14.20.220 Signs | Kenai Municipal Code

14.20.220 Signs.

(1) A permit shall be obtained from the administrative official prior to the installation of any sign, nameplate, advertising sign or advertising structure except as provided in subsection (c) of this section. Construction and erection of signs shall be in accordance with this chapter, with Appendix H of the International Building Code and with the National Electrical Code, except that temporary signs need not be constructed according to Appendix H of the International Building Code.

(2) When a building permit is obtained for the construction of a building, signs for that building that conform to this Code shall be considered as part of the valuation of that building. The fee for signs not covered by a building permit shall be set forth in the City’s schedule of fees adopted by the City Council.

(3) A permit for a commercial advertising sign shall be issued only if the sign will be located on the premises advertised, or on the common property available for such purposes to all commercial occupants of a multiple commercial development such as malls.

(4) Penalties for violations of this section shall be as set forth in KMC 14.20.260(e).

(5) If any of the provisions of this Code hereby adopted conflict with Appendix H of the International Building Code adopted by reference, the provisions of this Code will prevail.

(6) Signs shall be erected and maintained plumb, level, and true and kept repaired, painted, and maintained.

(7) The Building Official shall determine the area of all signs and shall classify all signs.

(8) Existing signs for which no permit was obtained. When the owner of record of a lot or lessee of a lot on which a sign or signs are located that do not conform to the provisions of this Code has been notified that such sign or signs are nonconforming, the owner shall make the sign or signs conforming within ten (10) days from the date of such notice or remove the sign.

(9) Relief from the provisions of this section may be provided by a variance as prescribed under KMC 14.20.180.

(10) A permit issued under the provisions of this section shall become null and void if the sign erection or other work authorized by such permit is not commenced within ninety (90) days of the date of issuance, or if the sign display or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of ninety (90) days any time after the display or work is commenced.

(11) The City of Kenai or any other governmental agency may erect on-premises public informational signs as otherwise allowed in this section. Signs not otherwise in compliance with this section may be allowed by variance under KMC 14.20.180. For purposes of this section, legal notices, or signs directing or regulating pedestrian or vehicular traffic or public safety signs are not considered public informational signs.

(b) Residential Zones. For the purposes of this section, the following shall be considered residential zones: RR, RS, RR-1, RS-1, RS-2, R and TSH. Signs are allowed in the residential zones as follows:

(A) Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

(B) Personal message signs of a total of not more than five (5) square feet, containing noncommercial messages or used to advertise the sale or lease of the property on which it is located.

(D) Signs in the nature of cornerstones, commemorative plaques, historical signs, building name and street number.

(E) Signs within a building or on a structure or fence located at an outdoor sporting event, sporting facility or sports field.

(F) Temporary signs of not more than five (5) square feet advertising such items as “yard sale,” “garage sale,” “property sale,” “open house” or “lemonade” may be displayed for one week. Such signs must display the name, address and telephone of an adult person conducting/supervising such sale and must be dated.

(G) Signs erected on a lot or lots screened or fenced so that no part is visible from a public right-of-way or another lot.

(H) Construction Signs. During construction, repair, or alteration of a structure, temporary signs that denote the architect, engineer, contractor, or builder or which denote the name of the structure and its use or occupants-to-be may be erected on the construction site. Each sign shall be no more than thirty-two (32) square feet in size and no more than one (1) such sign shall be permitted for each architect or engineering firm, contractor, builder, owner, or denoting the name, use, and occupants-to-be of the structure. Any of these may be combined on one (1) or more signs but the total square footage of the sign or signs shall not exceed that set out above. All construction signs shall be removed when the project is completed.

(I) A flag or insignia of any nation, organization of nations, state, borough, city, religious, civic, fraternal organization, or educational institution except flags used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.

