31.220 General Standards for All Signs.

(1) A sign shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate traffic or railroad signs, signals, or devices.

(2) A sign shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices.

(3) A sign shall not cause glare, mislead or confuse traffic, or impair driver visibility on public ways, private roadways, or adjoining properties.

(4) A sign shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, stairway, fire escape, or driveway.

(5) A sign shall not be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.

(6) A sign shall not be attached to a tree or painted on rocks.

(7) Balloons, ribbons, or any other attention-getting devices attached to signs may be prohibited at the discretion of the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall provide a 24-hour verbal notice for removal, or a 72-hour written notice prior to issuing a citation for violation of this subsection.

(8) A sign shall not flash, blink, strobe, or be animated, except as specifically allowed in this chapter.

(9) A sign shall not oscillate or rotate, or move in any other manner.

(10) A sign shall not emit any sound, odor, or visible matter (e.g., bubbles, steam).

(11) A sign must comply with any State and local building codes as applicable.

(12) When a sign is authorized to contain electrical power or when a sign is illuminated by one or more external light fixtures, the electric wire providing the electric power to the sign or the light fixture must be placed underground.

(13) A sign shall not be placed on a telecommunication tower, except as required or permitted under the City’s zoning code.

(14) A sign shall comply with State law, including Wis. Stat. § 944.21.

(15) A freestanding sign may be double-faced, provided the angle between the two sign faces does not exceed 30 degrees. If the angle between sign faces is greater than 30 degrees, both faces are considered single-sided and included in determining the area of the sign.

[Ord. 24-1121 § 1, 2024; Ord. 21-987 § 1, 2021; Ord. 21-601 § 1, 2021]