§ 804. Prohibited signs.

(a)

The following signs, including temporary signs, are prohibited throughout the City:

(1)

Signs imitating warning signals are prohibited. No sign shall display lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, regardless of the color; nor shall any signs use the words, slogans, dimensional shape and size, or colors of governmental traffic signs in such a manner as to resemble official traffic signs;

(2)

No signs, including temporary signs, except traffic signs and signals and informational signs erected by a public agency, are permitted within any street or highway right-of-way;

(3)

It shall be unlawful for any person to tack, post or nail any paper, metal, wood or other signs of any character on any natural features (such as trees or rocks), fence posts, telegraph, telephone, electric or other utility type poles, located in any public right-of-way;

(4)

Signs for business operations located in residential zoning districts;

(5)

Roof signs and trailer-mounted signs;

(6)

Rotating signs and flashing/animated signs;

(7)

Signs attached to trees or utility poles or boxes; signs painted on or otherwise attached to rocks or other natural objects; signs, including temporary signs, other than those placed by a local, state or federal government, located within the public street right-of-way or within five feet of the curb or closest edge of the pavement of any public street;

(8)

Signs emitting or utilizing in any manner any sound capable of being detected on a public road by a person of normal hearing;

(9)

Signs which obstruct any fire escape, any means of egress or ventilation, or prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof; signs attached in any manner to any fire escape;

(10)

Banner, fringe, twirling, A-frame, sandwich-type, sidewalk or curb-type signs, balloons, streamers, portable display signs, air or gas filled figures and other similar temporary signs, except as expressly permitted and provided for in this article;

(11)

Signs that threaten, intimidate, or incite violence;

(12)

Any sign placed or erected on a property without the permission of the property owner;

(13)

Signs that emit smoke, vapor, particles, or odor;

(14)

Searchlight or spotlights, except for special promotions and attracting attention to new business "grand opening". For each event, such device shall receive prior written approval from the Director of Inspections or his or her designee; said device shall not create a nuisance or interfere with vehicular traffic, adhere to all applicable regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and may be for a period not exceeding seven consecutive days with a special event permit;

(15)

Illuminated signs from or to which direct rays of light are projected onto a lot other than on the lot where the illumination occurs;

(16)

Vehicular signs are prohibited in all districts except where the business has no reasonable alternative location on the site to park the vehicle;

(17)

Abandoned signs are prohibited in all districts;

(18)

Signs which contain words, pictures, or statements which are obscene, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80;

(19)

No sign shall otherwise be in violation of O.C.G.A. § 32-6-75;

(20)

Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic;

(b)

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following:

(1)

Signs erected by a government or government agency.

(2)

Signs of public utility companies indicating danger, or which serve as an aid to public safety or identification, or which show the location of underground facilities, or of public telephones.

(3)

"No Trespassing" signs, or other such signs regulating the use of property, such as "No Hunting," "No Fishing," etc. of no more than two square feet in area.

(4)

Names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface, or inlaid so as to be part of the building, or when constructed of any bronze or other non-combustible materials.

(5)

Signs of historical societies no more than five square feet in area.

(Ord. No. 2010-01, § I, 3-4-2010)