The intent of this article is to create the
legal framework to regulate, administer, and enforce outdoor sign
advertising and display within the City. This article recognizes the
need to protect the safety and welfare of the public and the need
for well-maintained and attractive sign displays within the community
and the need for adequate business identification, advertising and
communication. This chapter authorizes the use of signs visible from
public rights-of-way, provided that the signs are:
A. Compatible with the zoning regulations.
B. Designed, constructed, installed and maintained in
such a manner that they do not endanger public safety or traffic safety.
C. Legible, readable and visible in the circumstances
in which they are used.
D. Respectful of the reasonable rights of other advertisers
whose messages are displayed.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which no longer correctly advertises a bona fide business,
lessor, owner, product or activity conducted or product available
on the premises where the sign is displayed or elsewhere.
AREA OF COPY
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter composed
of squares or rectangles which encloses the extreme limits of the
advertising message, announcement, or decoration of a wall sign.
AREA OF SIGN
The area of the largest single face of the sign within a
perimeter which forms the outside shape, but excluding the necessary
supports or uprights on which the signs may be placed. If the sign
consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be totaled.
Any irregular-shaped sign area shall be computed using the actual
sign face surface. In the case of wall signs, the area of copy will
be used.
BUILDING FASCIA
That portion of a building which is parallel or nearly parallel
to the abutting roadway.
CANOPY SIGN
Any sign attached to or constructed, in, on, or under a canopy
or marquee. For the purpose of this chapter, canopy signs shall be
controlled by the rules governing projecting signs.
CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN
A sign such as a manual, electronic or electric controlled
time and temperature sign, message center or reader board, whether
electronic, electric or manual, where copy changes. Any sign may be,
or include as part of it, a changeable message sign.
COPY AREA
The geometric area in square feet that encloses the actual
copy of the sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign which serves to designate the location or direction
of any place or area, up to 15 square feet in area and not exceeding
12 feet in height.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN
A sign with copy on two parallel faces that are back to back,
facing in opposite directions.
ELECTRIC SIGN
A sign containing internal electrical wiring which is attached
or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
ELECTRIC SIGN CONTRACTOR
A person, partnership, or corporation who or which, in the
normal course of business, frequently installs and maintains electric
signs.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN
A changeable message sign whose message is electrically activated,
such as with light bulbs or mechanical flip discs.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light
source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing
light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent
light source, not including changeable message signs.
FREEWAY
A divided trafficway in respect to which abutting property
owners and others have only limited access to and from as determined
by the public authority having jurisdiction over such trafficway.
FRONTAGE
The length of the property line of any one premises parallel
to and along each public right-of-way it borders. Said public right-of-way
may be known as a "frontage road."
GRADE
The elevation or level of the street closest to the sign
to which reference is made, measured at the street's center line.
GROUND SIGN
A sign erected on one or more freestanding supports or uprights
and not attached to any building.
GROSS AREA
The area of a sign determined by using the outside perimeter
dimensions of the sign. If the sign consists of more than one module
or section, their areas will be totaled. If the modules are formed
in the shape of letters or symbols, the rules for area or copy apply.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from the grade at the street
right-of-way line where the sign is located to the highest point of
such sign.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which advertises goods, products, facilities or services
not necessarily on the premises where the sign is located or directs
persons to a different location from where the sign is located.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
Any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity,
goods, products or services located on a premises where the sign is
installed and maintained.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign not permanently attached to the ground or building.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign, normally double-faced, which is attached to and projects
from a structure or building fascia. The area of projecting signs
is calculated on one face only.
ROOF SIGN
A sign erected upon, against or above a roof.
SANDWICH SIGN
A hinged or unhinged A-frame portable sign which is generally
temporary in nature and placed near the roadway.
SIGN
Any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard, design, identification,
description, illustration or device, illuminated or nonilluminated,
to advertise, identify, convey information or direct attention to
a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business,
or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise.
For the purpose of removal, signs shall also include all sign structures.
SIGN CONTRACTOR
Any person, partnership or corporation engaged in whole or
in part of the erection or maintenance of signs, excluding the business
which the sign advertises.
SIGN INSPECTOR
That person charged with the responsibility to see that signage
in the community is installed and maintained in compliance with this
chapter.
SIGN STRUCTURE
Any device or material which supports, has supported, or
is capable of supporting a sign in a stationary position, including
decorative covers.
SWINGING SIGN
A sign installed on an arm or mast or spar that is not, in
addition, permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole.
WALL SIGN
A sign attached to the wall or building with the face in
a parallel plane to the plane of the building wall. This includes
signs painted directly on a wall.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign installed on a window for purposes of viewing from
outside the premises.
