MapLink™ | Signs

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BILLBOARD
A sign, including the type commonly known as a billboard, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction, sold, offered or existing elsewhere than upon the same lot where such sign is displayed, or only incidentally upon such lot.
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COMMERCIAL SIGN
Any sign fabricated, constructed, attached, erected, fastened, painted or manufactured in any manner and displayed out of doors for the purpose of inducing the sale of any merchandise or service or promoting the business, opinion or policy of any person, party, firm, association, group or corporation other than that offered or conducted on the premises on which it stands.
COMMUNITY SIGNS OR BANNERS
A sign or banner, erected by the Town of Stratford, primarily identifying the Town of Stratford, individual Town-owned properties or special public events.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign which is supported by or suspended from one or more uprights, braces or other means of support in or upon the ground.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING OR IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign fabricated, constructed, attached, erected, fastened, painted or manufactured in any manner and displayed either out of doors or indoors but visible from out-of-doors for recognized advertising purposes related directly to the business or service rendered by the occupant of the premises.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign extending perpendicular to a building or extending more than 12 inches from the building wall or parts thereof.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign, or part thereof, erected, constructed and maintained above the eaves of, or attached to, the roof of any building.
SIGN
The term "sign" shall include signs, billboards, outdoor structures for advertising letters, words, models, devices, symbols, revolving or flashing lights, trademarks and shall include every kind of structure that is arranged, designed or used as an outdoor advertisement, announcement or direction.
WALL SIGN
Any sign which is affixed to the exterior surface of any building or canopy, and projecting not more than 12 inches from the building wall or parts thereof.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign affixed to a window or displayed within three feet of the interior of the window.
Measurement of sign area.
The area of a sign shall be considered that of the smallest rectangle or square which encompasses all lettering, wording design or symbols together with any background which is designed as an integral part of and obviously related to the sign. Any sign may be double-faced but only one face shall be counted in determining conformity with these Regulations. All faces of a multifaced sign, however, will be counted in determining conformity with these Regulations. The height of a sign shall be considered the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest component of the sign including the pole.

General requirements.
16.5.1 Signs shall be a subordinate part of the streetscape rather than the dominant features. Properly designed signs can communicate names and addresses of occupants clearly and add interest in building facades without overpowering them.
16.5.2 No legally existing sign shall be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.
16.5.3 If any nonconforming wall sign or freestanding sign is discontinued or requires replacement or alteration due to a change in use of the premises, such replacement sign must conform to these Regulations if more than 25% of the freestanding signage or 25% of the total front wall signage is replaced or altered. The repainting or repair of existing nonconforming signs is permitted only for the same use and only by the same tenant on the premises.
16.5.4 When a business or service using an identification sign is discontinued the sign shall be removed within 10 working days.
Signs prohibited.
16.7.1 Signs erected in such a manner that it obstructs clear vision for a distance of 20 feet from any street intersection. Signs erected in such a location that any traffic control device shall be in a direct line between the sign and oncoming traffic.
16.7.2 Signs affixed to any building wall, roof or structure extending beyond the corner of the building or building roof lines, or covering any window, doorway, or other existing architectural feature. Wall signs projecting more than 12 inches from their mounting wall.
16.7.3 Electronic message signs excluding theater marquee signs and gasoline dealer price signs. Flashing, revolving or animated signs of intermittent or varying light intensity including such signs located inside a building but visible outside the building.
16.7.4 Signs employing any lighting or control mechanism which causes radio or television interference.
16.7.5 Signs placed in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door or opening used as a means of egress or ingress or for firefighting purposes or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
16.7.6 Signs, with the exception of canopy signs, projecting over any sidewalk.
16.7.7 Banners, streamer type signs and any non-rigid material for signs.
16.7.8 Portable signs, except as provided for in Section 16.8.6.
16.7.9 Commercial signs.
16.7.10 Signs which face or are primarily intended to be visible from the Merritt Parkway, except where another public right of way separates the premises from the Merritt Parkway.
16.7.11 Signs greater than three feet in height placed at street intersections within the area formed by a line joining points on each front lot line 20 feet from the intersection of the street lines.
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising signs and outdoor signs of all types. It is intended to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance and historical heritage of the community, and provide a more enjoyable and pleasing community. It is further intended hereby to reduce the sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way and curb the deterioration of the community environment.

Permits required.
16.4.1 No outdoor advertising or commercial sign shall be displayed in the Town of Stratford except in accordance with these Regulations and until a permit for the same has been issued by the Building Inspector following receipt of a zoning compliance report from the office of planning and zoning, except as hereinafter provided. Window signs are exempt from the permit requirements.
16.4.2 The fee for such permit shall be payable in full at the time of application for such permit, and shall be in accordance with the permit fee schedule as determined by the Building Inspection Department and the Zoning Commission.
16.4.3 An application, accompanied by a scale drawing, shall be made in writing for each separate permit to the Building Inspector upon a form approved by him. Such application shall set forth the name and address of the applicant, the location by street and number where such sign is to be erected or located, the name and address of the owner of the property, the size, type and general description of such proposed sign, including the materials of which it is constructed, the zone in which it is located and such other pertinent information required or deemed necessary to determine the sign's safety and conformity to these Regulations. 
16.4.4 Maintenance of signs: All signs, together with their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in a safe condition. The owner of a sign, and the owner of the premises on which it stands, shall be responsible for keeping such sign and ground around it in a safe, sanitary, neat and clean condition. Failure to comply with the conditions of this section shall be a violation of these Regulations, subject to penalties prescribed in Section 17.

Enforcement.
16.9.1 Any person, firm, association or corporation who, having been notified in writing to discontinue any violation of these Regulations shall be subject to penalties prescribed in Section 17.2 if such violations are not corrected within 10 days.