Prohibited signs; measurement of sign area; safety standards

A. Prohibitions. These regulations apply to all zoning districts.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
- (1) The following signs shall be prohibited:
  - (a) Colored lighted, neon lighted, and/or flashing lighted signs.
  - (b) Animated signs illuminated by flashing or intermittent lighting, or signs which use movement or lighting to depict action or create a special effect and/or scene.
  - (c) Signs containing reflective elements which sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight.
  - (d) Moving signs, either by mechanical or natural means such as wind.
  - (e) Off-premises signs, defined as any sign or advertising device, including a billboard, which advertises a use or activity not located on, or a product not sold nor manufactured on, the lot on which the sign or device is located.
  - (f) Any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer on the premises. Exceptions are granted to landmark signs, which shall be preserved and maintained even if they no longer pertain to the present use of the premises.
  - (g) Signs which are affixed to, or painted on, any parked vehicle which is not registered or not roadworthy.
  - (h) Permanent signs which are attached to natural features, historic stone walls, utility poles, utility boxes, traffic signs, fences or highway structures.
  - (i) Signs placed on or against trailers or vehicles, whether registered or unregistered, and situated to display advertisement to passersby by parking or extending the vehicle in an area outside of the parking lot.
  - (j) All existing signs erected without the necessary approvals and/or permits.
  - (k) Sign materials or attracting devices, identified as pennants, streamers, spinners, and other moving devices, whether or not containing a message of any kind.
  - (l) Searchlights or any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source, or any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
  - (m) Sign material which fluoresces or phosphoresces.
  - (n) Inflatable signs or inflatable objects displayed as a form of advertising.
  - (o) Billboards.
  - (p) Portable signs, including but not limited to sandwich boards.
- (2) No sign shall be placed or located upon any sidewalk or right-of-way nor shall any sign project over the sidewalk or over any right-of-way.
- (3) With the exception of traffic, regulatory, or informational signs, signs shall not use the words "stop," "caution," or "danger"; shall not incorporate red, amber, green or blue lights resembling traffic signals or emergency vehicles; and/or shall not resemble "stop" or "yield" signs in shape or color.
- (4) Signs and/or banners shall not extend over any street or public right-of-way without prior approval of the Town Council. The Town Council shall require the applicant to maintain sufficient insurance coverage to protect both the Town and the applicant from all claims for personal injuries which may arise from said sign and/or banner.
B. Measurement of sign area.
- (1) Sign measurement shall be based upon the entire area of the sign, with a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the actual sign surface.
- (2) For a sign painted on or applied to a building or window, the area shall be considered to include all lettering, wording or accompanying designs or symbols, together with any background of different color than the natural color or finish material of the building.
- (3) For a sign of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
- (4) The area of supporting framework (for example bracket, posts, etc.) shall not be included in the area if such framework is incidental to the display.
- (5) When a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area, except where two faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than one foot from each other. In this case, the sign area shall be taken as the area of either face, and if the faces are unequal, the larger shall determine the area.
- (6) All signs located within a single premises shall be totaled cumulative for purpose of calculating the sign area; for example, three two-square-foot signs located on one property equals a total area of six square feet.
C. Safety standards. No sign may be erected or maintained which:
- (1) Is structurally unsafe;
- (2) Constitutes a hazard to public safety and health by reason of inadequate maintenance, damage, dilapidation or abandonment;
- (3) Obstructs free entrance to or exit from a required door, window or fire escape;
- (4) Obstructs light or air, or interferes with proper ventilation of the building;
- (5) Is capable of causing electrical shock;
- (6) Blocks pedestrian or vehicle rights-of-way or access;
- (7) Violates the clear vision requirements of § 400-120 of this chapter;
  [Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
- (8) Is within 20 feet of a point of ingress or egress on the site or an abutting site.