18-297. SIGN REGULATIONS.

It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, move, alter, change, repair, place, suspend, or to cause or permit to be erected, moved, altered, changed, repaired, placed, suspended, or attached any sign in violation of this zoning ordinance and this article.

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to fasten, paste, place, post, paint, or attach in any way any sign, handbill, poster, advertisement, or notice of any kind or sort, whether political or otherwise, or to cause the same to be done, in or upon any curbstone, lamp post, telephone, telegraph, or electric light pole, tree, or bridge. It shall be unlawful to paste, place, paint, or attach any sign on any building, street, or property of the city; provided, however, that any property owner or the occupant of any property abutting on any public street in the city or county may paint or stamp the address of such property upon the curbing directly in front of the building or to have same painted thereon.

Billboards are defined as signs advertising products or services other than those available on the premises and which have an area greater than three hundred (300) square feet per face. Billboards shall not be permitted under these sign regulations in any city zones.

18-298. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS. Requirements for signs erected in the Hugoton Zoning Jurisdiction are as follows:

Advertising signs (other than billboards), which call attention to an activity or product located on a different tract from the sign, are permitted in the "A-L", "B-1", "B-2", "I-1", and "I-2" Districts only. The advertising sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area for a single- or double-faced sign; the bottom edge of the sign shall be at least three (3) feet above the average ground level; and the top edge shall not be higher than ten (10) feet above the average ground level. The gross surface area of an advertising sign shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet.

Business signs which call attention to an activity or product located on the tract upon which the sign is located are permitted in the "A-L", "B-1", "B-2", "I-1", and "I-2" Districts only. The gross surface area of a business sign shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet.

Building signs are permitted in the "A-L", "B-1", "B-2", "I-1", and "I-2" Districts only. The building sign shall be affixed flat against the face of the building as opposed to perpendicular and/or double faced.

Marquee and canopy signs are permitted in the "B-1" and "B-2" Districts only. The sign must be mounted either on the front edge of the marquee or canopy, or suspended beneath. Signs suspended beneath a marquee or canopy shall not exceed eight square feet in surface area and shall contain an announcement of the business name only. The lowest elevation shall be no less than seven (7) feet above the sidewalk surface. A higher elevation may be required, by the city building inspector, to prevent detraction or obstruction from the effectiveness of highway signs or traffic signals. The canopy or marquee shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the building code of the city.

All signs in the "I-1" and "I-2" Districts shall be affixed to or be a part of the building if within fifty (50) feet of a residential district.

Except as provided for marquee and canopy signs, no sign shall be permitted to overhang a road, street, or alley right-of-way, and no sign shall be located in a manner as to constitute a traffic hazard.

All lighted signs in direct vision of a traffic signal shall not be in red, green, or amber illumination.

Non-flashing, illuminated signs shall be permitted providing said signs shall not beam upon any street or any residential district. Clocks and/or thermometers installed for public convenience and information, bulletin boards and signs for churches and other public institutions, and signs for manufactured home parks and multi-family developments are exempt from this requirement.

Where a sign is illuminated by light directed upon it, the direct ray of light shall not beam upon any existing residential district. Bulletin boards and signs for churches and other public institutions and signs for manufactured home parks and multi-family developments are exempt from this requirement.

Flashing, moving, or animated signs are not permitted within five hundred (500) feet of a residential district or where the rays of light from the sign beam upon any part of any residential district. The location and colors of flashing, moving or animated signs must not create a traffic hazard or cause confusion with traffic lights and with lights on emergency vehicles.

Sandwich board signs are permitted in the "I-1" and "I-2" Districts only, providing said sign is permanently affixed to the surface on which it rests.

Non-illuminated nameplates in the "R-1", "R-2", R-3", "R-L", and "A-L" Districts shall conform to the following restrictions:

The nameplate shall not exceed three square feet in area.

The nameplate shall show only the name and/or address of the occupant.

Non-illuminated single- or double-faced "For Sale" and "For Rent" signs in the "R-1", "R-2", R-3", and "R-L" Districts are subject to the following regulations (except for bulletin boards and signs for churches and other public institutions and signs for manufactured home parks and multi-family developments).

Only one (1) sign shall be permitted per lot.

No sign shall exceed four (4) square feet in area.

Signs shall be located no closer than five (5) feet from any property line and shall not obstruct the view of traffic approaching a street intersection.

Ground signs shall not project higher than four (4) feet above ground grade.

