner is required to properly engineer the sign before construction to make sure the sign is hung safely and is structurally sound.
Any person in violation of this chapter has 10 days after receiving written notice from the Building Inspector to comply or will be subject to a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.
