§ 54-10. Prohibited signs.

(a)

The following types of signs or advertising devices are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city:

(1)

Roof signs.

(2)

Streamers.

(3)

Portable signs.

(4)

Multi-faced signs.

(5)

Animated signs.

(6)

Signs placed within public rights-of-way, except publicly owned, authorized or maintained signs which serve an official public purpose.

(7)

Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, rock, post, curb, utility pole, natural feature, official street sign or marker, traffic control sign or device, or other structure, except as may be set forth herein.

(8)

Any sign placed or erected on property without the permission of the owner.

(9)

Individual or aggregate window signs exceeding 20 percent of the window area per building elevation.

(10)

Signs which contain words, pictures, or statements which are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.

(11)

Signs which simulate an official traffic control device, warning sign, or regulatory sign or which hide from view any traffic control device, signal or public service sign.

(12)

Signs which emit or utilize in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing abilities.

(13)

Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic or which otherwise pose a hazard to traffic due to structural deficiencies in the structure of such signs.

(14)

Signs which advertise any activity, service, or product prohibited by the laws or regulations of the United States. This section shall not prohibit signs promoting the legalization of any matter presently prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

(15)

Signs which obstruct any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation, or shall prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof, as well as signs attached to any fire escape.

(16)

Signs which do not conform to applicable building and electrical codes.

(17)

Signs for which a permit is required that do not display the sign permit number and the name and address of the person responsible for erecting and maintaining the sign.

(18)

Signs which are in violation of the rules and regulations of any zoning overlay district presently existing or as may later be created.

(19)

Any sign constructed of non-durable material, including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard or flexible plastic that has been displayed for more than 60 days. Nothing herein shall prohibit such a sign from being replaced by an identical sign. This provision does not apply to temporary signs as governed by this chapter.

(20)

Signs located on any substandard lot created after the enactment of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, which is created solely for its utilization for signage purposes and is not otherwise a permitted lot, by right or by permit, exception or variance by the zoning ordinance, unless the substandard lot is created as the result of governmental action.

(21)

Abandoned commercial signs. Commercial signs, including sign structures, shall be deemed abandoned if the business, service or commercial transaction to which it relates has been discontinued for 90 days. The sign face on said abandoned signs must be replaced with either a blank face, if the sign is capable of said substitution, or rendered in a non-message format until a new tenant is available. If the abandoned sign is composed of more than just the sign face, this provision shall not be construed as requiring the removal of the remaining structure of the sign.

(22)

Any sign that is structurally unsound, or is a hazard to traffic or pedestrians.

(23)

Dilapidated or neglected signs. A sign (including sign structure) will be dilapidated or neglected if it does not present a neat and orderly appearance, which may be manifested by the following: rust or holes on or in the sign or sign structure, or broken, missing, loose or bent parts, faded or flaking paint, non-operative or partially non-operative illuminating or mechanical devices or missing letters in sign copy.

(Ord. No. 2016-02-70, 2-28-2016)