2005-067-ORD PROVIDING CODE OF ORDINANCES BE AMENDED BY REVISING SECTIONS 28-1 28-8 28-9 28-37 BY REPEALING SECTION 28-21
ORDINANCE NO. 2005-067
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
PARIS, TEXAS, PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, BE AMENDED BY REVISING
SECTIONS 28-1, 28-8, 28-9, AND 28-37, BY REPEALING SECTION 28-21
AND ADOPTING A NEW SECTION 28-21, AND BY ADOPTING NEW
SECTIONS 28-22 AND 28-23 TO SAID CODE; PROVIDING FOR REVISED
AND EXPANDED DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR REGULATION OF
SIGN PLACEMENT LOCATIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE PROHIBITION
OF CERTAIN KINDS AND SIZES OF SIGNS; PROVIDING A PROCEDURE
FOR REMOVING NON-CONFORMING, ABANDONED, OBSOLETE,
NUISANCE, OR OTHERWISE UNLAWFUL SIGNS; PROVIDING
EXCEPTIONS TO PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR A
PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.00; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES
OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, prior to 1970, the City of Paris adopted a comprehensive ordinance regulating
signs inside the city limits (the "Sign Ordinance"), and since that time, the only substantial
amendment thereto came in 1986; and,
WHEREAS, the Sign Ordinance is still in need of revisions to provide the Community
Development Department with better enforcement capability and to regulate additional kinds of signs
that are not addressed currently; and,
WHEREAS, it is therefore deemed appropriate that various provisions of Chapter 28,
Articles I and II, of the Code of the Ordinances of the City of Paris be amended; NOW,
THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all things
approved.
Section 2. That Section 28-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, amended so that such shall read as follows:
Page 1 of 17
"Sec. 28-1. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed:
Abandoned or obsolete sign. A sign which depicts or refers to a product,
business, service, activity, condition, or person which has changed in such a manner
that the sign no longer correctly identifies or describes said entity, or which entity no
longer exists at the location referred to in the sign, or which entity no longer exists
in any way or at any place, or which is deserted, surrendered or forsaken, unused,
given up, or relinquished with intention of never resuming a right or interest therein.
Alcoholic beverage signs. Any sign advertising alcoholic beverages which
does not exceed four (4) square feet.
Attached sign. Any sign attached to, applied on or supported by any part of
a building (such as a wall, roof, window, canopy, awning, arcade, or marquee) which
encloses or covers usable space and does not extend more than 12 inches from the
building facade.
Banner signs. Any sign made of canvas or other cloth with or without
framework.
Billboard Any flat surface covered with wood or metal erected on
framework on open space, or attached to posts, buildings, or other structures and used
for the display of bills, posters and other advertising matters posted, tacked or painted
thereon.
Blinking signs. Any sign that has intermittent off and on lights of any color.
Building official. The Chief Building Official of the City of Paris or
designee.
City. The City of Paris, Texas.
Dilapidated signs. Signs that do not meet the standards described in this
chapter.
Electric sign. Any sign, the letters or designs of which are outlined by electric
lamps or tubes on which the letters or designs are painted, placed, or raised, and
illuminated by interior or exterior lamps so placed as to make visible the letters or
design on the sign. Billboards and ground signs which are illuminated as above shall
be classified as electric signs and shall meet the requirements for wiring and
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electrical inspections as for electrical signs.
Electrical inspector. The electrical inspector of the City of Paris.
Government flag sign. A flag or insignia of a governmental or fraternal,
religious, civic or educational organization or institution which is not used in
connection with a commercial promotion or to advertise a commercial product,
service, business, activity, condition, or person.
Ground signs. Signs that are built so that there are no open spaces between
the ground and the sign.
Inspections division. The Building Inspections Division ofthe City of Paris
Community Development Department.
Major repair. Any repair, other than minor repair as defined herein, of an
existing sign, which through an act of God or other event (other than normal
maintenance operations) has become damaged or out of repair in excess of 60 percent
of its replacement cost. Such repair work will require a permit and shall meet all
provisions of this article. Verification of the percentage of damage will be supplied
by the applicant to the permit office, and such verification shall include, as a
minimum, two estimates from two different established sign contractors, stating the
total value of the sign and the total value of all costs to repair the sign to its original
state. If the applicant agrees that the repair exceeds 60 percent of replacement cost,
then the said estimates shall not be required.
Minor repair. Limited to painting, replacement of defective parts, cleaning,
or other similar minor maintenance to a sign which will keep said sign at an
acceptable level and which does not change the total area of the sign, and which
repair is less than 60 percent of the replacement cost of the sign.
Menu board means a temporary sign used to inform the public of the list of
dishes, foods, or entrees available in a restaurant and many include the corresponding
.
pnces.
Movement-control sign. An on-site traffic control sign which directs
vehicular or pedestrian movement within or onto a premises.
Nameplate. Any sign showing only the name and address of the owner or
occupant of the premises on which it is erected.
Nuisance sign. Any sign or billboard which annoys and disturbs one in
possession of his property, rendering its ordinary use or occupation physically
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uncomfortable to him, or which is illuminated to an intensity to cause glare or
brightness to a degree that could constitute a hazard or nuisance. Nuisance signs shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene,
indecent, or immoral character, such as will offend public morals or decency.
(2) Signs which imitate an official traffic sign or signal, or which
contain the words 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning,' or similar
words.
(3) Signs which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring,
or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a
traffic control device, which hide from view any traffic or street sign or
signal, or which obstruct the view in any direction at a street or road
intersection.
(4) Signs which are moving, flashing, intermittently lighted, changing
color, beacons, revolving, or similarly constructed.
(5) Signs that are unsafe or unsecured, abandoned, or maintained in
a dilapidated condition.
Open sign. Any sign constructed of open metalwork or wire mesh secured to
angle iron or other framework, and the letters or designs fastened thereon.
Pole sign. Signs that must have at least eight (8) feet of clearance from the
ground to the bottom of the frame of the sign.
Political sign. Any type of sign which refers only to the issues or candidates
involved in a political election.
Protective sign. Any sign which is commonly associated with safeguarding
the permitted uses of the occupancy.
Real estate sign. Any sign advertising property for sale, lease or rent of
temporary construction.
Sandwich board or 'A' frame sign. A portable sign consisting of two panels
of equal size, made of painted, decay-resistant wood, which are hinged at the top and
placed on the ground or pavement so as to be self-supporting.
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Sign. Any writing, letter, word, numeral, pictorial representation, emblem,
symbol, trademark, object, design, or other identification which is designed or
intended to identify, advertise, announce, or inform. The term 'sign' shall not
include:
(1) Works of art which in no way identify a product or business and
which are not displayed in conjunction with a numerical for-profit enterprise.
(2) Temporary decorations or displays directly incidental to and
customarily and commonly associated with national, regional, or local
holiday celebrations.
(3) Traffic and other official signs and devices of any public or
governmental agency.
Sign area. The area enclosed by drawing one or more rectangles of horizontal
and vertical lines which fully contain all extremities of the sign drawn to scale,
exclusive of its supports. The measurement is to be calculated from the viewpoint
which gives the largest rectangle of that kind as the viewpoint is rotated horizontally
around the sign. Sign area shall include all lettering, wording, logos, design,
symbols, framing, roofing, and cabinets or modules.
Sky sign. Any sign or billboard supported or attached wholly or in part over
or above any wall, building or structure.
Temporary sign. Shall include all torpedo signs, A-frame signs, real estate
signs, and political signs as herein defined.
Torpedo sign. Signs that are of the portable type that can be moved from
location to location, usually exhibiting flashing lights or changeable messages.
Vehicular sign. A sign that identifies a vehicle used for a particular business;
however, not when the primary use of the vehicle is that of a sign."
Section 3. That Section 28-8 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, amended so that such shall read as follows:
"Sec. 28-8. Location and heights.