The following signs shall be prohibited within
the City:
B. Flashing or moving signs. No sign shall be permitted
which is animated by means of flashing, scintillating, blinking, or
traveling lights of over 15 watts per lamp, and no animated sign may
be located within 300 feet of any illuminated traffic control or warning
light. Changeable message signs are not subject to this presentation.
Signs with physically moving components visible from the public right-of-way
are not permitted except for those which revolve around a vertical
axis at speeds less than seven revolutions per minute.
D. Floodlighted signs. Reflection-illuminated signs whose
light source is positioned so that 25% or more of its light intensity
is visible from a public right-of-way by vehicular traffic or whose
light source is visible from residential property are prohibited.
F. Unclassified signs. The following signs are prohibited:
(1) Signs which bear or contain statements, words or pictures
of obscene, pornographic or immoral subjects.
(2) Signs which are an imitation of, or resemble in shape,
size, copy or color, an official traffic sign or signal.
G. Off-premises signs located in the public right-of-way,
excepting public directional safety or traffic control signs.
The following signs do not require a permit:
A. Construction signs. Two construction signs per construction
site, not exceeding 100 square feet in area each, which shall be confined
to the site of construction and shall be removed 30 days after completion
of construction or prior to occupancy, whichever is sooner.
B. Directional and instructional nonelectric signs which
provide instruction or direction and are located entirely on a property
to which they pertain and do not exceed eight square feet each in
area and do not in any way advertise a business. This includes, but
is not limited to, such signs as those identifying rest rooms, telephones,
parking areas, entrances, and exits.
C. On-premises nonilluminated emblems or insignia of
any nation or political subdivision or profit or nonprofit organization.
D. Government signs. Government signs for control of
traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing
signs, and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to
service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public
officer in the performance of his public duty.
E. Home occupation signs. Signs associated with a home
occupation as defined in this chapter, provided that such signs are
nonilluminated wall signs that do not exceed two square feet in area.
F. House numbers and nameplates. House numbers and nameplates
not exceeding two square feet in area for each residential, commercial
or industrial building.
G. Interior signs. Signs located within the interior
of any building or structure which are not visible from the public
right-of-way. This does not, however, exempt such signs from the structural,
electrical, or material specifications of this article.
H. Memorial signs and plaques. Memorial signs or tablets,
names of buildings and date of erection which are cut into the masonry
surface or inlaid so as to be part of a building or when constructed
of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square
feet in area.
I. "No Trespassing" or "No Dumping" signs. "No Trespassing"
and "No Dumping" signs not to exceed 1 1/2 square feet in area
per sign.
J. Public notices. Official notices posted by public
officers or employers in the performance of their duties.
K. Public signs. Signs required as specifically authorized
for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
L. Political and campaign signs. Political and campaign
signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election
ballots, provided that the sign is only displayed during the election
campaign period as defined in § 12.04(1), Wis. Stats., does
not exceed 16 square feet in area and is not located within a public
right-of-way or vision clearance triangle.
M. Real estate signs. One real estate sales sign on any
lot or parcel, provided that such sign is located entirely within
the property to which the sign applies and is not directly illuminated.
(1) In residential districts, such signs shall not exceed
six square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after
the sale, rental, or lease has been accomplished.
(2) In all other districts such signs shall not exceed
32 square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the
sale, rental, or lease has been accomplished.
N. Temporary window signs. In business, commercial and
industrial districts, the inside surface of any ground-floor window
may be used for attachment of temporary signs. The total area of such
signs, however, shall not exceed 50% of the total window area, and
such signs shall not be placed on door windows or other windows needed
to be clear for pedestrian safety.
O. On-premises symbols or insignia. Religious symbols,
commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies or identification
emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.
P. On-premises temporary signs. Temporary signs not exceeding
four square feet in area pertaining to drives or events of civic,
philanthropic, educational, or religious organizations, provided that
such signs are posted not more than 30 days before said event and
removed within 15 days after the event.
Q. Vehicular signs. A truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle,
while operating in the normal course of business, which is not primarily
the display of signs.
R. Neighborhood identification signs. In any zone, a
sign, masonry wall, landscaping, or other similar material and feature
may be combined to form a display for neighborhood or subdivision
identification, provided that the legend of such sign or display shall
consist only of the neighborhood or subdivision name.
S. Awnings. Awnings with signs consisting of one line
of copy upon the border of the awnings.
The construction or erection of any sign not
covered by the provisions contained in this article is not permitted
without prior review and approval of the Plan Commission.