§ 53-35. Signs allowed without sign permit issuance.

Unless otherwise noted, the following types of signs or attention-attracting devices are allowed. These signs and devices are exempt from permit requirements but must be in conformance with all other requirements of this chapter:

(1)

Government traffic-control signs. Government traffic-control signs and devices (pursuant to the Standard Traffic Ordinance, State of Kansas). Traffic-control signs to be installed on private property must meet the requirements of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

(2)

Flags. An individual business or development shall be permitted to display a maximum of three flags which shall be limited to the following types: a government jurisdiction, weather conditions, religious, charitable, public and nonprofit organizations, or one commercial logo flag, displaying a registered or trademarked corporate logo. No flag shall exceed 40 square feet in area, and no flagpole shall exceed 35 feet in height. All flagpoles shall be ground-mounted and must comply with the setback provisions established in section 53-60.

(3)

Directional and instructional signs. Signs displayed to convey directions to entranceways, freight or service doors, restroom and telephone locations or other operational facilities, or to convey parking and traffic restrictions or public safety messages. Wall signs of this type shall not exceed three square feet in area and may be mounted to buildings, fences, walls or, in the case of parking restrictions, may be painted onto curbs and paved areas. No more than two freestanding directional or instructional signs of up to four square feet in area and four feet in height are permitted at each driveway, and additional signs of this size may be placed at internal locations as needed based on their function.

(4)

Public notice signs. Signs bearing notice to the public such as "No Trespassing," "No Dumping," "No Swimming," and "Bad Dog" signs shall not exceed two square feet on developed properties. On vacant properties of less than one acre, these signs shall not exceed six square feet in area nor four feet in height. On tracts of one acre or greater, these signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area nor eight feet in height. A minimum distance of 330 feet shall be maintained between such signs on properties within the same ownership.

(5)

Memorial signs. Memorial signs or tablets of six square feet or less, including names of buildings and date of erection or other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in nature, when cut into any masonry or rock surface or constructed of bronze or similar noncombustible material that is mounted on the building or adjacent to its entrance.

(6)

Art works. Works of fine art, when not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise (nor display a commercial message), which enterprise may benefit direct commercial gain from such display.

(7)

Required notices. Signs or attention-attracting devices required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.

(8)

Address signs. Permanent address signs of up to two square feet for single residential units or single tenants in multi-tenant buildings, up to six square feet for multi-family buildings with a single street address and individual nonresidential buildings under 30 feet in height, and up to 12 square feet for individual nonresidential buildings over 30 feet in height. A minimum letter and number height of three inches is required on residential structures and a five inch minimum letter and number height is required on nonresidential structures.

(9)

Political signs. Political signs may be permitted on any property except public property which is defined for purposes of this section as public right-of-way and city-owned property, subject to the restrictions set forth in section 53-60 and subject to the following size restrictions:

a.

On a single-family lot or single duplex or multi-family unit, or on a multi-family tract of one acre or less, the sign shall not exceed six square feet, four feet in height, and shall not be illuminated.

b.

On a multi-family parcel of greater than one acre, the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet and no portion of the sign shall exceed eight feet in height.

c.

On nonresidential parcels with less than 400 feet of public street frontage, the sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and no portion of the sign shall exceed eight feet in height.

d.

On nonresidential parcels with 400 feet or more of public street frontage, the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and no portion of the sign shall exceed eight feet in height.

e.

On parcels with 800 or more feet of street frontage adjacent to freeway or frontage road right-of-way, the sign shall not exceed 64 square feet in area and no portion of the sign shall exceed 12 feet in height.

(10)

Official public notices. Official notices by public officers or employees in the performance of their duties.

(11)

Window signs. Nonilluminated window signs shall be permitted not to exceed 20 percent of the overall window area per facade and utilizing no greater than 50 percent of an individual window section on which the sign is placed. In lieu of nonilluminated signs, illuminated signs are permitted in area not to exceed 50 percent of the area allowed for nonilluminated signs.

