No sign, except for signs listed in Section 7-103, shall be constructed, erected, enlarged, relocated or structurally altered until a sign permit for such sign has been obtained in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 9 of these regulations. No zoning permit for any sign shall be issued unless the sign complies with the regulations of this Article 7. The subject matter of the sign, including the topic discussed or the idea or message expressed, shall play no role in determining whether to grant or deny a permit. All signs lawfully existing at the time of passage of these regulations may remain in use, but the sign must conform to these standards upon the sale of the property to another.
Any legal non-conforming sign can only do minimal repairs to the face of the sign. If the sign must be replaced it must be replaced completely with a sign to conform to the standards of these regulations.
The purpose of this article is to safeguard the public use of the streets and the sidewalk area and to equitably enhance the public use of the streets and the sidewalk area and to equitably enhance the visual environment. (See Section 2-102 for definition of SIGN.) (See K.S.A. 68-2231, et seq. for state sign regulations.) K.S.A 25-2711 (Political Signs)
A. Types.
1. Awning, Canopy or Marquee Sign: A sign that is mounted or painted on, or attached to, an awning, canopy or marquee that is otherwise permitted by these regulations. No such sign shall project further below than seven feet from the ground level or beyond the physical dimensions of the awning, canopy or marquee.
2. Monument Sign: Any sign placed upon, or supported by, the ground independent of the principal or accessory buildings or structures on the property, with little or no open space between the ground and the sign and having a structure of masonry, wood, or materials similar in appearance as approved by the building official. To qualify as a monument sign, the base material must be at least 50% the length and width of the display area of the sign.
3. Projecting Sign: A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from such building.
4. Roof Sign: A sign totally supported on the roof of a building which does not project more than 12 inches beyond the face of the structure.
5. Temporary Sign: A sign in the form of a banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other lightweight materials, with or without a frame, intended for temporary display for a short period of time.
6. Wall Sign: A sign fastened to or painted on a wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes merely the supporting structure or forms the background surface, and which does not project more than twelve inches from such building.
A. Gross Surface Area of Sign. The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such sign, and in no case passing through or between any adjacent elements of same. Such limits of such sign and which do not form an integral part of the display. When two or more signs are located on a zoning lot, the gross surface area of all signs on the lot shall not exceed the maximum gross surface per street frontage set by the applicable district regulations., except as is provided by Section 7-102B. Signs on interior lots which may be viewed from both directions of the adjacent street are considered to have a single gross surface area.
B. Corner and Through Lots. On corner and through lots, each lot line that abuts a street or highway shall be considered a separate street frontage. On corner and through lots, restrictions that are phased in terms of the number of signs per zoning lot shall be deemed to permit the allowable number of signs to face each street or highway that abuts the lot.
C. Height of Sign. The maximum height of signs shall be measured from ground level at the base of or below the sign to the highest element of the sign and shall be determined for purposes of Article 7 as independent from the maximum structure height for zoning districts.
D. Building and Electrical Codes Applicable. All signs must conform to the structural design standards of any applicable building code. Wiring of all electrical signs must conform to any applicable electrical code.
E. Illuminated Signs. Signs shall be shaded wherever necessary to avoid casting bright light upon property located in any residential district or upon any public street or park. Any brightly illuminated sign, located on a lot adjacent to or across the street from any residential district, which is not otherwise shaded and visible from such residential district, shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11 P.M. and 7 A.M.
F. Flashing or Moving Signs. No flashing signs, rotating or moving signs, animated signs, signs with moving lights or signs which create the illusion of movement shall be permitted in any residential district. (See Section 2-102 for definition of SIGN.)
G. Metal and Nonmetal Signs. Signs constructed of metal and illuminated by any means requiring internal wiring or electrically wired accessory fixtures attached to a metal sign shall maintain a free clearance to grade of eight feet. Accessory lighting fixtures attached to a nonmetal frame sign shall also maintain a clearance of eight feet to grade. Metal or nonmetal signs, whether illuminated or not, shall maintain a clearance of at least seven feet underneath awnings, canopies or marquees.
H. Access Way or Window. No sign shall block any access way or window required by and applicable building, housing, fire or other codes or regulations.
I. Signs on Utility Poles. No sign shall be attached to a utility pole without prior written approval of the utility company that installed or maintains the pole.
J. Traffic Safety.
1. No sign shall be maintained at any location whereby reason of its position, size, shape or color; 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.
2. No sign shall be located in any vision triangle as defined in Section 2-102, except official traffic signs and signs mounted eight feet or more above the ground whose supports, not exceeding two, do not exceed 12 inches at the widest dimension and, thus, do not constitute an obstruction.
K. Location. No sign or structure thereof shall be permitted on a public right-of-way or public easement. No sign shall be permitted to project over a public right-of-way or public easement, except with the approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals as a conditional use, or as a permitted use in the C-1 Central Business District.
1. Any unauthorized sign placed on public property, including the public street right- of-way, is declared to be a public nuisance and be the cause of its removal and impoundment without notice. If not redeemed within 30 days by the owner paying a service charge, the city may dispose of the sign in any manner deemed appropriate. The Zoning Administrator may revoke the permit for any sign deemed to be in violation of Section 7-102L or of any condition on which the permit was based and order its removal within a reasonable period consistent with public safety.
2. Exemptions to this shall be temporary signs intended for short term use in such a manner as, but not limited to, garage sales, potlucks, home sales, etc.. These signs shall be no more than 5 square feet and cannot exist in the public ROW for more than two (2) weeks.
