§ 20-24. Signs which do not require a permit.

(a)

The following operations shall not be considered as creating a new sign and therefore shall not require a sign permit:

(1)

The changing of the advertising copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign, billboard, theater marquee or similar approved sign which is specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.

(2)

The changing of the tenant panels on a freestanding multi-use tenant board.

(3)

Normal maintenance or repair of an approved sign or sign structure.

(b)

No sign permit shall be required for any of the following signs to be displayed; provided, however, that all other applicable regulations shall apply to such signs and that no such sign in a residential zoning district shall be illuminated:

(1)

Athletic field signage. Scoreboards on athletic fields, including advertising on school athletic fields, fences or walls.

(2)

Banners. No more than one (1) banner, not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area, may be displayed for each nonresidential use and shall be securely attached to the facade of a building, with the exception of banners in the DBD zoning district. For banners in the DBD zoning district, a registration permit is required, at no cost, and such banners shall be displayed for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.

(3)

Construction-related signs. Signs placed upon a site under construction or alteration. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in sign area for residential use properties or thirty-two (32) square feet in sign area for nonresidential use properties and shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height. All signs shall be removed from the site within fourteen (14) days after final completion or abandonment of the property.

(4)

Flags or insignias, ground-based or roof-mounted. Flags or insignias of a temporary nature shall have a maximum area of thirty (30) square feet. For each business on a lot, one (1) ground-based or one (1) roof-mounted flag or insignia shall be allowed. Ground-based flags (including, but not limited to pennant and feather flags) shall be located within twenty-five (25) feet of the main business entrance and shall be a minimum of five (5) feet back of property line. The height of a ground-based flag shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet, and the height of a roof-mounted flag shall not exceed four (4) feet above the roof line of the building. Such flags or insignias shall be flown in compliance with the standards applicable under state and/or federal law.

(5)

Flags or insignias, pole-mounted. Flags or insignias mounted on a pole shall be flown in compliance with the standards applicable under state and/or federal law and shall be subject to the following limitations:

a.

Poles shall be purpose-built, professionally fabricated flagpoles, which may be vertical or mast-arm flagpoles.

b.

Poles shall not exceed the maximum allowable height of the district.

c.

Poles shall be out of the public right-of-way and shall meet the setback requirements of the district.

d.

Each lot shall be allowed a maximum of three (3) flagpoles.

e.

A maximum of three (3) flags shall be allowed per lot.

f.

Flags and flagpoles shall be maintained in good repair, and to the extent applicable shall be in compliance with the building code.

g.

Size limitations are the following:

Pole Height	Maximum Flag Size (Total Sq. Ft.)
Up to 20 ft.	15 sq. ft.
21 to 30 ft.	40 sq. ft.
31 to 40 ft.	60 sq. ft.
41 to 50 ft.	96 sq. ft.
51 ft. and greater	150 sq. ft.

 

(6)

Gas pumps/vending machines. Signs forming an integral part of a gasoline pump, service appliance, or vending machine.

(7)

Interior signs. Signs intended to be viewed from the interior of the building.

(8)

Memorials. Memorial signs or tablets, including but not limited to, building cornerstones and other similar signs which indicate the names of buildings, dates of erection, or other historical data.

(9)

Official governmental signs. Signs of a governmental body, governmental agency or public authority, including but not limited to, traffic signs, signals or similar regulatory devices or warnings, official flags, emblems, official public notices, official instruments, signs of historical interest or other similar signs or devices.

(10)

Pole banners. No more than two (2) vertical pole banners shall be allowed to be attached per existing light pole or utility pole. Such banners shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area; shall have a maximum width of two and one-half (2-1/2) feet and a maximum height of eight (8) feet; and shall have a maximum display height of twenty-five (25) feet measuring from the top edge of the banner to the ground. Such banners shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from public right-of-way.

(11)

Political signs. Signs whereby the public is to be informed regarding a specific political event or candidate(s) or issue(s).

a.

Political signs shall be located a minimum of one (1) foot from any publicly maintained right-of-way or easement, shall not be located in any medians, and must have proper authorization of the property owner(s).

b.

Political signs shall be limited to a copy area not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet; and a height of ten (10) feet; however, this shall not be deemed to disallow the use of billboard signs.

c.

Political signs shall be allowed in all zoning districts.

d.

Prior to removal of signs in violation, except for signs on the right-of-way or those signs creating a traffic or safety hazard, violators (whether erector or user) shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours notice to remedy their violation.

e.

Any political sign shall be removed within ten (10) days after the final election, runoff, or other event that it is advertising for.

f.

Political signs left up after the removal period, as defined above, constitute a public nuisance and may be removed by the city and disposed of without notice.

(12)

Sandwich board or sidewalk signs. One (1) such sign shall be allowed at the main entrance to the business. Such signs shall be within five (5) feet of said entrance, shall not exceed six (6) square feet in sign area, and shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation.

(13)

Streamers. Streamers or pennants shall be set back at least twenty-five (25) feet from the edge of the street or out of the public right-of-way, whichever is farthest from the street, and shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height as measured from existing grade.

(14)

Traffic flow signs. Signs erected for the purpose of giving directions or instructions into and from the property; however, no such sign shall exceed three (3) feet in height above the pavement and shall not exceed two (2) square feet in sign area. No such sign shall be located closer than one (1) foot from the public right-of-way and shall not obstruct sight distance from driveways.

(15)

Weekend directional signs (WEDS) findings and purposes. Many people travel to, from and through the city on a daily basis. During weekday "rush hours" when the majority of people on the roads are commuting to or from work, roads are often nearly beyond their capacity. Traffic hazards and distractions must be minimized. However, people at times need the benefit of directional signs to help them find their destinations. Properly regulated, such directional signs may actually aid the flow of traffic. The following regulations recognize the difference in weekday and weekend traffic and are intended to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents, visitors and businesses of the city:

a.

Construction. WEDS shall not exceed four (4) square feet of sign area and three (3) feet in height and may be double-faced. WEDS shall be mounted on an independent single or double pole device. WEDS shall not be affixed in any manner to trees, natural objects, street light poles, utility poles, other signs or other sign structures. WEDS shall be made of metal, plastic, laminated cardboard or some other durable and waterproof material. No sign shall be made of paper.

b.

Definition. WEDS shall convey directions to a specific place or event.

c.

Identification. The pole device shall bear the name and phone number of the party responsible for said device.

d.

Location. There shall be only one (1) WEDS for any given place, activity, or event per five hundred (500) feet of road frontage. No WEDS shall be located closer than one (1) foot from the right-of-way. All WEDS must be placed on private property with the property owner's permission.

e.

No permit required. WEDS do not require a permit or a permit fee.

f.

Time allowed. WEDS shall be allowed from 3:00 p.m. on Friday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. It shall be the responsibility of the sign owner to remove all WEDS prior to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. For any signs not removed prior to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, the director or his/her designee shall be authorized to immediately remove such signs.

g.

Zoning districts. WEDS shall be allowed in all zoning districts.

h.

Nuisance. WEDS left up after the removal period as defined above, constitute a public nuisance and may be removed by the city and disposed of without notice.

(Ord. No. 26-12, 5-3-12; Ord. No. 01-15, § 5, 3-5-15)