Section 13.06 - Permitted and Prohibited Signs

A. Public Signs. Signs of a public, non-commercial nature, including safety signs, directional signs to public facilities, trespassing signs, traffic signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, memorial plaques and the like, when erected by or on behalf of a public official or employee in the performance of official duty.

B. Identification Signs. Identification signs not exceeding three (3) square feet.

C. Informational Signs. Informational signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet.

1. On-Premise Signs. Shall not be larger than four (4) square feet. The number of signs shall not exceed four (4) unless approved by the Council.

2. Off-Premise Signs.

(a) In all zoning districts except the B-5, Central Business District or the PUD, Planned Unit Development District, such signs shall be limited to situations where access is confusing and traffic safety could be jeopardized or traffic could be inappropriately routed through residential streets. The size and design of the sign shall be approved by the Council and shall contain no advertising.

(b) Businesses located in the B-5, Central Business District and the PUD, Planned Unit Development District, may display temporary, off-premise signs by express permit issued by the Council where access to commercial areas requires directional signage from the City’s arterial roads. Such signs may, at the discretion of the Council, be permitted under the following conditions:

i. Off-premise, temporary signs shall be no more than four (4) square feet in area.

ii. No such signs shall be permitted within the right-of-way of any public street or highway.

iii. An application for an off-premise, temporary sign shall be accompanied by a written statement of permission from the owner of the private property on which the sign is to located. Such statement shall include an express grant of permission for City inspectors to enter the property for the purpose of inspecting and/or removing said signs.

iv. Any permit may be granted for no more than four (4) consecutive days of display, nor shall any business or property be granted more than one (1) such permit in any thirty (30) day period. Each permit may allow up to two (2) signs in different locations.

v. Each sign permitted shall have a weather-resistant sticker attached to the sign indicating the permittee’s name, telephone number, approved location, and dates of display. Such stickers shall be supplied by the applicant.

vi. No permit shall be granted for more than one (1) such sign within three hundred (300) feet of any other off-premise, temporary sign.

Source: Ordinance No. 33, Series V

Effective Date: 06-7-2001

F. Non-Commercial Signs. Non-Commercial signs in Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural and Institutional zones not exceeding eight (8) square feet, and in all Residential zones not exceeding four (4) square feet. The sign must contain the name and address of the person responsible for such sign, and that person shall be responsible for its removal. Such signs shall remain for no longer than one hundred ten (110) days in any calendar year. The City shall have the right to remove and destroy signs not conforming to this Chapter. The City shall assess a fee of $2.00 per sign removed by the City.

G. Holiday Signs. Signs or displays which contain or depict a message pertaining to a religious, national, state or local holiday and no other matter and which are displayed for a period not to exceed seventy-five (75) days in any calendar year.

H. Construction Signs. A non-illuminated construction sign confined to the site of the construction, alteration or repair. Such sign must be removed within two (2) years of the date of issuance of the first building permit on the site or when the particular project is completed, whichever is sooner. One sign shall be permitted for each street the project abuts. No sign may exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in the R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-MH Districts or sixty-four (64) square feet in the A-1, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7 and R-B business and industrial districts.

I. "For Sale" and "To Rent" Signs. "For Sale" and "To Rent" signs shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:

1. Six (6) or Less Residential Dwelling Units. The following applies to the for sale or for rent of a single family residence or where six (6) or less dwelling units (or lots for residential development) are for sale or rent: no more than one such sign per lot, except on a corner lot two (2) signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted. No such signs shall exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area, or be illuminated. Each such sign must be devoted solely to the sale or rental of the property being offered and must be removed immediately upon the sale or rental of the property. Each sign must be placed only upon the property offered for sale or rent.

2. Seven (7) or More Residential Dwelling Units. Where more than six (6) dwelling lots (or lots for residential development purposes) are offered for sale or rental by the same party, signs advertising such sale or rental may be constructed therefor in any district. There shall be permitted one sign facing each public street providing access to the property being offered. Each such sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area; shall be located at least one hundred (100) feet from any pre-existing home; and shall be removed within one year from the date of building permit issuance, or when less than six (6) units remain for sale or rent, whichever is less. Said sign shall fully comply with the setback requirement for the zoning district in which the property is located.

3. Industrial or Commercial Property. In the event of an industrial or commercial sale or rental of real property, there shall be permitted one sign facing each public street providing access to the property being offered. Each sign shall not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet in area and must be devoted solely to the sale or rental of the property being offered and must be removed immediately upon the sale or rental of the last property offered at that location. Said sign may not be located closer to the property line than fifty (50) percent of the setback required within the particular zoning district in which the property is located.

