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MapLink™ | Signs

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Abandoned Sign.
A permitted sign erected on property in conjunction with a particular use that has been discontinued for a period of 30 days or more.
Acceleration/Deceleration Lane.
A portion of a roadway designed to allow vehicles to safely decelerate for turns onto intersecting streets or safely accelerate to merge with the prevailing traffic flow.
© Civic Webware
Back-to-Back Sign.
A sign constructed on a single set of supports with messages visible on any side.
Banners and Balloons.
Any animated, rotating, fluttering or nonstationary device made of flexible materials designed to attract attention.
© Civic Webware
Canopy Sign.
Any type of building sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a canopy.
Community Service Signs.
A sign that advertises or solicits support for a nonprofit community use, public use or social institution. Such signs may include, but shall not be limited to: seasonal holidays such as Christmas or Easter, school or religious activities, sports boosters, or events of community interest. Such signs shall be placed only by: units of local, state or federal governments; nonprofit organizations; schools, the chamber of commerce; or normally recognized religious organizations.
© Civic Webware
Dilapidated Sign.
Any sign that is structurally unsound, has defective parts, or is in need of painting or maintenance.
© Civic Webware
Directional Sign.
A sign that is freestanding and whose primary purpose is to give directions to parking lots, exits, entrances, drive-through windows or similar locations.
Double-Faced Sign.
A sign with two faces that are usually, but not necessarily, parallel.
Electric Sign.
A self-illuminated or externally illuminated sign or sign structure in which electric wiring, connections and/or fixtures are used, as part of the sign, to provide illumination.
Electronic Message Display
Means any illuminated sign of an informative or advertising nature, whether on- or off-premise, and operable at night, whose content is made visible to the viewer by means of luminous elements under active electronic control and therefore subject to alteration in order to vary the content of the message. Electronic displays may be either static or dynamic in terms of light color and intensity.
Existing Sign.
Any sign erected, mounted or displayed prior to the adoption of this subchapter.
Fixed Projection Sign
A sign, other than a flag sign, that extends outward for more than six inches from the facade of any building, and is rigidly affixed thereto.
Flashing Sign
A sign with flashing, blinking or moving lights, regardless of wattage, whether directly or indirectly illuminated, except for time and temperature signs. This includes a sign that uses traveling lights, traveling lighted messages, or flashing lights.
Flat Sign
A sign erected parallel to, attached within six inches of, and supported throughout its length by the facade of a building. A flat sign does not extend above that building.
Freestanding Sign
A sign supported by a sign structure secured in the ground, and which is wholly independent of any building, fence, vehicle or other support. Freestanding signs may have more than one section, one of which may be changeable.
Illumiated Sign, Internal
Any sign that transmits light through its face or any part thereof.
Illuminated Sign, External
Any sign that is directly lighted by an external source.
Incidental Sign
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the lot on which it is located, such as “no parking,” “entrance,” “loading only,” “telephone,” an address, and other similar directives limited to four square feet.
Inflatable Sign
A sign that is either expanded to its full dimensions or supported by gases contained within the sign, or sign parts, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
Ingress/Egress Sign
A sign designating only the direction of ingress or egress of a parking area or driveway, such as “in,” “entrance,” “exit,” “one way,” “do not enter” or “no exit.”
Interior Sign
A sign displayed inside a building that is not within five feet of windows or doors.
Marquee
Any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending from a facade, along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
© Civic Webware
Marquee Sign
Any sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a marquee.
Monument Sign
A sign which is attached directly to the ground or is supported by a sign structure that is placed on or anchored in the ground and is independent from any building or other structure.
Moving Message Board
Any electrical sign having a continuous message flow across its surface by utilizing lights or other electrical impulses that form various words and/or designs, including but not limited to time and temperature signs.
© Civic Webware
Multiuse Sign
A commercial sign identifying more than one business or organization located on the premises.
Nonconforming Sign
Except as otherwise defined herein, any sign with a valid permit that was erected or displayed prior to the effective date of this subchapter, or any subsequent amendment hereto, and does not conform with one or more of its provisions.
Off-Premises Sign
Any sign located, or proposed to be located, at any place other than upon the property of the business or other activity identified on such a sign. For purpose of this subchapter, easements and other appurtenances shall be considered outside such property. Community service signs, as approved by the City Council, are exceptions to this definition.
On-Premises Sign
Any sign located or proposed to be located at any place, if otherwise permitted by this subchapter, within the property boundaries for the business or other activity identified on such sign.
Party Responsible
The party responsible for a sign shall be:
1. The person whose name of business is being identified on the sign, and/or
2. The owner of the premises upon which the sign is located
Permitted Sign
A sign for which a valid permit has been issued.
Pole Sign
A sign that is mounted on one or more freestanding poles or other supports so that the bottom edge of the sign face is not in direct contact with a solid base or the ground.
Political Sign
 A sign relating to: a political party, the election of a person to public office, or a matter to be voted upon at an election called by a public body.
Portable Sign
Any sign not permanently affixed to a building or structure, or not permanently attached to a mobile vehicle.
Project Sign
Any temporary sign, on premises, that may identify the project under construction by providing any of the following information: the project name, address and/or telephone number, the architect, the contractor, the developer, the financing organization, the subcontractor and/or materials vendor.
Projecting Sign
Any sign affixed to a wall of a building in a nonparallel manner.
Real Estate Sign
A temporary sign erected by the owner, or his agent, advertising for the rental, leasing or sale of the real property upon which the sign is located.
© Civic Webware
Residential Sign
Any sign erected at a private residence identifying its address or the resident’s name.
Roof Sign
A sign erected over or on, and wholly or partially dependent upon, the roof of any building for support.
Rotating Sign
Any sign that revolves around one or more fixed axis.
Sidewalk or Sandwich Sign
A movable sign not affixed or attached to the ground or to any building or structure.
Sign
Any device or representation that is used to visually communicate its subject to others. Customary displays of merchandise, objects or materials placed, without lettering, behind a store window are neither signs nor parts of signs.
Sign Area
The square foot area enclosed by the perimeter of the sign. Sign area shall include all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background on which they are displayed, any frame around the sign and “cutouts” or extensions. However, sign area shall not include any sign structures that are esthetically pleasing.
Sign Structure
A supporting structure erected, used or intended for identification or to attract attention, with or without a sign thereon, situated upon or attached to the premises, upon which any sign may be fastened, affixed, displayed or applied, provided, however, this definition shall not include a building, fence, wall or earthen berm.
Snipe Sign
A sign (made of any material) that is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences or other objects, with the subject matter appearing thereon not being applicable to the use of the premises upon which such sign is located.
Suspended Sign
A type of building sign that is suspended from the underside of a predominantly horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
Swinging Sign
A sign installed on an arm, mast or spar that is also not permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or an upright pole.
Window Sign
Any sign painted on, applied to, projected upon or within the exterior or interior of a building glass area, including doors, or located within five feet of the interior of a building glass area, including doors, whose identification, message, symbol, insignia, visual representation, logo type, or any other form of information can be read from off premises or from the public right-of-way. Merchandise displays shall not be considered window signs.
A. Computation of Area of Individual Signs.
The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a Wall Sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets Code regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.

