§ 30-16.9. Signs not requiring a permit.

The following signs, and sign alteration and maintenance activities, are exempt from the sign permit requirements of this Article.

(a)

Alteration and Maintenance Operations. The following activities are exempt from sign permit requirements:

(1)

Changing of the advertising copy or message on an existing changeable copy sign or similar approved sign, whether illuminated or non-illuminated.

(2)

Painting, repainting, cleaning, changing permitted items of information, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign, not involving changes to the appearance, location, size or structural changes or changes to the electrical components of a sign.

(b)

Address Numbers and Nameplates. House numbers, as required by Section 30-16.13 of the Village Code, and house nameplates are exempt from sign permit requirements. Nameplates are limited to sixty (60) square inches in area.

(c)

Banners. Banners are exempt from sign permit requirements subject to the following:

(1)

Banners are permitted for any non-residential use.

(2)

Banners are limited to thirty-two (32) square feet in area.

(3)

Only one (1) banner is permitted per lot.

(4)

No banner may be located higher than the roofline of the building to which it is attached or, if attached to a permanent sign, higher than the sign. There must be no encroachment into the public right-of-way.

(5)

Banners are limited to a display period of thirty (30) days and must be removed within two (2) days after a specified event. Banners may be erected on a lot no more than four (4) times in a year.

(d)

Construction Signs. A construction sign identifying the parties involved in the construction to occur or occurring on the lot or premises on which the sign is placed is permitted without a sign permit, subject to the following:

(1)

Such temporary signs must be removed within seven (7) days after primary construction ceases for the project to which the sign pertains.

(2)

Only one (1) construction sign per street frontage may be placed on the lot or premises to which it pertains.

(3)

The sign area of each sign may not exceed:

(A)

Twenty (20) square feet in sign area where the street frontage is less than one hundred (100) feet.

(B)

Sixty-four (64) square feet in sign area where the street frontage is at least one hundred (100) feet.

(4)

Illumination of temporary construction signs is prohibited.

(e)

Directional Signs. The following directional signs are exempt from sign permit requirements:

(1)

Directional or instructional signs accessory to parking and driveway areas, subject to the following regulations:

(A)

One (1) single or double faced sign may be erected to designate each entrance to or exit from a parking or driveway area. Sign area is limited to seven and one-half (7 1/2) square feet.

(B)

Signs designating the conditions of use of off-street parking spaces furnished by an activity may be placed in parking lots or alleys. Such signs may include the name of the activity furnishing the parking spaces but may not include any advertising.

(2)

Signs that direct or guide persons to facilities intended to serve the public, including signs identifying rest rooms, public telephones, walkways, and similar facilities. Advertising matter is not permitted on such signs.

(3)

In addition, an off-street parking facility that contains car sharing spaces may provide signs that in the aggregate total no more than two square feet in area identifying organizations that have car sharing vehicles available at such parking area. No such sign shall be located higher than seven feet above curb level.

(f)

Event Sign.

(1)

A sign announcing the opening or closing of a business, or a business founding anniversary at a location is permitted without a sign permit. Such a sign may not be displayed for more than eight (8) weeks from the date on which the activity commences or concludes. Signs announcing a sale related to the closing of a business or a stock liquidation may be displayed only two (2) times within a calendar year.

(2)

An event sign announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization is permitted without a sign permit. Such signs must be removed within two (2) days after a specified event.

(3)

The sign area of an event sign may not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.

(g)

Flags. Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state or political subdivision of a state are exempt from sign permit requirements.

(h)

Garage or Yard Sale Signs. A garage sale or house sale sign which announces the sale of tangible personal property by the property owner by means of the activity commonly known as a "garage sale," "yard sale" or "house sale" is permitted without a sign permit. Such signs must be displayed on private property only and must be removed within three (3) days of the sale. A garage sale or house sale sign is limited to four (4) square feet.

(i)

Government and Public Signs. The following government and public signs are exempt from sign permit requirements:

(1)

Signs displayed or erected by a governmental body.

(2)

Signs required or authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance, to the extent that said signs are of the type, number, area, height, location or illumination as may be authorized by law, statute or ordinance.

(j)

Holiday Decorations. Holiday decorations, signs or other material displayed in connection with civic, patriotic or religious holidays are permitted without a sign permit.

(k)

Informational Matter.

(1)

Informational matter appearing on gasoline pumps, newspaper vending boxes and other vending machines, automatic teller machines, or matter appearing on or adjacent to entry doors such as PUSH, PULL, OPEN and/or CLOSED, or matter appearing on display windows or doors denoting hours of operation, credit cards accepted, and similar information are exempt from sign permit requirements.

(2)

An automobile service station may display one (1) sign, no larger than nine (9) square feet, above each pump island stating whether the area is a "self service" or "full service" area and the current price per gallon of gasoline sold at the station. No element of the cost to the customer of the gasoline may be omitted from the statement of the price.

(l)

Memorial Plaques. Memorial plaques, including cornerstones, historical plaques and similar signs, displayed for non-commercial purposes are exempt from sign permit requirements.

(m)

Political and Non-Commercial Message Signs.

(1)

A sign or poster expressing the opinion of the owner or occupant of the property about a political, religious, social or similar issue of public concern is permitted without a sign permit, provided that no advertising of goods or services is included.

(2)

Such signs must be posted on private property only, and only with the permission of the property owner.

(n)

Property Management Signs. Property management signs are exempt from sign permit requirements. Such signs must be installed as wall signs and are limited to one (1) square foot in area.

(o)

Real Estate Signs.

(1)

A sign advertising the sale or lease of real estate is permitted without a sign permit and must be located on the lot where the sale or lease of real estate is offered.

(2)

Real estate signs must be removed within seven (7) days after the buyer and seller are mutually bound to conclude the sale or lease of the real estate to which the sign pertains.

(3)

Only one (1) real estate sign per street frontage may be placed on the lot or premises to which it pertains.

(4)

The sign area of each sign may not exceed:

(A)

Ten (10) square feet in sign area where the street frontage is less than sixty (60) feet.

(B)

Twenty (20) square feet in sign area where the street frontage is at least (60) feet.

(p)

Restaurant Menu Signs. Restaurant menu signs containing only the current menu or specials offered by the restaurant are exempt from sign permit requirements. Restaurant menu signs must be wall or window signs and are limited to four (4) square feet in sign area. This does not apply to menu board signs for drive-through uses.

(q)

Theater Marquee. Information displayed on a theater marquee that indicates the names, showtimes and information on current movies or performances are exempt from sign permit requirements.

(r)

Window Signs - Temporary. A business is allowed one (1) or more temporary window signs without a sign permit, provided the total area of the business' window signs does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the window area. Temporary window signs are limited to a display period of eight (8) weeks. Temporary window signs cannot display any off-premise advertising, with the exception of non-commercial messages.

(Code 1993, § 20-16.9; Ord. No. 2015-O-13, 4-14-2015; Ord. No. 2017-O-44, 8-22-2017)