(J) Events Signs. Unlighted signs of up to thirty-two (32) square feet may be displayed for the purpose of announcing an event of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization. Signs may be installed no sooner than ten (10) days prior to the event announced and shall be removed within five (5) days after the event. No event signs may be installed for a period exceeding thirty (30) days in any ninety (90) day period. The ninety (90) day period begins on the first day the event sign is displayed.

(K) Political Signs. Political signs shall be removed within two (2) weeks after the date of the election that the signs were displayed to promote; provided that signs erected for any primary election that remain relevant to the following general election may be maintained until two (2) weeks following the general election. If after reasonable notice, such signs are not removed, the City may remove them and the candidate, organization, or person who caused the sign to be placed may be charged for said removal.

(A) Signs Identifying a Home Occupation. One (1) sign per use not exceeding five (5) square feet. Such sign shall be no closer than ten feet (10') to any property line or shall be flat against the building. No lighting is permitted.

(B) Bulletin Boards. Bulletin boards or permanent changeable letter signs located on the premises shall be permitted for churches, schools, community centers and public, charitable or institutional uses. Such signs shall contain no more than thirty-two (32) square feet in area. Such signs may be used as wall signs; may be used as ground signs when located a minimum of ten feet (10') from the street lot line; may be indirectly illuminated.

(C) Signs for Other Allowed and Conditional Uses. One (1) sign per use not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area for multifamily dwellings, clubs, professional offices, churches, and other similar uses. Such signs shall be no closer than ten feet (10') to any property line or shall be flat against the building.

(D) Signs for Nonconforming Uses. A nonconforming use in a residential zone may have one (1) sign per property, unlighted, and no larger than thirty-two (32) square feet in area. Such signs shall be no closer than ten feet (10') to any property line or shall be flat against the building.

(E) A permanent subdivision sign may be placed at one (1) entrance to a subdivision and may contain only the name of the subdivision. Such sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. Any illumination shall be by indirect means.

(A) Audio signs.

(B) Beacon signs.

(C) Unauthorized signs in the right-of-way or on City property. Such signs may be removed and disposed of without notice.

(D) Signs that are higher than thirty-two feet (32') above the adjacent ground or pavement level.

(E) Signs containing profane or indecent words or illustrations.

(F) Signs containing electrical equipment or electrical apparatus of any kind that causes interference with radio, television, or telephone signals and reception.

(G) Signs placed on trailers or vehicles, which as parked or located are designed to primarily display said sign. This does not apply to signs or lettering on buses, taxis, or vehicles operated in the normal course of business.

(H) Flashing or intermittent illumination are not permitted.

(I) Balloons or other inflatable or gas-filled figures or signs.

(J) Signs not mentioned in this Code are prohibited.

(K) No sign shall be erected at any location where by reason of the position, shape, intensity, or color of such sign it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device. No sign shall be attached to any traffic sign or signal device, or to any public sign or signpost.

(L) No sign other than public signs shall be placed within twenty feet (20') of any intersection as measured from the nearest intersection of street right-of-way lines.

(M) No off-premises commercial advertising signs, including billboards, except as allowed in subsection (b)(1)(F) of this section, or at an outdoor sporting event, sports facility, or sports field.

(N) Portable signs.

(O) Fence signs.

(c) Commercial, Industrial Zones and Education Zones. For purposes of this section, the following districts shall be considered commercial districts: CC, CG, IL, IH and ED. Signs are allowed in these districts as follows:

(A) Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

(B) Personal message signs of a total of not more than five (5) square feet containing noncommercial messages.

(D) Temporary banners of not more than thirty-two (32) square feet. No temporary banners shall be installed or placed for a period to exceed thirty (30) days in any ninety (90) day period.

(E) Signs in the nature of cornerstones, commemorative plaques, historical signs, building name, or street number.

(F) Signs within a building or on a structure or fence located at an outdoor sporting event, sporting facility or sports field.

(G) Temporary signs of not more than five (5) square feet advertising such items as “yard sale,” “garage sale,” “property for sale,” “open house,” or “lemonade” may be displayed for one (1) week. Such signs must display the name, address and telephone number of an adult person conducting/supervising such sale and must be dated.

