SIGNS

Meridian Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IX

in effect

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-241 Findings of fact.

Sec. 7-241. - Findings of fact. The city council finds that the sign control regulations set forth herein are a reasonable and proper exercise of its police power, promote the general welfare of the citizens of and visitors to the city, protect the traveling public from dangerous distractions and visual obstructions, protect property values, promote the aesthetics of the city, its scenic beauty and broad vistas, alleviate the congestion of available land and air spaces, and enhance business, residential, tourism and area development in general. The city council further finds that it is reasonable in this exercise of the police power to base these regulations in part on the zoning districts established by the zoning ordinance of the city. (Ord. No. 3791, § 1, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 1, 11-21-95)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-242 Definitions.

Sec. 7-242. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Commercial, when referring to the content of a sign, means a sign related solely to the economic interests of the permittee and his/her audience or such other definition as may be given the word, from time to time, by the courts. Interstate system of highways means that portion of the national system of interstate and defense highways located within this state, as officially designated, or as may hereafter be so designated, by the state highway commission, and approved by the United States Secretary of Commerce, pursuant to the provisions of Title 23, United States Code, "Highways." Lot means a parcel of land occupied or to be occupied by one (1) or more structures and the accessory uses customarily incident thereto, including such open spaces as are required under these or other regulations or ordinances and having its principal frontage upon a public street, approved private street, road or highway. A lot, as used in this article, may consist of one (1) or more platted lots, or tract or tracts. Noncommercial, when referring to the content of a sign, means a sign not related solely to the economic interests of the permittee and his/her audience or such other definition as may be given the word, from time to time, by the courts. Primary system of highways means Highways 19, 45, 39, 145, 11, 80 and 11/80 not including alternate of business routes as determined by the building official. Sign means any words, numerals, figures, devices, designs, trademarks or logos, which are painted on or attached to a frame, pole or brackets or building facade and mounted or painted on or affixed to a building or the ground, by which information is made known to the public outside a building and including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Attention attracting device means any rotating or moving action by mechanical or natural means, or any moving or flashing lights. Exceptions include temporary event attention attracting devices described in section 7-247, Temporary event signs, and electronic message signs described in section 7-249, Qualified exceptions. (2) Detached sign means a portable sign or any sign permanently located on the ground or on a structure located on the ground and not attached to a building. (3) Directly illuminated sign means any sign where the source of illumination of the sign is exposed to the human eye, such as, but not limited to, neon tube, incandescent bulb or fluorescent tube. (4) Indirectly illuminated sign means any sign which is partially or completely illuminated at any time by a light source which is so shielded as not to be visible at eye level. (5) Marquee sign means any sign attached flat against or under the marquee or permanent sidewalk canopy of a building, but not on the upper surface of such structures. (6) Monument sign means a low profile detached sign where the width of the support base is usually as wide or wider than the width of the sign's face, and the sign's face is higher than two (2) feet above the average grade of the ground. (7) Nonconforming sign means any sign that does not comply with the standards and procedures established in this article. (8) Nonconforming sign support means the supporting members of the sign such as the frame, poles, brackets or other structure, by which the sign is mounted on or fixed to a building or the ground, which do not comply with the standards established in this article. (9) Portable sign means a sign whose principal supporting structure is intended, by design and construction to be used by resting upon the ground for support and may be easily moved or relocated for reuse. Portable signs shall include, but are not limited to, signs mounted upon a trailer, bench, wheeled carrier or other nonmotorized mobile structure with or without wheels. (10) Poster panel or billboard means a sign generally known as outdoor advertising, mounted on a semipermanent or permanent structure and depicting information not directly related to the property upon which it is placed. (11) Projecting sign means any sign extending more than one (1) foot from the face of the building to which it is attached. A time and temperature instrument mounted on the face of a building shall be included in this definition. (12) Semiilluminated sign means any sign located on a building face which is uniformly illuminated over its entire area, including the area of the sign, by use of electricity or other artificial light. Semiilluminated signs shall be permitted in any location where illuminated signs are permitted. (13) Snipe sign means any sign of a material, such as, but not limited to, cardboard, paper, pressed wood, plastic or metal which is attached to a fence, window, tree, utility pole or temporary structure, or any sign which is not securely fastened to or painted on a building or firmly anchored to the ground. (14) Temporary event sign means a sign related to temporary events such as any public, charitable, educational or religious event or function, special sale or promotion. A temporary event sign may be a portable sign as defined herein. (15) Time and/or temperature instrument means a sign displaying only time and/or temperature information. (16) Wall sign means any sign attached to and erected parallel to and within one (1) foot of the face or wall of a building, including signs painted on the walls of buildings. Sign alteration means the replacement, enlargement, reduction, or reshaping of a sign or sign support. Sign maintenance means the normal care and minor repair that is necessary to retain a safe, and finished structure, frame, pole, brackets or surface. Changing copy or logo shall be considered maintenance if the information, product or service depicted remains the same and if the sign is to serve the identical use as before the change. Sign refacing means changing or replacing the words, numerals or other surfaces of the sign to serve a different use or create a different visual effect but without altering, moving or replacing the frame, pole, bracket or other structure supporting the sign. Sign support means the supporting members of the sign such as frame poles, brackets or other structures, by which a sign is mounted on or affixed to a building or the ground. Zoning district shall have the meaning ascribed to this phrase by the zoning ordinance of the city and shall, among other things, denote those various separate areas of land described in such ordinance by a combination of capital letters and arabic numerals and further as set out on the official zoning map of the city. (Ord. No. 3791, § 2, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 2, 11-21-95: Ord. No. 4155, § 2, 3-21-2000)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-243 Prohibitions and restrictions.

