Sec. 98-61. Requirements for specific sign types.
(a) Billboards. No billboard shall be constructed, erected, used or maintained within the city except in compliance with the following provisions:
(1) Billboards shall be located only in specified commercial and industrial zones and shall not be placed within 300 feet of any residential zone.
(2) Each billboard shall have a maximum of two sign faces, one per side, supported by the same structural foundation. Each face shall have a maximum total area of 300 square feet, except that billboards located adjacent to a divided highway may have a maximum sign face area of 600 square feet. All measurements shall include sign face framework and decorative or other additions.
(3) No billboard shall be located within 1,320 feet of another billboard.
(4) No billboard shall exceed 45 feet in total height.
(5) No billboards shall be permitted in A-1 agricultural or C-3 central commercial zoning districts.
(b) Construction signs. Construction signs shall have a maximum sign face area of 32 square feet and a maximum sign area of 64 square feet. All such signs shall be removed within five days of completion of the project.
(c) Garage, porch or yard sale signs. Garage, porch or yard sale signs shall advertise only occasional residential sales of used goods. Each sign shall be freestanding and shall have maximum sign-face dimensions of 24 inches by 24 inches, shall have a maximum sign area of eight square feet and shall have a maximum height of 24 inches. Each sign shall meet all requirements specified for temporary signs and banners, except that it shall be erected no more than two days prior to the first date of the sale and will be removed by the beginning of the first business day following the last day of the sale and shall be displayed without lighting having a primary purpose or effect of illuminating the sign.
(d) Government signs. Government signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
(e) Neon signs. Neon signs shall have an enclosed, vented transformer box and shall be constructed according to standard industry safety practices. For purposes of this provision, the term "neon signs" shall include all signs using neon gas whether or not located inside or outside of a permanent building.
(f) Political signs. Political signs shall not be required to meet all requirements specified for temporary signs and banners, but shall be dismantled and removed within three days after the date of the election.
(g) Projecting signs. Projecting signs shall be located a minimum of ten feet from any other such sign and shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign face area.
(h) Real estate signs.
(1) Real estate signs in residential zones will be displayed only on the premises being advertised and will not exceed a maximum sign-face area of six square feet and maximum sign area of 12 square feet; provided, however, that any sign giving notice of and directions to any open house being shown for sale may be displayed off the premises advertised so long as it is otherwise maintained in full compliance with the size requirements of this subsection and the removal provisions of subsection (c) of this section. A total of two riders are allowed per panel.
(2) Real estate signs in all other zones will be displayed only on the premises being advertised and will not exceed a maximum sign area of 32 square feet.
(i) Special occasion signs. Special occasion signs shall advertise only occasional, noncommercial special events of no more than seven days' duration. Each sign shall meet the requirements of subsection (j) of this section, except that it shall be erected no more than seven days prior to the first day of the special occasion or event and shall be removed by the end of the third day after the end of the special occasion or event.
(j) Temporary signs and banners. A temporary sign is a sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted, and that can be used only for a designated period of time. A banner is any sign, except an awning sign, applied to or made of cloth, paper, fabric, flexible plastic or other fabric-like material that only uses such non-rigid material for backing or background. Signs and banners for special events, or the opening of businesses, are permitted provided that:
1. A temporary use permit is obtained;
2. Such signs and banners are prohibited upon public rights-of-way and may not be placed so as to obstruct a driver's ability to view oncoming traffic from any direction at an intersection;
3. Temporary sign and banner permits shall be limited to a duration of 60 total days per calendar year with four permits of 15 consecutive days allowed each calendar year;
4. No more than four temporary sign or banner permits shall be issued within any 12-month period for the same business in the same location;
5. A newly established business may be issued a temporary use permit for the initial opening of a business for a period that shall end not later than 60 days after issuance of the first business license for that business in that location or from the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for that location;
6. Temporary signs and banners may be attached to and parallel with a wall of the building on which wall signs are permitted and shall not exceed 32 square feet in surface area; and ground mounted signs, when allowed, shall not exceed 16 square feet per sign face;
7. There shall be only one temporary sign or banner, plus one additional sign or banner for street frontage on a second public street, provided that the frontage on that street is at least 150 feet in length and that an actual entrance to the site is permitted on such street.
8. "Not-for-profit" special events, such as those associated with civic, philanthropic, educational purposes, and religious purposes shall be allowed a temporary sign or banner, regardless of whether a temporary use permit is required, provided that:
a. Only one such sign or banner shall be allowed per property per event;
b. Such sign or banner shall be located only on private property;
c. Such sign, if a ground sign, shall be limited to 42 inches in height and 16 square feet in area per side;
d. Such sign, if attached to a wall, shall be limited to 32 square feet in area per side; and
e. Such sign or banner shall be erected no sooner than five days preceding the event and shall be removed no later than one day following the event.
(k) Traffic/directional signs. Traffic/directional signs shall not exceed three square feet in area except upon a special permit issued by the chief city inspector upon showing of clear necessity and shall be permissible in all zones.
(l) Wall signs. No wall sign shall extend above any adjacent parapet or roof of the supporting building nor exceed a sign area of 300 square feet or 30 percent of the area of the wall face on which the sign is located, whichever is less. Wall signs shall be mounted in compliance with the specifications of Table No. 1:
TABLE NO. 1
PROJECTION OF WALL SIGNS FROM BUILDING WALL