Sec. 78-6. Prohibited signs.

 

The following signs are hereby expressly prohibited for erection, construction, repair, alteration or relocation within the city except as otherwise permitted in this chapter:

 

(1)       Billboards and other off-premises signs (unless approved by the city council).

(2)       Signs which flash, revolve, rotate, swing, undulate or otherwise attract attention through the movement of flashing parts, including automatic electronically controlled copy changes, or through the impression of movement or flashing except for:

a.         That portion of those signs indicating the time and temperature;

b.         A temporary sign as provided for in section 78-8; and

c.         Signs that are erected behind the building setback line and do not interfere with traffic signs.

(3)       Portable and wheeled signs except as a temporary sign as provided for in section 78-8.

(4)       Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are permanently parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property. However, this is not in any way intended to prohibit signs placed on or affixed to regularly driven vehicles and trailers, such as lettering on motor vehicles, where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer for transportation purposes.

(5)       Signs which are attached or otherwise affixed to trees or other living vegetation.

(6)       Signs painted on an exterior wall, facia, parapet or on a chimney of a building or on a fence except as allowed by the city council.

(7)       Signs which contain untruthful or misleading information.

(8)       Signs which imitate, interfere with, obstruct the view of or can be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or other device.

(9)       Signs which contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character which offend public morals or decency as determined by the city council.

(10)     Signs which are located on or project or extend over any public sidewalk, street, alley or other public right-of-way except as allowed by the city council.

(11)     Signs which advertise an activity, business or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located.

 

(Code 1987, § 17.7-6)