Permitted signs and general provisions
(a) Permitted signs. The following signs are permitted and are exempt from the application process provided that they are not threat to public health, safety or welfare:
(1) Historical designation plaques for local, state, or national designated properties or structures of historic significance.
(2) Church, school or other public use may have one sign, not to exceed a total area of 15 square feet.
(3) Real estate signs advertising sale or rent, or signs naming the builder, architect, developer or engineer of a project for which a building permit is in effect and the work is in progress, placed on the promises, not exceeding six square feet. Only one residential real estate sign per lot shall be permitted. Commercial and industrial real estate signs shall be permitted for industrial and commercial properties and shall not exceed 20 square feet in area. All residential, commercial and industrial signs shall be removed within seven days of the sale or lease of the property or unit, or completion of the project for which the sign was placed.
(4) Residence signs, not exceeding a total of two square feet, displaying the name and address of the occupant or resident of the premises or pertaining to a permitted accessory use.
(5) Signs prohibiting trespass, hunting, and the like, warning signs of danger, such as high voltage, and necessary public utility signs, not to exceed and area of two square feet.
(6) Adoptees of Adopt-an-Island Program, sponsor signs sold to advertisers, sponsors or boosters of youth sports teams or leagues which are placed within a field, stadium or arena and otherwise meet all applicable sections of city ordinances and regulations.
(7) Temporary signs for nonprofit or charitable organizations, including exterior messages for national and state holidays, provided, however, that no such temporary sign may be erected for a period of more than 30 days. In all residential districts, such signs shall be limited to nine square feet and setback a minimum of ten feet from any property line.
(8) Traffic and other governmental signs, erected by any public safety agency in the discharge of any governmental function. Such signs may be illuminated. The city council shall have sole discretion as to the suitability of all signs erected, or to be erected on city-owned property, under lease of private enterprise, or otherwise. Any person wishing to place a sign on or over city property shall make a request to the city council.
(b) General provisions.
(1) Obsolete, abandoned, or defunct signs. Any sign advertising, an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located and identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer located on the premises must be physically removed, not just covered over, with 30 days of the business or organization closing or moving.
(2) Any sign authorized and/or having received prior approvals under this article may contain a noncommercial message constituting a form of expression.
(3) Severability. This article and its various parts are hereby declared to be severable. If any section, clause, provision or portion of this article is declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of either this article as a whole or any parts not declared invalid or unconstitutional.
(4) Conflict. If any part of this article is found to be in conflict with any other ordinance of the city, the most restrict or highest standard shall prevail.
(Ch. 419, § I, 3-20-07; Ch. 506, § X, 7-20-10; Ch. 576, § I, 4-16-13)