7.102.010 General Authority. In all areas of the city, approval of a sign permit application must be obtained from the Building Official and City Administrator before any sign, except those specifically exempted, is erected, placed, painted, constructed, carved or otherwise given public exposure. The sign provisions of this chapter may be considered as a part of a development application or individually. Applications shall be filed with the city on an appropriate form in any manner prescribed by the city, accompanied with an application fee in the amount established by general resolution of the city council.

7.102.020 Purpose. Sign guidelines and criteria can enhance the economic vitality and contribute to the visual quality of the city. Well-designed signs attract the eye, complement each other and draw attention to the buildings containing the businesses for which they are intended to advertise.

A. No person shall place on, or apply to, the surface of any building, any painted sign, or erect, construct, place or install any other sign, unless a sign permit has been issued by the city for such sign. Application for a sign permit shall be made by the permittee in accordance with Section 7.102.04. The person(s) in control of said building or property or in control of each business contained thereon, shall make application for a sign permit in writing upon forms provided by the city. Such application shall contain the proposed location of each sign on the premises, the street and number of the premises, the name and address of the sign owner, the type of construction of each sign, the design and dimensions of each sign, type of sign supports, location of each sign on the premises, and other such information as may be required by the city.

C. No person having a permit to erect a sign shall construct or erect same in any manner, except in the manner set forth in the approved application permit.

D. Sign Permit Fees. The application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by a filing fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council.

7.102.040 Application. The applicant shall submit the following:

A. A drawing of the sign indicating its colors, lettering, symbols, logos, materials, size, and area;

B. An elevation and plot plan indicating where the proposed sign will be located on the structure or lot, method of illumination, if any, and similar information.

"Advertising structure" means any notice or advertisement, pictorial or otherwise, and any structure used as, or for the support of, any notice or advertisement for the purpose of making anything known about goods, services or activities not on the same lot as the said advertising structure.

"Alterations" means any change in size, shape, method of illumination, position, location, construction or supporting structure of a sign.

"Balcony" means a platform projecting form the exterior wall, enclosed by a railing, supported by brackets or columns or cantilevered out.

"Banner" means a temporary paper, cloth, or plastic sign advertising a single event of civic or business nature.

"Billboard" means the same as "advertising structure."

"Building facade" means the vertical exterior wall of a building including all vertical architectural features.

"Building register sign" means a sign which identifies four or more businesses contained within a single building structure or complex.

"Bulletin board" means a sign of a permanent nature, but which accommodates changeable copy, indicating the names of persons associated with, events, conducted upon or products or services offered upon, the premises upon which the sign is located.

"Business" means commercial or industrial enterprise.

"Business frontage" means the lineal front footage of the building or a portion thereof, devoted to a specific business or enterprise, and having an entrance/exit opening to the general public.

"Cartoon" means a caricature of an animate or inanimate object intended as humorous.

"Construction sign" means a sign stating the names , addresses or telephone numbers of those individuals or businesses directly associated with a construction project on the premises.

"Curvilinear" means represented by curved lines.

"Direct illumination" means a source of illumination directed towards such signs so that the beam of light falls on the exterior surface of the sign.

"Flag" means a light flexible cloth, usually rectangular and bearing a symbol(s) representing a nationality, statehood, or other entity.

"Flashing sign" means a sign incorporating intermittent electrical impulses to a source of illumination, or revolving in a manner which creates the illusion of flashing, or which changes color or intensity of illumination.

"Fluorescent colors" means extra bright and glowing type colors; includes "dayglow" orange, fluorescent green, etc.

"Fluorescent lighting" means light provided by tubes.

"Free-standing" means a sign which is entirely supported by a sign structure in the ground.

"Frontage" means the single wall surface of a building facing a given direction.

"Illustration" means a line drawing or silhouette of a realistic object.

"Marquee"means a permanent roofed, nonenclosed structure projecting over an entrance to a building which may be attached to the ground surface or not.

"Neighborhood identification" means a sign located at the entry point to a single-family subdivision comprising not less than two (2) acres, or a sign identifying a multiply-family development.

"Neon light" means a form of illumination using inert gases in glass tubes. Includes "black light" and other neon lights.

"Parcel" or "premises" means a lot or tract of land under separate ownership, as depicted upon the count assessment rolls, and having frontage abutting on a public street.

