Definitions and Standards

Required/Allowed Signs

Signs Requiring a Permit

Off premises sign:  A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment not exclusively related to the premises where such a sign is located or to which it is affixed (includes billboards).

On premises sign:  A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment related to the premises where such sign is located or to which it is affixed.

Free Standing Sign:  A sign which rests on the ground or is mounted on a structure such as a frame, posts, or poles. Free standing signs must not obstruct the view of traffic or pedestrians, nor block the signage of any neighboring property owner at the time of installation.

Wall Sign:  A sign which is attached to a wall of the principal building.  Wall signs shall not be higher than the eave line or the parapet wall of the principal building.  No sign part, including cut out letters, shall project more than 6 inches from the building wall. No signs shall be painted directly on any building. In no event may a wall sign or a combination of wall signs exceed more than 25% of the total façade of any wall. A commercial message on any canopy or awning shall be considered a wall sign and included in the wall sign limits outlined in this Ordinance.

Temporary sign:  Any portable or other sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure or a sign otherwise designed to be temporary as evidenced by its purpose or construction.

Banners or pennants are also considered to be temporary signs. Temporary signs must not obstruct the view of traffic or pedestrians, nor block the signage of any neighboring property owner at the time of installation.

Commercial message: Any sign, wording, logo or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, entertainment, service or activity.

Right of Way:  No privately owned sign may be placed within 10 feet of roadway or pedestrian rights of way.

Window Signs:  Signs attached to the inside or outside glass of a window so as to be visible from the outside of the building shall be treated as wall signs for purposes of maximum individual sign sizes and total sign area and building façade coverage allowed

Vehicle Sale Signs:  Commercial messages painted, applied, or on signs placed in the window of a vehicle on display shall not exceed 12 inches in height.

Bordering Residential: No signs are allowed along interior side or rear lot lines if such line borders a residential district.

Illumination:  Signs may be indirectly illuminated with non-glare lighting not exceeding .4 candle meter directed at the sign and not casting light on any adjoining property, with no exposed light source or fixture and only if the light source is fully concealed and defused and does not cast glare onto any adjoining properties.

Height: Specified height limits are as measured from grade.

Mounting Structures: The City requires professional and aesthetically pleasing mounting structures made specifically for sign mounting.  Such structures may be of painted steel or treated wood frames, brick or decorative block.  Landscaping around free standing signs is strongly encouraged.  Mounting structures which are not specifically designed for sign mounting may be removed by the City after a warning notice to the property owner.

Building/Electrical Code:  Signs which require a building permit must also apply for that permit separately and are subject to the separate building code rules and fee schedule.  In addition, all signs which require electricity shall be subject to the State’s electrical code and electrical service wiring shall be buried or concealed.

Prohibited Signs:  Flashing signs, off premises signs, and beacons or search lights are prohibited.  No sign shall be placed, erected, or maintained on fences, trees, power and light poles, or the supports thereof, except as allowed for special events. Signs on rocks may be allowed only if they use metal numbers and letters or the commercial message is etched into the rock surface. 

Maintenance and Repair: Every sign, including but not limited to those signs for which no permits or permit fees are required, shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural material condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and maintaining the immediate surrounding premises in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, free of obnoxious substances, rubbish, weeds or other non-manicured vegetation.  Signs in good repair are not corroded, do not have deteriorated paint or missing letters, numbers or other parts of their message, and do not have  loose members, broken parts, or similar deterioration.

Dangerous or Defective Signs: No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him any sign which is in a dangerous or defective condition.

Traffic and Visibility and Safety:  No sign shall, by reason of its location, color, illumination, or intensity, obstruct vision of drivers or pedestrians or obscure visibility of any traffic control device, sign, or signal.  Illumination must be effectively shielded so as not to impair vision of any operator of a motor vehicle.  Illumination with flashing lights is prohibited in all zones.   Any sign which imitates or resembles an official traffic sign or signal or which bears the words "Stop," "Caution," "Danger," "Warning," or similar words is prohibited.

Public Nuisance:  Any sign which bears or contains statements, words or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, or immoral character shall be considered a public nuisance and prohibited.  Any sign which emits audible sound, odor, or visible matter shall be considered a public nuisance and prohibited.  Any sign which violates any provision of this Ordinance, including but not limited to the Maintenance and Repair; Dangerous or Defective Signs; Traffic and Visibility and Safety; and Public Nuisance provisions outlined above, or any temporary sign(s) located on a premises longer than the time allowed by this ordinance shall be considered a public nuisance and prohibited and failure of the owner to repair or remove such sign after notice by the City shall be cause for the City to remove such sign and to charge the property owner for such removal.

