ARTICLE 8

SIGNS

8.1       Purpose

The purpose of this Article is to define the types of signs that will be permitted in the various zoning districts and those that will be prohibited, the manner in which sign areas and dimension will be measured and exempting certain types of signs from these Regulations. It is further the intent of this Article to encourage the erection of signs that are attractive and compatible with the adjacent property, that will preserve and enhance the property values within the County, that will provide for the public convenience, health, and welfare, and that will protect the public safety.

8.2       Sign Permits

(A)      No sign, except for signs listed in Section 8.4 shall be altered, constructed, erected, remodeled or expanded until a permit for such sign has been obtained. An application for a sign permit shall be submitted with a reasonable nonrefundable processing fee fixed by the Board. A sign permit for all permitted signs shall be in force as long as the sign is maintained in reasonable repair.

8.3       General Standards

            (A)      Gross Surface Area of Sign

The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such sign, and in no case passing through or between any adjacent elements of same. Such perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside the limits of such sign which do not form an integral part of the display. The gross area of a sign shall be measured only on one side of such sign unless both sides thereof are utilized as a sign. When two or more signs are located on a zoned lot, the gross surface area of all signs on the lot shall not exceed the maximum district regulations. For computing the area of any wall sign which consists of letters mounted or painted on a wall, the area shall be deemed to be the area of the smallest rectangular figure which can enclose all of the letters.

(B)       Height of Sign

            Sign height shall be measured from grade at the base of or below the sign to the highest element of the sign.

(C)       Building and Electrical Codes Applicable

            All signs must conform to the regulations and design standards of the County. Wiring of all electrical signs must conform to the State Electrical Code.

(D)      Illuminated Signs

            Signs shall be shielded or shaded wherever necessary to avoid casting bright light upon property located in any residential district or upon any public street or park. Any illuminated sign located on a lot adjacent to or across the street from any residential district, which sign is visible from such residential district, shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except for no-vacancy signs.

(E)       Flashing, Blinking and Animated Signs

            No flashing signs, rotating or moving signs, animated signs, signs with blinking or moving lights or signs which fluctuate or create the illusion of movement shall be permitted. A sign whereon the current time and/or temperature is indicated by intermittent lighting shall not be deemed to be a flashing sign if the lighting changes are limited to the numerals indicating the time and/or temperature and are not more frequent than every ten (10) seconds.

(F)       Accessway or Window

            No sign shall block any required access way or window.

(G)      Signs on Trees or Utility Poles

            No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole on public property.

(H)      Corner and Double-Frontage Lots

            On corner and double-frontage lots, each lot line that abuts a street or highway shall be considered a separate street frontage. On corner and double-frontage lots, restrictions that are phrased in terms of “signs for each permitted use” shall be deemed to permit the allowable number of signs facing each street or highway that abuts the lot.

(I)        Traffic Safety

(1)       No sign shall be maintained at any location where by reason of its position, illumination, size, shape or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

(2)       No sign shall be located in any vision clearance area. (See Section 4.11)

(J)        Outdoor General Advertising Signs

(1)       Outdoor general advertising signs, not exceeding 32 square feet in area will be permitted in any zone district except RE, R, MHE, or MH.

(2)       No outdoor general advertising sign shall be painted on or attached to any natural physical feature or any public property.

(K)      Political Signs

            Political signs may be erected and maintained provided that such signs: shall be removed within 15 days following the election to which the sign relates; shall be limited to wall, window and ground signs; shall be limited to a maximum height of 25 feet; shall not be animated; shall not flash, blink or fluctuate, and; may be illuminated but only from a concealed light source.

(L)       Acreage or Lots for Subdividing

            One (1) sign not more than 50 square feet in area announcing the sale of acreage, or the sale of lots in a subdivision may be located on the subject property or on such development. Said sign shall be removed at the end of two (2) years; a twelve (12) month extension may be granted at the option of the Board of County Commissioners. The subdivider shall post a performance bond with the County at the time a sign permit is issued in the amount of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or in such greater amount as determined by the Board.

8.4       Exemptions

The following signs shall comply with all provisions of this Article but may be erected and maintained in all districts without a permit except in the Alpine and Subalpine Zone District. In the Alpine and Subalpine Zone District, the signs described in paragraphs (B), (C), (P) and (Q) shall require a permit.

