3.24 Signs and Outdoor Advertising

3.24.1 General Requirements The following general requirements shall apply to all signs and outdoor advertising structures which may be erected or maintained within the Town of Amalga. 3.24.1.1 Sign Approval Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful and a Class B Misdemeanor to erect or maintain any sign or outdoor advertising structure in the Town of Amalga without first obtaining the approval of the Planning Commission for said sign or advertising structure, the giving of which shall be based upon the provisions of this section. Said approval shall not be required for temporary non- electrical wall and nonelectrical freestanding signs of less than thirty-two (32) square feet in area. (Examples of signs not requiring planning commission approval are real estate "for sale" signs and election campaign signs.) 3.24.1.2 Permits The approval of the Planning Commission shall be evidenced by a permit issued by that body. All signs shall be constructed and all permits shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of the International Building Code. All standards in this section are minimum standards, greater restrictions or limitations may be imposed by the Planning Commission. Permits for off-premise non-conforming signs shall be renewed on an annual basis. Applications for permits, or for the renewal of permits, shall require the applicant to disclose the owner of the sign and the owner of the property on which the sign is or will be located, all relevant dates in regard to expiration of any lease or lease option, the date and cost of construction of the sign, the date and cost of any modification of the sign, the fair market value as appraised for property tax purposes, the date the sign will be depreciated for federal income tax purposes, the cost of operating the sign, and any other information reasonably required by the planning commission. A permit may be revoked and a sign removed pursuant to Section 3.24.1.7 if the applicant for a permit makes a false or misleading statement in the permit application or renewal. Small window displays and small (fifteen sq. ft. or less) freestanding signs are permitted for home businesses, and do not require a permit. These displays and signs must be non-obtrusive, neat, and not obstruct vehicular or foot traffic or the clear view of traffic. They must be compatible with the rural or residential nature of the area where they are located. 3.24.1.3 Animated Signs Flashing or rotating signs may be allowed in Light Industrial or Commercial Residential zones with appropriate conditions. Flashing shall be limited to sequential, chasing, or subdued color change. No intense strobe-type flashing will be permitted. Rotation shall be limited to eight (8) revolutions per minute; provided, however, that the lights described above may not be used within five hundred (500) feet of a residence, apartment, hotel, or other residential structure. 3.24.1.4 Sound or Emissions No sign shall be designed for the purpose of emitting sound, smoke, or steam. 3.24.1.5 Movable, Freestanding Signs Subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, small movable, freestanding signs, including A-frame signs, are allowed. They must not obstruct vehicular or foot traffic,or the view of traffic. They must be otherwise safe, nonoffensive, and in keeping with the rural, residential nature of the area in which they are located. Signs mounted or painted upon vehicles or trailers which are parked in any location for the purpose of calling attention to or advertising a person, place, or thing at or near that location, are prohibited. This does not include customary business logos painted on vehicles. 3.24.1.6 Canopy Signs Signs painted on or affixed to canopies which are part of the building shall be considered part of the total allowed area of wall signs for the walls from which the canopy projects. Signs painted on or affixed to canopies which are freestanding shall be considered part of the total allowable area of freestanding signs for that use. Signs suspended under canopies (marquees) which project over public rights-of-way shall be limited to six (6) square feet.. 3.24.1.7 Violations It is unlawful to erect or maintain a sign contrary to the provisions of this section. If a sign is erected or maintained in violation of this section the planning commission may do the following: (a) order the defect corrected within a fixed period of time, not exceeding thirty (30) days, if correction of the defect will bring the subject sign into compliance with the provisions of this section; but, (b) if correction of the defect will result in a violation of the provisions of this section, order that the subject sign be removed by, and at the expense of the owner of the sign, within a fixed period of time not exceeding thirty (30) days. If the owner of the sign contests the order of the Planning Commission, the remedy shall be an appeal to the Board of Adjustment, which appeal shall be taken in the time and manner otherwise provided in this code for appeals to the Board of Adjustment. If the owner of the sign fails or refuses to remove the subject sign at the order of the Planning Commission, the Town may remove the sign at any time after the owner thereof exhausts his or her administrative remedies in relation thereto, unless otherwise ordered by a court of law. Removal by the Town shall be at the expense of the owner, and the Town may obtain judgment against the owner in an amount equal thereto, together with reasonable attorneys fees and costs. 3.24.2 Signs on Premises Except as provided within the provisions of respective zoning districts, and unless otherwise expressly provided in this section, no sign shall be permitted which is not used exclusively to advertise the ownership, sale, or lease of property upon which said sign is placed, or to advertise a business conducted, services rendered, goods produced or sold upon such premises, or to advertise or identify any other lawful activity conducted upon such premises.