Non-Conforming or Abandoned Signs: Any permanent, non-abandoned sign which does not comply with this ordinance shall be allowed to continue after enactment of this ordinance, provided that such sign must be brought into compliance upon any of the following events:  1) change in the sign message or the business use; 2) change of ownership of the property or business; 3) re-construction or re-facing of the sign (does not include routine maintenance or repainting of same commercial message).  Any sign that advertises any activity, business, product or service no longer conducted or available on the site on which the sign is located is prohibited.  Any sign which is located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of 1 month or more or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed to have been abandoned.  Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change in ownership or management of such business, or because of the seasonal operation of the business, shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of six months.  Abandoned signs shall be removed by the owner of the sign or owner of the premises within 30 days of abandonment.  All sign supports and structures shall also be removed. Failure to remove the sign shall be cause for the City to remove such sign and to charge the property owner for such removal.

Required: A minimum of one address sign identifying the correct property number as assigned by the City is required on each principal building in all districts.  Such sign must be of sufficient size to be legible from the nearest street but shall not exceed 9 square feet in area.  The numbers shall be metal, glass, plastic or durable material and the numbers must not be less than 3 ½ inches in height, in contrasting color to the base or made of some reflective material and so placed to be easily seen from the street.

Allowed: The following signs, if constructed as permanent signs with maintenance free/permanent finish material (including non-changeable lettering or numbering except as specifically allowed herein) and in compliance with the Building Code as adopted by the City and other requirements herein, are permitted in any district, unless otherwise specified, without separate review or permit by the City (other than a building permit, if required):

1. Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, and commemorative tablets when made a permanent and integral part of the building.

2. Traffic control or  informational traffic signs in conformance with public traffic sign standards displayed for purposes of direction, public safety, or convenience including signs identifying rest rooms, freight entrances, etc.

3. Real estate signs for the purpose of advertising the lease, rent, or sale of property upon which it is placed.  Only 1 such sign shall be permitted per street and side-street frontage (i.e. corner lots may have one sign on each street frontage) and each sign shall not exceed 6 square feet in area and 4 feet in height in residential districts and 12 square feet in area and 5 feet in height in other districts.  The sign shall be removed within 14 days after the closing of the sale, rental or lease of the property, weather permitting.

4. Identification signs: 1 on premises free-standing sign per principal building and 1 on premises wall sign per street and side-street frontage for a church, an allowed home occupation, business,  public institution, or public recreational facility (i.e. corner lots may have two wall signs -- one wall sign on each street frontage -- and one free standing sign; interior lots may have one wall sign and one free standing sign).  The size and height of such allowed signs are as follows:  In R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts, each sign shall not exceed 9 square feet in area and, for free standing signs, 5 feet in height (including mounting structure).  In any other districts, each sign shall not exceed 35 square feet in area and, for free standing signs, 8 feet in height (including mounting structure); for commercially and industrially zoned lots with street frontage in excess of 100 lineal feet, a second on premises free standing sign within the size and height limits specified above will be allowed along the street frontage which exceeds 100 lineal feet, except in the Canopy District, where only one free standing sign is allowed.  Identification signs attached to or made a part of awnings or canopies must be at least 7.5 feet above grade.  For signs attached to and hung from beneath canopies in the Canopy District, these signs must also be centered between the building and outside edge of the canopy and hung from approved brackets at points designated by the City Building Inspector.  Up to 30% of the square footage of one sign per parcel located in a commercial zoning district (other than the Canopy District) may have manually (i.e. not electronic) changeable commercial messages.  Such changeable messages must be maintained to the same standards as required for permanent sign messages or they will fall under the nuisance provisions outlined in this Ordinance and be subject to removal by the City.  Wall signs for separate and distinct businesses located within the same commercially or industrially zoned building may each be up to 35 square feet in area, subject to the wall coverage limits of this ordinance.

5. Construction sign: 1 free-standing or wall sign placed during construction, not exceeding 32 square feet in area and 8 feet in height, identifying parties involved in construction, owner's name, intended use or describing the construction process, but not including the advertisement of any product unrelated to the construction project.  Any construction sign shall be removed within 5 days following completion of construction.

6. Campaign Signs:  1 free standing or wall sign not exceeding 6 square feet in total surface area and 5 feet in height announcing a campaign, drive or event of a political, civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization.  Campaign signs may be placed no earlier than 30 days before the event advertised and must be removed within 10 days following the event.

7. Off street parking sign:  1 wall or free standing sign, not exceeding 6 square feet in area per entrance to a parking facility announcing the intended uses, conditions of parking, and the name of the parking facility.

8. Development identification signs:  1 sign not to exceed 32 square feet in area and 8 feet in height per residential development at the entrance to display the name of the development.