(i) No sign having a height greater than three (3) feet above the level of the
center of the nearest abutting street will be permitted on or in that portion of any
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comer lot which is included in a triangle on the street comer of the lot formed by a
diagonal line intersecting the property lines at points twenty (20) feet from the street
comer intersection of the property lines.
(k) Attached signs may be located on a building wall; but, if any part of the
sign projects above the ceiling line of the first floor, then no window or part of a
window shall be situated within or blocked by the flat wall sign. No such sign shall
extend above the roofline of the building or more than 12 inches from the building
wall. Where such signs are located on mansard-style roofs, and the building fascia
is not vertical, the bottom of such sign shall not project more than 12 inches from
said roof and the sign can be oriented in a vertical manner."
Section 4. That Section 28-9 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, amended so that such shall read as follows:
"Sec. 28-9. Prohibited signs.
(a) Cloth and banner signs. No person shall suspend or project over or across
any street, alley or other public space or portion thereof, cloth signs or banners
advertising anything or for any purpose whatsoever. This chapter, however, shall not
prohibit the displaying of flags and other emblems not otherwise prohibited by law,
provided the flag or emblem, when suspended over a street, or public space, is
securely fastened to the supporting cable by one (1) edge only, and be allowed to
swing free and further provided that permission to display the flags or emblems has
been obtained from the building official. The supporting cable shall be of sufficient
strength and anchored so as to meet the approval of the building official. The
building official may grant a temporary suspension of the second and third sentences
of this paragraph (a) of this section at such times as he may deem expedient on
special occasions or while festivals or celebrations are being held.
(b) Abandoned or obsolete signs. The owner of the sign shall remove such
signs in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 28-21 hereof.
(c) Ground signs. The size of ground signs shall be limited to one (1) square
foot per front foot of property upon which the same is placed; however, under no
circumstances shall such sign exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area and
fifteen (15) feet in height. No ground sign shall be erected within twenty (20) feet
of any residence.
(d) Historically significant signs. The Historic Preservation Commission, the
committee charged with protecting historical districts, may nominate signs located
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in such districts as historically significant signs. The city council shall hold a public
hearing and make final determination as to the historical significance of such
nominated sign, and if such sign is found to be historically significant then the
prohibition herein shall not regulate such sign. However, such sign may only be
maintained and shall not be enlarged, diminished, or significantly changed, and in the
event of such notification of change, it shall lose the protection as an historically
significant sign.
(e) Nuisance signs. No sign shall be placed or maintained in such a manner
as to constitute a hazard or nuisance as that term is defined herein.
(f) Pole signs. The size of pole signs shall be limited to one (1) square foot
per front foot of property upon which the same is placed; however, under no
circumstances shall such sign exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area and
thirty (30) feet in height, except that, pole signs will not be limited to one (1) square
foot per front foot of property, nor to thirty (30) feet in height, when erected within
a rectangle one thousand (1,000) feet wide and four thousand (4,000) feet long
running lengthwise with an elevated portion of Loop 286 or an elevated portion of
any Farm to Market Road, Texas highway, or U.S. highway outside of Loop 286,
having its center at the center point of the elevated street or highways' intersections
with the depressed street or highway or when erected within a rectangle fifteen
hundred (1,500) feet wide and one thousand (1,000) feet long at an elevated
intersection of a Farm to Market Road, a Texas highway or a U.S. highway
intersection with Loop 286, such rectangle extending inside Loop 286 five hundred
(500) feet from the center point of said intersection and one thousand (1,000) feet
outside of Loop 286 from such center point of such intersection. If a permit
application is received for a pole sign to be located within the aforedescribed
rectangles, a specific use permit may be issued in accordance with the procedure
established in section 28-43, which would establish the height of such sign and the
size of such sign not to exceed a maximum of three hundred (300) square feet. No
pole sign shall be erected within twenty (20) feet of any residence.
(g) Swinging signs. Detached and hanging signs shall be engineered to
withstand a wind load of 30 pounds per square foot.
