§ 802.0. District sign regulations.

802.1. A-1, agricultural district:

a.

Home occupation sign: One nonilluminated sign, not larger than five square feet, mounted on the building indicating a permitted home occupation.

b.

Identification sign: Each farm or agricultural establishment shall be permitted not more than one nonilluminated or illuminated detached identification sign located at the main entrance to the farm or establishment. Such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.

802.2. Residential districts including R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5:

a.

Developed project identification signs: For any one ownership containing a multifamily use, there shall be permitted only one nonilluminated or illuminated detached sign for each 20,000 square feet of land area, identifying the use and ownership, not more than 20 square feet in area and not more than six feet high overall, and such sign shall be located no closer than ten feet to any property line. Such signs shall bear no advertising.

b.

Church signs:

(1)

One illuminated or nonilluminated detached sign per church, no more than 16 square feet in area, on church premises, indicating activities and services therein provided. Source of illumination shall be so shielded as to not be visible from residential areas.

(2)

One illuminated or nonilluminated detached sign per church, no more than 40 square feet in area, on church premises abutting United States Highways 160 and 75, indicating activities and services therein provided. Source of illumination shall be so shielded as to not be visible from residential areas.

c.

Construction signs: One nonilluminated sign per building, not more than 32 square feet in area, showing names of architects, engineers, builders, or contractors on the premises of a building being constructed, at a minimum distance of ten feet from the property line, provided such sign shall be removed upon completion of the building and provided further that such sign shall carry no other advertising. The mounting of said sign be prohibited on any vehicle or portion of any vehicle.

d.

For sale/rent signs: There shall be allowed one nonilluminated temporary "for sale" or "for rent" sign per lot, not to exceed eight square feet in area. (See section 803.3, "Temporary Signs," for additional requirements.)

802.3. O&P, office and professional district:

a.

Project identification signs: Not more than two nonilluminated or illuminated wall signs shall be permitted on each office building, provided such signs shall indicate only the name of the building or establishments housed therein. No such sign shall have an overall area exceeding five percent of the area of the wall upon which it is mounted.

b.

Shielding: The source of light for any illuminated signs shall be so shielded as to not be visible from residential areas.

802.4. District C-1, neighborhood commercial district:

a.

Wall signs: Each business or commercial establishment shall be permitted not more than two nonilluminated or illuminated wall signs, not more than one on a facade, provided the area of each sign shall not exceed five percent of the total area of the facade upon which it is placed. In lieu of one of the above wall signs, one projecting sign of the same type of illumination and same area shall be permitted, provided no projecting sign shall extend more than three feet from the face of the building. In addition, one nonilluminated wall sign, not more than nine square feet in area, may be placed at each major entrance to the building. Such signs shall not extend above the height of the wall upon which they are mounted and any signs painted directly upon wall surfaces shall not be larger than ten square feet in area.

b.

Shielding: The source of light for any illuminated signs shall be shielded as to not be visible from residential areas.

802.5. District C-2, general business district and District C-4, highway commercial district:

a.

Wall and marquee sign: Each business or commercial establishment shall be permitted not more than three illuminated or nonilluminated wall or marquee signs, not more than one on a facade, the total area of which sign shall not exceed 20 percent of the total area of the facade upon which it is placed. Such signs shall not extend above the average roof level of a one-story building more than five feet, and shall not extend above the average level of a two or more story building. Any signs painted directly upon wall surfaces shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.

b.

Projecting and detached sign: In lieu of one of the above attached signs, one projecting sign or one detached sign shall be permitted for each establishment, provided such projecting sign shall not exceed the area or height requirements of paragraph "a." above; and such detached sign shall not exceed 30 feet in height, nor shall it exceed 150 square feet in area per face nor more than 300 square feet total of all faces. Such detached and projecting signs shall be located not less than three feet from the property line providing it does not interfere with traffic view or other signs as might be obstructed from view. In the case of a shopping center, only one detached sign shall be allowed for the center, and one detached sign will be allowed for any service station which is part of the center.

c.

Electronic sign: Electronic signs consisting of LED/Reader board electronic changeable copy) or electronic display center (video display sign) as defined in this ordinance are permitted and must meet the following requirements:

1.

Detached sign: The sign must be a detached sign and the electronic portion may not exceed more than 20 percent of the allowable square footage per face of said detached sign.

2.

Duration: Any portion of the message or image must have a minimum duration of eight seconds.

3.