4. Off-site, Temporary Directional Signage. Residential units, including single family, two-family, and/or townhouse units for sale or rent may display off-site, temporary directional signs generally during the period that said units are open for inspection to prospective buyers/renters under the following conditions. Signs which violate any of these provisions, or interfere with the safe use of the public streets or trails by vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, or others may be removed at the discretion of the City:

a) Off-site, temporary signs are allowed without special permit when related to providing directions to units that are for sale or rent, and open for inspection. Such signs may displayed Monday through Friday from one-half hour prior to opening, to one-half hour after closing. For weekend “open houses”, such signs may be displayed no earlier than 7:00 p.m. Friday to 7:00 a.m. Monday.

b) Signs shall be for the purpose of providing directions only. No more than one (1) sign per unit may displayed at any street intersection, and no signs may displayed between intersections.

c) Such signs may be located on the public right-of-way, but shall be no closer than ten (10) feet from the curb, or edge of pavement where no curb exists.

d) Such signs shall be freestanding, and shall not be attached to any other structure such as traffic control signs, utility poles, or other similar devices.

e) Signs must be located so as to avoid interference with pedestrian or bicycle trails, and to avoid conflicts with traffic circulation and visibility.

f) Such signs shall be no larger than four (4) square feet in area, and no more than three (3) feet in height.

g) Signs may incorporate directional arrows, real estate company or agent names, and addresses or project names of the subject real estate. No balloons, banners, or other attachments shall be permitted.

J. Rummage (Garage) Sale Signs. Rummage sale signs shall not be posted until the date of the sale and shall be removed within one (1) day after the end of the sale and shall not exceed six (6) square feet. Rummage sale signs shall not be located in any public right-of-way, or on utility poles or equipment. The City shall have the right to remove and destroy signs not conforming to this Chapter. The City shall assess a fee of $10.00 per sign removed by the City. Rummage sale signs advertising sales within the City of Buffalo, and complying with these requirements may be located off-site, on private property for the purpose of directing traffic to the sale. Owners of such signs shall be required to obtain permission from the owner of the property on which the sign is to be located. Signs shall contain the name, address, and dates of the sale. This ordinance shall not abridge the right of the private property owner to make more restrictive requirements or to remove such signs placed on their property.

L. Window Signs. Window signs shall not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total area of the window in which they are displayed.

M. Off-site, Temporary Directional Signage.

Retail facilities in the B-3, B-4, B-5, and PUD Districts may display off-site temporary directional signage pursuant to this subsection. Signs which violate any of these provisions, or interfere with the safe use of the public streets or trails by vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, or others may be removed at the discretion of the City:

a) Off-site, temporary signs are allowed with the issuance of a special permit, issued on an annual basis, when related to providing directions to retail facilities on an intermittent basis. Each permit shall provide for the location of two (2) such signs with a fee established by the City Council. Such signs may be displayed for a maximum of five (5) days per month.

b) Signs shall be for the purpose of providing directions only. No more than one (1) sign per unit may displayed at any street intersection, and no signs may displayed between intersections.

c) Such signs may be located on the public right-of-way, but shall be no closer than ten (10) feet from the curb, or edge of pavement where no curb exists.

d) Such signs shall be freestanding, and shall not be attached to any other structure such as traffic control signs, utility poles, or other similar devices.

e) Signs must be located so as to avoid interference with pedestrian or bicycle trails and sidewalks, and to avoid conflicts with traffic circulation and visibility.

f) Such signs shall be no larger than four (4) square feet in area, and no more than three (3) feet in height.

g) Signs may incorporate directional arrows, business names, andaddresses of the subject business. No balloons, banners, or other attachments shall be permitted.

1. Signs advertising nonprofit organizations are permitted subject to the restrictions imposed within the zoning district in which the sign is located.

2. Real Estate Development Project Signs. A real estate development project sign advertising lots or property for sale, may be located off-premises by permit. The permit shall be renewable annually and conditioned upon documentation allowing such sign or structure by the property owner upon which it is to be located. The sign shall conform to the size restriction of signs imposed within the respective district in which the sign is located or a maximum of sixty-four (64) square feet each side, whichever is greater.

B. Advertising or business signs on or attached to equipment such as semi-truck trailers where signing is a principal use of the equipment on either a temporary or permanent basis.

C. Motion signs and flashing signs, except time and temperature signs and barber poles.

E. Roof Signs. Except that a business sign may be placed on the facia or marquee of a building, provided it does not extend above the highest elevation of the building, excluding chimneys.

1. Roof signs shall be thoroughly secured and anchored to the frames of the building over which they are constructed and erected.

F. Business signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located. Where the owner or lessor of the premises is seeking a new tenant, such signs may remain in place for not more than thirty (30) days from the date of vacancy.