Sec.
58-1. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the
context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Advertising sign means an off-premises sign.
Billboard
means an off-premises sign.
Building line means a line established by the city zoning ordinance in appendix A of
this Code, beyond which no part of a principal building or structure may be
erected.
Building official means the officer or other person within the city charged with the
administration and enforcement of this chapter.
Bulletin board or identification sign means a sign listing church services or a directory
sign identifying the use of or listing the names, use and location of the
various services, offices or activities within a building or group of buildings
of:
(1) A public or semipublic
use.
(2) A charitable use.
(3) A professional or
semiprofessional use.
(4) A medical center.
(5) A clinic or hospital.
(6) An apartment building.
(7) A shopping center.
Business sign means an on-premises sign.
Erect
means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, including the
painting of signs on the exterior surface of a building or structure.
Ground sign
means a sign not attached to any building and supported by uprights or braces
or some object on the ground and is a type of freestanding sign, not a pole
sign.
Illuminated sign means a sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting, either by
lights on the sign or directed toward the sign.
Marquee
means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by a building.
Marquee sign means a business sign:
(1) Attached to;
(2) Painted on;
(3) Inscribed on; or
(4) Partly or fully
supported by and made an integral part of a marquee.
Off-premises sign means a sign relating to:
(1) A business activity, use
or service not conducted on the premises upon which the sign is placed.
(2) A product not sold,
handled, produced or fabricated on the same premises upon which the sign is
placed.
On-premises sign means a sign relating to:
(1) A business, activity,
use or service conducted on the premises upon which the sign is placed.
(2) A product sold, handled,
produced or fabricated on the premises upon which the sign is placed.
Outdoor advertising business means a person who manufactures, erects, repairs,
maintains or paints outdoor signs which are attached to buildings or
advertising structures or manufactures, erects, repairs or maintains outdoor
advertising structures and places or services such outdoor signs or structures
on premises not owned by him.
Parapet wall sign means a sign attached to a wall projecting above the roofline of a
building.
Pole sign
means a type of freestanding sign supported by a single freestanding pole and
having no guys or braces to the ground or to any structure other than the pole.
Political sign means a sign relating to:
(1) The election of person
to public office;
(2) A political party; or
(3) A matter to be voted upon
at an election called by a public body.
Portable sign means any sign supported by the ground but not being permanently attached
to the ground or object.
Projecting sign means a sign which projects from a building and which has one end
attached to a building or other permanent structure.
Real estate sign means a sign:
(1) Giving direction to
property for sale, for rent or for lease.
(2) Placed upon a property
advertising that particular property for sale, for rent or for lease.
(3) Placed on the premises
of the area outlined in an approved plat of a subdivision, advertising the sale
of lots within the subdivision.
Roof sign
means a sign which is erected upon, over or above a roof of a building.
Wall sign
means a sign:
(1) Attached to;
(2) Painted on; or
(3) Erected against a wall
or parapet wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in
a plane parallel to the plane of a wall.
Window sign
means a sign placed on the inside of a window, covering not more than 50 percent
of the total window area.
Zoning districts means the districts established in the city's zoning ordinance in
appendix A of this Code.
(Code 1984, § 4-93)
Cross references: Definitions
generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 58-2. General purpose
The erection and use of signs within the city shall be regulated as
provided in this Code.
(Code 1984, § 4-91)
Sec. 58-3. Applicability.
Standards are provided in this chapter for the installation of signs,
and no sign shall be erected, placed or located except in accordance with the
standards in this Code.
(Code 1984, § 4-92)
Sec. 58-4. Violations; penalties.
A violation of this chapter shall be punishable as provided in section
1-12.
(Code 1984, § 4-105)
Secs. 58-5--58-30. Reserved.
Sec. 58-31. Nonconforming signs.
All
signs, except portable signs, lawfully in existence on the effective date of
the ordinance from which this section derives may continue to be used and
repaired, but not altered or moved, unless they are made to conform with this chapter. If a nonconforming sign is removed or
destroyed, any new sign or rebuilding of the existing sign must conform to this
chapter. Portable signs existing before or after the effective date of the
ordinance from which this section derives shall conform to this chapter.
(Code 1984, § 4-98)
Sec. 58-32. Variances.
The
board of zoning adjustment may, on appeal from a decision of the building
official, vary the requirements of this chapter when strict enforcement of this
chapter would cause undue hardship due to unique circumstances. However, any
variance from this chapter shall be granted only when it is demonstrated that
such action will be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the zoning
ordinance in appendix A of this Code.
(Code 1984, § 4-97)
Secs. 58-33--58-55. Reserved.
DIVISION 2. PERMIT
Sec. 58-56. Required; exceptions.
(a) No sign shall be erected, relocated, posted, painted or
maintained and no advertising structure shall be erected, relocated or
maintained by any person without first obtaining a permit from the building
official. Electrical signs shall also require electrical permits under the
electrical code adopted in section 14-61.
(b) No permit shall be required for the following type signs, but
such signs shall be subject to all other sections of this chapter:
(1) Real estate signs not exceeding nine square feet in area.
(2) Signs not exceeding one square foot in area.
(3) Temporary construction signs designating the architect,
engineer or contractor and other facts relating to the structure under
construction.
