The following words and phrases shall have meanings respectively ascribed to them by this article.
Building.
A structure which has a roof supported by columns, walls or air, for the shelter, support or enclosure of persons, animals, or chattel.
Effective area, attached sign.
The sum of the areas of the minimum imaginary rectangles enclosing each word attached to any particular facade. Effective area shall also be referred to as size.
Effective area, monument sign.
The area enclosed by drawing a rectangle of horizontal and vertical lines which fully contain all extremities of the sign exclusive of its supports. The measurement is to be calculated from a viewpoint which gives the largest rectangle of that kind. The effective area for attached signs shall mean the sum of the areas of the minimum imaginary rectangles enclosing each word attached to any particular facade.
Effective area, other sign.
Signs that do not meet the definition of attached signs or monument signs shall be referred to as other signs. The effective area of other signs shall be calculated by drawing a rectangle of horizontal and vertical lines which fully contain all extremities of the sign exclusive of its supports. Effective area shall also be referred to as size.
Facade.
Any separate face of a building, including parapet walls and omitted wall line, or any part of a building which encloses or covers usable space. Where separate faces are oriented in the same direction, or in the direction within forty-five (45) degrees of one another, they are to be considered as a part of a single facade.
Premises.
A lot or unplatted tract, or a combination of contiguous lots or unplatted tracts if the lot or tract, or combination, is under single ownership and is reflected in the plat records of the city.
Premises, dwelling.
A lot zoned SF, TH, or 2F that is occupied by a residential housing structure.
Public right-of-way.
A dedicated road or street, including the easement for that road or street.
Sign.
Any device, flag, banner, light, figure, picture, letter, word, message, symbol, plaque, or poster visible from outside the premises on which it is located, and designed to inform or attract the attention of persons not on those premises.
Sign, attached.
Any sign attached to, applied to, or supported by any part of a building (such as a wall, roof, window, canopy, awning, arcade or marquee) which encloses or covers usable space.
Sign, banner.
A sign which is not permanently affixed.
Sign, detached.
Any sign connected to the ground which is not an attached sign, inclusive of signs on movable objects, except signs on vehicles which are moving or are parked only temporarily, incidental to their principal use for transportation.
Sign, monument.
Any detached sign which is of monolithic or semimonolithic construction being made from masonry or concrete materials or plastic, provided that a masonry base is incorporated into the sign, with no separation between the base of the sign and grade.
Sign, movement control.
A sign which directs vehicular or pedestrian movement within or onto the premises on which the movement control sign is located.
Sign, off-premises.
A sign displaying advertising copy that pertains to a business, person, organization, activity, event, place, service, or product not principally located or primarily manufactured or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
Sign, pole.
Any detached sign which is not a monument sign.
Sign, political.
Any type of sign which refers only to the issue or candidates involved in a political election.
Sign, portable.
A sign designed or constructed or used to facilitate the piecing or moving of the sign from one location to another and that is not permanently affixed to the real property.
Sign, on-premises.
A sign identifying or advertising a business, person or activity, and installed and maintained on the same premises as the business, person or activity.
Sign, protective.
Any sign which is commonly associated with safeguarding the permitted uses of the occupancy, including, but not limited to, “bad dog,” “no trespassing,” and “no solicitors.”
Sign support.
Any pole, post, strut, cable, or other structural fixture or framework necessary to hold and secure a sign, provided that said fixture or framework is not imprinted with any picture, symbol or word using characters in excess of one (1) inch in height, nor is internally or decoratively illuminated.
Sign, vehicular.
Any sign on a vehicle moving along the ground or on any vehicle parked temporarily, incidental to its principal use for transportation. This definition shall not include signs which are being transported to a site of permanent erection.
Zoning district, business.
Any zoning district designated by the zoning ordinance of the city as O, R, C, TC, LI, and HI. Any PD district with the previous listed zoning prefix is also included in this list, unless specifically excluded by its provisions.
Zoning district, nonbusiness.
Any zoning district not designated as a business district in accordance with the above definition.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-1; 1995 Code, sec. 13-1; 1995 Code, sec. 13-1; Ordinance adopting Code)
The provisions of this article shall be administered by the building official or his authorized representative.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-2)
(a) 
No sign shall be erected, constructed, relocated, altered, repaired or maintained except as provided in this article until a permit for such has been issued and the fee paid, except as otherwise provided in this article.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect any sign adjacent to Interstate Highway 45 within the city without first presenting proof that they hold a valid state license, if required.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-3)
All applications for permits shall include a drawing to scale of the proposed sign and all existing signs maintained on the premises and visible from the right-of-way, a drawing of the lot plan or building facade indicating the proposed location of the sign, and specifications.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-4)
(a) 
Every applicant, before being granted a permit to erect, alter, repair or relocate a sign, shall pay to the city a permit fee established by resolution of the city council.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to repair or make alterations, excluding repainting or changing the message, to any sign requiring a permit without first obtaining a repair permit and making payment of the fee required.