9. Temporary Signs:  In industrial and commercial districts, 1 on premises temporary sign of unlimited size (but meeting all visibility, safety and public nuisance provisions outlined in the Standards section) is allowed for up to 5 days twice per year.  In all districts, 1 on premises temporary free standing sign not exceeding 32 square feet in area and 6 feet in height that is displayed for no more than 14 consecutive days is allowed up to 4 times per calendar year on a premise.  All portable signs are considered temporary signs and may only be used within the specified time limits.  In industrial and commercial districts, on premises temporary wall signs are allowed as long as they do not cause the total wall sign areas or façade coverage limits to be exceeded and as long as they are removed or replaced at least every 30 days.  Temporary signs are not allowed on any wall space above the canopies in the Canopy District.

10. Garage sale signs will be permitted in conjunction with the occasional (not more than 2 times per year and 3 days per time) sale of household goods and materials from private residences, but they may not exceed 4 square feet in area or 3 feet in height and may only be posted on private property with the permission of the owner – no such signs are allowed in public right of way or on utility poles.

11. Single family to 4-plex identification signs (such as address and/or name plates identifying the occupants) if not exceeding 3 square feet in area and 4 feet in height and identification signs for multi-family buildings of 5 or more units if not exceeding 24 square feet in area and 5 feet in height.

12. Government Signs: Signs of a public,  non-commercial nature including safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, memorial plaques and the like, when these signs are erected by or on order of a public officer or employee in the performance of official duty.

12.a.  Community Directory Sign

The City Council may approve and/or construct community directory signs for the purpose of providing information and directions for private and/or public property.  Such signs shall be considered a class of Government Signs, and shall be subject to the following conditions:

The City shall determine design, location, materials, lighting, and all other aspects of the sign.

With the approval of the property owners, such signs may be located upon private property, even where the sign does not necessarily relate to the use of the property on which it is located.

Such signs may be located upon public property or right of way, provided that the sign does not interfere with safe traffic circulation and visibility, nor interfere with the visibility of official traffic signs.

The City shall establish policy guidelines for the purpose of considering the display of names of entities to be identified on the directory. 

Such signs may be considered a public streetscape improvement, and construction and maintenance may be funded through any combination of appropriate City funds, donations, assessments, or other methods.

13. Flags: One flag identifying a government agency or any civic, charitable, religious, institutional, patriotic, corporate, fraternal or similar organization, may be displayed per principal use or lot in any district.

No signs other than those defined as allowed signs shall be erected without a permit issued by the City.

Applications for sign permits shall be made to the City Zoning Administrator on forms provided by the City and shall include a detailed sketch or plans and a fee as set by the City Council from time to time.  The permit application will be reviewed for approval or denial by the City’s Planning Commission.  The Commission shall consider the Intent and Purpose, Objectives, and Safety, Visibility and Nuisance provisions outlined herein, as well as other public welfare, safety and aesthetic issues, in making its decision regarding approval or denial of the sign permit.  If an applicant’s request is denied by the Planning Commission, the applicant has the right to appeal the Commission’s decision to the City Council by filing an appeal request with the Zoning Administrator within 30 days of the decision of the Planning Commission which is being appealed. The permit will be void if the sign is not constructed within 90 days of approval.

A comprehensive sign plan may be presented as one permit request for business premises which occupy a shopping center, industrial park, or scenic area development.  Such a plan shall include the location, size, height, lighting and orientation of all signs.

A double fee will be charged if a non-allowed sign is erected without first obtaining a permit if such sign is subsequently approved.  If such sign is not approved, it shall be removed by the owner within 5 days of notice from the City. Failure to remove the sign shall be cause for the City to remove such sign and to charge the property owner for such removal.

Signs which are approved by the City Council as part of site plan approval do not require a separate review and permit process for sign approval; however they must still abide by the Building Code process and requirements.

To encourage the use of low monument type rather than high pole type free standing signs, the City may permit up to 120 square feet of sign area for free standing signs not exceeding 8 feet in height.  Free standing signs not exceeding 12 feet in height may be permitted up to 100 square feet in sign area. Free standing signs in excess of 12 feet in height may be permitted up to 80 square feet in sign area.

In no event will free standing signs be allowed which exceed 15 feet in height or 120 square feet in area and in no event will wall signs be allowed which exceed 120 square feet in area.

Signs with changing letters in the Canopy District and signs exceeding the 30% changing letter limit may be allowed by the City through the sign permit process, but in no event will signs be allowed on which more than 50% of the square footage of the sign contains changing letters.

Hanging wall signs which project more than 6 inches from the building wall may be allowed by the City through the sign permit process.

The aesthetic and professional quality and appearance of requested signs, including the use of brick, decorative block, landscaping, or other high quality components will be a major consideration in the size of sign and the percentage of changing letters permitted by the City.