c0 3)  § ZS 1-324Signs.
(a)
Generally. Signs are any device designed to inform or attract or having the effect of informing or attracting the attention of persons on or not on the premises on which the device is located. Messages displayed on vehicles or trailers shall constitute a sign when the vehicle or trailer is primarily situated or used to serve as advertisement rather than being incidental to the transportation function of the vehicle or trailer. Any site decoration which does not include a directional, informational or commercial marketing message shall not be considered a sign for the purposes of this section. No sign, sign structure or part thereof shall be erected, enlarged or altered unless such sign shall be in compliance with the provisions of this section. Signs visible from a public road shall not simulate traffic control or other official signs. No sign, sign structure or part thereof shall be located so as to obstruct or conflict with traffic sight lines or traffic control signs or signals. No lighting of signs shall be permitted which is of a flashing, rotating or other animated type which could tend to blind or unduly distract motorists, simulate an emergency vehicle, shine directly onto any lot in the A, E, V, R or RP Districts, or cause pollution of the night sky. No sign shall be located on or project over a public right-of-way. No sign shall be attached to any tree, utility pole, shrub or other natural object except for owner-posted "no hunting" or "no trespassing" signs. As used in this subsection "sign" shall include billboard. No sign may contain, depict, or simulate any adult-oriented entertainment or material but an otherwise permissible sign may otherwise advertise the fact that adult-oriented entertainment or material is available at or from the business so advertising.
(b)
Sign area. For the purposes of this section, the area of signs made up of individual letters, figures or designs shall be the sum of the area of the smallest rectangle or other geometric figure encompassing all of said letters, figures or designs. All backgrounds, edging and framing shall be included in the sign area, but not mountings. For freestanding signs, when the interior angle formed by the two faces of the sign is forty-five degrees or less, only one side shall be counted for the purpose of calculating sign area. Copy area of a sign shall include any area of the sign which is designed to inform or attract attention.
(c)
On-premises signs. In addition to the provisions of Subsection (a) hereof, the following shall apply to on-premises signs:
(1)
One permanent sign not exceeding four square feet in area shall be permitted for home occupations, as defined herein, in accordance with the district regulations herein. No yard setback shall be required.
(2)
One permanent sign not exceeding fifty square feet in area shall be permitted for roadside stands as defined herein and in accordance with the district regulations herein. No yard setback shall be required.
(3)
Temporary real estate signs advertising the property on which they are located for sale or lease, temporary construction signs located at the construction site, temporary project identification signs located at the proposed development site, signs used by churches to identify fund raisers, construction activities, special events, projects, etc., and temporary signs announcing the opening of a project shall be permitted, subject to the following provisions:
A.  
Such signs ten square feet or less in area and four feet or less in height shall be permitted without setback requirements.
B.
Such signs greater than ten square feet in area or more than four feet in height shall be set back from all property lines at least a distance in feet equal to one-half the area of the sign measured in square feet, but in no case less than ten feet nor more than one hundred feet.
C.
No such sign shall exceed fifty square feet in area.
D.
Except as herein provided, all temporary construction and project identification signs shall be removed from the property or site within two years of their erection or within ten days after the sale or lease of the property or completion or abandonment of the construction work. The Department may grant extensions to the two-year term in increments of up to two years upon written request of the property owner.
1.
Temporary signs announcing the opening of a project shall be removed within thirty days of such opening.
E.
Temporary signs used by churches to identify fund raisers, construction activities, special events, projects, etc., shall only comply with Subsections (c)(3)A through D hereof and shall be removed within ten days of the conclusion of the event, project or activity.
F.
Prior to the erection of a temporary construction sign, temporary project identification sign or temporary sign announcing the opening of a project, the project must have received a valid building or zoning permit, a current special exception approval or a current site plan approval in accordance with § ZS 1-325 hereof.