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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regulating the Erection of Signs, Awnings, Fixtures a j ORDINANCE NO, AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE THE LOCATION, ERECTIONT, IPzINTENANCE OR PLACING OF SIGNS, AWNINGS, OR FIXTURES OVERHANGIT.IG THE SIDES':-."LKS OR 11WITHIN THE WHITS OF THE STREETS, AVENUES, OR ALLEYS OF THE, CITY; THE LOCATION, ERECTION, MAINTENANCE OR PLACING OF SIGNS OR OBSTRUCTIONS Ohl PRIVATELY 0��XED PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY AND REQUIRING THE RI1,1OVAL OF EXISTIFG SIGNS OR OBSTRUCTIONS; TEE CONSTRUCTION, ERECTION, MAINTENANCE AND LOCATION1 OF POSTER BOARDS, AND PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING OF TIE; 011•I1TERS TIIEREOF; AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 'OR THE VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDIITI1JTICE. Be it Ordained by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa: SECTION L. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, re-erect, re-locate, or maintain any sign, awning, fixture, or sign board or other obstructions within the limits of any street, avenue or alley or within the limits of the parkings along the same, or to construct or maintain poster boards or signs As specified herein, in the City of Ames, without first having made application therefor, and secured a license from the City Manager as hereinafter provided. SECTION 2. All applications for permits as herein required shall be in writing, on forms furnished by the City and filed in the office of the City Manager, SECTION 3, The City Manager may issue permits for the erection and maintenance of signs, awnings or fixtures under such regulations and restric- . lions as specified herein or as he may deem necessary for ,safety. SECTION 4. Definitions: For the purpose of this ',Ordinance$ the several terms and definitions when used shall have the following meaning: (a) Sign: Any device or surface on which letters, illustrations, designs, figures or symbols are painted, printed, stamped, pasted, raised, or in any manner outlined or attached. , (b) DDisplay�Si n: A structure that is arranged, intended, designed, or used as an advertisement, announcement or direction; and includes a sign, sign screen, billboard and advertising devices of every kinds (c) Poster Board: Any flat surface over twenty (20) square feet in area, erected on a framework, or attached to posts, buildings or other struc- tures, and used for the display of bills, posters or other advertising matter produced on paper sheets, pasted, tacked or fastened thereto. (d) Billboards: Any flat surface twenty (20) square feet or less in area, erected on a framework, or attached to posts, -buildings or other structures, and used for the display of bills, posters or other advertising matter, pasted, tacked, or fastened thereto. (e) Ground Sign: Any sign, except poster boards, the structure of which is erected upon or supported by the ground. (f) Soot Sign: Any sign or poster board placed on or above the roof of any building or structure. (g) Wall Sign: Any sign or poster board with its face parallel to and projecting not more than twelve (12) inches from the wall to which it is attached. (h) Projecting Sign: A sign fastened to, suspended from, or supported . by a building or structure so as to project therefrom at an angle. (i) Awnings: Awnings as specified herein shall refer to drop-awnings attached to buildings by means of movable metal frames. (j) Area: Whenever the word "area" is used in this Ordinance, it shall be construed to mean the display surface included within the framework of any sign measured from outside to outside of such framework, ladders and scroll- work not included. SECTION 5. The following regulations shall apply to all signs, awnings, and poster boards hereinafter erected, re-located, re-built, or altered within 2 the City. The changing of movable parts of signs, awnings or fixtures, that are designed for changes, or the repainting of display matter shall not be deemed to be alterations within the meaning of this Ordinance. Nothing in this Ordinance shall require the removal or discontinuance of a legally existing sign, awning, or fixture that is not altered, re-built, enlarged, or re-located. SECTION 6. Movable Awnings: Movable awnings supported throughout on metal frames may extend over the sidewalk portion of a public street a distance not to exceed two-thirds (2/3) of the width of the sidewalk space; provided that every such awning frame shall be not less than seven feet and six inches (7 ft. 6 in. ) above the sidewalk immediately below and that any curtain or fringe suspended from the frame of such awning shall be not less than seven feet (7 ft. ) above the highest point of the sidewalk grade immediately below. SECTION 7, Wall S,i�ns: (a) Display signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings shall not extend more than one (1) foot outside of the wall surface to which they are attached. (b) No wall sign constructed of wood and attached parallel to the face of a building shall exceed fifty (50) square feet in area, for any twenty-five (25) feet of frontage on such building, .nor shall more than one (1) such sign face be attached to each/of a building. (c) Metal clad flat wood signs, attached parallel to the face of a building shall not exceed seventy-five (75) square feet in area for any twenty. five (25) foot frontage of such building. (d) Wall signs shall not extend beyond the top or ends of the wall surface on which they are placed. 