Source: https://ecode360.com/29384061
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 17:01:08+00:00

Document:
§ 410.020 Applicability — Effect.
§ 410.030 Definitions and Interpretation.
§ 410.040 Signs Allowed in all Zoning Districts — No Building Permit Required.
§ 410.050 Signs Allowed on Private Property with and Without Permits.
§ 410.060 Signs in the Public Right-Of-Way.
§ 410.070 Signs Prohibited Under this Chapter.
§ 410.080 Existing Signs not Conforming with this Chapter.
§ 410.100 Temporary Sign Permits.
§ 410.110 Sign Permit Procedures.
§ 410.120 Sign Standards, Design, Construction, and Maintenance.
§ 410.135 Comprehensive Sign Plans.
§ 410.170 Enforcement and Remedies.
§ 410.200 Message Substitution Clause.
§ 410.210 Special Use Signs on Public Property — Requirements.
Cross References — As to buildings and building regulations, ch. 500; as to posting notices and signs, §215.920; as to zoning, ch. 400.
State Law References — Billboards, §§226.500 et seq., RSMo.
Section 410.020 Applicability — Effect.
Section 410.030 Definitions and Interpretation.
Section 410.040 Signs Allowed in all Zoning Districts — No Building Permit Required.
Section 410.050 Signs Allowed on Private Property with and Without Permits.
Section 410.060 Signs in the Public Right-Of-Way.
Section 410.070 Signs Prohibited Under this Chapter.
Section 410.080 Existing Signs not Conforming with this Chapter.
Section 410.100 Temporary Sign Permits.
Section 410.110 Sign Permit Procedures.
Section 410.120 Sign Standards, Design, Construction, and Maintenance.
Section 410.135 Comprehensive Sign Plans.
Section 410.170 Enforcement and Remedies.
Section 410.200 Message Substitution Clause.
Section 410.210 Special Use Signs on Public Property — Requirements.
Provide a desirable and attractive living and work environment through harmonious and uniform signage.
Editor's Note: Section 1 of this Chapter superseded former Ch. 410, Signs and Advertising Devices, as adopted by Ord. No. 3605 §1 (Exh. A), 8-17-1998, as amended.
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all signs in the City, as herein defined, unless otherwise provided by this Chapter. Every sign shall comply with all other applicable ordinances of the City. In case of a conflict between provisions of this Chapter and other applicable provisions, the more restrictive shall govern. Any sign not specifically provided for herein as a permitted sign or a prohibited sign shall be designated as a permitted sign or a prohibited sign by the Director consistent with Section 410.010's stated intent, and the most closely applicable provisions of this Chapter. If said sign is designated as a permitted sign, then said sign shall be subject to all limitations and provisions stated herein for a permitted sign which is most similar to said sign.
Words and phrases used in this Chapter shall have the meanings set forth in this Section. Words and phrases not defined in this Section, but defined in the Zoning Ordinance of the Brentwood City Code, shall be given the meanings set forth in such ordinance. Principles for computing sign area and sign height are contained in Section 410.130. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Chapter.
Any sign designed to use movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
A permanent sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted on a building or pole.
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one (1) or more points not on the same zone lot as the light source; also, any light with one (1) or more beams that rotate or move, including strobe lights.
Not a roof sign, post or standard sign, monument sign or a projecting sign.
Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted with a freestanding sign.
A roof-like structure extending from a building entry that provides pedestrians protection from the weather, which is not intended to be driven under.
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than eight (8) times per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this Chapter. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and temperature" portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this Chapter.
Property frontage on any of the following: Brentwood Boulevard, Eager Road (between Hanley Road and Brentwood Boulevard), Strassner Drive, Hanley Industrial Court, Hanley Industrial Drive, Hanley Road, Manchester Road and any street in a commercially developed area deemed a commercial street by the Board of Aldermen.
A narrative and graphic depiction of the proposed or existing signs on each zone lot.
A temporary sign erected on the premises on which construction is taking place, during the period of such construction.
The Planning and Zoning Administrator of the City or his or her designee.
The period from thirty (30) days prior to any election voted in by the residents of Brentwood until three (3) days after that election.
