HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. O02-32 ORDINANCE NO. O02-32
CITY OF LAUREL MUNICIPAL SIGN CODE
IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, that the
LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE is hereby amended as is set forth below.
Chapter 15.36 shall be amended as follows:
Intent.
This code shall not regulate official traffic or government signs; the copy and message of signs; signs
not intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way; window displays; product dispensers and point
of purchase displays; scoreboards on athletic fields; flags of any nation, government or fraternal
organization; gravestones; barber poles; religious symbols; or any display or construction not defined
herein as a sign.
Definitions.
Animated Sign: Any sign that uses movement or change or lighting to depict action or create a special
effect or scene.
Area of Sign: The entire area ora sign including the area within a perimeter which forms the outside
shape including the frame, forming an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary supports
or uprights on which the sign may be placed. The frame of a sign may be excluded from the area where
such frame conveys no message and is constructed or affixed for aesthetic reasons beyond the
necessary supports.
For computing the areas of any wall or canopy sign which consists of letters mounted or painted on a
wall or canopy, the area shall be deemed to be the area of the smallest rectangular figure which can
encompass all of the letters. (See below section calculation of sign area.)
Banner Sign: Any sign (other than an official flag) made of cloth, paper or fabric of any kind, which
is used to attract attention, whether or not imprinted with words or characters.
Beacon: Any light with one (1) or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one (1) or
mom points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one (1) or more beams that
rotate or move.
Building Marker: Any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information
about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent
material.
Canopy Sign: Any sign that is a part of or attached to any awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or
structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area, and which does not
extend horizontally beyond the limits of the canopy.
Changeable Copy Sign: A sign whose informational content can be changed or altered by manual or
electric, electro-mechanical or electronic means. Changeable signs include the following types:
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· Manually Activated: Signs whose alphabetic, pictograph/c or symbolic information
content can be changed or altered by manual means.
· Electrically Activated: Signs whose alphabetic, pictographic or symbolic
informational content can be changed or altered on a fixed display surface composed
of electrically illuminated or mechanically driven changeable segments. Electrically
activated signs include the following two (2) types:
a. Fixed Message Electronic Signs: Signs whose basic informational
content has been pre-programmed to include only certain types of
information projections, such as time, temperature, predictable traffic
conditions or other events subject to prior programming.
b. Computer Controlled Variable Message Electronic Signs: Signs whose
informational content can be changed or altered by means of computer-
driven electronic impulses.
Copy: The graphic content ora sign surface in either permanent or removable letter, pictographic,
symbolic or alphabetic form.
Directional/Informational Sign: An on-premise sign giving directions, instructions or facility
information and which may contain the name or logo of an establishment but no advertising copy, e.g.,
parking or exit and entrance signs. The sign may contain a logo provided that the logo may not
comprise more than twenty (20) percent o£the total sign.
Director: The Director of Public Works of the City of Laurel or his/her designee.
Flag: Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used as a
symbol of a government, political subdivision or other entity.
Freestanding Sign: Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in,
the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure, including monument signs.
Government Sign: Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the city, county, state
or federal government for traffic direction or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital,
historical site or public service, property or facility.
Height of Sign: The vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign to the crown of the
adjacent street, not including the interstate highway.
Lot: Any piece or parcel of land or a portion of a subdivision, the boundaries of which have been
established by some legal instrument of record, that is recognized and intended as a unit for the
purpose of transfer or ownership.
Maintenance: For the purposes of this code, the cleaning, painting, repair or replacement of defective
parts ora sign in a manner that does not alter the structure of the sign.
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Monument Sign: A sign mounted directly to the ground with maximum height not to exceed ten (10)
feet.
Nonconforming Sign: A sign which was erected legally, but which does not comply with
subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations.
On-Premise Sign: A sign that advertises solely for the property on which it is located.
Portable Sign: Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a
sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by
means of wheels; signs converted to A or T frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as
signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible
from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the
business.
Principal Building: A structure accommodating the principal use to which the property is devoted.
Lots with multiple principal uses may have multiple principal buildings, but storage buildings, garages
and other clearly accessory uses shall not be considered principal buildings.
Projecting Sign: A sign, other than a wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a building, wall
or other structure not specifically designed to support the sign.. Supports shall be covered in a neat and
orderly fashion. Guy wire support is prohibited.
Roof Sign, Above-peak: Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building,
supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
Roof Sign, Integral: Any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a
normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest
portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of
more than six (6) inches.