Off-premises advertising: All messages displayed shall be directly related to the business for which the sign was constructed.

4.

Setback: The leading edge of the sign must be a minimum of 100 feet from an abutting residential district boundary.

5.

LED/Reader board (electronic changeable copy) signs shall have the following additional restrictions:

i.

Limited text: The text of the sign must be limited to ten words to allow passing motorists to read the entire copy with minimal distraction.

6.

Electronic display center (video display) signs shall have the following additional restrictions:

i.

Brightness: The sign must not exceed a maximum illumination of 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours and a maximum of 500 nits (candelas per square meter) between dusk and dawn.

ii.

Dimmer control: The sign must have an automatic dimmer control to produce a distinct illumination change as required.

iii.

Audio or pyrotechnics: Audio speakers or any form of pyrotechnics are prohibited.

d.

Billboards: Poster panels and billboards as defined in this ordinance are permitted and must meet the following requirements:

1.

Conditional use permit required: Poster panels and billboards as defined in this ordinance shall be permitted only upon issuance of a conditional use permit.

2.

Setback from residential: Poster panels and billboards shall not be permitted if less than 1,000 feet from a residential district.

3.

Separation requirement: Poster panels and billboards must be a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other poster panel or billboard.

802.6. District C-3, central commercial district:

a.

Permitted signs:

1.

[Generally:] Signs permitted in the C-3 district shall be illuminated signs, nonilluminated signs, marquee signs, temporary signs, wall signs and projecting signs with the exception that no sign shall be mounted, painted or affixed to any surface extending above the transom or storefront beam whichever is higher.

2.

Wall signs: One sign per face of building not to exceed 50 square feet or five percent of the total area, whichever is smaller.

3.

Corner buildings: One sign equal to standards above for each wall.

4.

Multiuse signs: Total sign area for all uses not to exceed above standards.

5.

[Signs hanging from awnings or mounted to storefronts:] Signs hanging from awnings or mounted to storefronts may not exceed five square feet per face.

6.

[Freestanding buildings:] Freestanding buildings shall be permitted one freestanding sign not to exceed 80 square feet per face or 160 square feet total of all faces in the sign area. The top of the sign shall not be higher than 25 feet above ground level.

7.

Historical restorations or reproductions: Historically significant or reproduced signs shall be referred to the Main Street Committee for recommendation to the city commission who may authorize such installation.

8.

[Rear wall signs:] One rear wall mounted sign not to exceed 18 inches by 36 inches for business identification.

b.

[Poster panels and billboards:] Poster panels and billboards shall not be permitted in the C-3 zone.

c.

Signs on awnings, canopies, and marquees:

1.

There shall not be more than one sign exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of such awning, canopy or marquee of ten percent of the gross area for each principal building.

2.

The gross surface area of a sign shall not exceed 50 percent of the gross surface area of the awning, canopy or marquee to which the sign is fixed.

d.

General standards:

1.

Any awning, canopy, marquee or projecting sign shall not be less than seven feet above the surface of the grade of any street or sidewalk.

2.

Awnings and canopies shall be no closer than four feet from the public street curb and in no case extend more than 12 feet from the property line.

3.

Marquees shall be no closer than two feet from the property line.

802.7. District M-1 and M-2, light and heavy industrial districts:

a.

[Permitted signs:] Signs shall be permitted as provided in district C-2.

b.

Projecting, marquee, detached and roof signs: In addition, industrial establishments having one or more permanent buildings may provide illuminated or nonilluminated signs, including projecting, marquee, detached or roof types, in any location on the premises or on the building, providing such signs shall not exceed height or yard requirements as set out herein for buildings in that district.

c.

Billboards: Poster panels and billboards as defined in this ordinance shall be permitted in an industrial district only upon issuance of a conditional use permit.

(Ord. No. 3567, § 1, 2-15-89; Ord. No. 3684, § 1, 2-23-95; Ord. No. 4009, § 1, 5-15-08; Ord. No. 4180, §§ 1—3, 8-13-14)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 4180, §§ 1—3, adopted August 13, 2014, set out the following provisions imposing a moratorium on the enforcement of the city's sign permit fee:
"A moratorium is hereby imposed on the enforcement of the city's sign permit fee. During the moratorium, the city will not charge a sign permit fee for signs hanging from storefronts or awnings in the C-3 zone.
The moratorium imposed by this ordinance shall expire 12 months from the effective date of this ordinance.
Upon expiration of the moratorium, a sign permit fee will be required."