ART. I STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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1 Art. I Art. II Art. III Art. IV Art. V Chapter 36 Signs State of Purpose Definitions General Regulations Signs in Residence Districts Signs in Office and Business Districts The purpose of this Chapter is to: ART. I STATEMENT OF PURPOSE A. Regulate signs and signage lighting in such a way as to support objectives of the Zoning Code and the Comprehensive Plan, to preserve and enhance the appearance of the City, and to protect the property values herein. B. Insure that all signs with the City are compatible with existing land uses and/or buildings with regard to size, location, color, message, construction, materials, and manner of display, and to discourage unsightly, dissimilar, inappropriate and excessive numbers of signs. C. Insure that signs do not confuse, mislead, or otherwise endanger the public health, safety, morals or general well-being. D. Restrict signs and signage lighting which increase the probability of accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision necessary for traffic safety. E. Insure that signs enable the public to locate goods and services and facilities in The City of Lake Forest without difficulty or confusion. ART. II DEFINITIONS A. AWNING: A structure attached to a building, typically made of tubular frame and covered with canvas or similar soft material(s). B. BULLETIN BOARD: A sign used for posting of events, notices, hours, or related information. C. DIRECTORY SIGN: A free standing sign identifying the location of five (5) or more separate businesses. One or more maps may be incorporated as part of the directory signs along with a listing of business names and types. D. EVENT SIGN: A sign announcing a noteworthy happening, social occasion or activity taking place at a particular date and time. Chapter Signs Revised Page 1

2 E. FREE-STANDING SIGN: A sign having not more than two sides erected at grade level supported by one or more uprights, or other structural members, which are placed in or on an approved foundation and not attached to any building. F. INCIDENTAL SIGN: A sign which is incidental to the primary use and is for public information and not for advertising purposes. G. MESSAGE SIGN: A sign, other than a Political Election Sign, that expresses a noncommercial message regarding an issue of political or public concern. H. OBSOLETE SIGN: A sign which identifies a use that is no longer on the site. I. OPEN HOUSE SIGN: A form of Event Sign directing people to homes that are for sale and open to the public for physical viewing without prior appointment. Such signs may identify the street address and the times for such public viewing. J. PERMANENT SIGN: Any sign which is permanently affixed or installed and is intended for long-term use, generally being in place longer than ninety days. K. POLITICAL ELECTION SIGN: A sign that announces or supports political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state, or local election. Political election signs include only those signs specifically advocating on behalf of a person, or a position on a question, to be considered by voters on a ballot that has been certified in accordance with the Illinois Election Code. M. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION SIGN: Any sign identifying only a general contractor s name and telephone number and the project name for building construction and remodeling projects. N. PROJECTING SIGN: Any sign projecting from and attached perpendicular to a wall of a building. A sign attached to the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face(s) in a plane perpendicular to the building wall. O. PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY: That land area over which the City has rights either through ownership or easement, to use for public street and utility purposes. P. REAL ESTATE SIGN: Any free standing sign that announces the sale or lease of property, excluding tract identification signs. Q. SANDWICH BOARD SIGN: A portable A-Frame sign that is designed to be self-supporting by nature. R. SETBACK: The minimum horizontal distance between the front line of a building or structure and the street right-of-way line, as required by the Lake Forest Zoning Code. Chapter Signs Revised Page 2

