CONTENTS

ARTICLE IX - SIGN REGULATIONS

9.1 DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

To permit and regulate the use of signs in all districts.

9.2 DEFINITIONS RELATING TO SIGNAGE

Sign Area: The entire area within a circle, triangle, or parallelogram enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any figure or similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed; excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two (2) such faces are placed back to back. The area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are equal area, or as the area of larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.

Where a sign consists solely of lettering or other sign elements printed or mounted on a wall of a building without any distinguishing border, panel or background, any blank area which is more than 10% of the area of sign as otherwise computed shall be disregarded. All of the lettering and other sign elements printed or mounted upon a wall of a building without any distinguishing border, panel or background and pertaining to the same enterprise shall be treated as a single sign for purposes of area computation.

Floor Space: The area exclusively occupied by an occupant measured from the inside surface of the walls bounding the exclusively occupied area and excluding any portion of building halls, sanitary facilities, and other common or service areas.

On-Premises Sign: A sign that advertises only goods, services, facilities, events or attractions available on the premises where located, or identifies the owner or occupant or directs traffic on the premises. All other signs are off-premises signs.

Premises: A lot as otherwise used in this Ordinance.

Sign: A name identification, image, description, display or illustration which is affixed to, painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure, or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, facility, service, event, attraction, person, institution, organization or business and which is visible from any street, right-of-way, sidewalk, alley, park or other public property. Customary displays of merchandise or objects and material without lettering placed behind a store window are not signs or parts of signs. Gravestones and grave markers are not signs.

9.3 USE REGULATIONS

The following signs shall be permitted for the identification of premises, for providing information relative to the functions of the premises, or for advertising, within the particular limitations for each district noted. A sign permitted issued by the Zoning Administration is required prior to the placement of a sign.

A. Residential Districts R-1, R-2, RC and MF. One sign identifying each subdivision having an area not exceeding 20 square feet and a height not exceeding 8 feet, is permitted. During development of a subdivision or other property for a period not exceeding two (2) years, one (1) sign, naming the subdivision or other property, developer, contractors, and subcontractors, engineers, architects, brokers, and financial institutions involved, and advertising the development, having an area not exceeding 50 square feet and a height not exceeding 12 feet, is permitted in this subdivision. Signs permitted by this section are exempt from the setback requirements as listed in the applicable section of Article V, District Regulations.

B. Office Commercial District, OC and Transitional Commercial District, TC. On premises signs are permitted an area not exceeding four (4) square feet for each ten (10) feet or fraction of street frontage. No sign shall have an area exceeding 20 square feet. Where any premises have more than one (1) occupant, the permitted area shall be divided among them in the same proportion as floor space is occupied by them. Where the premises have more than two (2) occupants and have a name distinct from that of any occupant, as in an office building, an additional two (2) square feet of sign area for each ten (10) feet or fraction of street frontage, with a maximum of 30 square feet is permitted only for signs advertising the premises. Signs shall be subject to the height and setback rules applicable to buildings in their respective districts.

C. General Commercial District, GC. On premises signs are permitted having an area not exceeding six (6) square feet for each ten (10) feet or fraction of frontage or 60 square feet for each acre or fraction of area of the premises, whichever is larger. No sign shall have an area exceeding 60 square feet. Where any premises have more than one occupant, the permitted area shall be divided among them in the same proportion as floor space and outdoor sales space is occupied by them. Where the premises have more than two (2) occupants and have a name distinct from that of any occupant, as in a shopping center, an additional two (2) square feet of sign area for each ten (10) feet or fraction of street frontage, with a maximum of 100 square footage, is permitted only for signs advertising the premises. Signs shall be subject to the height and setback rules applicable to buildings in the GC district.

D. Downtown Commercial District, DC. On premises signs are permitted having an area not exceeding two (2) square feet for each foot of street frontage for occupants of the ground floor, with a maximum of 50 square feet for each sign, and one (1) square foot for each 100 square feet of floor space occupied for occupants of other floors with a maximum of 32 square feet. Where any premises have more than one (1) ground floor occupant, the permitted area shall be divided among them in the same proportion as floor space is occupied by them. Where any premises have more than one (1) occupant on floors other than the ground floor, the permitted area shall be divided among them in the same proportion as the floor space is occupied by them. Where the premises have more than two (2) occupants and a name distinct from that of any occupant, as in an arcade or office building, an additional one (1) square foot for each foot of street frontage, with a maximum of 32 square feet is permitted for signs advertising only the name of the premises. Where an occupant has an entrance on an alley, an additional ten (10) square feet is permitted for signs visible in such alley. No setback shall be required, but there shall be a maximum sign height of 10 feet. Freestanding signs are not permitted in the DC zoning district.