(h) Temporary signs. Unless otherwise specifically regulated herein, a
temporary sign shall not exceed a height of three (3) feet. An exception would be
temporary signs informing the public of the contractors and subcontractors of
construction sites where they will be allowed with a limitation on size to a maximum
of four (4) feet by eight (8) feet, other than names on equipment which is excepted.
(i) Torpedo signs. No torpedo sign shall be constructed or placed in the City
which fails to meet the requirements of sections 28-3, 28-10, 28-13, 28-18, and any
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other applicable section of this chapter of the Code of Ordinances. All torpedo signs
must be covered by a valid sign permit which will expire one (1) year from the date
of issuance. If a torpedo sign is not exhibited in the same location or not continuously
throughout the permit period, only one (1) permit is required; however, an inspection
is required on each occasion of relocation or location change.
U) Signs on public rights-of way. No person shall attach any sign, paper, or
other material or paint, stencil, or write any name or number (except house numbers)
or otherwise mark in any public right-of-way unless authorized by this article or by
the city councilor its delegated representatives.
(k) Signs on trees, poles, etc. No person shall attach or maintain any sign
upon any tree, public utility pole, or public building except as designated by the
inspections division.
(1) Signs on abandoned buildings or vacant lots. No person shall place,
attach, or maintain any sign on vacant lots or abandoned buildings. However, on
premise real estate signs shall be permitted.
(m) Attached signs. The size of attached signs shall be limited to one (1)
square foot per front foot of property upon which the same is placed; however, under
no circumstances shall such sign exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area. If
the lot on which the building is located has multiple right -of-way frontage, each street
frontage shall be counted for purposes of determining attached sign allowance. Said
signage is to be applied (distributed) on the sides of the building where facing
directly adjacent to the public right-of-way. Alternate signage is allowed on sides of
the building not adjacent to the public right-of-way not to exceed 32 square feet.
(n) Total sign face area of all signs combined, including ground signs, pole
signs, attached signs, portable signs, torpedo signs, banners, etc., shall not exceed one
(1) square foot per front foot of property line, or a maximum of 300 square feet, at
any time."
Section 5. That Section 28-21 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is repealed.
Section 6. That Section 28-21 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, adopted so that such shall read as follows:
"Sec. 28-21. Nonconforming signs; maintenance of existing signs; removal of
signs by city.
Page 8 of 17
(a) Nonconforming signs.
(1) Signs existing prior to July 1, 1986, which do not conform to the
provisions of this chapter shall be regarded as nonconforming signs which
may continue to exist until the sign, or a substantial part of it, is blown down
or otherwise destroyed, dismantled, or substantially altered for any purpose
other than maintenance operations or for changing the letters, symbols, or
other matter on the sign. Nonconforming signs which are structurally altered,
relocated, or replaced at the owner's choice shall comply immediately with
all provisions of this ordinance.
(2) Any nonconforming sign which has been damaged by fire, wind,
or other cause in excess of 60 percent of its replacement cost shall not be
restored except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
(3) If the City Council deems it appropriate to require the relocation,
reconstruction, or removal of a sign within the city limits or the
extraterritorial jurisdiction, then it shall comply with the procedures set forth
in V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, Chapter 216, Subchapter A.
(b) Abandoned or obsolete signs.
(1) Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a
bona fide business conducted or a product sold at said premises, shall be
removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the
building or structure upon which the sign may be found or associated within
twelve (12) months after the said business has been closed; provided,
however, if the premises containing the sign is leased, such sign shall be
removed within twenty-four (24) months after the most recent tenant ceases
to operate on the premises.
(2) The poles/supports for out-of-business signs may be left in place
as long as the poles/supports do not violate safety or electrical codes and as
long as there is reasonable expectation that the poles/supports can or will be
utilized by the next owner, agent, or person occupying the building. If the
sign pole/support is in the right-of way or is a nonconforming sign structure,
it must be completely removed.
(3) All signs, cabinets, and parts to the abandoned or obsolete sign
(except primary poles/supports, if in compliance) shall be removed from the
premises and disposed of. If the abandoned or obsolete sign or sign parts are
not removed within the time frames stated herein, a code inspector is hereby
authorized to cause removal of such sign, sign parts, and sign pole/supports
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if not in compliance. A code inspector will send notice of this action to the
owner, and if owner fails to respond within a two-week period, the City will
have the sign removed. All expenses incidental to this sign removal shall be
paid by the owner of the land, building, or structure to which the sign is
attached or upon which it is erected.
(c) Removal of unlawful signs. All of the following signs shall be considered
a public nuisance and are prohibited and, upon written notification by the inspections
division, may be removed from the premises. Said notification shall state that if the
sign is not removed within the same day or next working day if received on a
weekend day of said notification, a citation may be issued. The following signs shall
be governed hereby:
(1) Any sign erected without a required permit, either prior to or after
the adoption of this chapter.
(2) Any sign erected in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(3) Any sign erected in or over a public right-of-way, either prior to
or after the adoption of this chapter, except those in the downtown historic
district, as such is defined in the Zoning Ordinance No. 1710.
(d) Removal ofhazardous signs. The following signs are a public hazard and
can be removed without notice by the City:
(1) Any sign erected or existing that constitutes a traffic hazard.
(2) Any sign which is dangerous due to being electrically or
structurally defective.
(e) Maintenance of existing signs. Any person having an interest in a sign
for which a permit is issued under this chapter shall maintain all parts and sign
supports of the sign covered by such permit in good condition to prevent
deterioration, oxidation, rust, and other unsightly conditions. Historic signs shall be
exempt; however, every attempt to protect such signs shall be exhausted.
Additionally, the following provisions shall apply to the maintenance of existing
SIgns:
(1) There shall be no permit required to restore/repair a sign to its
original condition. However, major repair of an existing sign requires a
permit.
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(2) Every sign in the city, regardless of whether any permit is
required for such sign, shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and sound
structural and operational condition at all times. Signs not meeting the
standards of good repair shall be subject to repair after written notification by
a code inspector to the sign owner or lessee. If the sign owner or lessee
cannot be notified, the property owner will be notified. If, in the opinion of
the code inspector, a sign has been damaged or is found to be in such a state
of disrepair that it constitutes a hazard to the health, safety, and welfare of the
general public and would require a major repair as defined herein, the sign
may be removed without prior notice to the owner or lessee.
(3) All signs, together with all sign supports, braces, guys, and
anchors, shall be kept in repair and, unless of galvanized or noncorroding
metal, shall be thoroughly painted as often as needed to maintain a neat
appearance, meaning lettering or other items are not faded or worn and can
clearly be read by the traveling public.
(4) If, in the opinion of a code inspector, any sign is structurally
unsound, not properly maintained, or is unsightly, and would require a major
repair as defined herein, said inspector will notify owner or lessee to remedy
the problem within ten (10) days. If such order is not complied with within
10 days, the code inspector may remove such sign at the expense of the
owner or lessee.
(D Recovery of impounded signs. Impounded signs may be recovered by the
owner within 15 days after written notification of impoundment by paying a fee as
follows:
(1) A fee of$5.00 for signs which are 12 square feet or less in area.
(2) A fee of $20.00 for signs which are larger than 12 square feet in
area.
(g) Disposal of impounded signs. Signs not recovered within 15 days after
written notification may be disposed of by the City in any manner it shall elect."
Section 7. That Section 28-22 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, adopted so that such shall read as follows:
"Sec. 28-22. General provisions.
The following general provisions apply to signs in all zoning districts within
the city of Paris:
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(a) Signs in interior of windows. For new and/or existing businesses
which are food or non-food-service establishments, signage is permitted in
the interior of windows without a permit; provided that not more than 30
percent of the transparent area is occupied at one time.