3 S. SIGN: Any visible identification, description, illustration, object, or device, illuminated or non-illuminated, which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation. This definition does not include products typically displayed in the window(s) of businesses. T. TEMPORARY SIGN: A real estate sign, or any other sign in place for ninety (90) days or less. U. TOTAL SURFACE AREA: The entire area within any continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of lettering, representations, or other figures or messages, together with any material or color which is an integral part of the display or which is used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed. V. TRACT SIGN: Any free-standing sign which announces the sale or lease of a subdivided or an unsubdivided tract of land containing twenty (20) or more acres. W. WALL SIGN: A sign attached to the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall. ART.III GENERAL REGULATIONS & STANDARDS A. PERMITS AND FEES 1. No permanent sign shall be affixed or installed, or displayed in public view, or any portable sign placed or displayed in public view, within The City of Lake Forest without prior approvals and issuance of all permits and/or approvals, as required herein. 2. All signs shall be maintained in conformance with this section and all other applicable requirements of The City of Lake Forest and shall otherwise be maintained in good repair. 3. Fee shall be charged by the City for permit(s) in accordance with the schedule of fees established by the Building Review Board and approved by the City Council and on file in the office of the Director of Community Development. 4. Application for a Sign Permit can be obtained from and shall be filed with the Director of Community Development and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information: a. Name, address and telephone number of applicant. b. A scaled drawing showing the lot and buildings (and structures) to which the sign(s) is (are) to be attached or erected. The exact position of the sign(s) shall be noted on the drawing. Chapter Signs Revised Page 3

4 c. A scaled blueprint, drawing or plan of the sign(s) showing building specifications for the construction and attachment to the building or in the ground. d. A sample of the construction materials and colors of the sign(s). e. If required by the Director of Community Development, a copy of the necessary calculations showing that the structure is designed for dead load and constructed to withstand wind pressure of not less than 35 lbs. per square foot, certified by a licensed structural engineer. B. BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS 1. All signs shall be attached, anchored and/or fastened so as to withstand wind pressure of not less than 35 lbs. per square foot, unless otherwise approved by the Director of Community Development. C. BUILDING REVIEW BOARD CONSIDERATION 1. The Building Review Board shall review all sign applications submitted to them by the Director of Community Development in accordance with Chapter 9, Section (E) of the City Code. D. ILLUMINATION OF SIGNS, BUILDINGS AND AREAS 1. All illuminated signs shall be subject to the provisions of the Lake Forest Electrical Code (NOTE: Electrical permits are required for all sign wiring.) 2. The use of unshielded lights, including incandescent bulbs on or strung on poles, wires, or any other type of support to illuminate buildings, outdoor sales areas or outdoor storage areas is prohibited. A building may be illuminated when approved by the Building Review Board, but all lights use for this purpose shall be located, shielded, and directed in such a manner that the light source is not directly visible from any surrounding public or private property. 3. Whenever external illumination is used for a sign, the source of light shall be located, shielded and directed in such a manner that the source is not directly visible from any surrounding property. 4. All receptacles or devices used to provide external illumination for wall and free standing signs shall not protrude more than nine (9) inches from the face of the sign except for ground lighting. Chapter Signs Revised Page 4

5 5. The lighting intensity of any sign, whether resulting from internal or external illumination, shall not exceed 25 foot candles when measured with a standard light meter at four (4) feet from the center of the face of the sign. 6. The lighting intensity of all signs is subject to further review following installation. E. EXEMPT SIGNS: The following signs shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit and from the limitation on items of information, but shall be subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, and (with the exception of addresses ) shall be included for purposes of determining the allowable total number and size of signs on a premises: 1. Addresses: Address numerals and other sign information required by law or government order, rule, or regulation. Such address information cannot exceed two (2) square feet per officially assigned address, or the size required by the law, order, rule or regulation, whichever is greater. 2. Auxiliary Signs: Auxiliary signs placed in store windows regarding hours of operation, accepted charge cards, warnings or similar information, provided that they shall not exceed one (1) square foot or 144 square inches total. 3. Bulletin Boards: Bulletin boards, not exceeding twelve (12) square feet for public, eleemosynary or religious institutions where the bulletin board is located on the premises of said institutions. 4. Business Nameplates: Non-illuminated nameplates denoting the business name or an occupation legally conducted on the premises, provided that only one nameplate per proprietor may be erected and that such nameplate not exceed one square foot. 5. Flags and Standards: Flags, standards, emblems and insignia of government, or educational organizations, having a size less than forty (40) square feet, and displayed for non-commercial purposes, and not more than one flag pole and three (3) flags per zoning lot. Three flags and three flag poles would be permitted in commercial areas only. 6. Government signs: Signs of duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs or other similar regulatory devices, directional signs, Lake Forest Historic District signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other instructional or regulatory signs pertaining to Chapter Signs Revised Page 5

