§ 152.304. GENERAL STANDARDS.

(A) Location.

(1) All signs must advertise a business or service on the premises upon which the sign is located and to which the sign is accessory, unless otherwise specified herein.

(2) No sign, or portion thereof, shall be closer than four feet to any electric light pole, street lamp, or other public utility pole or standard.

(3) No sign, or portion thereof, shall be closer than 13 feet to any electrical conductor without proof of approval by the public utility company.

(4) No sign shall obstruct any opening required for building ventilation.

(5) No sign shall impede free entry or exit through any door, window, or fire escape.

(6) No sign shall be located in, project into, or overhang a public road right-of-way without the approval of the controlling government agency and the Village Council.

(7) No sign shall in any way obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or the view in any direction at a road intersection. The applicant shall submit proof of compliance with this standard from the applicable road agencies.

(B) Illumination.

(1) No sign shall be illuminated by other than electrical means.

(2) The light from illuminated signs shall be directed and shielded in a manner that will not interfere with vehicular traffic or the enjoyment and use of adjacent properties.

(3) No sign may be erected which flashes, rotates, has moving parts or messages generated by discrete lighting elements; such illuminated lights shall be in accordance with § 152.303(E).

(4) Internal illumination shall be permitted under the following circumstances:

(a) Individual back-lit letters which are silhouetted against softly illuminated walls.

(b) Individual letters with translucent faces, containing soft lighting elements inside each letter.

(5) Metal-faced box signs with cut-out letters and soft-glow fluorescent tubes.

(6) Only indirectly illuminated signs shall be allowed in any residential district.

(7) Internally-illuminated plastic signs with dark-colored detachable letters shall be strictly prohibited in all districts.

(8) Gas-filled light types (fluorescent) shall be allowed for indirect illumination and when placed in such a manner that the tubes are not exposed to view from any point along the roadway or sidewalk.

(9) Rear-illuminated (backlit) awnings are prohibited.

(C) Safety.

(1) All signs shall be erected and maintained in compliance with all applicable building code, and other applicable ordinances governing construction within the village. In the event of conflict between this section and other laws, the most restrictive shall govern.

(2) All signs shall be so placed as to not interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal; driver vision at any access point or intersection; or pedestrian movement on any public sidewalk.

(3) No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to obstruct fire fighting or prevent free access to any door, window, or fire escape.

(Ord. 37, passed 8-28-2005; Am. Ord. 95, passed 6-28-2010; Am. Ord. 107, passed 12-12-2011) Penalty, see § 152.999