Any sign, or portion of a sign, that displays an electronic image, which may or may not include text, where the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. Electronic message signs include computer programmable, microprocessor, or controlled electronic displays, and the images can be produced from LED technology, fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illumination devices within the display area. Electronic message signs do not include projected images or messages projected onto buildings or other objects.
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix and shall also include the painting of wall signs.
The surface of the sign upon, against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the 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.
Any sign not attached to a building and which is supported by uprights, posts, braces or a solid base not attached to any part of a building. This category does not include a post sign. There is no space between the bottom of the ground sign and the ground.
Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric light or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.
A sign which is too small to be legible from a position off the premises.
A letter, character or symbol used to represent a person, corporation or business enterprise.
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 of ownership.
Any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
Any sign attached to in any manner, or made a part of, a marquee.
Any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this Chapter.
A sign located on property not owned or leased by the owner of the sign.
A sign located on property owned or leased by the owner of the sign.
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
Any association, company, corporation, firm, organization or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.
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.
Any sign not attached to a building or structure and supported by one (1) or more stationary poles, posts or standards. A post sign is also known as a "pylon sign" or "pole sign."
The building in which is conducted the principal use of the zone lot on which it is located. Zone 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.
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than twelve (12) inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
Any sign located on property used for a residential use or a sign located on vacant property within a residential district.
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.
Any sign erected or constructed as an integral part 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.
The distance from the property line to the nearest part of the applicable building, structure, or sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line.
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 of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind.
A strip of land or way subject to vehicular traffic (as well as pedestrian traffic) that provides direct or indirect access to property, including, but not limited to, alleys, avenues, boulevards, courts, drives, highways, lanes, places, roads, terraces, trails, or other thoroughfares.
The distance for which a lot line of a zone lot adjoins a public street, from one (1) lot line intersecting said street to the furthest distant lot line intersecting the same street.
The molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
Any sign or banner that is used only temporarily, meaning for a period of less than four (4) weeks, and is not permanently mounted. Any sign displayed for a period greater than four (4) weeks is considered a permanent sign.
Any sign attached parallel to, but within twelve (12) inches of, a wall, painted on the wall surface of, 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.
A sign affixed to the inside of an exterior window or glass door.
A parcel of land in single ownership that is of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for area, coverage, and use, and that can provide such yards and other open spaces as required by the zoning regulations.
As described in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 400) and designated on the Zoning District Map, for the City of Brentwood, with the exception of institutional use which includes public/private schools, religious organizations and not-for-profit organizations. Institutional use is not a zoning district in the City of Brentwood.
The erection, construction and maintenance of official traffic signs, signals, and any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, State or local law, regulation or ordinance.
Signs for the control or direction of traffic and other authorized public purposes related to the promotion of the health, safety and welfare of the general public as required by the City or other governmental authority.
Any lot in a residentially zoned area that is on the market for sale or lease shall be permitted one (1) additional sign of six (6) square feet per sign face and a maximum of two (2) sign faces.
Institutional uses within a residentially zoned area that are on the market for sale or lease shall be permitted one (1) additional sign of sixteen (16) square feet per sign face and a maximum of two (2) sign faces.
Any lot in a commercial zoned area that is on the market for sale or lease shall be permitted one (1) additional sign of sixteen (16) square feet per sign face and a maximum of two (2) sign faces.
One (1) ground sign of six (6) square feet or less in all residential districts, provided, in each instance, that any such sign is located on private property with the owner's permission. Additional ground signs are permitted under this Chapter during the election season, not to exceed the total number of questions or candidates on the ballot for the ensuing election.
Ground signs, sixteen (16) square feet or less, are permitted under this Chapter for commercial and industrial zoning districts during the election season, not to exceed the total number of questions or candidates on the ballot for the ensuing election.
Traffic control signs on private property, such as stop, yield and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards.
Signs shall be allowed on private property in the City in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
Every property shall have the street address prominently displayed, in a size which permits reading from the street, at a location immediately adjacent to or above every entry or exit door. No permit is necessary for this type of signage.
A sign up to one (1) square foot in area mounted on the wall next to the main entry door subject to issuance of a sign permit (suggested use: home occupation sign).