6 health, hazards, parking, swimming, dumping, and such emergency or non-advertising signs as may be approved by the City Engineer or Director of Community Development for safety purposes or by the City Council. 7. Historic Markers: Commemorative plaques, memorial tablets, or emblems of official historical bodies, provided that no such marker shall exceed two (2) square feet and provided further that all such markers shall be placed flat against a building, monument stone, or other permanent surface. 8. Holiday Decorations: Temporary displays of primarily decorative nature, clearly incidental and customary with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic or religious holidays. 9. Monument Signs: Plaques, tablets, cornerstones, or lettering inlaid into the architectural materials of a building or structure of not more than two (2) square feet denoting the name of that structure and its dates of erection. 10. Project Identification Signs: One free-standing sign not exceeding two 2) square feet per side and four (4) feet in height may be placed on the premises of new non-single family and non-duplex residential building or undergoing remodeling, which shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Community Development prior to installation. Sign must be removed upon issuance of occupancy permit or final inspection. 11. Site Information Signs: Signs of no more than two (2) square feet which, without including an advertising reference of any kind, provide direction or instruction to guide persons to facilities intended to serve the public, including but not specifically limited to those signs identifying rest rooms, public telephones, walkways, traffic flow, parking restrictions, and features of a similar nature. 12. Political Election Signs and Message Signs: a. Political Election Signs and Message Signs of less than six square feet and four feet in height may be located entirely on private property pursuant to the Owner s consent. b. Unless a Political Election Sign or Message Sign includes on the sign face the name of the person responsible for the sign, the owner of the private property on which the sign is located shall be deemed responsible for the sign. c. Political Election Signs and Message Signs shall be exempted from any regulations regarding sign colors, but not regulations relating to illumination of signs. Chapter Signs Revised Page 6

7 d. Message Signs are permitted at all times and are exempted from permit requirements at all times. e. Not more than one (1) Political Election Sign shall be permitted on any property per candidate or referendum position in an election contest. There shall be no limit on the number of Message Signs, but no zoning lot (as defined in the Zoning Code) may display more than 30 square feet of Message Signs. f. Message signs may not be displayed in the required setback on a homeowner s property. Political Election Signs are permitted in the required setback, but not in the public right-ofway. g. A Political Election Sign must be removed immediately, but in no event later than seven days, following the election to which it applies. Nothing in this Chapter precludes the relocation of a Political Election Sign so that it may remain as a Message Sign. 13. Warning Signs: A warning sign such as no trespassing, beware of dog, no soliciting, etc., not to exceed one (1) square foot in size. 14. Temporary Signs: Temporary signs shall be exempted from any regulations regarding sign colors, but not regulations relating to illumination of signs. F. PROHIBITIONS a. All signs not specifically permitted by the provisions of Article III-(E) Articles IV and V of this Chapter shall be prohibited within the City limits of The City of Lake Forest. b. Blinking, flashing, fluttering, rotating lights or other illuminating devices, or any illumination which has a change in light intensity, brightness or color shall be prohibited, except as provided on a temporary basis as indicated in Article III-(E) i.e.: Holiday decorations. c. It shall be unlawful to place or maintain any undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs, pennants, banners, flags, balloons, ribbons, streamers and, spinners or similar devices in view of any street or highway, except as permitted by Article III E, 12. d. No color lights shall be used at any location, or in any manner where they may be confused or construed as traffic control devices. e. Parked trucks, cars, trailers, taxi cabs and other vehicular equipment shall not be used as stationary or mobile displays within the corporate limits. Chapter Signs Revised Page 7