(4) On-site directional signs not exceeding eight square feet in area, provided such signs do not contain advertising and are
not used as such. Placement of such signs must be approved by the building
official.
(5) Political signs not exceeding 16 square feet in area.
(Code 1984, § 4-99)
Sec. 58-57. Plans submitted by applicant.
The
applicant for a permit under this division shall submit plans showing the sign
location, size, type, height, construction materials, area and such other
information as the building official shall require. When required by the
building official, such plans shall be prepared by a registered professional
engineer or architect.
(Code 1984, § 4-100)
Sec. 58-58. Fees.
The
fee for a sign permit shall be as follows:
TABLE INSET:
|
Area of Sign |
Fee |
Up to 100 square feet $10.00
101 square feet to 300 square feet 25.00
301 square feet or above 50.00
(Code 1984, § 4-101)
Sec. 58-59. Expiration.
A
permit for a sign shall expire if the work is not started within 60 days or not
completed within 120 days after work is commenced, and a new permit shall be
required before beginning or completing the work.
(Code 1984, § 4-102)
Sec. 58-60. Void permit.
Any
permit issued under this division shall be void, if it is issued for a sign
which conflicts with any section of this chapter.
(Code 1984, § 4-103)
Secs. 58-61--58-85. Reserved.
ARTICLE III. STANDARDS
Sec. 58-86. Applicable sign restrictions in zoning
districts.
The
following table depicts the type, size and other restrictions of signs
generally allowed within each zoning district, except as may be otherwise
provided for a particular use by the section governing a particular zoning
district and also except as may be otherwise limited by the zoning ordinance in
appendix A of this Code. In case of conflicting provisions, the more
restrictive shall apply.
TABLE INSET:
|
Sign Use |
Districts Permitted |
Maximum Area (square feet) |
Maximum Height (feet) |
Type Sign Permitted |
Setback Requirement |
Spacing |
Lighting Permitted |
Flashing Permitted |
Motion Permitted |
Maximum Duration |
Additional Requirements |
|
Nonresidential identification |
Single-family residential |
1 |
6 |
G, W, P, PR, PA, M |
Behind required setback line |
None |
No |
No |
No |
Permanent |
|
|
Institutional |
All |
30 |
20 |
G, W, P, PR, PA, M |
Behind required setback line |
None |
Yes |
No |
No |
Permanent |
|
|
Apartment wall |
R-3, R-4 |
50 |
None |
W |
None |
1 for each street frontage |
Yes |
No |
No |
Permanent |
May be permitted on walls or fence in required
front yards |
|
Apartment |
R-3, R-4, R-5 |
20 |
6 |
G, W, P, PR, PA, M |
Property line |
1 for each street frontage |
Yes |
No |
No |
Permanent |
|
|
________On-premises general business |
R-3, R-4, R-5 |
16 |
6 |
G, W, PA, PT |
Property line |
1 pole or ground sign for each street frontage |
Yes |
No |
No |
Temporary* |
|
|
________ |
C-1 |
None, except 50 sq. ft. for pole and ground signs |
30 |
G, W, P, PA, M |
5 ft. behind property line |
See section 58-87(i) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Permanent |
See section 58-88(e), (f) |
|
|
C-2, C-O, M |
300 |
30 |
G, W, P, R, PR, PA, M |
5 ft. behind property line |
See section 58-87(i) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Permanent |
See section 58-88(e), (f) |
|
Off-premises advertising |
C-1, C-2, C-O, M |
300 |
30 |
G, W, P, R, PR, PA, M, PT |
5 ft. behind property line |
See section 58-87(i) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Permanent |
See section 58-88(d) |
|
Nameplates |
All |
2 |
3 |
G, W, P |
None |
None |
Yes |
No |
No |
Permanent |
|
|
Real estate |
All |
Based on land area |
Based on land area |
G, W, P |
None |
1 each 50 feet of street frontage |
Yes |
No |
No |
Temporary; remove upon sale or rental of property |
See section 58-88(i) |
|
Construction |
All |
20 |
6 |
G, W, P |
None |
|
Yes |
No |
No |
Temporary; remove upon completion of construction |
|
|
________Development |
R-1, R-2 |
300 |
30 |
G, W, P |
None |
1 each 5 acres or part thereof |
Yes |
No |
No |
Temporary; remove when project 90% complete |
Permitted for new subdivisions only See section
58-88(g) |
|
________ |
R-3, R-4, R-5 |
200 |
20 |
G, W, P |
None |
1 each 5 acres or part thereof |
Yes |
No |
No |
Temporary; remove within 6 months after certificate
of occupancy issued |
See section 58-88(g) |
|
________ |
C-1, C-2, C-O, M |
300 |
30 |
G, W, P |
None |
1 each 5 acres or part thereof |
Yes |
No |
No |
Temporary; remove within 6 months after certificate
of occupancy issued |
See section 58-88(g) |
* Home occupation signs to
comply with zoning ordinance in appendix A to this Code and may be permanent.
Legend. The permissible sign type designations in this table
are as follows:
TABLE INSET:
|
G |
Ground sign |
|
M |
Marquee sign |
|
P |
Pole sign |
|
PA |
Parapet wall sign |
|
PR |
Projecting wall sign |
|
PT |
Portable temporary |
|
R |
Roof sign |
|
W |
Wall sign |
(Code 1984, §§ 4-93, 4-94)