§ 700. Purpose.

Signs perform important functions that are essential for public safety and general welfare, including communicating messages, providing information about goods and services, and warning, orienting and directing people. It is further recognized that because of potential detrimental impacts, signs must be regulated to:

1.

Protect transportation corridors from encroachment of structures, congestion and blight related to size, lighting and location which may interfere with the visibility from or to access points and thereby prevent hazards to vehicular and pedestrian traffic safety; and

2.

Provide easy recognition and legibility of permitted signs and uses and promote visual order and clarity on streets; and

3.

Facilitate efficient communication by implementing design criteria that produces signs which can be easily read and recognized without distracting elements; and

4.

Preserve the natural features and protect the rural qualities of the City of Arab; and

5.

Support business and community vitality by informing the public of available goods, services, and activities; and

6.

Protect property values and investment backed expectations through an orderly and reasonable allowance for signage; and

7.

Prevent nuisances and ensure the quiet enjoyment of one's property by recognizing the differing needs of commercial and non-commercial properties; and

8.

Promote community self-sufficiency by allowing temporary, seasonal, and on site signs for all lots within the community; and

9.

Be consistent with the goals of the Arab Comprehensive Plan.

General Provisions: Signs shall be permitted in any district subject to the regulations contained in the Ordinance. Any sign or use of sign shall conform to the following standards.

1.

Sign Permit Process:

a.

A completed Sign Permit Application, together with applicable fee, must be submitted to the Planning Department and a permit for all signs (other than temporary signs), conforming to all specifications of this section, must be secured prior to erecting, re-erecting, altering, relocating, enlarging, making structural repairs or changes, and/or changing the lighting, size or height of signs. Content changes do not require a permit.

b.

If a sign permit has been issued to a particular use and that use is sold, a new sign construction permit will be required to verify that all requirements of this ordinance are being met, even if the new use is similar, the sign is the same size, the sign and supports have the same materials, and the sign is in the same location.

c.

Any person who is denied a Sign Permit, shall be entitled to appeal that denial to the City Council of the City of Arab by providing written notice to the City Clerk within fourteen (14) days of notice of the denial. Any such notice shall include reference to the grounds that exist which the petitioner believes justifies approval of the permit. The City Council shall then hear such appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting and issue a decision upholding or overturning the denial.

2.

The owner of any sign which is otherwise allowed under this Article may substitute non-commercial copy in lieu of commercial or non-commercial copy without any additional approval or permitting. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over non-commercial speech.

3.

Existing Nonconforming Signs:

a.

Signs existing legally at the time of the adoption of this Ordinance may continue if in compliance with this section.

b.

Pre-existing nonconforming signs shall not be expanded and, if replaced, must meet all the requirements of this Ordinance.

c.

No nonconforming sign shall be repaired or reestablished after damage or destruction if the estimated expense for repair/construction exceeds fifty (50) percent of the original construction cost or of unable to prove, requires repair to more than fifty (50) percent of the sign.

d.

No nonconforming sign shall be changed to another nonconforming sign.

e.

No nonconforming sign shall be replaced with another nonconforming sign when such sign deteriorates because of age and use to the point where replacement of the sign is required.

f.

A nonconforming sign may be maintained to the extent necessary to present a neat and orderly appearance, however, no nonconforming sign shall be repainted, refaced or modified to serve another business, advertisement or event.

4.

Signs for a non-residential use that has not operated within the previous ninety (90) days shall be removed within thirty (30) days.

5.

All signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with this Zoning Ordinance and the International Building Code as adopted by the State of Alabama/and or City of Arab. Signs (other than temporary signs) shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be properly attached to the ground, building, or other structure. Signs may also be subject to State and Federal regulations.

6.

Illuminated signs shall be lit by steady, non-flashing, white light which shall be shielded from abutters and traffic.

7.

Building mounted signs are considered a component of the building to which they are attached. The square footage of a building mounted sign is not a component of the maximum permitted per-lot signage square footage. They must otherwise comply with this ordinance.

8.

No more than one (1) free-standing sign per tax lot. Corner lots may be permitted two (2) free-standing signs.

9.

Signs shall not be attached to trees, utility poles, or placed in any public right-of-way. No detached sigh shall be located within fifteen (15) feet of any public street right-of-way.

10.

Severability: If a provision or certain language of this sign ordinance becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, that shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision or language of this sign ordinance.

(Ord. No. 2017-4, § 2, 10-2-17)