§ 207.07. GENERAL REGULATIONS.

(A) Accessory structures. Except as provided for by § 207.07(J) and (V) (General Regulations) of this title, all signs must be accessory structures.

(B) Electrical signs. The installation of electrical signs shall be subject to the state’s electrical code. Electrical service to such signs shall be underground.

(C) Approval. No sign shall be attached or be allowed to hang from any building until all necessary wall and roof attachments have been approved by the Zoning Administrator.

(D) Trees; interference. No signs, guys, stays, or attachments shall be erected, placed, or maintained on trees nor interfere with any electric light, power, or telephone or the supports thereof.

(E) Illuminated signs. Illuminated signs shall be shielded to prevent lights from being directed at oncoming traffic in such brilliance that it impairs the vision of the driver and may not interfere with or obscure traffic signs or signals. Lighting may not illuminate any adjacent properties, buildings, or streets.

(F) Temporary signs. The use of banners, pennants, and similar devices for commercial, industrial, and institutional uses shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) Temporary signs shall require a permit valid for no more than 42 days during any 12-month period.

(2) The area of a temporary sign shall not exceed 50 square feet per sign face.

(3) Not more than 2 temporary signs shall be displayed upon a property at any 1 time.

(G) Placement. No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained that prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign or sign structure shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.

(H) Structure. A freestanding sign or sign structure constructed so that the faces are not back to back, shall not have an angle separating the faces exceeding 20° unless the total area of both sides added together does not exceed the maximum allowable sign area for that district.

(I) Address sign. Except for farm buildings, at least 1 address sign identifying the correct property number shall be required on each principal building in all districts. The number shall be at least 3 inches in height.

(J) Off premises signs. Off premises signs are a principal use of property. An annual license is required for all off premises signs. Off premises signs must be removed as a condition of construction of another principal use upon the property or platting or subdivision approval for the land on which it is located.

(K) Square footage calculation. The area within the frame of a sign shall be used to calculate the square footage except that the width of a frame exceeding 12 inches shall constitute sign face, and if such letters or graphics be mounted directly on a wall or fascia or in such way as to be without a frame the dimensions for calculating the square footage shall be the area extending 6 inches beyond the periphery formed around such letters or graphics in a plane figure bounded by straight lines connecting the outermost points thereof. Each surface utilized to display a message or to attract attention shall be measured as a separate sign and shall be calculated in the overall square footage. Symbols, flags, pictures, wording, figures, or other forms of graphics painted on or attached to windows, walls, awnings, freestanding structures, suspended by balloons, or kites or on persons, animals, or vehicles, are considered a sign and are included in calculating the overall square footage.

(L) Height.

(1) Freestanding signs. The height of the sign shall be measured from the ground at the base to the highest most part of the structure.

(2) Wall, canopy, or marquee signs. The top of a sign, including its structure, if any, shall be no higher than the roof of the building to which such sign may be attached.

(M) Landscaping. The area around freestanding signs shall be landscaped with plantings and maintained in such a manner to accent and enhance the sign while remaining sensitive to the natural features of the site.

(N) Motor fuel facilities. Signs for motor fuel facilities shall be regulated by the sign provisions for the zoning district in which the facility is located, except that:

(1) The construction of any freestanding sign shall be as follows:

(a) The sign shall be self-supported vertically by a solid base extending horizontally for a minimum of the entire width of the sign face. Total height of the monument sign including the base shall not exceed 15 feet.

(b) The sign base and supporting material shall be equal to at least 40% of the total allowable sign square footage, and shall not be counted toward the sign area. The base shall be attached to the ground for its entire horizontal width of the sign. The base shall be stone, brick, or decorative masonry consistent with the exterior material of the principal building and shall not contain any sign copy.

(c) Within a freestanding sign, an area not to exceed 24 square feet shall be allowed for continuous display (no flashing, scrolling, or other animation) of electronic or non-electronic changeable copy identifying current fuel prices in accordance with M.S. § 239.751.

(2) Signage may be allowed on a detached canopy in lieu of wall signage on the principal structure, provided that:

(a) The individual canopy sign does not exceed more than 20% of the canopy facade facing a public right-of-way.

(b) The canopy fascia shall not be illuminated, except for allowed canopy signage.

(O) Window signs. Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the total area of the window in which they are displayed.

(P) Adjoining properties. Separate commercial and industrial uses on adjoining properties with a common lot line may each locate a sign on one freestanding structure subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator, provided that:

(1) The area of each of the individual business signs shall be consistent with the applicable district provisions in § 207.09 (District Regulations) of this title.

(2) The height of the freestanding sign shall be consistent with the applicable district provisions in § 207.09 (District Regulations) of this title.

(3) The maximum number of signs displayed on a single structure is 2 signs.

(4) No additional freestanding signs shall be displayed on the individual properties.

(5) An agreement addressing construction, maintenance, and repair responsibilities and trespass rights is established and filed with the Chisago County Recorder against the titles of the 2 properties involved in the collocated freestanding sign. Amendment or cancellation of the agreement shall be allowed only upon written approval by the Zoning Administrator.

(Q) Multiple occupancy commercial and industrial buildings. When a single principal building is devoted to 2 or more commercial or industrial principal uses, signs shall be allowed subject to review and approval of the Zoning Administrator based upon the following requirements:

(1) The maximum individual sign sizes for multiple occupancy buildings and individual businesses that may display a sign shall not exceed the maximum provisions in the same zoning district in § 207.09 (District Regulations) of this title.

(2) Commercial retail, office, or mixed use multiple occupancy buildings may display a freestanding sign consistent with the applicable zoning district provisions in § 207.09 (District Regulations) of this title.

