Discussion and Review of Tiffin Municipal Code Revisions – Preparation for Setting the Public Hearing — Tiffin City Code - DRAFT

CHAPTER 167 SIGN CODE 167.01 Intent 167.06 Non-Conforming Signs 167.02 General Sign Regulations 167.07 Permits, Administration, and Enforcement 167.03 Exempt Signs 167.08 Sign Code Bulk Regulations 167.04 Provisions Applicable to Residential Zones 167.05 Provisions Applicable to Commercial and Industrial Zones 167.01 INTENT. This chapter provides an administrative framework for controlling the establishment and maintenance of signs in the City and for the enforcement of the standards and regulations. It intends to provide maximum safety for motorists using the streets and for the pedestrians using public ways. This chapter intends to allow necessary identification with reasonable, orderly, and effective display of signs to avoid the “canceling out” effect of conflicting adjacent signs and to conserve property values. It intends to support the general purpose of the Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan of the City. It intends to prevent wasteful use of natural resources and to assure the continued attractiveness of the community. 167.02 GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS. The following regulations and provisions are applicable to all signs within the City regardless of zoning district. 1. No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location whereby reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color it may interfere with any authorized traffic control device. 2. No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form, or character in such manner as to interfere with moving traffic. 3. No illuminated or indirectly illuminated sign shall be permitted within 50 feet of property in any residential zone, unless the illumination of the sign is designed not to shine light directly onto any adjacent property or into any street. 4. No part of any sign attached to a building shall be erected to a height greater than that permitted for the building. Freestanding signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height, unless modified by other sections of this Code. 5. The owner, lessee, or manager of a ground sign, and the owner of the land where the same is located, must keep grass and weeds and other growth cut and debris and rubbish cleaned up and removed from the lot where the sign is located. 6. Business signs and identification signs that are rotten, unsafe, or unsightly shall be repaired or removed by the licensee or owner of the sign on notice of the Zoning Administrator. 7. No part of any sign shall extend into the public right-of-way, except those signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency. 8. No single face sign or other sign where the exposed sign structure would be generally within public view shall be permitted unless appropriate screening or a decorative cover is provided. CODE OF ORDINANCES, TIFFIN, IOWA - 1793 -