Residential subdivision or development monument signs. Two permanent signs, not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in size per face, shall be allowed per development. Exception: Where the development has access to two (2) or more streets, or has more than one (1) entrance on one (1) street, such signs shall be allowed at each entrance. Such signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height from the surrounding grade to the highest point of the sign (suggested use: subdivision or development identification signage, e.g. York Woods). A sign permit is required.
Temporary signage as described in Section 410.110. A sign permit is required.
On-site construction signs for developments with one (1) to two (2) lots, with only one (1) such sign per lot not to exceed six (6) square feet in gross sign area per face with a maximum of two (2) faces. Such a sign shall not be erected in a public right-of-way and shall be removed no later than ten (10) days after the receipt of an occupancy permit for a building or development or ten (10) days after completion of the work if no occupancy permit is required. A sign permit is required.
For developments with three (3) lots or greater, one (1) sign, not to exceed forty-eight (48) square feet in gross sign area per face with a maximum of two (2) faces if placed back to back. For developments with three (3) lots or greater with two (2) street frontages, either one (1) forty-eight-square-foot sign with a maximum of two (2) faces if placed back to back, or one (1) V-shaped sign with two (2) faces not to exceed forty-eight (48) square feet per face, located where the two (2) street frontages intersect are allowed. For developments with three (3) lots or greater, one additional sign per lot having a maximum size of eighteen (18) inches by twenty-four (24) inches. For all other sign configurations for developments with three (3) lots or greater, on-site construction signs are subject to review and approval by the Public Works Committee. A sign permit is required.
Signage for all other zoning districts or uses.
Ground signs for commercial developments (suggested use: development identification sign). A sign permit is required.
One (1) wall sign per commercial street frontage. A sign permit is required. See Section 410.120(A)(2).
One (1) ground sign per commercial street frontage. Under certain circumstances described in Section 410.120(A)(5)(a), a projecting sign may be substituted for the ground sign. A sign permit is required.
Window signage subject to the limitations of Section 410.120(A)(4).
Incidental signage. A sign permit is required.
On-site construction signs, with only one (1) such sign per entire development not to exceed seventy-two (72) square feet in gross sign area shall be permitted. Such signs shall be allowed to have two (2) seventy-two-square-foot faces if placed back-to-back or in a "V" shape. Such a sign shall not be erected in a public right-of-way and shall be removed ten (10) days after the receipt of an occupancy permit for a building or development or ten (10) days after completion of the work if no occupancy permit is required. A sign permit is required.
Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company.
Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes or facilities.
Signs in place less than three (3) days and as defined by and in accordance with other existing City ordinances, and with the permission of the Director of Planning and Development (recommended use: garage sale and open house signs).
Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.
Other Signs In The Public Right-Of-Way Forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this Section, shall be forfeited to the City and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the City shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the owner of any zone lot or other premises on which exists a sign for which there is not a current and valid sign permit shall be obligated to either remove such sign or to bring it into conformity with the provisions of this Chapter.
Non-conforming existing signs, permits and terms. A sign that would be permitted under this Chapter only with a sign permit, but which was legally existing prior to the enactment of this Chapter or on a later date when the property is annexed to the City, and which was constructed in accordance with the ordinances and other applicable laws in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design or construction is not in conformance with the requirements of this Chapter, shall be automatically designated as a non-conforming sign.
If rental property, by lessee vacation of the property.
If a sign requiring a permit under the provisions of this Chapter is to be placed, constructed, erected, or modified on a zone lot, the business owner, or its authorized agent, shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection or modification of such a sign in accordance with the requirements of Section 410.110. Furthermore, the property owner shall maintain in force, at all times, a sign permit for such sign. No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except in accordance with Section 410.060. No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this Chapter (including those protecting existing signs).
Term. A temporary sign permit shall allow the use of a temporary sign for a specified thirty-day period, except for construction signs, which may be used during the construction period and shall be removed no later than ten (10) days after the receipt of an occupancy permit for a building or development, or ten (10) days after completion of the work if no occupancy permit is required.
Number. Only three (3) temporary sign permits shall be issued to the same business license holder on the same zone lot in any calendar year.
Institutional uses may be permitted one (1) temporary sign not exceeding fifty (50) square feet in size, provided that the display of such sign shall be limited to one temporary sign per month for up to ten (10) days each period. A separate sign permit shall be required for each event.