(b) Illuminated signs. All illuminated signs shall bear the
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., label or be built to comply with
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., requirements and shall be in conformance
with the 1999 Edition of the National Electrical Code, as it may be amended;
and the 2000 Edition of the International Electrical Code, as it may be
amended; additionally, illuminated signs shall comply with the following
. .
provlSlons:
(1 ) Any light used for the illumination of a sign shall be
shielded so that the beams or rays oflight shine directly onto the sign
and not into surrounding areas.
(2) Neither the direct nor the reflected light from any light
source shall create a traffic hazard or distraction to operators of motor
vehicles on public thoroughfares.
(3) External illumination shall be allowed; however, such
lighting must comply with the above subsections 28-22(b)(1) and
(b )(2).
(c) Replacement after street construction or other projects. Non-conforming signs
required to be removed by property owners as a result of street repairs or construction or
other utility projects may not be replaced except to conforming status.
(d) Relocated businesses. For businesses which relocate, signage notifying the
public of a new business location shall be permitted at the old business location for a period
not to exceed 30 days."
Section 8. That Section 28-23 of the Code of Ordinances ofthe City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, adopted so that such shall read as follows:
"Sec. 28-23. Multi-use signs.
A multi-use sign which identifies a coordinated development site of more
than one use, such as a shopping center, office center, or industrial park, may have
a sign area not larger than the area allowed for a single-use sign on the site, or a
maximum of300 square feet. A multi-use sign may contain a directory or listing of
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the occupants within a center or multi-use development, provided that the directory
portion of the sign shall not exceed 200 square feet or 75 percent of the total sign
area, whichever is less. If a directory is utilized, the remainder of the sign area shall
contain only the identification ofthe entire center or entire development. If a multi-
use sign area meets the maximum square footage allowed for a single use, no
detached ground sign is allowed for any single use within the center or development,
or for any use listed in a directory on such sign; instead, other single uses within the
center or development may utilize attached signage only in accordance with the
following provisions:
(1) The total area per face of an attached sign shall not exceed 1
square foot of face area per front foot of leased or occupied fascia length.
(2) Ifthe leased or occupied fascia length has multiple frontages, an
attached sign may be placed on each frontage in a size not to exceed 1 square
foot of face area per front foot of leased or occupied fascia length; however,
signs located on the back of a development shall be limited to 1 square foot
of face area per back foot of leased or occupied fascia length not to exceed
32 square feet, whichever is smaller.
(3) Attached signs identifying individual occupancies within a
coordinated development should be uniform in size and general appearance
as much as is practicable."
Section 9. That Section 28-37 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas,
be, and the same is hereby, amended so that such shall read as follows:
"Sec. 28-37. When permits not required.
The following signs may be erected and maintained under the exceptions and
conditions listed and shall not require a permit, provided all other chapter provisions
are met:
(1) Public signs. Noncommercial signs erected by or at the direction
of a public officer in furtherance of the public interest in the performance of
his public duty.
(2) Public, charitable, educational, or religious signs. Temporary
signs announcing any public, charitable, educational, or religious event or
function may be installed for a period of not more than 21 days prior to the
event and not more than seven days after the event, with a total sign area of
not more than 24 square feet on each sign face. Such signage is prohibited
over the public right-of-way. No fees shall be charged for such signs.
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(3) Integral signs. Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental
citations, and commemorative tablets which are carved into stone, concrete,
or similar permanent materials and constructed as an integral part of a
structure.
(4) Nameplates. One nameplate per public entrance per business not
exceeding three square feet of sign area per face.
(5) Private signs. Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot
or series of contiguous lots under the same ownership on which they are
located or which are not visible from any public right-of-way.
(6) Garage-sale signs. One garage-sale sign not exceeding four
square feet in sign area for all sign faces which is installed on the lot or series
of contiguous lots under the same ownership on which the garage sale is
located; such sign shall be installed during the days for which the garage-sale
is conducted.
(7) Menu boards. Eating establishments with drive-through service
are permitted two menu board signs per premises, limited to 36 square feet
in area and 6 feet in height.
(8) Window signs. Window signs are exempt from the provisions of
this chapter, providing not more than 30 percent of the transparent window
area is occupied at anyone time.