3 (e.) All wall signs shall be securely attached to structural members of buildings vd th metal brackets, expansion bolts,. through bolts or lag screws in such manner as will meet the approval of the City Manager. Nails and wire shall not be used for this purpose and no wall sign shall be dependent for support upon any cornice, window sill, window frame, parapet or other pro- jection. (f) Permits are required for all wall signs within the limits of any street, avenue or alley within the City and for all wall signs containing twenty (20) square feet or more of area. No permit is required for signs painted on the walls of buildings advertising the business or occupation of the occupant of the building. (g) Cloth or banner wall signs are permitted provided that such signs shall not exceed four (4) feet in least dimension and not more than one (1) sign shall be erected upon each building. They shall be promptly removed if torn or damaged and in any case within sixty (60) days after erection. SECTION B. Projecting Signs : (a) Display signs fastened to, suspended from or supported by a building or structure so as to project therefrom at an angle, shall not extend more than four (4) feet beyond the street line; pro- vided that display signs not exceeding two (2) feet in height, supported MAR ee-s directly on ma 'JU-BeS`may extend to the permissible outer limits of such (b) Projecting signs may contain an exposed surface area on one side not to exceed thirty (30) square feet. (c) Such signs shall have a clear space of not less than ten (10) feet below all parts of the sign; provided that signs which extend two (2) feet or less from the building and which contain three (3) square feet or less - 4 .. of exposed surface area on one side may have a clear space of not less than eight (8) feet below all parts of the sign. Projecting signs which extend within the limits of any alley shall have a clear space of not less than sixteen (16) feet above the alley grade. (d) The distance between the parallel surfaces of a box or double Paced sign shall not exceed one (1) foot. (e) All projecting signs shall be securely supported by metal brackets attached to the walls of the buildings *Ith through bolts, expansion bolts or lag screws, as may be required by the City Manager, and shall be firmly braced and held in place by means of soft iron or steel cables, provided with turn- buckles for tightening when so required. No swinging signs will be permitted. Projecting signs which are permitted to extend above the parapet wails may be attached to brackets fastened to the roof by means of through bolts but shall not be attached to any part of 'a wall above the point of bearing of the roof joists or rafters. Turnbuckles and connections in rods and cables shall be provided with closed eyelets, welded or forged. (f) Projecting signs shall be erected, constructed and maintained in a safe and stable manner and such as will meet with the approval of the City Managers All such signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in such manner that they will safely support their own weight and in addition safely resist a horizontal wind pressure of thirty (30) pounds per square foot of exposed area. The unit stress values used in the design of support- ing members shall be fifty per cent (50%) of the allowable unit sires& values commonly used for such material. (g) No display sign of any kind shall be attached to the walls or be placed upon the roof of any building in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape, or any door, window, or other passageway leading to- a fire escape, nor shall such sign be fastened in any manner to a fire escape. No sign shall _ g _ be erected so that any part of it, including cables, guys, etc. , will be within four (4) feet of any electrolier, light pole or other public utility pole or standard. (h) Permits are required for all projecting signs, any part of which is within the limits of any street, avenue, or alley within the City, all pole signs erected on private property within three (3) feet of public streets, alleys or sidewalks, and for all projecting signs which exceed twenty (20) square feet in area within the fire limits district of the City of