E. Public District, P. Signs posted by public authorities identifying activities lawfully conducted on public property or providing direction relative thereto. There are no restrictions as to size, location or height.

9.4 TEMPORARY SIGNS AND BANNERS

Temporary signs and banners shall be authorized by the Zoning Administrator for not more than two (2) months at a time by written permit which shall show the size, shape, content, height, type of construction, and location of such signs and the period during which authorized, upon a finding by the Zoning Administrator, on the basis or written information furnished by the applicant, that the proposed sign or signs are necessary for the direction of the public and not contrary to the spirit and purpose of this Ordinance.

9.5 OBSOLETE SIGNS

It is unlawful to maintain for more than thirty (30) days any sign which has become obsolete because of discontinuance of the business, service or activity which it advertises, removal from the location to which it directs, or for any other reasons. The fact that an obsolete sign is non-conforming shall not be construed as modifying any of the requirements of this section.

9.6 MISCELLANEOUS SIGN RULES

A. It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any sign on any property, public or private, without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof.

B. Its shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any sign, except a cloth flag moved only by natural wind, which moves or has any moving or animated parts or image, whether movement is caused by machinery, electricity, wind, or otherwise, including swinging signs. It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any illuminated sign where the light source moves or is not of constant intensity and color, or any string of lights except from the day after Thanksgiving of each year until the following January 2.

C. It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any sign on, over or above the public land or right-of-way if any part of such signs extends more than four (4) feet over such public land or right-of-way, is less than nine (9) feet above ground level, or has an area exceeding eight (8) square feet, except a sign printed on a marquee or awning, but this section does not apply to signs posted by duly constituted public authorities in the performance of their public duties.

9.7 NONCONFORMING SIGNS

It is the intent to eliminate nonconforming signs except as otherwise specifically set forth in this section as rapidly as the police power of the Village permits. Any lawfully erected sign which is made unlawful by this Ordinance may continue to be maintained (ie being painted or having minor repairs). No nonconforming sign:

A. Shall be changed to another nonconforming sign.

B. Shall have any changes made in the words or symbols used or the message displayed on the sign unless the sign is an off-premises advertising sign, or a bulletin board, or substantially similar type of sign, specifically designed for periodic change of message.

C. Shall be structurally altered so as to prolong the life of the sign or so as to change the shape, size, type or design of the sign.

D. Shall be re-established after the activity, business or usage to which it relates has been discontinued for ninety (90) days or longer.

E. Shall be reestablished after damages or destruction if the estimated expense of reconstruction exceeds fifty (50%) percent of the reproduction cost.

9.8 EXEMPTIONS FROM SIGN REGULATIONS

A. Signs having an area of not more than two (2) square feet, the message of which is limited to conveying street numbers, the names of the premises, the name of the owner of the premises, and the name of the occupant of the premises.

B. Signs having an area of not more than six (6) square feet and the message is limited to warning of danger, prohibition or regulation of the use of property or traffic or parking thereon, or advertising the premises for sale or rent.

D. The flag or any state or nation respectfully displayed.

E. Signs located on the rolling stock of common carriers or on motor vehicles or trailers bearing current licenses plates which are traveling or lawfully parked upon public highways, or lawfully parked upon any other premises for a period not exceeding four (4) hours or for a longer period where the primary purpose of such parking is not the display of any sign and where the number of vehicles bearing a sign or signs of any one (1) advertiser does not exceed one (1) plus one (1) more for each 25,000 square feet of area of the premises.

F. Church or institutional bulletin boards having an area not exceeding 32 square feet.

G. On-premises signs located inside an enclosed building and visible through a window or windows thereof where the area of such signs does not exceed 20% of the area of the window or windows.

H. On any election day, signs advocating or opposing a candidate for public office or a position on an issue to be determined at the election located at least 100 and not more than 200 feet from any entrance to a building in which a polling place is located.

I. Signs visible only from the premises on which located or visible off the premises only through a window or windows from which they are set back at least ten (10) feet.

J. Labels identifying the source, brand name, or manufacturer of merchandise exhibited for sale.

K. Signs indicating only the date of erection of a building and having an area not exceeding six (6) square feet.

L. Signs posted by duly constituted public authorities in pursuance of their public duties are exempt from regulation under this Ordinance.

M. Real estate signs not exceeding six (6) square feet.