Setback: The distance from the property line to the nearest pan of the applicable building, structure or
sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line.
Sign: Any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol
or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose ora person or entity, or to
comraunicate information of any kind to the public.
Street: A public way for vehicular traffic, whether designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare,
parkway, throughway, road, avenue, boulevard, land, place or however otherwise designated which has
been dedicated to or acquired for public use, and which extends the full width between right-of-way
lines.
Street Frontage: The length of the property line of any one (1) premise along each public right-of-
way it borders excluding alleys, government easement accesses, and the interstate highway.
Suspended Sign: A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal place surface and is
supported by such surface.
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Temporary Sign: A non-permanent sign erected and maintained for a specific limited period of time.
Wall Sign: Any sign attached parallel to, painted on the wall surface, or erected and confined within
the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building,
and which displays only one (1) sign surface. Wail signs shall not exceed twenty-two (22) inches in
depth measured from the face on the wall on which the sign is mounted.
Wind-Driven Sign: Any sign consisting of one (1) or a series of two (2) or more banners, flags,
pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers or other objects or material fastened in such a manner as to
move upon being subjected to pressure by wind or breeze.
Window Sign: Any sign, pictures, symbol or combination thereof, designed to communicate
information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service that is placed inside a
window or upon the windowpanes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
Signs Prohibited.
All signs not expressly permitted under this section or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance
with the following section are prohibited. Such signs include, but are not limited to:
1. Beacons
2. Wind-driven signs, except flags as defined in this section
3. Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under
the following section
4. Inflatable signs and tethered balloons
5. Portable signs
6. Animated signs
7. Above-peak roof signs
8. Banner signs
9. Abandoned signs
10. Snipe signs or signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, or placed on
any public property or public right-of-way
11. Signs placed on vehicles or trailers, which are parked or located for the primary purpose of
displaying, said signs (this does not apply to signs or lettering on buses, taxis, or vehicles
operating during the normal course of business).
Portable and Banner Signs
Permits required: It shall be unlawful for any owner or person entitled to possession of any property
or business, or their authorized representatives, to erect, construct, move, or display a temporary sign
or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a temporary sign permit from the sign
administrator. A temporary sign permit may be issued.
To new businesses or to existing businesses which are relocating and shall be limited in
use to one time for no longer than sixty (60) days; or
2. To existing businesses for the purpose of advertising and shall be limited to a maximum
of thirty (30) consecutive days per calendar year. Such thirty-day period may be split
into no more than two (2) separate periods offifteen (15) consecutive days each.
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Signs Not Requiring Permits.
The following types of signs are exempted from permit requirements but must be in conformance with
all other requirements of this section:
1. Construction signs of sixteen (16) square feet or less
2. Special event or holiday lights or decorations
3. Nameplates of two (2) square feet or less
4. Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency
5. Real estate signs; (see Signs Permitted, 2)
6. Political signs; (see Signs Permitted, 4)
7. Interior signs not visible from the exterior of the building
8. Directional signs not to exceed twelve (12) square feet in area or six (6) feet in height.
Entryway Zoning District.
The provisions of the Entryway Zoning District pertaining to signs shall apply to all signs in that
District and a~e in addition to thc provisions of this Section.
Calculation of Sign Area.
The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all
sign faces visible from any one point. When two (2) identical sign faces are placed back to back, so
that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of
the same sign structure, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
Maintenance.
All signs shall be properly maintained. Exposed surfaces shall be clean and painted if paint is required.
Defective parts shall be replaced.
Lighting.
Unless otherwise prohibited by this code, all signs may be illuminated provided they do not cause or
contribute to a public nuisance. Lighting restricted to the sign face. Monument signs in located in the
Entryway Zoning District must be turned off by midnight.
Changeable Copy.
Unless otherwise specified by this section, any sign herein allowed may use manual or fixed message
electronic sign.
Computer controlled variable message electronic signs shall bc permitted provided that thc bottom of
thc reader board is ten (10) feet above the crown of thc adjacent road.
Signs Permitted (Exceptions to this Section are noted in the Entrywa¥ Zoning DistricO.
1. One (1) non-illuminated sign for each street frontage of a construction project, not to exceed
forty-eight (48) square feet in sign area. Such signs may be erected thirty (30) days prior to
beginning of construction and shall be removed thirty (30) days following completion of
construction.