B. Computation of Area of Multifaceted Signs.
The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.

C. Computation of Height.
The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the ground to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the (1) existing grade prior to construction (2) the newly established grade after construction, or (3) the crown of the adjacent roadway.

D. Computation of Maximum Total Permitted Sign Area for a Zone Lot.
The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs on a Zone Lot shall be computed by applying the formula contained in Table 6-3, "Maximum Total Sign Area per Zone Lot by Zoning District," to the Lot frontage, building frontage, or wall area, as appropriate, for the zoning district in which the Lot is located. Lots fronting on two or more Streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each Street Frontage, with signs facing a maximum of two Streets. However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular Street may not exceed the portion of the Lot's total sign allocation that is derived from the Lot, building, or wall area frontage on that Street.

See § 6.1308 Sign Illumination for detailed information.
See § 6.12: Sign Regulations for complete, detailed information.
See § 6.12.05 Permitted and Prohibited Signs and Table 6-2 for detailed information on prohibited signs in certain districts.

 
A. This Section shall apply to all Nonconforming Signs. All Nonconforming Signs shall be brought into compliance with this chapter in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

B.All Nonconforming Signs that were erected in violation of the ordinances of the City in existence at the time the sign was permitted or should have been permitted, and which violation was or has not been cured, shall, upon written notice, be required to be brought into compliance with this Section or removed within a reasonable time frame specified by the City Administrator, but not to exceed 30 days.

C. Nonconforming Signs that do not comply with the City Construction Code shall be subject to enforcement under the Construction Code, as well as this Section. Repairs or modifications required under the City Construction Code shall not entitle the owner of the Nonconforming Sign to compensation under this Subchapter.

D. All Nonconforming Signs shall be subject to the following provisions:
 
1. Any Nonconforming Sign that has been destroyed or damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the sign is more than 50 percent of the cost of erecting a new sign shall be removed or shall be brought into compliance with this Chapter within six months from receipt of an order from the City Administrator.

2. No Nonconforming Sign shall be required to be relocated or removed unless such Nonconforming Sign is more than 50 percent destroyed or damaged as provided above.

3. Existing on-premises advertising may be replaced with like size and structure, not to exceed the square footage and height of the original sign.

E. Change of use. Whenever a land use changes, any nonconforming sign must be modified or removed so as to be in full compliance with these sign regulations.

F. Any water storage device existing at the date of this adoption would be nonconforming and would be precluded from restoring any type of signage upon repainting of the water storage device.

See § 6.1205D Signs Exempt from Regulation for detailed information.
See § 6.1201 Purpose for the regulation of the placement and specifications of signs.

Applicability; Effect.

A. A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in the City only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of the Section.

B. The effect of this Section as more specifically set forth herein, is:
 
1. To establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial zones and a limited variety of signs in other zones, subject to the standards and the permit procedures of this Section.

2. To allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive, and incidental to the principal use of the respective Lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of this Section, but without requirements for permits;

3. To provide for Temporary Signs without Commercial Messages in limited circumstances;

4. To prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this Section; and

5. To provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this Section.