(H) Signs erected on a lot or lots that are fenced or screened so that no part is visible from a public right-of-way or another lot.

(I) Construction Signs. During construction, repair, or alteration of a structure, temporary signs that denote the architectural or engineering firm, contractor or builder that denote the name of the structure and its use or occupants-to-be may be erected on the construction site. Each sign shall be thirty-two (32) square feet or less in size and no more than one (1) such sign shall be permitted for each architectural or engineering firm, contractor, builder, owner, or denoting the name, use and occupants-to-be of the structure. Any of these may be combined on one (1) or more signs but the total square footage of the sign or signs shall not exceed that set out above. All construction signs shall be removed when the construction is completed.

(J) A flag or insignia of any nation, organization of nations, state, borough, city, religious, civic, fraternal organization, or educational institution except flags used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.

(K) Event Signs. One (1) unlighted sign of up to thirty-two (32) square feet may be displayed for the purpose of announcing an event of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization. Signs may be installed no sooner than ten (10) days prior to the event announced and shall be removed within five (5) days after the event. No event signs may be installed for a period exceeding thirty (30) days in any ninety (90) day period. The ninety (90) day period begins on the first day the event sign is displayed. Event signs shall contain the date of their placement.

(L) Real estate signs of thirty-two (32) square feet or less used to advertise the sale or lease of the property on which the sign is located.

(M) A sandwich board sign of not more than sixteen (16) square feet exclusive of other signs allowed.

(N) Political Signs. Political signs shall be removed within two (2) weeks after the date of the election that the signs were displayed to promote; provided that signs erected for any primary election that remain relevant to the following general election may be maintained until two (2) weeks following the general election. If after reasonable notice, such signs are not removed, the City may remove them and the candidate, organization, or person who caused the sign to be placed may be charged for said removal.

(A) One (1) freestanding or marquee per premises of not more than one hundred twenty (120) square feet. Where there is more than one (1) business on a premises a combined freestanding or marquee sign of not more than two hundred (200) square feet.

(B) One (1) roof sign of not more than sixty-four (64) square feet. Where there is more than one (1) business on a premises, a combined roof sign of not more than one hundred twenty-eight (128) square feet.

(D) Real estate signs larger than thirty-two (32) square feet advertising the sale or lease of the property on which the sign is located.

(E) Fence signs of not more than sixty-four (64) square feet. Where there is more than one (1) business on the premises, fence signs may not exceed one hundred twenty-eight (128) square feet.

(A) Audio signs.

(B) Beacon signs.

(D) Portable changeable letter electric or nonelectric signs.

(E) Signs, other than roof signs, which are higher than thirty-two feet (32') above the adjacent ground or pavement level. No roof sign shall be higher than eight feet (8') above the roof on which it is placed.

(F) Signs containing profane or indecent words or illustrations.

(G) Signs containing electrical equipment or electrical apparatus of any kind that causes interference with radio, television, or telephone signals or reception.

(H) Signs placed on trailers or vehicles, which as parked or located are designed to primarily display said sign. This does not apply to signs or lettering on buses, taxis, or vehicles, operated in the normal course of business.

(I) Flashing or intermittent illumination signs are not permitted except time and temperature, automatic changing message signs and traditional holiday decorations.

(J) Balloons or other inflatable or gas-filled figures or signs.

(K) Signs not mentioned in this Code are prohibited.

(L) No sign shall be erected at any location where by reason of the position, shape, intensity, or color of such it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or to any public sign or signpost.

(M) No sign other than public signs shall be placed within twenty feet (20') of any intersection as measured from the nearest intersection of street right-of-way lines.

(N) No off-premises commercial advertising signs, including billboards, except as allowed under subsection (c)(1)(G) of this section, or at an outdoor sporting event, sports facility or sports field.

(d) Limited Commercial Zone. Signs are allowed as follows: