§ 13-4. General requirements.

No sign of any type nor any part thereof shall be erected, painted, posted, reposted, placed, replaced or hung, except in compliance with these regulations.

(a)

Application materials. Each application for a sign permit shall be made in writing and shall contain or have attached the following information:

(1)

A drawing approximately to scale showing the design of the sign, including dimensions, method of attachment or support, source of illumination and showing the relationship to any building or structure to which it is or is proposed to be installed;

(2)

A plot plan approximately to scale indicating the location of the sign relative to property lines, easements, buildings, streets and other on-premises signs;

(3)

Two sets of plans to be submitted to the building inspector, when required;

(4)

An LED sign shall have automatic dimming controls, either by photocell (hardwire) or via software settings, in order to bring down the lighting level at night.

(5)

No sign permit is required for a construction sign, real estate sign or financial institution sign related to the financing of the project under construction, so long as it is not over 16 square feet and there is not more than four feet from the bottom of the sign to the ground thereunder.

Sign plans shall be submitted to the enforcement officer for approval prior to the building inspector issuing a building permit. A record of such applications and actions taken shall be kept in the planning department.

(b)

Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited:

(1)

Advertising signs resembling traffic signals, traffic signs, emergency vehicles' flashing lights and which are likely to be misconstrued by the traveling public as being official governmental signs or emergency warnings or which by their distracting nature create a hazard to motorists;

(2)

Signs, advertising an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located. Such signage shall be removed within 90 days from the date of termination of such activity. Upon failure of the owner to remove such signs within the prescribed time, the enforcement officer shall take appropriate legal action to have such sign removed;

(3)

Flashing, blinking, pulsating and portable signs or signs with moving parts;

(4)

Signs, other than traffic, governmental or street name signs or official signs, shall not be permitted within any street right-of-way;

(5)

Roof signs;

(6)

Three-dimensional signs;

(7)

Beacon lights, animated signs, trailer signs, and snipe signs;

(8)

Portable signs.

(c)

Illuminated signs. No illuminated sign shall be so designed or placed that direct or reflected light or glare constitutes a hazard or annoyance to motorists or occupants of adjoining properties. All LED signs shall have automatic dimming controls, either by photocell (hardwired) or via software settings, in order to bring down the lighting level at night.

(d)

Determination of sign area. For the purposes of this chapter, the square footage area of any sign shall be measured by the smallest area enclosed by one continuous line connecting the extreme points or edges of the sign. This includes lattice work, frame, border molding, lettering and display area incidental to the sign's decoration.

(e)

Maintenance. All signs, together with braces, guys and supports shall at all times be kept in good repair. If at any time a sign should become abandoned, unsafe, or poorly maintained, the enforcement officer shall notify the owner of the sign of such condition, and upon failure of the owner to correct such condition, the enforcement officer shall take appropriate legal action to have such sign repaired or removed.

(Ord. of 1-13-14(1); Ord. of 6-16-14(1))