§ 64.401. All signs.

No person shall place, erect or maintain a sign, nor shall a lessee or owner permit property under his control to be used for such a sign, which does not conform to the following requirements and without first obtaining the requisite permit for such sign. The following provisions shall apply in all zoning districts, to all exterior signs visible from a public right-of-way, and to all interior window signs with dynamic display that are within three (3) feet of a window and oriented toward and visible from a public right-of-way.

(a)

No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, size, shape, content, color or illumination, 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.

(b)

No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.

(c)

All signs which are unsafe and/or unsightly shall be repaired or removed. Unsafe signs must be repaired or removed within twenty-four (24) hours after notification. Unsightly signs must be repaired or removed within fifteen (15) days of notification. The term "unsightly" shall mean a condition in which the sign has deteriorated to the point where at least one-fourth (¼) of the surface area of the name, identification, description, display, illustration or other symbol is no longer clearly recognizable at a distance of twenty (20) feet; or where paint is peeling, chipping or flaking from the structure surface; or where the sign has developed significant rust, corrosion, rotting or other deterioration in the physical appearance, or is so faded that it is not clearly recognizable at a distance of twenty (20) feet; or where an illuminated electrical sign is no longer in proper working order. Removal, in the case of painted wall signs, shall mean a complete repainting of the background on which the sign was painted, or a sandblasting of the surface to reveal an exterior finish compatible with surrounding surfaces, so that no part of the sign is any longer recognizable.

(d)

No sign shall be painted directly on or affixed to any tree, rock or utility pole.

(e)

Lots on which signs are located shall be kept neat, orderly and free of debris.

(f)

All signs with the display surfaces back-to-back and parallel shall have no more than an eight-foot distance between each surface. All signs with the display surfaces at an angle to one another shall have the angle no greater than thirty-five (35) degrees. Display surfaces shall face in opposite directions and shall be owned by the same permittee.

(g)

All signs which have their backs visible to public view shall have such backs painted in a neutral color compatible with the background against which they are set.

(h)

No swinging sign shall be erected freestanding, or shall be hung or attached to any building or structure.

(i)

No signs shall be located in, project into or overhang a public right-of-way, except those projecting business signs permitted in business and industrial districts that do not violate Minnesota Statutes, section 160.27, and signs established by the city, county, state or federal governments.

(j)

For parking lot areas, one identification sign not to exceed a total of fifteen (15) square feet in area is permitted per parking lot entrance. An identification sign up to twenty-five (25) square feet in area, however, may be permitted if such sign incorporates the following uniform parking symbol: fifty (50) percent of the total sign area of the parking identification sign must bear thereon a blue rectangle with a white letter "P" in Gothic type face with the letter "P" being not less than fifty (50) percent of the area of the blue rectangle. The remaining portion of the sign incorporating such a parking symbol may be used for other pertinent information. In addition to the one (1) identification sign per parking lot entrance, however, one (1) directional sign not to exceed a total of four (4) square feet is permitted per entrance or exit. Such directional signs may be up to ten (10) square feet in area if they also incorporate the above-prescribed parking symbol. These parking identification and directional signs are in addition to other signs permitted in each zoning district. No sign shall project higher than fifteen (15) feet above grade. For community centers and religious, civic and educational institutions, a maximum of two (2) directional signs may be placed on private property along two (2) different arterial or collector streets within two thousand five hundred (2,500) feet of the community center or institution, providing a valid lease indicating the consent of the owners of the property where the signs are to be located is on file with the city, that the gross surface display area does not exceed five (5) square feet per sign on residential property or fifteen (15) square feet per sign on nonresidential property and that the height does not exceed seven and one-half (7½) feet.

(k)

Illumination. Flashing signs are prohibited. In residential districts, no sign may exceed a maximum illumination of 0.5 footcandle above ambient light level as measured fifty (50) feet from the sign's face.

(l)

Only one side of a double-faced sign or V-shaped sign shall be used to compute the gross surface display area, display surface area or sign area of a sign.

(m)

Canopy signs that are parallel to the street shall be regulated as wall signs. Canopy signs that are perpendicular to the street shall be regulated as projecting signs.

(n)

Multiple tenant buildings. Any application for a sign permit for a multiple tenant building shall include a master sign plan for the building, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing any exterior signage to be provided. The property owner or the property owner's designee shall be responsible for allocating the allowable sign area among the tenants of the building.

(o)

Signs attached to buildings shall be positioned so that they are an integral design feature of the building, and to complement and enhance the building's architectural features. Signs shall not obscure or destroy architectural details such as stone arches, glass transom panels, or decorative brickwork.

(C.F. No. 05-633, § 1, 12-7-05; Ord. No. 11-27, § 1, 4-20-11; Ord. No. 11-32, § 1, 12-14-11; Ord 14-37, § 1, 11-12-14)