8 This does not preclude incidental signs being painted or affixed to vehicles in the customary manner of identifying the owner of a business. f. Business name plates are not permitted in residential areas. G. VARIATIONS 1. The Building Review Board, upon written application for a sign permit or for a variation from the regulations contained in this Section to allow for the continued use of an existing sign, and having reviewed the same, may authorize the issuance of a sign permit or in the case of an existing sign, the continued use of said sign, for signs that do not fully comply with the requirements of this Chapter provided that the Building Review Board, prior thereto, makes one or more of the following findings of fact: a. That the proposed or existing sign is compatible with surrounding land uses and/or building signs; b. That the granting of approval for this proposed or existing sign is consistent with the overall purpose of the sign ordinance; or c. That due to unique circumstances or safety considerations, the proposed or existing sign is aesthetically consistent with the environment and because of these circumstances or considerations, it is necessary that a variation be granted for the erection of the proposed sign or the continued use of an existing sign. 2. In the event of denial of a variation, the applicant shall have the right to appeal the action directly to the City Council. The City Council may, by a majority vote, refer the application back to the Building Review Board or set aside the action of the Building Review Board, and order the issuance of the variation in accordance with the application thereof. 3. A sign approved by the Building Review Board shall be considered void if the work covered by the review has not been started within ninety (90) days from when the permit is issued and completed within one (1) year or if a permit is not issued for the sign with two (2) years of Building Review Board approval. H. ILLEGAL SIGNS - PERMANENT 1. If any permanent sign has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this Ordinance, written notice shall be given to the occupant or property owner thereof. If the occupant or property owner fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the Chapter Signs Revised Page 8

9 standards herein set forth within fourteen (14) days after such notice, such sign may be removed or altered by the City and a lien placed on the property for the full cost of such action, including administration, legal and overhead charges. I. ILLEGAL SIGNS TEMPORARY 1. If any temporary sign has been constructed or erected, altered or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this Ordinance, written notice shall be given to the occupant or property owner thereof. If the occupant or property owner fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of notice from the City, such failure shall constitute a violation of this Chapter and the general penalty provisions set forth in Chapters 1-9 of the City Code shall apply. In addition, such sign may be removed or altered by the City and a lien placed on the property for the full cost of such action, including administrative, legal and overhead charges. J. UNSAFE SIGNS 1. If the City shall find that any sign is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public, the City may require the occupant and property owner to repair or remove the sign, or the City may, at its own discretion, remove or repair the sign immediately, with written notice to the occupant/property owner at the expense of the property owner. A lien will be placed on the property for the full cost of such action including administrative, legal and overhead charges. K. SIGN CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE 1. All signs, and all parts thereof, shall be maintained in a good and workmanlike condition. Lettering shall be cleanly maintained and legible. Faded, peeling, and broken lettering will not be permitted and must be brought to standard requirements as soon as reasonable possible. Notice of deficiency must be remedied within thirty (30) days. L. SIGN REMOVAL 1. Within thirty (30) days after the vacation of any buildings, shop, store, space, development or portion thereof, the owner shall remove or cause to be removed all obsolete signs. If such signs are not removed with the thirty (30) day time period, the City may have such signs removed at the expense of the owner of the property. A lien will be placed on the property for the full cost of such action, including administrative, legal and overhead charges. Chapter Signs Revised Page 9

10 M. NONCONFORMING SIGNS 1. Signs which do not conform to the provisions of this Chapter 36 of the City Code but which complied with all applicable ordinances, rules and regulations in effect at the time of their erection, may remain so long as the use which they advertise or identify remains; but in no case may said nonconforming signs remain after September 26, 1996, except those signs conforming to the Sign Ordinance at the time they were approved by the City for installation. Said signs may remain until the business name changes or the sign is replaced. No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered or changed in any manner nor shall it be altered so as to advertise or identify any use other than the use in effect at the time it became a nonconforming sign. At any time that such nonconforming sign shall cease to advertise or identify its original use, it shall lose its nonconforming status and must be removed in accordance with provisions of Paragraph H, Article III of this Chapter 36. ART. IV RESIDENCE DISTRICT SIGNS No signs shall be installed or permitted on properties located in the residence zoning districts except in accordance with the following provisions: A. SIGNS ANNOUNCING THE SALE OR LEASE OF LAND 1. Real Estate Signs a. One (1) real estate sign, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area per side and four (4) feet in height to the highest part of the sign or post, announcing the sale or least of a property, shall be permitted on the private property, but not on the public right-of-way. Prior to the installation of a sign(s) permitted in this paragraph, each real estate firm that operates within the City shall have its general sign program, including all signs intended for display, reviewed and approval by the Building Review Board as to color, lettering, sign, general design and appearance. b. A maximum of two (2) Open House signs may be placed in the public right-of-way no more frequently than two (2) days a week and for a period of time not to exceed six (6) hours per day. The Open House signs shall conform to the size requirements of real estate signs as set forth in subpart (a) above and may be placed on the parkway of the public right-of-way. (i) abutting the private property to which the Open House sign relates Chapter Signs Revised Page 10