(c) 
When a sign is erected, placed or maintained, or work started thereon before obtaining a sign permit, there shall be a late fee equal to twice the amount of the sign permit fee. The late fee does not excuse full compliance with the provisions of this article.
(d) 
A permit for a sign shall expire if the work is not commenced within forty-five (45) days from the date of such permit, or if work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after work is commenced for a period of forty-five (45) days.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-5)
Prior to issuance of a sign permit for a sign in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used, an electrical permit must be obtained according to the existing fee schedule. The electrical inspector shall examine the plans and specifications submitted with the application to ensure compliance with the electrical code of the city. No sign shall be erected in violation of the electrical code.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-6)
The following signs are specifically exempt from the provisions of this article.
(1) 
Movement control signs.
Movement control signs may be erected at any occupancy or any premises, other than single-family or duplex premises, may be attached or detached, and may be erected without limits as to number, provided such signs comply with all other applicable requirements of this article. The occupant of premises who erects a movement control sign shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) 
Each sign must not exceed three (3) square feet in effective area;
(B) 
If a sign is an attached sign, the words must not exceed six (6) inches in height;
(C) 
Each sign must convey a message which directs vehicular or pedestrian movement within or onto the premises on which the sign is located; and
(D) 
The sign must contain no advertising or identification message.
(2) 
Protective signs.
The occupant of a premises may erect not more than two (2) protective signs, in accordance with the following provisions:
(A) 
Each sign must not exceed two (2) square feet in effective area;
(B) 
Detached signs must not exceed two (2) feet in height; and
(C) 
Letters must not exceed four (4) inches in height.
(3) 
Vehicular signs.
Vehicular signs shall conform to the following restrictions and shall:
(A) 
Contain no flashing or moving elements;
(B) 
Not project beyond the surface of a vehicle; and
(C) 
Not be attached to a vehicle so that the driver’s vision is obstructed from any angle.
(4) 
Government signs.
Flags, insignia, legal notices, or informational, directional, or traffic signs, which are legally required or necessary to the essential functions of government agencies, are permitted.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-8)
The following types of signs are specifically prohibited:
(1) 
Balloons, streamers, bunting, banners, flags (except flags allowed under section 3.04.010 of this article) or signs that contain moving parts unless otherwise specifically allowed by this article;
(2) 
Signs erected in violation of the building or electrical code of the city;
(3) 
Signs attached to or maintained upon any tree or public utility pole or structure;
(4) 
Signs attached to or painted on the outside of a fence, railing or wall that is not a structural part of a building;
(5) 
Signs attached to or painted on any sidewalk, curb, gutter or street (except house address numbers);
(6) 
Signs illuminated to an intensity to cause glare or brightness to a degree that could constitute a hazard or nuisance;
(7) 
Signs that move, flash, light intermittently, change color or revolve, unless specifically allowed by this article;
(8) 
Pole signs and flag poles, unless otherwise specifically allowed by this article;
(9) 
Off-premises signs (except those signs allowed under sections 3.04.125 and 3.04.126 of this article);
(10) 
Signs erected in the public right-of-way (except those signs allowed under sections 3.04.125 and 3.04.126 of this article).
(1995 Code, sec. 13-9)
All flags shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) 
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the display of a national, state, or city flag.
(2) 
Businesses may erect one corporate flag and flagpole, per location, for a bona fide company or corporate office located within the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-10)
No person shall display on any sign any obscene, indecent or immoral matter. Any sign which does contain any obscene, indecent or immoral matter must be removed or the obscene, indecent or immoral matter must be removed within twenty-four (24) hours of notice. The owner of the property on which the sign is located shall be responsible for compliance with this article.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-11)
All signs shall be maintained in good condition. Signs which are damaged in any way, rusty or have peeling paint do not meet minimum maintenance criteria. Signs that do not meet minimum maintenance criteria shall be brought into compliance no later than the tenth (10th) day after notice of such violation or the signs must be removed. The owner of the property on which the sign is located shall be responsible for compliance with this article.
(1995 Code, sec. 13-12)