Sec. 7-243. - Prohibitions and restrictions. Unless otherwise provided in this article, no sign shall be permitted within the corporate limits of the city, except as follows: (1) Within zoning districts R-1 and R-2. a. One (1) nonilluminated wall sign is permitted per building if not more than one (1) foot square in area and mounted on the building. b. One (1) nonilluminated detached "For Sale" or "For Rent" sign per lot is permitted if not more than eight (8) square feet in area, nor more than six (6) feet in height above the average grade. c. Not more than two (2) nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or semiilluminated wall signs, nor more than one (1) on a single building facade, for each church, school, or other such public/semipublic facility are permitted. No such sign shall have an overall area exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet. In lieu of one (1) of the wall signs, one (1) detached monument sign shall be permitted. Such monument sign shall be located on the premises and shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height above the average grade, and the sign face shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area per face if located ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way. (2) Within zoning district A. Those provisions and restrictions in paragraph (1)A., B., and C. and the provisions of section 7-245, Billboards or poster panels, shall apply. (3) Within zoning district R-3. For any one (1) use of each twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of land or less, there is permitted one (1) nonilluminated detached sign, of not more than twenty (20) square feet in area and not more than six (6) feet high overall. (4) Within zoning district B-1. One (1) illuminated wall sign or detached sign per building of not more than twenty (20) square feet in area, nor more than six (6) feet in height above the average grade is permitted. (5) Within zoning districts B-2, B-3 and B-5. a. All land uses, which are not specifically referenced below, are permitted noncommercial signage of no less than the amount of signage authorized for the other uses within these districts. b. Each business or commercial establishment shall be permitted not more than three (3) indirectly illuminated, semiilluminated, nonilluminated or directly illuminated wall or marquee signs, but only one (1) per facade. The total area of each sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the total area of the facade upon which it is placed. In lieu of one (1) of the attached wall signs, one (1) projecting sign subject to the limitations above is permitted for each establishment. In the B-5 zoning district, the projecting sign may project over the street right-of-way and must maintain a nine-foot vertical clearance above the sidewalk and be no closer than eighteen (18) inches to the curb. c. Additionally, one (1) detached sign shall be permitted for each building. Such sign shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height above the average grade and the sign face shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in area per face nor more than three hundred (300) square feet on all faces if located ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way. For each additional one-foot setback from the street right-of-way, one (1) additional foot may be added to the height of the sign to a maximum of thirty-five (35) feet. d. In the case of a shopping center designed as one (1) unified entity of one (1) or more buildings, one (1) detached sign identifying the entire center is permitted. All other signs in the center shall consist of wall, projecting or marquee signs as otherwise permitted herein. The detached sign shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height above the average grade and the sign face shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in area per face nor more than three hundred (300) square feet on all faces if located ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way. For each additional one-foot setback from the street right-of-way, one (1) additional foot may be added to the height of the sign to a maximum of thirty-five (35) feet. If not sitting within the landscaped setback, the sign base shall be located within a curbed landscaped area, extending a minimum of three (3) feet on all sides of the sign base. e. The maximum size regulations above-described shall apply to all buildings not having approved private sign standards as set out next below. If such sign standards are utilized, the maximum size of wall and marquee signs shall be ten (10) percent of the area of the facade. Detached signs may not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height nor have an area more than one hundred fifty (150) square feet per face nor more than three hundred (300) square feet total on all faces. f. In the downtown B-5 areas where there is no front building setback, awnings can contain the name of the business. The business name cannot exceed twenty (20) percent of the total square footage of the awning. The business name can appear once per building facade. This type of signage is in addition to other sign requirements of this section. An under awning sign is also allowed in addition to other sign requirements of this section. The under awning sign must maintain a seven-foot vertical clearance above the sidewalk and cannot extend beyond the width of the awning. (6) Within zoning districts B-4 and I. a. All land uses which are not specifically referenced below, are permitted noncommercial signage of no less than the amount of signage authorized for the other uses within these districts. b. Each business or commercial establishment shall be permitted not more than four (4) indirectly illuminated, semiilluminated, nonilluminated or directly illuminated wall or marquee signs, but only one (1) per facade. The total area of each sign shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the total area of the facade upon which it is placed. In lieu of one of the attached wall signs, one (1) projecting sign subject to the limitations above is permitted for each establishment. c. Additionally, one (1) detached sign shall be permitted for each building. Such sign shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height above the average grade and the sign face shall not exceed six hundred (600) square feet in area per face, maximum of two (2) faces, nor more than twelve hundred (1,200) square feet on both faces. Such sign will be located ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way. For each additional one-foot setback from the street right-of-way, one (1) additional foot may be added to the height of the sign to a maximum of forty-five (45) feet. d. In the case of a shopping center designed as one unified entity of one (1) or more buildings, one (1) detached sign per public street frontage is permitted. All other signs in the center shall consist of wall, projecting or marquee signs as otherwise permitted herein. The detached signs shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in height above the average grade and the sign face shall not exceed six hundred (600) square feet in area per face nor more than twelve hundred (1,200) square feet on all faces if located ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way. For each additional one-foot setback from the street right-of-way, one (1) additional foot may be added to the height of the sign to a maximum of forty-five (45) feet. If not sitting within the landscaped setback, the sign base shall be located within a curbed landscaped area, extending a minimum of three (3) feet on all sides of the sign base. e. The maximum size regulations above described shall apply to all buildings not having approved private sign standards as set out next below. If such sign standards are utilized, the maximum size of wall and marquee signs shall be twenty (20) percent of the area of the facade. Detached signs may not exceed forty-five (45) feet in height nor have an area more than three hundred (300) square feet per face nor more than six hundred (600) square feet total on all faces. f. Any detached sign within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the right-of-way of the interstate system of highways may be sixty (60) feet high. Such sign will be located ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way, and for each additional one-foot setback from the street right-of-way one (1) additional foot may be added to the height of the sign to a maximum of eighty-five (85) feet. g. Within zoning districts B-4 and I, a business that has two (2) or more nonconforming detached signs may increase the square footage of the shortest sign. The shortest sign must be located within one hundred (100) feet of the interstate highway right-of-way. The shortest sign may be increased up to fifty-six (56) percent beyond its existing total square footage (all faces) to a maximum of four hundred sixty-six (466) square feet. This increase shall be limited to one (1) occurrence. (Ord. No. 3791, § 3, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 3893, § 1, 10-16-90; Ord. No. 4031, § 1, 10-19-95; Ord. No. 4036, § 3, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4148, § 1, 3-7-2000; Ord. No. 4187, § I, 7-3-2001; Ord. No. 4191, § 1, 9-18-2001; Admin. Inter. 9-19-2001; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-244 Private sign standards required.