11 (ii) (iii) at an intersection of the street on which the private property is located with another street, and/or of the closest major intersection to the private property In no event shall any Open House sign be located in a manner or location that obstructs views of motorists using the rights-of-way. c. Prior to the installation of a sign(s) permitted in paragraphs a. and b., each real estate firm that operates within the City shall have its general sign program, including all signs intended for display, reviewed and approved by the Building Review Board as to color, lettering, size, general design and appearance. d. When a property is offered for sale by the owner of said property, the sign used to announce that said property is for sale, shall conform to the provisions of paragraph a. and b. above. e. When a new home and property are offered for sale by a contractor who is not already referenced on a subdivision tract sign, an individual sign may be used to announce that said home and/or property are for sale. Said sign shall conform to the provisions of paragraphs a. and b. above and may be used for a maximum of one (1) year. (Ord. No. 9519, Sec.1). f. A Real Estate Sign must be removed within 48 hours of the closing of the premises sale or during any leasehold of the premises, other than 90 days before a current lease is about to expire. 2. Tract Signs a. In tract of land containing more than twenty (20) acres, one (1) tract sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in total surface area and six (6) feet in height shall be permitted, subject to Building Review Board approval as to color, lettering, size, general design and appearance. Further, no such design may be installed within fifty (50) feet of the front property line. Said sign shall be removed within twenty-four (24) months after the installation of thirty (30) days after completion of sales, whichever is sooner. During the period of time when said sign is in place no individual real estate sign(s) shall be permitted on any of the lots or portion of the land within the subdivision or tract, except than an individual home owner may advertise Chapter Signs Revised Page 11

12 the resale of an individual home or lot. However, if there is more than one developer or owner of lots within a subdivision, said tract sign may be amended with approval by the Building Review Board, to provide additional information related to multiple ownership. If the Board denies the right to amend the existing sign, it may recommend that a second sign be erected in the interior of the subdivision to provide for such information. Said sign shall adhere to all the requirements of Tract Signs as to size, height, color, location and period of installation, as listed above. (Ord. No , Sec.2). B. NONRESIDENTAL LAND USES 1. One (1) sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in total surface area shall be permitted, subject to approval by Building Review Board, on the premises of all nonresidential land uses which are permitted by Special Use Permit in accordance with Section (L) of the Zoning Code. However, in the case where the land use involves a campus type setting or more than one building, the Building Review Board may approve signs as are deemed necessary to provide adequate direction and/or information throughout the property. C. EVENT SIGNS ON THE PREMISES 1. A sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in total surface area and six (6) feet in height announcing a drive or event of a religious, civic or philanthropic organization may be permitted on the premises of said organization provided that the sign shall be removed within two (2) days after the completion of said event. A maximum of three (3) additional signs may be placed at the Community Information Areas subject to the limitations set forth in Article V, Paragraph 1. a. The application for an event sign(s) shall be filed with the Office of the Director of Community Development a minimum of five (5) days prior to the placement of the event sign. The application shall also include a colored photo of the sign or an 8 ½ x 11 copy of the art work attached hereto. b. Event signs shall be made of durable, all-weather materials and be approved by the Director of Community Development. c. Event direction sign(s) on the public right-of-way may be permitted where deemed necessary by the Director of Community Chapter Signs Revised Page 12