(3) Except as provided for in § 207.07(Q) (General Regulations) of this title, individual tenants of a multiple occupancy building within a commercial or industrial zoning district shall not display separate wall, canopy, or marquee signs unless the tenant’s business has an exclusive exterior entrance and subject to the following requirements:

(a) The number of individual wall, canopy, or marquee signs shall be limited to one per tenant space except 1 additional sign may be displayed on a second facade for the tenant of a corner suite or a suite that extends through the building thus having 2 exterior walls.

(b) Each sign shall be limited to the maximum wall sign size permitted in the applicable zoning district provisions in § 207.09 (District Regulations) of this title.

(c) The sign shall be located only on the exterior wall of the tenant space to which the sign permit is issued, but are not required to face a public street.

(d) A comprehensive sign plan is submitted that includes all of the following information:

1. A site plan to scale showing the location of lot lines, buildings, structures, parking areas, existing and proposed signs, and any other physical features of the area included within the proposed comprehensive sign plan.

2. Scale elevations of buildings showing the location of existing or proposed wall, canopy, or marquee signs.

3. To scale plans for all existing and proposed signs of any type included within the comprehensive sign plan indicating area, dimensions, height, materials, colors, and any means of illumination.

(e) No permit shall be issued for a new or replacement sign for an individual tenant except upon a determination by the Zoning Administrator that it is consistent with the approved comprehensive sign plan.

(R) Maximum area of signage. On individual properties within commercial and industrial zoning districts in cases where no freestanding signs are utilized and where principal structures have a front yard setback in excess of that which is required under the applicable zoning district regulations, the maximum area allowed for individual wall, canopy, or marquee signs may be increased by 1% for every 5 feet of additional setback beyond the zoning district front yard setback requirement. This increase shall be limited to a maximum area of 125% and shall be applied only to signs located on the side of the building facing the yard for which the calculation was made.

(S) Changeable copy signs. For commercial and industrial uses, one 40 square foot changeable copy sign (but not including electronic changeable copy signs) shall be allowed per site provided that the changeable copy area of the sign is integrated into the allowed freestanding sign for the respective zoning district.

(T) Time and temperature sign. Within commercial and industrial zoning districts, an area not to exceed 16 square feet within a freestanding or wall sign shall be allowed for display of an electronic time and temperature sign subject to the sign provisions for the zoning district in which the sign is located.

(U) Projecting signs. Projecting signs may be allowed in commercial districts provided that:

(1) There is a minimum of 8 feet of clearance under the base of the sign to the ground below.

(2) The sign does not project more than 5 feet beyond the wall to which it is mounted, may not project over any vehicular drive aisle or traveled portion of a public or private street and except in the B-1 Downtown Business District may not project over a public right-of-way.

(3) The area of the projecting sign shall not exceed 24 square feet.

(V) Billboards. Existing billboards erected prior to June 7, 2011, are an allowed use subject to the following requirements:

(1) The sign is defined as a principal use of the property upon which a billboard is located. No approval shall be granted for a second principal use upon a property when one of the principal uses is a billboard allowed by this section.

(2) The area of the sign shall not exceed 400 square feet.

(3) The structure shall not exceed 40 feet in height.

(W) Subdivisions.

(1) Permanent signs. One sign shall be allowed for a subdivision having not less than 3 lots or principal buildings at its entrance from a collector or arterial street defined by the Comprehensive Plan provided that:

(a) The area of the face of each sign shall not exceed 100 square feet.

(b) Freestanding signs shall be limited to a maximum height of:

1. Ten feet for residential uses.

2. Twenty feet for commercial, industrial, and institutional uses.

(c) The sign(s) shall be located to accommodate said sign and related landscaping to meet all setback requirements. If the sign(s) is to be located on outlots, the outlots shall be designated on the preliminary plat and detailed plans for the area identification signs shall be submitted with the final plat.

(d) The area around the sign shall be landscaped in such a manner to accent and enhance the sign while remaining sensitive to the natural features of the site. Detailed site and landscape plans shall be included with each sign permit application and shall be subject to review and approval of the Zoning Administrator.

(e) The design and construction of the sign shall be done with the highest quality materials and workmanship to keep maintenance and upkeep costs to a minimum and to minimize the potential for vandalism. The signs are to be aesthetically pleasing when designed and constructed. The sign shall be compatible with nearby structures in the area. Detailed construction plans and a materials list shall be included with each sign permit application and shall be subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Administrator.

(2) Temporary signs. A comprehensive signage plan for additional temporary signs shall be allowed upon approval of a final plat for a subdivision having not less than 3 lots or approval of site and building plans for 1 lot by the Zoning Administrator provided that:

(a) One sign shall be allowed per project or subdivision or 1 sign for each frontage to a collector or arterial street, whichever is greater.

1. The area of the sign face shall not exceed 64 square feet.

2. Freestanding signs shall be limited to a maximum height of 8 feet.

(b) Model homes as provided for by § 205.16 (Model Homes) of this chapter shall be allowed the following signs:

1. One freestanding sign with a sign face not to exceed 32 square feet or a maximum height of 8 feet.

2. Not more than 3 flags with a maximum area of 16 square feet per face per flag and maximum height of 24 feet shall be allowed upon lots within the subdivision.

(c) Unless extended by the Zoning Administrator, the temporary signs and flags allowed by this section shall only be displayed for a period not to exceed 3 years from the date a permit is issued for the sign or flag or until building permits have been issued for 100% of the lots within a final plat or subsequent phases of the same preliminary plat of a subdivision.

(Ord. 2011-06-07A, passed 6-7-2011)