Montague Municipal Code Ch. 14.16 Exempted Signs

Sections:

• 14.16.010 General compliance requirements.

• 14.16.020 Exempt signs.

• 14.16.030 Illumination of signs.

• 14.16.040 Height and area exceptions for embellishments.

• 14.16.050 Parking of advertising vehicles prohibited.

• 14.16.060 Quasi-public uses identification.

All signs not expressly exempted by a provision in Section 14.16.020 shall be subject to the provisions of this code. (Ord. 89-10 (part), 1989; Ord. 89-3 (part), 1989)

• A. The provisions and regulations of subsequent sections of this title shall apply to the following signs:

  1. Real estate signs not exceeding twelve square feet in area which advertises the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which such signs are located;

  2. Bulletin boards not over twelve square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises of such institution;

Signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed upon work under construction. and not exceeding twelve square feet in area;

4. Professional occupation signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling house, and not exceeding four square feet in area for each occupant therein;

5. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials;

6. Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices or railroad crossing signs as may be approved by the city council;

7. Signs of public service companies indicating danger, and aids to service or safety;

8. Signs placed on the interior of a property not intended to be seen by the general public;

9. Gasoline price signs not exceeding twenty square feet per side; provided, however, not more than two separate signs per parcel.

B. In addition, all temporary signs and signs erected by nonprofit organizations are declared exempt from the requirement by paying application and sign permit fees, but the application shall be required and the sign permit and review and approval process leading to it shall be required as may any other permits and approvals required by this code and state law.

C. Painting and repainting of an advertising structure, shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a sign permit, unless a structural change is made, a change of ownership occurs, there is a message change, there is a change of location, or no sign permit has previously been issued concerning the sign to be changed. (Ord. 89-10 (part), 1989; Ord. 89-3 (part), 1989)

Illumination of signs shall be permitted; provided, however, when reflectors, floodlights, or spotlights are used, they shall be installed, focused and maintained so as to concentrate their illumination upon the sign face or outdoor advertising structure face and shall not cause glare upon the street or adjacent private property. (Ord. 89-3 (part), 1989)

Height and area limitation imposed on signs or advertising surfaces by any of the subsequent sections of this title shall be subject to the following exceptions as to embellishments, as defined in Section 14.04.160, only: embellishments may extend above any height limitations imposed, or beyond any area limitation imposed, to an extent not more than ten percent higher, or greater in area, than the limitation provided for the particular type of sign or advertising surface involved. (Ord. 89-3 (part), 1989)

No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products, and including political advertisement, directing people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property. This section is not intended to apply to standard advertising or identification practices where such signs or advertising devices are painted on or permanently attached to a business or commercial vehicle. (Ord. 89-3 (part), 1989)

In addition to any other allowed signing, churches, schools, hospitals and other uses of a quasi-public nature as determined by the planning commission secretary shall be allowed one monument sign for which an application shall be required, but shall be exempt from the requirement of paying application and sign permit fees, and the sign permit and review and approval process shall be required, said sign not to exceed six feet in height or one wall sign and shall not exceed twelve square feet in area and may be internally or externally illuminated. (Ord. 89-3 (part), 1989)