The owner of the sign shall be responsible for keeping the weeds and grasses mowed and trimmed on the premises. Any weeds and grasses shall be presumed to be blighting if they exceed 12 inches in height. The owner of the property or real estate agent in charge of the premises in violation of the 12-inch restriction shall be subject to the remedies and penalties of "Section 6-403 through 6-406 of the Code of the City of Hugoton, Kansas", as well as "Section 18-305(1)" of this ordinance.

When said sign is affixed to a building, it shall not project higher than ten (10) feet above the ground level.

In the "A-L" District, only one (1) non-illuminated "For Sale", "For Rent", or single- or double-faced business sign shall be permitted per residential building lot. Accessory business signs shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet.

Bulletin boards and signs for churches and other public institutions are subject to the following regulations:

One (1) sign or bulletin board shall be permitted on each street side if located on the same site as the principal building.

If sign or bulletin board is illuminated, the lights shall be directed away from adjoining residential uses.

No sign or bulletin board shall exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area.

No sign shall be located closer than eight (8) feet from any side or rear property line.

A sign or bulletin board located in the front yard shall be no closer to the street line than one-half (1/2) the required front yard.

A sign or bulletin board, affixed to a building, shall not project higher than ten (10) feet above the ground level.

Ground signs shall be permanently anchored to the ground and shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet above normal grade.

Signs for manufactured home parks and multi-family developments must meet the following requirements:

Only one (1) business sign per street frontage shall be permitted.

No business sign shall exceed forty (40) square feet in area for each face.

Any number of informational and directional signs shall be permitted and shall contain no advertising or solicitation.

All signs may be illuminated, either directly, indirectly, or internally, providing direct beams of light do not shine off the site or into any building on the site.

Ground signs shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.

Temporary signs, whether illuminated or non-illuminated, are permitted in the "A-L", "B-1", "B-2", "I-1", and "I-2" Districts only (except as provided in "15" above).

Only one (1) such sign shall be permitted per location.

Temporary signs shall not exceed forty-five (45) square feet of surface area.

No temporary sign, except on approval by the governing body, shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare. It shall not obstruct any wall opening.

Every temporary sign shall be secured to prevent movement or overturning, in a manner approved by the city building inspector.

All electrical cords to such signs shall be located so as not to expose them to physical damage. No such electrical cord shall be laid upon any sidewalk, driveway, or parking lot. All such wiring shall be subject to the electrical code of the city.

Temporary signs shall not exceed six (6) feet in height and shall be located so as to avoid creation of line-of-sight or other traffic-related obstructions.

Private informational and directional signs shall contain no advertising or solicitation and are subject to the following provisions.

Where a sign is illuminated by light directed upon it, the direct rays of light shall not beam upon any part of any residential district or into any street.

Lighted signs in direct vision of traffic shall not be in red, green, or amber illumination.

Flashing signs shall not be allowed.

Only one sign shall be permitted per location, except any number of informational and directional signs are permitted for manufactured home parks and multi-family developments

Signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet of surface area for each face.

No private informational or directional sign, except on approval by the governing body, shall extend over or into any street, alley, or sidewalk or other public thoroughfare. It shall not obstruct any wall opening.

Any sign, other than one affixed flat against the face of a building, shall have the lowest elevation at least ten (10) feet above the curb level to avoid line-of-sight or other traffic-related obstructions.

18-299. PERMITS AND FEES REQUIRED.

A permit shall be required for the erection, construction, or alteration of any sign in the Hugoton Zoning Jurisdiction. A charge in accordance with a schedule of fees determined by the governing body shall be made for each permit granted.

If a sign, for which a permit is granted, is not erected within one (1) year from date of the permit, the permit shall, unless renewed, become void.

Advertising painted or placed on a structure shall be deemed subject to these regulations if permanent and over eight (8) square feet in area.

All signs shall be constructed, located, and placed in accordance with local ordinances and the laws of the State of Kansas.

Permits, except for permits for temporary signs, are issued for the life of the sign so long as it is kept in good condition, and changing conditions do not make it a hazard or undesirable to adjoining property owners. In such case, the city building inspector may direct its removal.

Permits for temporary signs shall be issued annually.

18-300. NON-CONFORMING SIGNS. All advertising signs, business signs, or bulletin boards not in accordance or in compliance with this article which were in existence as of the date of adoption of this ordinance, shall be exempt from this article. Upon remodeling or renovating the exterior of any building to the extent of greater than fifty (50) percent, the non-conforming sign shall be brought into conformity with this article and any other city, State, or Federal regulations.