§ 202-5. General sign regulations.

Any publicly displayed sign as defined above, any symbol or notice on the premises to advertise the business transacted at such location, product, goods, service sold or provided therein, or name of the person or firm conducting said business on the premises, or directing the reader to some other locale, or which calls attention of the public to a product, activity, service, commodity or business not located on the premises, shall be regulated as follows:

A. 

Permit. Any person, partnership, company, corporation or entity who desires to erect or display any form of sign as defined herein, unless otherwise exempt, shall first apply for and secure a permit from the City to display said sign.

B. 

Size, height and location. All signs shall comply with the square footage requirements, height limitations or location restrictions provided in § 202-10 or 202-11.

C. 

Clear corner vision. Signs, except as otherwise permitted herein, shall not be located at a street corner which would obscure the vision of drivers using such streets, and shall not conflict with traffic control signals at the intersection of any street. No sign, except as otherwise permitted herein, shall be located within a triangular area formed at the intersection of any two street right-of-way lines by a straight line drawn between such right-of-way lines at a distance along each line 25 feet from their point of intersection, unless specifically approved by City Council.

D. 

Illumination. Signs can only be illuminated by approved lighting devices. All illuminated signs shall be arranged or shielded so as not to interfere with the vision of persons on adjacent thoroughfares and/or adjacent properties, and in no event shall an illuminated sign shine onto adjacent property which is used for residential purposes.

E. 

Permanent nonaccessory signs. Permanent nonaccessory advertising signs are only allowed in M-1 and M-2 Industrial Districts.

F. 

Temporary nonaccessory signs. Temporary nonaccessory signs, such as real estate development signs designed to advertise the sale of lots in a residential subdivision under development, portable signs or placards advertising a community event, private activity or special sale, may be permitted on a temporary basis in any district but only upon securing approval as required in § 202-10 or 202-11.

G. 

Billboards. Billboards are permanent nonaccessory signs and are only permitted in M-1 and M-2 Industrial Districts, provided they meet the requirements of this chapter and the state construction and electrical codes, and are not located within 1,000 feet from a residential use, residentially zoned district or 2,000 feet from the location of another billboard sign.

H. 

Code compliance. All signs shall be erected and maintained in compliance with all applicable adopted building and electrical codes and any other applicable ordinances governing sign construction and location within the City. All signs shall be constructed so as to withstand normal wind forces encountered in the area as determined by the Building Official.

I. 

Maintenance. All signs shall be properly maintained in good working order and shall not be allowed to become unsightly or insecure, or in danger of falling through disrepair or action of the elements. Paper or paper-faced or plastic-wrap signs shall be maintained free of peeling paint, tears, sun fading, staining, rust or other conditions which might impair the legibility of such sign or cause it to become unsightly.

J. 

Garage sale or yard sale signs. Yard sale, garage sale and rummage signs require a permit from the City. No more than two such permits may be secured by the same property owner for the same residential address in one calendar year. This limitation on the number of permits excludes and does not include participation in the City-wide yard sale. A rummage, garage or yard sale may take place no more than three consecutive days at a time. The sign advertising the sale must be removed within 24 hours from the last day of the sale.