Application. Application for approval of a temporary sign permit shall be made on the forms on file in the Planning and Development Department and is approved or rejected by the City Administrator. The applicant may appeal a decision of the City Administrator to the Board of Aldermen.
Standards. Allowable height, size, and location of temporary signs shall be determined in the same fashion as permitted for permanent signs.
Applications. All applications for sign permits of any kind shall be submitted to the director on an application form and shall include all information stated in this Chapter.
Application fees. A non-refundable application fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid to the City upon application for any sign permit (other than for a billboard sign). A non-refundable application fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00) shall be paid to the City upon application for any billboard sign to defray the ordinary and necessary expense of the City to assure compliance with local wind and other structural loads and electrical requirements.
Billboard sign annual fees. Each person or entity to whom a permit to erect and/or maintain a billboard sign in the City has been issued shall pay an annual fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), commencing on July 1 after the date such permit was issued, and on each July 1 thereafter until such billboard sign is removed.
Such other information as the Director or his or her designee may request from time to time to ensure full compliance with this Chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the City.
Inspection. The applicant shall call for a final inspection after the installation of the sign is complete, and in the case of signs involving electrical connections, after the electric inspections have been made and passed. If the sign has been installed in accordance with the permit provisions, the sign shall be approved. In the event the sign was not installed in accordance with the permit provisions, the inspector shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies. The sign is not considered an approved sign until all deficiencies have been corrected. If, after six (6) months, the sign construction has not been approved, the permit shall lapse and become void, and the City may take steps as indicated in Section 410.170.
Assignment of sign permits. A current and valid sign permit shall be freely assignable to a successor as owner of the business or holder of a business license for the same premises. However, non-conforming signs are to be governed by the provisions of Section 410.080.
All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the current City adopted building and electrical code.
Except for temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this Chapter, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the building by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure in a manner acceptable to the Building Official.
All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this Code, at all times.
All signs and related structures shall be maintained in good repair, free of rust, peeling, flaking, fading, broken or cracked surfaces and broken or missing letters.
Architectural consistency. Sign installations shall be consistent with, and not conceal, the architectural detail of a building.
All signs shall be constructed and lettered to a professional quality. All elements of the signage shall be secured in such a manner as to minimize movement and shall be attached to the main building or structure or other suitable structures to secure the sign. In no instance shall signs be attached to vehicles unless otherwise permitted in this Chapter.
Single-occupant building on a single zoned lot.
One (1) wall sign per face of building facing a commercial street or side street contiguous with the subject property or which faces a driveway or parking lot located between the street and the building.
Sign area as determined by Section 410.130(A)(1) is restricted to one-fourth (1/4) square feet of sign area per lineal foot of commercial street frontage, provided that no sign shall be required to be less than twenty (20) square feet.
Maximum wall sign area is two hundred fifty (250) square feet.
Single-story building with multiple tenants on a single zoned lot.
The total of all wall signage on a building may not exceed thirty-percent of the wall area facing the street.
One (1) sign having an area of eighty (80) square feet or less for each commercial street frontage.
Each tenant having a grade level public entry from the commercial street, or side street contiguous with the subject property, or which faces a driveway or parking lot located between the street and the building is entitled to one (1) wall sign.
Wall sign area as computed by Section 410.130(A)(1) is restricted to one-fourth (1/4) square feet of sign face per lineal foot of tenant frontage on a commercial street, provided that no sign shall be required to be smaller than twenty (20) square feet.
Maximum sign area per tenant is restricted to eighty (80) square feet.
Multifloor building with multiple tenants on a single zoned lot.
Each grade level tenant having a public entry from the commercial street, or from a side street contiguous with the subject property, or which faces a driveway or parking lot located between the street and the building is entitled to one (1) wall sign.
Each property in non-residential zoning districts is entitled to one (1) ground sign per commercial street frontage.
Not more than one (1) face of the sign may be visible by the public from any point (except from points on or around the prolongation of the axis of a V-shaped sign) on the street.
The ground sign must display the street number in addition to the sign language. The street number does not count against the area limit of the sign, but the area allocated to the street number may not be larger than four (4) square feet.
If there is not enough physical room between the building and the street to accommodate a ground sign, a building projecting sign may be authorized in accordance with the provisions of Section 410.120(A)(5).