(A)      Address Numerals

Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulations, provided that the content and size of the sign do not exceed the requirements of such law, order, rule or regulation.

(B)       Agricultural Signs

            Business signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area when located on property used for agricultural purposes and pertaining to the sale of agricultural products and livestock produced on the premises.

(C)       Bulletin Boards

            Bulletin boards not over 20 square feet in area for public, private, charitable or religious institutions where the same are located on the premises of said institutions.

(D)      Contractor Signs

            Not more than 20 square feet in area naming the contractors engaged in the construction on the property where the sign is located.

(E)       Flags and Emblems

            Flags or emblems of a government or of a political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization.

(F)       Home Occupation Signs on the Location of the Home

            One (1) home occupation sign shall be allowed on the lot, shall be setback at least 25 feet from the property line, shall not exceed 16 square feet in sign area and shall be flat, single-face.

(G)      Holiday Decorations

            Signs in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday provided that such signs shall be displayed for a period of not more than 60 consecutive days nor more than 60 days in any one year; may be of any type, number, area, height, location, illumination or animation.

(H)      Identification Signs

            Identification signs not exceeding 15 square feet in gross surface area accessory to a multiple-unit dwelling.

(I)        Memorial Signs

Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface, permanently attached to or inlayed so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.

(J)        Nameplate Signs

            Nameplate signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in gross surface area accessory to a one-unit or two-unit dwelling.

(K)      Occupant Signs

            Signs limited in content to the name and address of the occupant and signs of danger or of a cautionary nature are limited to: wall and ground signs; no more than two (2) per street front; no more than four (4) square feet per sign in area; no more than ten (10) feet in height above grade; signs which may be illuminated only from a concealed light source which does not flash, blink or fluctuate, and; signs which are not animated.

(L)       On-Site Informational Signs

            Signs commonly associated with and limited to information and directions relating to the Permitted Use on the lot on which the sign is located, provided that each such sign is only for the convenience of the public and is limited to: wall, window and ground signs; not more than five (5) square feet per sign in area; no more than ten (10) feet in height above grade; may be illuminated only from a concealed light source which does not flash, blink or fluctuate; shall not be animated except that gauges and dials may be animated to the extent necessary to display correct measurement.

(M)     Professional Signs

            Nameplate signs of not more than two (2) square feet in area of a wall or window type.

(N)      Public Signs

            Signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance may be of any type, number, area, height above grade, location, illumination or animation authorized by the law, statute or ordinance under which the signs are erected.

(O)      Real Estate Signs

            Signs not extending outside the property line and not more than 16 square feet per face in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located, except for those controlled by Section 8.3(K).

(P)       Scoreboards

            Scoreboards in athletic stadiums.

(Q)      Signs in a Display Window

            Signs in the display window of a business use, which are incorporated with the display of merchandise or a display relating to services offered.

(R)       Signs Within Buildings

            Any sign placed inside a building may be erected without a permit but subject to safety considerations.

8.5       RU, RR, C, and I Districts

            (A)      Permitted Contents of Signs

Identification by letter, numeral, symbol or design of the permitted or approved conditional uses by name, use, hours of operation, services and products offered, events and prices of products and services.

(B)       Permitted Sign Types

            Wall, window, ground and arcade signs.

(C)       Permitted Maximum Number of Signs

            Each permitted use may have the greater number of the following: 1) three signs or 2) two signs for each street frontage of the lot on which the permitted use is located.

(D)      Permitted Maximum Sign Area

            One (1) square foot for each two (2) lineal feet of street frontage, provided no single sign of any use shall exceed a gross surface area of 200 square feet total for all faces.

(E)       Permitted Maximum Height Above Grade

            Twenty-five (25) feet.

(F)       Permitted Location of Signs

(1)       Wall and window signs shall be set back from the boundary lines of the lot on which the sign is located the same distance as the structure containing the principle use provided that wall signs may project into the required setback space twelve (12) inches.

(2)       Ground signs shall be set back ten (10) feet from the boundary lines of the lot on which the sign is located provided that any required vision clearance area shall be maintained as required.

(G)      Illumination of Signs

            Illuminated signs shall be permitted provided that no direct illumination shall be permitted to shine on any residential district or public park or right-of-way and no sign shall flash, blink or fluctuate.