14.20.010 Prohibited signs.
The following signs are prohibited:
(a) Signs for which no valid permit has been issued by the town of Granby and which are not exempt from the permit requirement set forth in this title.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a sign which is located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of 180 days or more, or a sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be considered abandoned. Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change of ownership or management of the business shall not be construed to be abandoned unless the property remains vacant or the business is closed for a period of 180 days or more. An abandoned sign, including any supporting structure, is to be removed by the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises. Any abandoned, painted wall sign shall be refinished so that it cannot be readily distinguished from the surrounding wall. A sign which is not removed or refinished may be removed by the town at the expense of the owner of the sign. An extension of time may be granted by the town manager upon good cause for such extension being shown; provided, that the sign is conforming in size and height. If the sign is nonconforming in size and height, the entire structure, including the sign face, shall be removed if the property remains vacant and abandoned for a period of 90 days or more. This provision shall not apply to permanent signs accessory to businesses which are open only on a seasonal basis; provided, that there is clear intent to continue operation of the business.
(c) A sign which is structurally unsafe, or constitutes a hazard to the safety or health of any person by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation, or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it, or is likely to cause injury to persons walking underneath it, or is an obstruction to pedestrians along the sidewalk, or signs that obstruct a driver’s view or line of sight near an intersection, must be removed, repaired or replaced so as to be in compliance with this section within 90 days after notification by the town manager.
(d) Signs that have not been maintained in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) Missing or damaged sections shall be repaired or replaced within 30 days.
(2) Nonfunctioning light bulbs, missing or damaged changeable copy or words or letters which have moved from their proper position shall be replaced or repaired within 48 hours.
(3) Nonfunctioning neon signs shall be repaired or replaced within 60 days, or the owner shall be able to demonstrate that physical action toward repair or replacement shall have been taken to the satisfaction of the town manager.
(4) When weather or climatic condition permits, peeling or badly faded paint shall be replaced, repainted or the like within 30 days after receipt of a notice from the town of Granby that said condition exists.
(e) Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals or signs other than government signs using any words, phrases, symbols or characters implying the existence of danger or the need for stopping or maneuvering a motor vehicle or in any other way creating an unsafe distraction for motor vehicle operators.
(f) Moving, animated, wind-driven or rotating signs, except for public service informational signs.
(g) Signs that obstruct the view of motor vehicle operators entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, private driveway, alley or other thoroughfare, or which obstruct free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
(h) Signs erected on public right-of-way without proper authorization.
(i) Banners, except as special events signs, authorized by the town of Granby.
(j) Searchlights.
(k) Rooftop signs on two-story buildings.
(l) Vehicular signs.
(m) Snipe signs, handbills, temporary signs, including signs fastened to trees, fences, telephone poles, public benches, or street lights or placed on any public property or public right-of-way excepting those authorized by separate action of the town of Granby board of trustees and excluding political signs or those authorized under Chapters 14.30 and 14.40 GMC.
(n) Signs which contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character.
(o) Illuminated signs which flash, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, vary in color or use intermittent electrical pulsations, or which employ a light source of intensity which exceeds the intensity necessary to illuminate the sign so as to make it reasonably legible from the nearest street, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
(p) Portable signs.
(q) Billboards except for special event signs.
(r) Festoons. [Ord. 579 § 1, 2003; Ord. 518 § 1, 2001. Code 1999 § 19-5-1].