Ames. SECTION 9. PoSTE.7, 1�6^MDS 4iAb6V.4VM0 SIGHS (a) Poster boards or ground signs exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area are specifically prohibited in the following locations: (1) Closer to any street line or established building line than a distance equal to the height of such sign above the ground. (2) . Within five hundred (500) feet of any railroad crossing when such sign or board will in any manner interfere with or obstruct the view of persons approaching such railroad crossing. (3) Within two hundred (200) feet of any street intersection when such sign or board will in any manner interfere with or obstruct the view of persons approaching such street intersection. (4) Within five (5) feet of any building or of the side or rear Tine of any lot or within two (2) feet of any other poster board or ground sign. (5) In any location not in conformance to the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Ames, Iowa. (6) In any location which will interfere with the lighting of any street, alleys or public places or interfere with any public utility service. 6 .. (b) Poster boards, the supporting structure of which rests upon the ground, or ground signs, shall not exceed twenty (20') feet in height above the ground on which they rest. (c) An open space at least three feet high shall be maintained between the bottom of the poster boards or ground sign and the ground; provided that necessary supports extending through such space, and the filling of such space with lattice or slats leaving at least fifty per cent (50%) of the space open is not prohibited. (d) Poster boards or ground signs when more than thirteen (13) feet in height above the ground, or when containing more than one hundred (100) square feet of surface area, shall be constructed of incombustible materials, provided the mouldins and cappings may be made of wood. (e) All poster boards and ground signs shall be constructed and supported to withstand a horizontal wind pressure of thirty (30) pou4.ds per square foot of surface and all structural parts, posts and braces, shall be proportioned to withstand all induced stressesusing unit stress values of fifty per cent (50/,) of the allowable unit stress values commonly used for such materials. (f) The name of the person, firm or corporation owning or controlling each poster board or ground sign shall be maintained on such poster board or sign so as to be easily read. (g) Permits are required for all poster boards or ground signs exceed- ing twenty (20) square feet of area, erected within the corporate limits of the City of Ames, Iowa. SECTION 10. Roof Signs : (a) Display signs or poster boards that are placed above or supported on the top of a building or structure 'shall be con- structed of incombustible materials, provided that mouldings and cappings may be of wood. 7 -. (b) Such signs or boards shall be set back not less than eight (8) feet from the street line or building line and shall be not more than sixteen (16) feet in height above that part of the roof on which they rest. (c) An open space of not less than four (4) feet shall be maintained below the bottom of the sign or board, except for necessary vertical supports. (d) No roof sign or board shall be supported by wooden beams, wooden braces, or other combustible construction. (e) No -t uch sign or board shall Be so-placed as to obstruct or inter- fere with a required doorway, window, fire escape, passageway to a fire e&capj, or other means of egress. (f) Such signs or boards shall be so constructed that they will support their own weight and in addition, withstand a wind pressure of not less than thirty (30) pounds per square foot of exposed surface with a factor of safety of four (4) and will be otherwise structurally safe. They shall be securely anchored, fastened, and supported so that they will not be a menace to persons or property and in such manner as will meet the approval of the City Manager. (g) Permits are required for all roof signs. SECTION 11. Illuminated Signs: Whenever any sign or board is illumin- ated by electricity or equipped in any way with electrical devices or appliances, such devices and appliances shall conform in all respects to the Ordinances of the City of Ames. Adequate provision shall be made for grounding metallic parts of roof signs exposed to lightning. SECTION 12. Utility Service Poles and Traffic Signs : Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the erection, placing or maintenance of telephon:; telegraph or other poles used for the transmission of electricity within the limits of said parkings which have been specifically permitted by action of the ., 8 .. Council or by law, nor to prevent the erecting, placing or maintaining of high- way traffic signs or signals, as specifically provided by law. SECTION 13. Bond. ,At the time a permit is issued under any of the provisions of this Ordinance, the