2. One (1) non-illuminated real estate sign per lot or premises not to exceed sixteen (16) square
feet in sign area for residential properties and thirty-two (32) square feet for commercial
properties. Such signs must be removed fifteen (15) days following sale, rental, or lease of the
real estate involved.
3. One (1) non-illuminated attached building nameplate per occupancy, not to exceed two (2)
square feet in sign area.
4. Non-illuminated political signs not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet in sign area each. Such
signs shall not be erected more than forty-five (45) days prior to the election or referendum
concerned and shall be removed ten (10) days following such election or referendum. Political
signs may be placed only on private property and only with the permission of the property
owner.
5. One (1) subdivision sign per street frontage not to exceed forty-eight (48) square feet in sign
area in each location.
6. One (1) identification sign per entrance to an apartment or condominium complex, not to
exceed thirty-six (36) square feet in sign area.
7. The total square footage of all signs located on the property, including, but not limited to
freestanding, wall, projecting, integrated roof, canopy, under-canopy and directional signs,
shall not exceed three (3) square feet in sign area for each lineal foot of property frontage. This
frontage shall be calculated using local streets--not the interstate highway.
8. One (1) on-premise, freestanding sign may be installed to a height of forty (40) feet and may be
a maximum of three hundred-fifty (350) square feet if the principal purpose of such signs is to
address interstate traffic as determined by the director. The sign must be oriented
perpendicularly to the interstate so the sign is visible to the interstate traveler.
9. Freestanding signs which are not on-premise and which do not address interstate traffic as
determined by the director may be installed to a maximum height of twenty-four (24) feet and
may have a maximum size of one hundred-fifty (150) square feet. Exceptions to this are noted
in the Entryway Zoning District.
10. The setback for the leading edge of freestanding signs shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet.
11. No sign may be placed or designed so as to simulate or interfere with traffic control devices or
official highway directional/informational signs.
12. Wall signs shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the square footage of the wall area upon
which they are installed. Electric awning and canopy signs shall not exceed twenty (20) percent
of the square footage of the wall area upon which they are installed. The combination of
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wall signs, electric awning, canopy signs and projecting signs shall not exceed twenty (20)
percent of the allowed wall sign area.
13. Integrated roof signs may be used instead of wall signs. The integrated roof sign size shall not
exceed the allowable size for a wall sign. Integrated roof signs shall be constructed so as to
conceal all structures and fastenings. The height of the sign shall not exceed the roof to which it
is attached.
14. Projecting signs may be used instead of any wall or freestanding signs provided they do not
project beyond the property line and maintain a clearance often (10) feet over sidewalk and
fourteen (14) feet over any parking lot, driveway or crown of the street, whichever is higher.
Projecting sign size shall not exceed the allowable size for a wall sign.
15. One (1) under-canopy sign for each separate occupancy or separate entrance not to exceed eight
(8) square feet in sign area. Under-canopy signs must have a minimum clearance of nine (9)
feet from the sidewalk.
16. Window signs shall not cover more than thirty (30) percent of the window area.
17. On-site directional signs as required.
Shopping Center Signs (Exceptions to this Section are noted in the Entrvway Zoning District).
1. Shopping centers shall be allowed one (1) freestanding sign directory sign per frontage. The
sign shall not exceed one hundred-fifty (150) square feet plus five (5) percent of the one
hundred-fifty (150) square feet per tenant. Maximum sign size shall not exceed three hundred-
fifty (350) square feet.
2. Shopping centers signs shall not exceed the maximum allowable freestanding signage.
3. Shopping center signs cannot be used if the Common Signage Plan is used.
Common Si~nage Plan.
1. If the owners of two (2) or more contiguous or adjacent (disregarding intervening streets and
alleys) lots or the owner of a single lot with more than one building (excluding accessory
buildings) or multiple use buildings file with the Director for such lot(s) a Common Signage
Plan conforming with the provisions of this section, a twenty-five (25) pement increase in the
maximum total sign area shall be allowed for each included lot. This bonus shall be allocated
within each lot as the owner(s) elects.
2. Provisions of Common Signage Plan. The Common Signage Plan shall contain all of the
following information:
a. An accurate plot plan of the lot, at such scale as the Director may reasonably require,
b. Location of buildings, parking lots, driveways, clear vision triangles and landscaped areas
on such lot,
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c. Computation of the maximum tntal sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the
height of signs and the number of freestanding signs allowed on the lot(s) included in the
plan under this chapter; and
d. An accurate indication on the plot plans of the proposed location of each present and future
sign of any type, whether requiring a permit or not.
e. Window signs may simply indicate the areas of the windows to be covered by window
signs and the general type of the window signs (e.g., paper affixed to window, painted,
etched on glass, or some other material hung inside the window) and need not specify the
exact dimension or nature of every window sign.