(12)

Real estate signs. "For Sale," "For Lease," and permanent leasing signs as permitted by this chapter.

(13)

Construction site signs. Construction site signs as permitted in section 53-95, real estate and construction signs.

(14)

Garage sale signs. Garage sale signs shall be permitted, provided they do not exceed four square feet in area or four feet in overall height. Garage sale signs shall not be placed earlier than 5:00 p.m. the night before the sale and must be removed by the end of the sale. One sign may be erected at the location of the garage sale, and one sign may be erected on private property at a subdivision entrance or adjacent to the intersection with a collector or arterial street nearest the place of the sale. No sign may be erected on private property without the permission of the property owner. No garage sale sign shall be erected on any public property, public utility pole or public right-of-way. Further, no garage sale sign shall be located closer than 15 feet from the paved portion of a street or 20 feet from the pavement of an intersection.

(15)

Menu-boards. Each drive-through restaurant shall be permitted one freestanding or wall-mounted menu board per drive-through window, which shall not exceed 32 square feet in area or eight feet in height and shall be located adjacent to and oriented toward the drive-through lane. An additional menu board may be considered if queuing lane length, location and configuration justifies placement.

(16)

Special event signs. Signs and attention-attracting devices, as approved by the community development director.

(17)

Under-canopy or awning signs. In the case of shopping centers or retail complexes of five or more tenants, one under-canopy or awning sign shall be permitted for each business with a canopy or awning. Under-canopy or awning signs shall not exceed four square feet in area, shall be installed at a right angle to the front building wall and shall be a minimum of seven feet above the sidewalk.

(18)

Incidental identification signs. Identification signs of two square feet or less mounted on or adjacent to an individual tenant entrance.

(19)

Signs on machinery and equipment. Signs customarily incorporated into machinery or equipment by a manufacturer or distributor, which identify or advertise only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment, such as signs affixed to vending machines, newspaper racks, telephone booths and gasoline pumps.

(20)

Signs on vehicles. Signs on a truck, bus, automobile, boat, trailer or other vehicle that are not prohibited by this chapter.

(21)

Other governmental signs. Signs not otherwise specifically defined or regulated in this article, that are approved by the city and erected by the city or other governmental agency for public purposes. These may include, but are not limited to, "welcome" signs, special directional signs, and special cultural or historical markers.

(22)

Home occupation signs. One nonilluminated facade sign not more than one square foot in area. The sign color shall be compatible with the house color.

(23)

Now hiring signs. One "now hiring" sign not more than six square feet in area and four feet in height is permitted per individual freestanding business, shopping center or other multi-tenant facility.

(24)

Sandwich board signs. One sandwich board sign is allowed for a business with street frontage subject to the following requirements:

a.

The sign must be placed directly in front of the business the sign is advertising. The sandwich board sign may not be placed in a street, driveway, parking lot, alley, or any other location intended for vehicles.

b.

Signs may be placed in the right-of-way.

c.

Signs on a sidewalk must be placed to provide a minimum of four feet of continuous open sidewalk space for pedestrian use.

d.

The sign must not obstruct pedestrian and wheelchair access from the sidewalk to any of the following:

1.

Transit stop areas;

2.

Accessible parking stations;

3.

Pedestrian access ramps; or

4.

Exterior doors and building exits, including fire escapes.

e.

The sign must be placed so that it does not create a hazard of any kind for pedestrians, vehicles or vehicle drivers.

f.

The sign must be taken inside when the business is not open to customers.

g.

Signs placed in the right-of-way must be portable and may not be attached or anchored in any manner.

h.

The sign may not be illuminated.

(Code 1967, § 5-93; Ord. No. 1366, § 2, 9-27-1999; Ord. No. 1434, § 2, 12-23-2002; Ord. No. 1492, § 1, 11-22-2004; Ord. No. 1748 , § 3, 4-11-2016)