13 Development for traffic and general circulation purposes on event day(s) only. D. TEMPORARY SIGNS 1. A temporary sign of less than six (6) square feet in area per side and four (4) feet in height to the highest part of the sign or post shall be permitted on private property, but not in the required setback or on the public right-of-way. 2. A temporary sign proposing a commercial transaction of any kind (other than approved real estate signs or garage sale signs) may not be displayed unless it is reviewed and approved by the Building Review Board as to color, lettering, size, general design and appearance. 3. No Owner shall have more than eighteen (18) square feet of temporary signs on their property. ART. V SIGNS PERMITTED IN OFFICE, OFFICE RESEARCH AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS All signs associated with new developments located in the office and business zoning districts, except governmental and public utility signs, shall be subject to review and approval by the Building Review Board or Historic Preservation Commission, as applicable. All replacement signs located in office and business zoning districts, except for governmental and public utility signs, that comply with the applicable Code requirements and design standards, shall be authorized through the issuance of a building permit. Requests for replacement signs shall be subject to review and approval by the Building Review Board or Historic Preservation Commission, as applicable prior to installation. A. FREE-STANDING IDENTIFICATION SIGNS 1. In the Office and Business Districts: One (1) free-standing sign not exceeding a total area of twenty-four (24) square feet per side shall be permitted on each zoning lot which is developed with a principal building. Said sign shall not exceed: a. five (5) feet in height from grade, if lighted: b. eight (8) feet in height from grade, if not lighted. Chapter Signs Revised Page 13

14 2. In the Office Research District: One (1) free-standing sign per lot not exceeding one hundred (100) square feet in signage area may be erected provided that said sign shall not exceed: a. six (6) feet in height, if lighted; b. ten (10) feet in height, if not lighted. B. WALL OR WINDOW SIGNS 1. In the Office and Business Districts: One (1) wall or window sign may be permitted on the front façade, not exceeding five percent (5%) of the wall area parallel or most nearly parallel to the public way or twenty-five (25) square feet, whichever is lesser. 2. In the Office Research District: One (1) wall sign shall be permitted on the front façade of a principal building having an area in square feet not exceeding twice the number of lineal feet of a such façade or two hundredfifty (250) square feet, whichever is less. 3. An additional sign on a corner building with frontage on two (2) public streets may be permitted by the Building Review Board provided that said sign shall be deducted from the total maximum sign area allowed for the front façade. 4. The information contained on a wall or window sign shall be limited to the regular name of business as it appears on the records of the Illinois Department of Revenue and a maximum of three (3) words describing products or services. 5. Wall signs shall be no more than six (6) inches in depth and placed flush to the face of the building on which they are attached. Further, said signs shall not be permitted to extend above the fascia line or coping line for the wall to which said sign is attached, for one story or located above the first floor elevation of the building, unless specifically approved by the Building Review Board. C. AWNING SIGNS 1. Sign(s) on awning(s) may be permitted, provided however, that the size of letters on such awnings shall not exceed five (5) inches in height and shall be placed on the descending skirt only. Awnings shall be constructed and erected so that the lowest portion of the projecting frame shall not be less than 7 6, and the lowest portion of the descending skirt shall not be less than 6 8, above the level of the sidewalk or public thoroughfare. Chapter Signs Revised Page 14

15 Awnings with signs shall be considered in lieu of a wall or window sign and shall be considered a part of the 5% or 25 square foot calculation and deducted from the total. D. PROJECTING SIGNS 1. Projecting signs may be permitted in lieu of a wall or window sign, subject to Building Review Board approval. E. REAL ESTATE SIGNS 1. Real estate signs shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Section IV-A. F. UNLIGHTED TEMPORARY ADVERTISING SIGNS An unlighted temporary advertising sign is permitted for no more than fifteen (15) consecutive days, five (5) times per calendar year, for the purpose of announcement of a sale or sale item, but only if the sign does not exceed ten (10) square feet in sign area, and is placed or hung in one window per façade. A storefront window that is physically divided into multiple panes, and therefore does not allow for adequate and appropriate window space for one sign of ten square feet in size, may utilize multiple contiguous smaller signs having a maximum aggregate sign area of ten (10) square feet. A dated sign permit provided by the City shall be firmly affixed to each temporary advertising sign for the duration of the display and of said sign. G. COMMUNITY INFORMATION AREAS 1. Areas of public land as designated by the City Council as Community Information Areas where EVENT SIGNS may be posted are subject to the following: a. Application for event signs shall be filed with, and approved by, the Director of Community Development subject to space availability, on a first-come, first- served basis, before being placed in the designated area(s). b. The event signs must be 30 wide by 40 tall and ¼ thick to allow placement in the community sign frame installed at the designated areas. No nails, staples or screws are permitted. b. No more than four event signs will be permitted to be displayed at one time, and no sign shall be displayed more than the seven (7) days prior to the event and shall be removed within two (2) days following the event. Chapter Signs Revised Page 15

