§ 165-109. General regulations for signs.

A. 

No billboard or billboard signs shall be permitted. No sign otherwise lawful under this chapter shall be prohibited because of this article.

B. 

No sign shall be placed or located or displayed upon any sidewalk or area between sidewalk and curb.

C. 

Reserved.

D. 

No signs shall be erected or painted or composed of fluorescent or phosphorescent or similar material.

E. 

No sign shall be, in whole or part, moving, mobile or revolving.

F. 

Sign colors.

(1) 

No sign shall have more than two colors, inclusive of its background, frame and decorative parts. However, varying tones or gradients of the two main colors may be utilized on a sign and shall not constitute additional colors. For the purposes of this chapter, black and white shall not be considered colors.

(2) 

Sign colors and styles shall complement the building design, architecture and color scheme.

G. 

Canopies, awnings and marquees with signatures embossed upon them shall be considered to be business signs.

(1) 

Canopies, awnings and marquees must be a single color: navy or royal blue, burgundy, forest green, black or brown.

(2) 

Lettering and/or logos on all canopies, awnings and marquees must be either another permitted color or white or gold.

(3) 

Buildings with multiple businesses must utilize same awning type with a same primary color for each adjacent business.

(4) 

No canopy, awning or marquee shall extend above a sidewalk, doorway, public right-of-way or driveway at a height lower than eight feet.

(5) 

Sign lettering and/or logo shall comprise no more than 30% of the total exterior of the canopy, awning or marquee.

(6) 

Canopies, awnings and marquees shall be designed to project over individual window and door openings and should be permanently attached to the building.

(7) 

Canopies, awnings and marquees shall be constructed of matte-finish canvas or similar material.

H. 

No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.

I. 

No sign or other advertising structure, as regulated by this chapter, shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, cause an optical illusion or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of words, phrases, symbols or characters in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

J. 

In order to preserve the basically residential character of this community and to facilitate the improvement of its commercial and industrial areas in a safe and orderly manner, no commercial outdoor advertising signs, billboards or other signs which are not expressly and directly related to the business being conducted on the premises and which do not conform to the applicable requirements and standards set forth in other sections of this chapter shall be permitted, and all other such commercial outdoor advertising signs, billboards and other nonconforming signs are specifically prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.

K. 

All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the BOCA Code. If the Zoning Officer shall find that any sign is unsafe or insecure, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign may be erected. If such owner, agent or person fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 10 days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Zoning Officer, at the expense of the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign may be erected. The Zoning Officer may cause any sign or other advertising structure which an immediate peril to persons or property is to be removed summarily and without notice.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 110, Construction Codes, Uniform.