§ 40-936. Prohibited signs.

(a)

The following signs are hereby expressly prohibited from erection, construction, repair, alteration, or use within the City, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter:

(1)

Roof signs or signs where any portion of the sign extends above the roofline of the building where the sign is located.

(2)

Off-premises signs, including billboards.

(3)

Any vehicle sign where the sign projects beyond the manufacturer's profile of the vehicle and is displayed in public view under such circumstances as to indicate that the primary purpose of such display is to attract the attention of the public rather than to serve the business of the owner thereof in the manner which is customary for such vehicle.

(4)

Any sign that emits a sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or vapor.

(5)

Any sign that is portable or not securely attached to a building or to the ground.

(6)

Any sign that obstructs or otherwise restricts free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit way; and any sign or advertising display attached to a fire escape.

(7)

Any sign or sign structure, other than freestanding, whereby any portion extends above the parapet, building roofline, or canopy against which the sign is located.

(8)

Any sign erected in a street or highway right-of-way except for signs of a governmental body used to convey legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

(9)

Signs which contain words, pictures or statements which are obscene, as defined by the O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.

(10)

Signs of any material, including, but not limited to, paper, paint, cardboard, plastic, wood, and metal which are painted on or attached to trees, lampposts, parking meter posts, hydrants, traffic signs, stairways, benches, refuse containers, rocks or other natural features, telephone or utility poles.

(11)

Signs using the words "stop," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that misleads or confuses or distracts a vehicle driver.

(12)

A sign that involves motion or rotation of any part of the sign structure or sign face using intermittent flashing lights, animation, or automatically changed copy or design, except electronic message centers.

(13)

Real estate signs, temporary or permanent, for property outside the City.

(b)

No sign shall obstruct the view of motor vehicle operators entering a public roadway from any driveway, street or alley. There shall be no sign or obstruction to vision between the height of two feet and ten feet within the sight triangles established in section 40-869. No sign, sign structure or attention seizing device shall be shaped in the form of a statue of a human or animal figure, nor in the form of a three-dimensional model (e.g., dinner bucket, paint cans, Christmas trees, etc.).

(c)

No sign illumination system shall contain or utilize any beacon, spot, search or stroboscopic light, glaring light or reflector, which is visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property, nor shall such lights be operated outside, under any circumstances, except by authorized public agencies. No sign shall display lights resembling by color and design or other characteristics customarily associated with danger or those used by police, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles or for navigation. Automotive warning or flashing signs shall not be utilized as commercial attention seizing devices.

(Code 1997, § 40-1512; Ord. of 2-6-2012, § 1(40-1512))