§ 4-115. Prohibited signs.

It shall be unlawful to erect, cause to be erected, maintain or cause to be maintained, any sign not expressly authorized by, or exempted from, these regulations. The signs listed below are expressly prohibited in all zoning districts in the city.

a.

Signs that are in violation of the building code, electrical code, or other codes adopted by the city.

b.

Portable signs except those specifically permitted in section 4-114.

c.

Beacons and searchlights.

d.

Wind signs consisting of one (1) or more pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers or captive balloons or other objects or material fastened in such a manner as to move freely upon being subjected to pressure by wind (natural or otherwise) whether the sign contains a commercial message or not. Wind signs exclude holiday decorations.

e.

Inflatable signs and tethered balloons and objects animated by forced air.

f.

A sign that, in the opinion of the building inspector or other person charged with code enforcement constitutes a safety hazard.

g.

Any sign which simulates or imitates in size, color, lettering or design any traffic sign or signal, or which makes use of words, symbols or characters in such a manner to interfere with, mislead or confuse pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

h.

Signs consisting of any moving, rotating, flashing, or otherwise animated light or component, except for automatic reader boards allowed in accordance with Sec. 4-123(d)(2).

i.

Strips or strings of lights outlining property lines, sales area, rooflines, doors, windows, wall edges or other architectural features of a building. This prohibition does not include holiday decorations and community decorations. This prohibition does not include neon lighting on buildings. If neon is used to depict wording or logos, it will be calculated as part of the overall allowable signage.

j.

Signs on public land, other than those erected at the direction or with the permission of a public authority.

k.

Signs that emit audible sound, odor, visible matter such as smoke or steam, or involve the use of live animals.

l.

Signs or sign structures that interfere in any way with free use of any fire escape, emergency exit, or standpipes, or that obstruct any window to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by any provision of these regulations or any other regulation of the city.

m.

Signs that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians.

n.

Signs that contain any lighting or control mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals.

o.

Signs placed upon light poles, benches, bus shelters, waste receptacles or shopping cart corrals except those which identify the use of the object on which they are placed, i.e. "Cart Return," or "Bus Stop." Identification of an on-premises activity displayed on cart corrals is allowed but counts toward the maximum allowable square footage of signage allowed on the premises.

p.

Signs erected on public utility poles, even if they are located on private property other than signs erected by a public authority for public purposes.

q.

Signs, other than historical markers or those identifying a natural feature, painted on or attached to trees, rocks, or other natural features.

r.

Signs visible from a public right-of-way that use the word "stop" or "danger" or otherwise present or imply the need or requirement of stopping, caution, the existence of danger, or which for any reason are likely to be confused with any sign displayed or authorized by a public authority.

s.

Signs on any broadcasting or telecommunications tower or any antenna other than appropriate hazard/warning signs.

(Ord. No. 09-1123, 11-23-2009)