No part of the sign may be located within ten (10) feet of the public right-of-way or be positioned in any manner that will interfere with the line of sight of pedestrians or vehicles attempting to enter or exit from the property.
Sign area is restricted to one-fourth (1/4) square feet per lineal foot of commercial street frontage, but will not be required to be smaller than twenty-four (24) square feet nor may any sign be larger than two hundred fifty (250) square feet.
Maximum height of sign is five (5) feet above grade, including a base not more than one (1) foot high, measured in accordance with Section 410.130(A)(3).
Window signage is permitted in any window of non-residentially zoned property, which is located on the grade level of the building housing that business, provided that window faces a commercial street or parking lot (unless said parking lot is adjacent to residentially used property and said signage would be capable of being viewed from such residential area). The total gross sign area of all window signs shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the area of any individual window located in the lowest portion of the building as measured from the adjacent exterior grade. For the purposes of this Section, panes of glass separated by a structural column or portion of exterior finished wall shall be considered individual windows. Further, glass located within a door, whether or not it is used as an entrance/exit, is not an eligible location for a window sign. Graphics painted directly onto the glass surface are prohibited.
Total window signage shall not exceed 25 square feet unless specifically approved through a Comprehensive Sign Plan.
The area for window signage is in addition to any other permitted signage.
Projecting signs are permitted only in those cases where a business is entitled to a ground sign but is prevented from installing one due to physical conditions. A permit application for a projecting sign that is rejected by the Director may be appealed to the Board of Aldermen.
Maximum size is twenty-four (24) square feet per sign face and is not dependent upon building frontage or lot frontage.
No more than two (2) faces per sign. Faces must be within eighteen (18) inches of each other.
In all cases, at least ten (10) feet of clearance for pedestrian or vehicular traffic must be provided.
No part of the sign may be closer than five (5) feet to the right-of-way.
For businesses directly fronting on a public pedestrian sidewalk, canopies may be installed for purposes of shielding pedestrians from the weather or to afford protection for merchandise in store windows that may be harmed by direct sunlight.
Canopies may bear a sign no larger than one (1) foot in height and twelve (12) feet in width.
The following requirements shall apply to illuminated signs. Lighting for billboards shall be as defined in Section 410.140.
No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device of variable light intensity, brightness or color. Clocks and thermometers which only indicate the time or temperature shall not be considered illuminated signs, provided that the gross area of such devices is not greater than sixteen (16) square feet per face, the vertical dimension of any letter or number is not greater than twenty-four (24) inches and the color or intensity of light is constant except for periodic changes in the information display, which occur not more frequently than once every fifteen (15) seconds. Beacon lights are not permitted.
Neither direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
No exposed reflective-type bulb or incandescent lamp which exceeds forty (40) watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign in such manner as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
The use of exposed neon in a window sign(s) with aggregate area larger than six (6) square feet must be reviewed and approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to installation or erection of such sign(s).
The use of exposed neon as an illumination source is prohibited.
Signage may be illuminated by either internal or external lighting sources. In either situation, the light source shall be completely screened from view.
External lighting, such as floodlights and thin-line and goose-line reflectors are permitted, provided the light source is directed upon the face of the sign and is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed onto areas other than the sign, and the lights are not of such intensity so as to cause glare, or impair the vision of the driver of a motor vehicle. Where the Director denies an applicant for excessive or uncontrolled lighting, the applicant can appeal the decision through the same process defined for the submission of a Comprehensive Sign Plan identified in Section 410.135.
The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height.
The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one (1) face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets Zoning Ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
Square foot area is computed by multiplying the length of the sign by the height, both at their greatest measurement comprising each word or symbol. Grid calculation of exact square foot area is acceptable with engineer's sealed calculations and drawing.
Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one (1) face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one (1) point. When two 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 and are not more than eighteen (18) inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one (1) of the faces.
The newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign.
In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal building on the zone lot, whichever is lower.
As an alternative to what would otherwise be allowed, signs may be permitted in accordance with a Comprehensive Sign Plan subject to the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approval of the Board of Aldermen. The Comprehensive Sign Plan shall show the location, size, height and extent of all proposed signs. In addition, the geographic limits of the area to be covered by the Comprehensive Sign Plan must be shown.
