§ 17.32.080. Other specific regulations.

A.

Abandoned Signs. After three months, the sign and its attachments and/or appurtenances must be taken down immediately or made to blend in with the existing building facade.

B.

Awning Signs. May be the following:

1.

Retractable/Non-Rigid/Crank-Out. Shall extend no more than seventy-two inches from the front of the building if used as a sign; otherwise consult State Building Code 780 CMR. Sign copy is permitted on the slope, side or front fascia of the awning. Copy may include the type of services offered or the name of the business or establishment. If a business also has a storefront sign, the name of the business is allowed on the front slope or side valances of the awning. The front valance may not repeat any of the same sign copy that is on the storefront sign. Sign copy may be affixed by epoxy or other gluing agent or painted on.

2.

Non-Retractable/Rigid/Permanent. Shall extend no more than forty-eight inches from the front of the building if used as a sign; otherwise consult State Building Code 780 CMR. Sign copy is permitted on the front or side fascia. Copy may include the type of services offered or the name of the business or establishment. If a business also has a storefront sign, the name of the business is allowed on the front slope or side valances of the awning. The front valance may not repeat any of the same sign copy that is on the storefront sign. This type of awning may be lit by electric/neon/gas light (see "back-lit awning"). Sign copy may be either painted on or affixed to the awning.

C.

Banner Signs. All banner signs are to be considered temporary signs, and a permanent structure shall be allowed only by special permit from the zoning board of appeals, with approval of the understructure by the department of inspectional services.

D.

Canopy Sign. The surface(s) and/or soffit of an attached canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light, similar to a marquee. If used as a sign, it may project no more than forty-eight inches from the front of the building. If a business also has a storefront sign, the name of the business is allowed on the front slope or side valances of the canopy. The front valance may not repeat any of the same sign copy that is on the storefront sign.

Canopies used as physical shelters, such as at gas stations, may be larger than forty-eight inches and may contain sign copy on the sign belt. For further information, see Title 17 as amended and Chapter 17.24, Section 17.24.090 of State Code.

E.

Changeable Sign. This is not an animated sign. It is allowed as long as the content does not change on a scheduled basis such as a flashing, programmed or other continuous movement sign. The message copy must remain stationary.

F.

Commercial Outdoor Advertising Sign. This type of sign requires a state permit and is also referred to as a billboard sign.

G.

Copy. No copy lettering is to be larger than two feet in height, unless it is individual channel set lettering or graphics which may be a maximum of three feet high. Where individual letters, symbols, messages, or designs are attached to or painted on a building face or window, the area shall be the smallest imaginary rectangle, circle, square or other geometric shape, which encompasses and fully contains the extremities of all copy and graphics.

H.

Good Repair. Signs shall be kept in good repair or they shall be ordered to be removed by the department of inspectional services, which is the signage enforcement department.

I.

Hours of Operation. When an illuminated sign lies within a distance of three hundred feet from a residence, such sign shall be turned off by eleven p.m. and not turned on again until five a.m. Those seeking exemptions from these hours and conditions must request a hearing before the zoning board of appeals.

J.

Mural. Murals, whether used for business advertising or as an art display, will require the proponent to obtain a special permit from the zoning board of appeals.

K.

Projecting Sign. Current owners of projecting signs are required to remove them within one year of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Two years, if they meet the conditions of Section 17.32.040 of this chapter.) New projecting signs are not permitted in the city of Quincy.

L.

Religious Institutions. Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other religious buildings may have two signs, one on each street frontage should that be the case. One sign may be a maximum of twenty square feet and the other a maximum of ten square feet. One sign may be a standing or bulletin board sign used for notices and announcements of events at the institution.

M.

Signs for Membership Clubs, Funeral Homes, Community Buildings, Extended Care Facilities. Each of these may have two signs. One may be a maximum of thirty square feet and the other a maximum of ten square feet. If one of the signs is a ground sign on a lawn or frontage area it must be set back no less than half the distance of the frontage.

N.

Roof Sign. Roof signs are not allowed in the city of Quincy. Mansard facades, pent eaves, and architectural projections shall not be considered to be roof signs. The only exception for a roof sign is if its building has no sign band as part of the structure and as such is a hardship and said building meets five of the criteria to be located in an arterial/commercial district and proponent receives permit from zoning board of appeals.

O.

Sign Copy and Design. Any sign which imitates an official traffic signal or uses the words "stop," "look," "danger," "go slow," "caution" or "warning" is prohibited.

P.

Sign Illumination. Signs shall be illuminated by steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely to the sign or internal to it. They shall not cause glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises.

Q.

Temporary Sign. No more than one temporary sign per window shall be allowed at one time per business. Temporary signs shall cover no more than fifteen percent of the total window space per window. Types and restrictions regarding the display of temporary signs are as follows:

1.

Festivals and special events, thirty day maximum;

2.

Grand openings, sixty day maximum;

3.

Identification sign (while permanent sign being made) must meet city good repair and safety standard definition, sixty day maximum;

4.

New product or service, thirty day maximum;

5.

Promotional sales, thirty day maximum.

R.

Political Signs.

1.

No political sign shall be erected in any residential or PUD district until ten days prior to the date of a primary or preliminary election.

2.

No political sign shall be erected in any Business or Industrial district until thirty days prior to the date of a primary or preliminary election.

3.

No political sign may be larger than four feet by four feet.

4.

All political signs must be removed within seventy-two hours following a final election.

5.

In no case shall more than one political sign per candidate be erected on any one parcel of property. No more than three political signs shall be erected on any one parcel of property.

6.

No political signs may be affixed to any public property including utility poles, city trees, bushes, shrubs, fences, lamp posts, mailboxes, or any public street furniture. In the case of such violations, the department of public works or other appropriate city department may remove such violating signs and be held harmless in doing so.

7.

All political signs located on private property shall be installed only with the permission of the property owner(s).

S.

City Signs. Temporary signs or banners used by the city for holidays, public demonstrations or promotions of civic welfare or charitable purposes or civic events shall be exempt from these regulations as long as they meet safety considerations as determined by the department of inspectional services.

T.

Real Estate. For sale or for lease signs on commercial property must meet city good repair and safety standards definitions.

U.

Temporary signs may be issued as follows:

They must be professional in cut and lettering, not slap-dash, hastily hand-lettered, poorly cut pieces of paper or cardboard. Also, regarding temporary signs, on the day that any sign is put up, that date must be noted clearly on the back or side of the sign, so that if the inspector visits the premises, s/he may easily see how long a sign has been in place. The above time limits for temporary signs are enforceable by the department of inspectional services, with willful and consistent violations subject to the following regulations:

The design and location of temporary banners must receive a permit from the department of inspectional services before they are put in place. The date for removal shall be noted by the department of inspectional services when it approves the temporary sign or banner desired by the businesses owner. That owner will clearly post the date of expiration of that temporary sign or banner on the back or side of it so that the inspector can clearly see the date upon a site visit. If a business owner or landlord does not remove temporary signs as required by this chapter, then the department of inspectional services will issue a warning ticket to that person regarding removal. If there is no action taken by the owner or landlord to remove the sign within two business days, the department of inspectional services may then issue a ticket for violation of the sign ordinance for fifty dollars. If no action is taken within two further business days, another ticket may be issued for one hundred dollars and each day thereafter until the business is in compliance. Should there then be no action by the owner or landlord after the second ticket, the department of inspectional services will be empowered to issue an order to the owner or landlord for immediate removal of the temporary sign.

(Ord. 98-024 § 2 (part))