§ 714.06. Prohibited signs.

A.

The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:

1.

Pylon signs.

2.

Signs, fliers, bills, posters, or any other such object placed upon or affixed to sidewalks, curbs, or public rights-of-way or any publicly owned building or structure, whether located within or outside of the public right-of-way. These signs shall be removed immediately upon notice by the Development Services Department. Any damage or defacement resulting from such prohibited placement shall immediately be repaired or otherwise corrected by the responsible party. For purposes of enforcement, the responsible party shall be deemed to be the party benefiting or intending to benefit from the advertisement, notice or message that is required to be removed.

3.

Signs attached to a fence, fence post, tree, tree trunk, street sign, or utility pole or painted on or otherwise attached to a rock or other natural objects.

4.

Signs, which emit sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or vapor.

5.

Flashing or blinking signs, or signs using varying light intensity.

6.

Rotating signs or animated signs involving motion of the body of the sign.

7.

Signs that advertise an activity that is illegal under local, state, or federal laws or regulations.

8.

Signs which are erected or maintained that obstructs any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation, or which prevent free passage from 1 part of a roof to any other part thereof, or attached in any manner to a fire escape.

9.

Portable display signs or trailer display signs.

10.

Billboards located on property which has an existing sign.

11.

Pennants or other nonpermanent displays attached together or to a building, vehicle or other object by rope, string, wire or other device.

12.

Abandoned or dilapidated signs.

13.

Air- and gas-filled devices greater than 2 feet in diameter, except as permitted under other provisions of this division (see Section 714.05E.9).

14.

Roof signs or signs where a portion of the sign extends above the roof of the building where the sign is located.

B.

Signs not to constitute a traffic hazard. No sign, noise emission or revolving beam or beacon of light shall be erected at any location where by reason of the position, shape or color it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device. The Director of the Department of Development Services, or in the alternative, the Director of Public Works, shall determine whether any such sign, noise emission, or illumination creates a hazard to the motoring public. Also, the Director of the Department of Development Services, or the Director of Public Works, shall determine if any sign obstructs or impairs the sight of any vehicle operator. In all zoning districts, no sign or other obstruction to vision, except utility poles, light or street sign standards or tree trunks shall be permitted within 15 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of streets, roads, highways or railroads.

C.

Non-conforming signs.

1.

In those cases in which there exist more than 1 freestanding sign per property frontage, any signs which are non-conforming with respect to the requirements herein shall be removed within 1 year after the passage of this division, after which time they are declared to be illegal.

2.

A non-conforming sign shall not be replaced by another non-conforming sign except that the substitution or interchange of poster panels, painted boards or demountable materials on non-conforming signs shall be allowed under Section 714.03M. if the structure remains in place during said substitution or interchange, notwithstanding those signs described in subsection A. above. Signs which represent a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare shall not be considered non-conforming nor derive any protection therefrom.

3.

Minor repairs and maintenance of nonconforming signs such as repainting and electrical repairs shall be permitted. However, no structural repairs or changes in the size, shape, location, or design of this sign shall be permitted except to make the sign comply with the requirements of this division.

4.

In the event that a nonconforming sign is destroyed wholly or in part by accidental or unintentional fire, flood or natural disaster, then said sign may be repaired or rebuilt, or a new sign may be built, on the same building footprint as the original sign. Even with this exception, a permit shall be required.

5.

In cases where there are existing nonconforming signs on a parcel in which there will be a renovation of the primary structure exceeding 50% of its replacement cost or there is redevelopment of a vacant lot, the entire sign (in each case) shall be required to come into compliance with the City of Marietta Sign Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 7867, 1/13/2016, § 1)