Any application submitted for a Comprehensive Sign Plan may be made by any property owner, owner of an easement, lessee, contract purchaser or their agent. Such application shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the names of the record owners of the properties upon which such signs are proposed to be located and the notarized agreement of each record owner to the placement of such signs on their property. When an application requests permission to erect a sign on property owned by someone other than the applicant, then such application shall be accompanied by a written and notarized statement signed by the record owners of such properties which indicates their endorsement of the application.
Location, size, height, construction, material and placement of signs.
Illumination level, color and type.
The number of proposed signs.
Elevations of all detached signs.
Dimensions, height, square footage of all existing signs or note that none exist for both freestanding and attached signs (submit picture of all existing signage).
Material specifications for proposed signs, including sign materials and colors.
Proposed signs are consistent with the purpose of this Chapter.
Proposed signs are compatible with the theme, visual quality, and overall character of the surrounding area.
Proposed signs are in scale and harmonious with the development and shall be so located and sized as to ensure convenience to the visitor, user or occupant of the development while not adding to street clutter or otherwise detracting from the nature of the development and adjacent uses and the purposes of architectural and urban design elements.
The proposed Comprehensive Sign Plan is consistent with and furthers the goals of the Comprehensive Plan.
Submissions for consideration of a Comprehensive Sign Plan shall be filed with the Director and forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall review the application in accordance with the above criteria and forward a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen for its final review and approval. When a Comprehensive Sign Plan is approved for a development, regulations regarding signage shall be dictated by the provisions of the approved plan.
Amendments to previously approved Comprehensive Sign Plans will require items necessary for the review of the changes in light of the previous approval.
All billboard signs must comply with the more restrictive of these regulations or the requirements contained in all State and Federal laws, including, without limitation, Sections 226.500 to 226.600, RSMo., 1986, as amended (the State sign law).
All new billboard signs must comply with all provisions of applicable building codes, and the applicant must obtain all necessary permits or licenses which are necessary or required.
Where a billboard sign, whether installed prior to or subsequent to the effective date of this Chapter, does not include any message for a period of one hundred twenty (120) continuous days, such billboard structure shall be deemed abandoned thereafter and shall be removed.
No billboard sign shall be placed on rocks, trees, or on poles maintained by public utilities.
The owner of a billboard sign and each user thereon shall indemnify and hold the City harmless from and against any loss, claim or expense (including attorneys' fees, publisher's liability and advertiser's liability) arising, directly or indirectly, from the erection and or/use of said billboard sign, and such owner and user shall maintain liability insurance in accordance with, and in the amounts required by, Section 135.070(F) of this Code, except that the minimum insurance for publisher's and advertiser's liability shall be five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) per occurrence, one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) aggregate.
No new billboard structure shall be erected in which two (2) or more displays are stacked one above the other.
Standards For Location, Spacing, Size, Height And Lighting.
No billboard sign shall hereafter be maintained, erected or located within five hundred (500) feet of an existing billboard sign on the same side of the highway, irrespective of whether such existing billboard sign is located within or outside the territorial limits of the City. This distance shall be measured along the nearest edge of the pavement at points directly opposite the billboard sign along each side of the highway. This shall apply only to billboard signs located on the same side of the highway involved.
No billboard sign shall be placed closer than five hundred (500) feet to an intersection on a dual or proposed dual highway; provided, however, that such billboard may be affixed to or located adjacent to a building at such intersection in such a manner as not to materially cause any greater obstruction of vision than caused by the building itself.
All billboard signs shall be exempt from the setback requirements of the zoning district in which they are permitted. All billboard signs shall, however, be set back from the road right-of-way a minimum of thirty (30) feet.
No billboard sign shall be located on the right-of-way or any road or any slope or drainage easement for such road.
No portion of a billboard shall be placed within a fifty-foot radius of any point of a building.
The maximum area for any one (1) billboard shall be six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet with a maximum height of twenty-one (21) feet and a maximum length of thirty-two (32) feet, inclusive of border and trim but excluding the base, apron, or supports and other structural members. The area shall be measured by the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle, or combination thereof which will encompass the entire billboard.