"Primary revenue source" means no less than seventy-five percent of gross total principal income derived from a business.

"Public right-of-way" means the area commonly shared by pedestrians and vehicles for right of passage. An easement for public travel or access including street, alley, walkway, driveway, trail or any other public way; also, the land within the boundaries of such easement.

"Quality material" means materials that are appropriate to make temporary window signs, including posterboard, heavy bond paper or wood. All temporary signs will be lettered using the approved lettering styles. Brown paper or brown bags, ragged edges or light-weight paper are not allowed.

"Real estate sign" means a sign indicating that the premises on which the sign is located, or any portion thereof, is for sale, lease or rent.

"Sidewalk" means hard surface strip within a street right-of-way to be used for pedestrian traffic.

"Sign" means any notice or advertisement, pictorial or otherwise, used as an outdoor display for the purpose of advertising a property or the establishment or enterprise, including goods and services, upon which the signs are exhibited. This definition shall not include official notices issued by a court or public body or officer, or directional, warning or information signs or structures required by or authorized by the law or by federal, state, county or city authority.

"Sign, Area of" In determining whether a sign is within the area limitations of this title, the area of the total exterior surface shall be measured and computed in square feet; provided, that where the sign has two or more faces, the area of the total exterior surface shall be measured and divided by the number of faces; nd provided further, that if the interior angle between the two planes of two faces exceeds one hundred thirty-five degrees, they shall be deemed a single face for the purposes hereof. Measurement shall be make at the extreme horizontal and vertical limit of a sign.

"Street frontage" means the lineal dimension in feet of the property upon which a structure is built, each frontage having one street frontage.

"Wind sign or device" means any sign or device in the nature of a series of one, two or more banners fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subject to pressure by wind or breeze.

"Window" means all the glass included with one casement.

7.102.060 Exempt Signs. The following signs and devices shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall not require a sign permit application:

A. Memorial tablets, cornerstones or similar plaques not exceeding six square feet;

B. Flags of national, state, or local governments;

C. Temporary political signs not exceeding four square feet, provided the signs located on private property, and are erected not more than forty five days prior to the election they relate to and are removed within fifteen days following the election;

D. Temporary, nonilluminated real estate or construction signs (no more than one per parcel) not exceeding four square feet, provided said signs are removed within fifteen days after sale, lease or rental of the property, or the completion of the project;

E. Temporary signs for new businesses, after the city has been notified, for a period not exceeding thirty days;

F. Temporary paper signs placed upon a window opening of a nonresidential building, when such signs do not obscure more than twenty percent of the window area, and are maintained for a period not exceeding fifteen days;

G. Temporary paper signs that serve as notice of a public meeting when removed promptly after such meeting is held;

H. Small non illuminated informational signs such as "open/closed" signs (including one 3 foot by 5 foot flag or banner per store front), credit card signs, rating or professional association signs, and signs of a similar nature.

I. Signs placed by state or federal governments for the purpose of construction, maintenance or identification of roads or other public agencies for the direction of traffic, and designed to fulfill the requirements of state and federal funding agencies;

J. Nameplates indicating the name, address or profession of the occupant not exceeding three square feet;

M. Garage sale signs which are to be removed immediately at the close of the sale. Signs shall be maximum size of two (2) square feet, signs shall be no more than four (4) feet in height, and shall be self-supported and not affixed to public signs or utility poles. Signs shall not be placed in the City's park. Signs may be placed in the City right-of-way if placed no closer than four (4) feet from the street. Sign may also be placed on private property with the owner's permission.

N. A sign identifying the name of the occupant or owner, provided the sign is not larger than one (1) square foot, is unilluminated and is either attached to the structure or located within the front setback.

O. Temporary banners, pennants and flags advertising civic events, subject to removal within 48 hours after said event concludes.

P. For approved Type II Home Occupations, one non illuminated sign, not exceeding 144 square inches, which shall be attached to the residence or accessory structure or placed in a window.

7.102.070 General Sign Provisions. The following general sign provisions apply to all signs, except those exempt signs specifically listed in Section 7.102.060, within the city:

A. No sign shall be attached to a utility pole nor placed within any public right-of-way, except garage sale signs, subject to Section 7.102.060 (M), or unless approved by the City Council.