(9) Gasoline/service station signage. Signs located beneath a canopy
which do not advertise the premises, including but not limited to the
following information: 'Self-Service,' 'Full Service,' 'Unleaded Gasoline,'
and 'Regular Gasoline,' are exempt. Governmentally mandated signage and
signage contained within the individual pumps are also exempt. In addition,
ten square feet of signage is permitted per side under the canopy per set of
gasoline product dispensers. Signage located beneath the canopy which is
intended to advertise to individuals using the gasoline product dispensers
only, and not intended for advertisement to the public right-of-way, is
exempt. Letters less than three inches in height shall not be counted as part
of the sign allowance.
(10) Government flag signs. Allowed, as defined in the definitions in
section 28-1, provided that each such sign does not exceed 40 square feet.
One advertisement/identification flag or three government flags are permitted
with a maximum of three such signs per premises.
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(11) Political signs. Such signs must contain primarily a political
message, be located on private real property with the consent of the property
owner, and not be located within the public right-of-way. Additionally,
political signs that are smaller than 36 square feet, less than 8 feet high, not
illuminated, and do not have any moving parts do not require a permit.
(12) Real estate signs. Such signs shall be nonillurninated, shall not
exceed six square feet in area per face, and shall pertain to the sale or lease
of the premises. Subject to the provisions of the city's zoning ordinance,
permits shall not be necessary for temporary signboards or billboards to be
placed on buildings or vacant space, advertising the sale or renting of such
buildings or property on which they are placed, when such signboards or
billboards do not exceed sixty (60) square feet of area.
(13) Agricultural signs. One sign, advertising agricultural uses, not
exceeding 32 square feet in area and 8 feet in height, shall be allowed per
owner. On large tracts that exceed 0.25 mile of public right-of-way frontage,
said owner may have one sign per 0.25 mile or portion thereof.
(14) Vehicular signs. Vehicular signs are allowed for the purpose of
identifying a vehicle used for a particular business (i.e., delivery service,
professional and business, construction trailers, etc.).
(15) Protective signs. The occupant of any premises may erect two
protective signs in accordance with the following provisions:
a. Each sign must not exceed 2 square feet in area.
b. Detached signs must not exceed 2 feet in height.
c. Letters must not exceed 4 inches in height.
(16) Movement-control signs. May be erected at any occupancy or
any premises, other than a single-family or duplex premises, may be attached
or detached and may be erected without limit as to number; provided that
such signs shall comply with all other applicable requirements of this chapter.
The occupant of any premises who erects a movement-control sign shall
comply with the following requirements:
a. Each sign must not exceed 4 square feet in area and a
maximum of 6 feet in height.
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b. If a sign is an attached sign, the letters must not exceed 6
inches in height.
c. Each sign must convey a message which directs vehicular
or pedestrian movement within or onto the premises on which the
sign is located.
d. Not more than 50 percent of such sign may be used for
advertising or identification."
Section 10. Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of
a Misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in any sum not to exceed $2,000.00, and each
and every day's continuance of any violation of the above-enumerated section shall constitute and
be deemed a separate offense.
Section 11. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby expressly
repealed; provided, however, that as to signs made nonconforming by this ordinance, such signs shall
continue to be subject to, and any conflicting ordinance shall remain in full force and effect to the
extent that the provisions of such prior ordinance are more rigorous or stringent than the
requirements of this ordinance as applied to said nonconforming signs.
Section 12. Nothing herein is intended to cause the City of Paris to pay compensation for
the relocation, reconstruction, or the removal of a sign pursuant to Chapter 216, Texas Local
Government Code, and any interpretation or application of this ordinance which would obligate the
City to pay such compensation shall be null and void.
Section 13. That the terms and provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be
severable, and any finding of illegality or unconstitutionality as to any provisions hereof, shall not
affect the continued enforceability of the remaining provisions of this ordinance.
Section 14. This ordinance shall become effective on January 1,2006.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of December, 2005.
ATTEST:
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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. Lestock, Assistant City Attorney
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