The maximum size limitations shall apply to each side of a billboard structure, and billboards may be placed back-to-back, double-faced, or in V-type construction with not more than two (2) displays to each facing, but such billboard structure shall be considered as one (1) billboard.
Height. The maximum height to top of signage shall not exceed forty-five (45) feet above ground level or the grade level of the adjoining street, whichever is higher.
No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light shall be permitted as part of any billboard sign. No flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights shall be permitted as a part of any billboard sign.
External lighting, such as floodlights, thin-line and goose-line reflectors are permitted, provided the light source is directed upon the face of the billboard sign and is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed into any portion of the main traveled way of any road or highway near such billboard sign, and the lights are not of such intensity so as to cause glare, impair the vision of the driver of a motor vehicle or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
No billboard sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures, an official traffic sign, device or signal.
Signage not specifically mentioned in this Chapter shall be regulated by standards enumerated for signage deemed similar in style, size and function by the Director.
To install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the zone lot on which the sign is located.
To install, create, erect or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit.
To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this Chapter, or for which the sign permit has lapsed, or for which the sign permit has been withdrawn or which has not been approved by the Director.
To continue any such violation. Each such day of a continued violation shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Chapter.
Each sign installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this Chapter shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Chapter.
Any violation or attempted violation of this Chapter or of any condition or requirement adopted pursuant hereto may be restrained, corrected or abated, as the case may be, by injunction or other appropriate proceedings pursuant to State law.
Sign removal required. If the Director has determined that a sign is not an approved sign or has determined the time allowed for the continuance of a non-conforming sign has expired, the sign must be removed. Notification of the order to remove the sign shall be by certified mail to the business owner. Responsibility for removal of the sign shall lie with the business owner. If the business owner fails to remove the sign, the zone lot owner shall be responsible for the sign removal.
Issuing a stop-work order for any and all work on any permit activity on the same zone lot.
Seeking an injunction or other order of restraint or abatement that requires the removal of the sign or the correction of the non-conformity.
Imposing any penalties that can be imposed directly by the City under the Zoning Ordinance.
Seeking in court the imposition of any penalties that can be imposed by such court under the Zoning Ordinance.
In the case of a sign that poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, taking such measures as are available to the City under the applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and building code for such circumstances.
The City shall have such other remedies as are and as may from time to time be provided for or allowed by State law for the violation of the Zoning Ordinance.
All such remedies provided herein shall be cumulative. To the extent that State law may limit the availability of a particular remedy set forth herein for a certain violation or a part thereof, such remedy shall remain available for other violations or other parts of the same violation.
Any aggrieved person may appeal a decision of the Director before the Board of Adjustment as established and in conformance with the requirements of Section 400.860 of the Zoning Regulations, subject to the further requirements of this Chapter.
Prior to accepting any application for a variance from the regulations of this Chapter, all remedies must be exhausted, including submittal and review of a Comprehensive Sign Plan.
Not be detrimental to the public welfare.
Appeals from decisions of the Board of Adjustment shall be to the Circuit Court of St. Louis County in conformance with the requirements of Section 400.860.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Chapter is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Chapter.
Whenever a commercial sign would be permitted under this Chapter, subject to the landowner's consent, a non-commercial sign may be installed in its place, or vice versa, provided it otherwise complies with this Chapter. Such substitution of message may be made without any additional approval or permitting. This provision prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary within this Chapter. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over non-commercial speech, or vice versa. This provision does not create a right to increase total signage on a parcel, nor does it affect the requirements that the sign comply in all other respects with the provisions of this Chapter.
Director Approval. The Director shall approve the purpose, number, type, location, size and height, and the positing time limit of all signs on public rights-of-way and easements.
Application. An application to the City Administrator for permission to erect such sign(s) shall be in writing, and shall explain the purpose and type of sign requested, and state the posting time desired. The application shall be accompanied by a drawing showing the proposed sign, indicating the size, and the requested location.
Other Permits. Necessary permits required by other governmental departments, utility companies, etc., must be obtained by the applicant, and evidence that such permits have been obtained shall accompany the application to the City Administrator.
Insurance. For signs larger than six square feet in sign area, an insurance policy shall be filed with the City, in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to cover all risks of liability to the public.

References: § 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410

§ 410
 §215
 §1