B. When lighting is used for signs, only internal or indirect lighting is allowed. Fluorescent and/or internal neon lighting is not allowed in residential zones.

C. No sign shall contain any flashing lights, blinking or moving letters, characters or other elements, nor shall it be rotating or otherwise movable.

D. Billboards or off-premises advertising signs, temporary signs, wind signs or devices are prohibited, except as allowed in Section 7.102.060.

E. Any unofficial sign which purports to be, is in imitation of or resembles an official traffic light or a portion thereof, or which hides from view any official traffic sign or signal, is prohibited.

F. No sign or portion thereof shall be so placed as to obstruct any fire escape, standpipe or human exit from a window located above the first floor of a building; obstruct any door or exit from a building; or obstruct any required light or ventilation.

G. Sandwich boards shall not obstruct pedestrian walkways, or in any way impede the normal flow of vehicular traffic, and comply with ADA requirements. Sandwich board signs must be removed at the end of each business day with a maximum allowable limit of one sign per store front. Sandwich board signs are considered to be informational signs.

H. No free standing sign, or any portion of any free standing sign, shall be located on or be projected over any portion of a street, sidewalk or other public right of way.

I. Roof signs are not permitted.

7.102.080 Residential Districts. Signs in residential zones shall be permitted as follows:

A. Neighborhood Identification. One free standing sign shall be permitted at each entry point to a subdivision. The sign shall not exceed an area of twelve (12) square feet per sign, nor five feet in height above grade.

B. Multiple-Family Residential and Conditional Uses.  Where otherwise permitted, one sign of not more than twelve (12) square feet shall be permitted for multiple-family dwellings and for conditional uses.   The sign may be attached to the building or freestanding.  If freestanding, the sign shall be mounted in a planter or landscaped area and shall not exceed eight feet in height.  [Amended by Ordinance No. 03-589-O 9/18/03]

7.102.100 Commercial, Industrial and Public Land Zones. Signs in Commercial, Industrial and Public Land Zones shall be permitted as follows:

A. Freestanding sign for uses bordering Highway 30: One free standing sign per parcel. The maximum height shall be 24 feet to the top of the sign. Any lighting shall be indirect. The sign shall contain a maximum of 80 square feet per side and shall be limited to two sides.

B. Freestanding sign for uses not bordering Highway 30: One free standing sign per parcel. The maximum height shall be 24 feet to the top of the sign. Any lighting shall be indirect. The sign shall contain a maximum of 32 square feet per side and shall be limited to two sides.

C. Wall signs placed flat against a building which supports it, not extending not more than twelve inches from the building, and not exceeding ten (10) percent of the gross area of the face of the building to which the sign is attached.

7.102.110 Nonconforming Signs. All signs not conforming with the provisions of this chapter are deemed nonconforming signs.

A. No nonconforming sign shall be changed, expanded or altered in any manner which would increase the degree of its nonconformity, or be structurally altered to prolong its useful life, or be moved in whole or in part to any other location where it would remain nonconforming.

B. Termination of Nonconforming Signs.

1. Immediate Termination. Nonconforming signs which advertise a business no longer conducted or a product no longer sold on the premises where such sign is located shall be terminated within thirty days after the business or product sale ceases.

2. Termination by Change of Business. Any nonconforming sign advertising or relating to a business on the premises on which it is located shall be terminated upon any change in the ownership or control of such business.

3. Termination by Damage or Destruction. Any nonconforming sign damaged or destroyed, by any means, to the extent of one-third of its replacement cost new shall be terminated and shall not be restored.

4. Termination shall consist of removal of the sign or its alteration to eliminate fully all nonconforming features.

A. Any sign advertising or relating to a business, except a regular seasonal business, on the premises on which it is located, which business is discontinued for a period of thirty consecutive days, regardless of any intent to resume or not to abandon such use, shall be presumed to be abandoned and all such signage, whether conforming or nonconforming to the provisions of this title shall be removed within thirty days thereafter. Any period of such non-continuance caused by government actions, strikes, materials shortages or acts of God. and without any contributing fault by the business or user, shall not be considered in calculating the length of discontinuance for purposes of this subsection.

B. An extension of time for removal of signage of an abandoned business, not to exceed an additional thirty days, may be granted by the City Council upon an appeal filed by the legal owner of the premises or person in control of the business.

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