person, firm or corporation making the appli- cation therefor, may, at the discretion of the City 111 pager, be required to file with the City a good and sufficient bond in a sum of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than twenty-five hundred dollars �2500)0 the amount of the same to be fixed by the City P2ano6ger in accordance with the application and with this Ordinance, with sureties thereon to be approved by the City Clerk, conditioned that the applicant shall pay all injuries or damages that may be sustained by the City or to any other person or property, either public or private, under and by virtue of the matters contained in and set forth in said application and permit or the negligence of the applicant in any matters relating thereto. SECTION 14. Bond Required for Poster Boards: Every person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of constructing and maintaining poster boards shall file with the City Clerk a bond with surety to be approved by the City Clerk, in the sum of one thousand dollars ("1000), conditioned to hold the municipality free from all damages, loss, expense or decrees that may be secured against the municipality on 'account of the construction or maintenance of any poster board, constructed or maintained by such person, firm or corpora- tion. SECTION 15. Permits Required: The person, firm, or corporation, be- fore erecting a poster board, ground sign, or roof sign shall make application_ for and secure a sign permit as required by this Ordinance, and as a condition precedent to making application for a building permit as required by the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Imes, Iowa. 9 - SECTION 16. Fees Charged: The fees to be charged for sign permits issued from and after the passage of this Ordinance shall be as follows: For each sign or billboard for which a permit is required by this Ordinance having an area of ten (10) square feet or less ---__-- 1.00 For each sign or billboard for which a permit is required by this, Ordinance having an area of more than ten (10) square feet ----- $ 3.0C -�f ve, The annual license fee for poster boards shall be cme dollar3(600) for each twenty-five (25) linear feet of board or less and the same shall_ be due and payable in advance on the first day of April each yearA SECTION 17. Zoning Ordinance Requirements: Nothing herein shall be, construed as superseding or conflicting with the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Ames, and any permission for the erection or maintenance of any signs, awning; or other fixtures extending over any sidewalk, street., avenue, or alley of the City, the construction or location of poster boards or bill boards, or the erection, placing or maintenance of signs or obstructions on parkings along the streets, avenues or alleys of the City, shall be granted only in accordance with the terms of said Zoning Ordinances SECTION 18. Inspection: The City Manager is hereby authorized to make. inspections of all signs and poster boards within the City and to notify the owners thereof in writing of such alterations, changes or repairs as may be deemed necessary to make such sign or poster board safe and secure in accord- ance with the requirements of this Ordinance. A failure to comply with the requirements of such notice within the . time limit specified therein, shall constitute a violation of this Ordinance and subject the owner of the sign to the penalties set out herein. It shall also be the duty of the City Manager to order the removal or repair of any sign or poster board hereinafter not erected, constructed, or maintained in accordance with the provisions of the permit issued therefor and a failure to comply with such notice in writing shall be a violation of this Ordinance. - 10 - SECTION 19, Revoking of Permits: All permits issued under and by virtue of the terms of this Ordinance may be revoked, canceled and held for naught at any time by the action of the City Council. nrd►oance IV o,4-X I QMd SECTION 20, Repeal: ^1 ordinances or parts -of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed, except the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and Fire Limits Ordinance of the City of .Ames, the provisions of which shall in all cases take precedence over the requirements as specified herein. SECTION 21. Penalty: .Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance, shall upon conviction, be fined a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) and costs, and in default of payment be committed to the City or County jail until such fine and costs are paid, not exceeding thirty (30) days, or with or without a fine, a jail sentence maybe imposed not exceeding the said thirty (30) days. SECTION 22. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided by law. Passed the 2� day of TT � 1938. MAYOR '` : City Clerk rr Glrsbed //V 7�e► ('�+�� as� o-v -Mc- ,3a°3 dA-y 4r-K'