16 H. SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS: As an alternative to placing or hanging a Temporary Advertising Sign in a storefront window pursuant to Section V.F, a business may place one (1) A-Frame style Sandwich Board on the sidewalk directly in front of the business, at the public entrance, for the purpose of announcing a sale or sale item, provided that a straight unobstructed pathway of at least sixty (60) inches wide is maintained on the sidewalk. The Sandwich Board sign shall be constructed of a sturdy frame and shall be no larger than two (2) feet wide and three (3) feet tall. The Sandwich Board may be placed on the sidewalk during business hours only. A dated sign permit provided by the City shall be firmly affixed to each sandwich board sign for the duration of the display of said signs. In requesting approval from the Building Review Board, the owner of a business seeking to use a Sandwich Board sign shall certify that any Sandwich Board sign placed in the public right-of-way shall not be used in any manner that would cause the City to be (i) in violation of any Illinois law (including without limitation any restrictions on the use of public property or political purposes), or (ii) regarded as a public forum under Illinois law. Each sandwich board sign will be regarded as a Temporary Advertising Sign for purposes of the number of consecutive days it may be displayed and number of such signs permitted annually for any premises. I. DIRECTORY SIGNS: Directly Sign identifying businesses within an identifiable shopping district such as, but not limited to, Market Square or Settler s Square, are permitted as free standing, lighted signs. The location, size, and design of the directory signs are subject to the review and approval of the Historic Preservation Commission or Building Review Board, as the case may be, but in no event may such Directory Signs exceed four square feet in Total Surface Area. J. SPECIFIC SIGN DESIGN GUIDELINES: In addition to the standards set forth in Sections A thru D above, in reviewing an application for a sign permit, the Director of Community Development, Building Review Board, Historic Preservation Commission, or the City Council, as the case may be, shall consider whether the sign meets the City of Lake Forest Design Guidelines for Signage and Awnings in the Office and Business Districts, which guidelines are set forth as Appendix 36, Article V of the City Code and by this reference incorporated herein. Section 2: Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights, actions or causes of action which shall have accrued to The City of Lake Forest prior to the affective date of this Ordinance under any ordinance in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this Ordinance. Chapter Signs Revised Page 16

17 Section 3: VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES 1. Any person, firm or corporation that shall violate any provision of this Chapter shall be subject to fines not less than $25.00 nor more than $ for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense. 2. All real estate, contractor identification and other signs removed by the Community Development staff for a violation of this Ordinance will be returned after a $50.00 service charge is paid and it is claimed at the Office of the Director of Community Development within fourteen (14) days of removal. 3. Any cost of collection of fines or charges under this Chapter may be assessed in accordance with Section 1-9(b) of this Code. (Ord. No , Sec. 18) Section 4: SEPARABILTY In accordance with the following, it is hereby declared that the several provisions of this chapter are separable: a. Provisions of Ordinance: If any court of competent jurisdiction determines any provision of this Chapter to be invalid, such determination shall not affect any other provision of this Chapter not specifically included in the court s judgment order. b. Any Particular Sign: If any court of competent jurisdiction determines any provision of this Chapter to be invalid as applied to any particular sign, such determination shall not affect the application of such provision to any other sign not specifically include in the court s judgment order. (Ord. No , Sec. 1) Chapter Signs Revised Page 17