The Common Signage Plan shall also specify standards of consistency among all signs on the
lots affected by the Plan with regard to:
a. Color scheme;
b. Letter or graphic style;
c. Lighting;
d. Location of each sign on the building(s);
e. Material; and
f. Sign proportions.
3. Limit on Number of Freestanding Signs Under Common Signage Plan. The Common Signage
Plan, for all lots with multiple uses or multiple users, shall limit the number of freestanding
signs to a total of one (1) for each street on which the lots included in the plan have frontage
and shall provide for shared or common usage of such signs. Where street frontage exceeds five
hundred (500) feet, one additional freestanding sign may be allowed per five hundred (500)
foot increment.
4. Other Provisions of the Common Signage Plan. The Common Signage Plan may contain other
restrictions as the owners of the lots may reasonably determine.
5. Consent. Common Signage Plan shall be signed by all owners or their authorized agents in
such form as the Director shall require.
6. Procedures. Common Signage Plan shall be included in any development plan, site plan,
planned development or other official plan required by the City for the proposed development
and shall be processed simultaneously with such other plan.
7. Amendment. Common Signage Plan may be amended by filing a new Common Signage Plan
that conforms with all requirements of the code in effect.
8. Existing Signs Not Conforming to Common Signage Plan. If any new or amended Common
Signage Plan is filed for a property on which existing signs are located, it shall include a
schedule for bringing into conformance, within five (5) years, all signs not conforming to the
proposed amended plan or to the requirements of this section effective on the date of
submission.
9. Binding Effect. After approval ora Common Signage Plan, no sign shall be erected, placed,
painted or maintained, except in conformance with such plan, and such may be enforced in the
same way as any provision of this chapter. In case of any conflict between the provisions of this
section and Common Signage Plan, the section shall control.
10. Dissolution of Common Signage Plan. If the signatories ora Common Signage Plan wish to
dissolve the Common Signage Plan, written notice must be submitted to the Director. All signs
on the property for which the Common Signage Plan was dissolved must bring all signs into
conformance with this section within thirty (30) days of the date written notice was subrnitted
to the Director.
Noneonformin~ Signs.
Existing signs which do not conform to the specific provisions of this section may be eligible for the
designation "legal nonconforming' provided that:
1. The Director determines such signs are properly maintained and do not in any way endanger
the public;
2. The sign was installed in conformance with a valid permit or variance or complied with all
applicable laws on the date of adoption of this section; and
3. The sign owner registers the sign with the Director within six (6) months of the adoption of
this code. If the owner fails to register the nonconforming sign with the Director, the sign then
must be brought into compliance with this code within thirty (30) days.
A legal nonconforming sign may lose this designation if:
1. The sign is relocated or replaced; or
2. The structure or size of this sign is altered in any way except toward compliance with this
section. This does not refer to change of copy or normal maintenance.
The legal nonconforming sign is subject to all requirements of this section regarding, safety,
maintenance, and repair. However, if the sign suffers more than fifty (50) percent damage or
deterioration, as based on appraisal, it must be brought into conformance with this section or removed.
Non-conforming signs located in the Entryway Zoning District must be brought into compliance with
the conditions of the Entryway Zoning District within seven years.
Construction Sl~eeifiearions.
1. Plans and specifications and the required review fee for all signs, including those in the
Entryway Zoning District, must be submitted to the City of Laurel Building Department prior to
the start of construction. The Building Department must grant a Construction Permit prior to any
construction activity.
2. All signs shall be installed in compliance with the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and the
National Electric Code (NEC). 9
3. All signs shall be inspected by the City of Laurel Building Department for compliance with all
applicable codes (including, but not limited to structure, wind load, and electrical hook-up).
4. All electrical freestanding signs must have underground electrical service to such signs.
5. Any change in sign construction or face, excluding changeable copy as herein defined, shall
require a new Construction Permit and fee.
This ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final passage by the City Council
and approved by the Mayor.
Introduced and passed on first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on
June 18 ,2002, by Alderman Van Roekel
PASSED and ADOPTED by the Laurel City Council on second reading this 21st day of
October ,2003, upon motion of Alderman Poehl$
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 215t day of October ,2003.
ATTEST:
~ Clerk-Treasurer -
APPROVED AS TO~
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