L. Portable Signs. The following provisions apply to portable signs:
1. Definition: A portable sign is defined as a temporary on-site sign designed in such a manner as to be readily movable and not permanently attached to the premises, such as A-frames, trailer signs, signs placed on vehicles, beacon lights and other similar signs. Removal of any wheels shall not change the definition of being readily removable.
2. Prohibited Signs: Portable signs are prohibited to preserve the visual appearance of the city and promote traffic safety.
3. Exceptions: Exceptions to this shall be small A-frame signs in the Central Business District Zone C-1
M. Damaged or Unsafe Signs. The Zoning Administrator shall require the immediate repair or removal of any conforming or nonconforming sign or sign structure which has been damaged or deteriorated so as to become a public hazard. Any such damaged sign or signs must be repaired or removed so as to conform to the current regulations.
N. International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) ADA mobility Signs
In 2014 the City of Goddard adopted the new ISA sign standards, and these standards are required on all new developments.
(A) The following signs shall be exempt from the requirements of this Article:
1. Signs of duly constituted governmental body including school districts such as traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, identification purposes and other instructional or regulatory signs having to do with health, safety, parking, swimming, dumping, etc.
2. Flags or emblems of a government or of a political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, when displayed on private property.
3. Small signs, not exceeding five square feet in gross surface area, displayed on private property or placed in the public Right Of Way.
4. Address numerals and other signs required to be maintained by law, rule or regulation; provided, that the content and size of the sign does not exceed such requirements.
5. Scoreboards in athletic fields or stadiums.
6. Temporary signs that serve to market a new business or residential development for a short period of time and are intended to be removed once the new business or residential development has been fully erected. All such signs shall be removed upon the sale of the last lot in the development or acquiring the Certificate of Occupancy for a commercial, industrial or multifamily building.
7. Entry signs for residential subdivisions.
(B) The following signs are exempt from the zoning permit requirements of Section 7-100 but shall comply with all of the other regulations imposed by this Article.
1. Nameplate signs not exceeding two square feet in gross surface area accessory to a residential building, including all types of manufactured and mobile homes.
2. Identification signs not exceeding 40 square feet in gross surface area accessory to a multiple-family dwelling.
3. Bulletin board signs not exceeding 40 square feet in gross surface area accessory to a church, private school, or public or nonprofit institution.
4. Temporary signs which do not exceed 24 square feet in gross surface area and are displayed not more than four times per calendar year.
A. R-1, R-2 and R-3 and R-4 Residential Districts.
1. Types Permitted:
a. Monument signs.
b. Wall signs.
2. Number of Signs Permitted: One of each type per zoning lot. (See Section 7-102B for Corner and Through Lots.)
3. Maximum Gross Surface Area.
a. 16 square feet in R-1 and R-2 districts and 40 square feet permitted in the R-3 District.
4. Maximum Height: 10 feet; provided, that signs associated with one and two- family dwellings and all types of manufactured and mobile homes shall not be located at a height greater than eight feet above ground floor elevation.
5. Required Setback: 10 feet from the front lot line, and none from the side yard setbacks. (See Section 7-102K for Location of Signs.)
6. Illumination: No sign shall be illuminated, other than by incandescent or fluorescent light.
B. RUI -Rural Urban Intent.
The RUI district is exempt from the requirements of the sign regulations unless such sign cause a violation of health, safety, or welfare.
1. Types Permitted:
a. All sign types are permitted.
2. Number of Signs Permitted: No limitation.
3. Maximum Gross Surface Area: No limitation
4. Maximum Height: No limitation
5. Required Setback: No minimum required.
6. Illumination: No limitation.
C. C-1 Central Business District.
1. Types Permitted:
a. Monument Signs
b. Wall Signs
c. Projecting Signs
d. Roof Signs
e. Awning, Canopy or Marquee Sign
2. Number of Signs Permitted: One of each type per zoning lot. (See Section 7-102B for Corner and Through Lots.)
3. Maximum Gross Surface Area: Two square feet of sign area for each one-foot lineal street frontage; provided, that no single sign shall exceed a gross surface area of 100 square feet.
4. Maximum Height: 10 feet, if free-standing, or the highest point of the roof line of the principle structure, if mounted on or against a building.
5. Required Setback: No minimum required.
6. Illumination: Illuminated signs shall be permitted.
D. C-2 General Business District.
1. Types Permitted:
a. Monument signs
b. Wall Sign
c. Roof Signs
d. Projecting signs
e. Awning, Canopy or marquee sign
2. Number of Signs Permitted: Two of each type per zoning lot plus one additional sign for each free-standing principle building if used for a monument sign except walls signs shall be allowed to have two per wall face. (See Section 7-102B for Corner and Through Lots.)
3. Maximum Gross Surface Area: 500
4. Maximum Height: 35 feet, except that roof signs may not exceed a height of five feet above the highest point of the roof line.
5. Required Setback: No minimum required.
6. Illumination: Illuminated signs shall be permitted.
E. I-1 Industrial District.
1. Types Permitted: Any types listed in Section 7-101
2. Number of Signs Permitted: No limitation.
3. Maximum Gross Surface Area: Three square feet of sign area for each one-foot lineal street frontage; provided, that no single sign shall exceed a gross surface area of 200 square feet.
4. Maximum Height:
a. Wall and roof signs: Five feet above the highest point of the roof line on which such sign is located.
b. All other signs: 25 feet.
c. Required Setback: No minimum required.
5. Illumination: Illuminated signs shall be permitted.