Sec. 7-244. - Private sign standards required. The historic preservation commission shall review all signs proposed in designated landmark districts or sites. Sign permits shall not be issued until the ARB has approved the sign and issues a certificate of appropriateness. (Ord. No. 3791, § 4, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 4, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007; Ord. No. 4347, § 1, 4-7-2009)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-245 Billboards or poster panels.

Sec. 7-245. - Billboards or poster panels. No billboard or poster panel shall be erected within the corporate limits except in compliance with the following procedures and standards: (1) Written application for a billboard or poster panel permit shall be filed with the building official. (2) The permit shall be issued if the billboard or poster panel meets the following standards: a. Location within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the right-of-way of the interstate system or primary system of highways. b. No larger than six hundred (600) square feet per sign face and no more than two (2) sign faces per billboard or poster panel. c. Located on property zoned B-2, B-3, B-4, I and A. d. A maximum height of forty-five (45) feet measured from the ground upon which the sign base is mounted. e. Not within five hundred (500) feet of an existing billboard or poster panel. f. Proposed poster panel or billboard must meet the minimum setback requirements for the zoning district in which it is to be located. (Ord. No. 3791, § 5, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 5, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4290, § 1, 9-5-2006; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007; Ord. No. 4401, § 1, 3-6-2012)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-246 Portable signs.

Sec. 7-246. - Portable signs. (a) Permit; standards. A portable sign shall be allowed by a portable sign permit issued by the office of the building official. Such permit will allow for the placement of one (1) portable sign per lot. A portable sign shall meet the size, height and setback requirements in the zoning district in which it is to be located. Portable signs and all wiring and connections shall meet the National Electrical Code, as adopted from time to time by the city. A portable sign cannot occupy any parking spaces required by the zoning ordinance. (b) Anchoring requirements. Anchoring of portable signs shall follow diagrams outlined in Appendix A attached to Ordinance Number 3791. Failure to comply with the above regulations placed on portable sign permits will immediately void the permit and subject the responsible party to penalties as provided herein. (c) Display for sale or lease. Establishments offering portable signs for sale or lease may display such signs outdoors and have readable copy. (Ord. No. 3791, § 6, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 6, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-247 Temporary event signs.

Sec. 7-247. - Temporary event signs. Temporary event signs shall be allowed in all zoning districts and shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet per sign face. Such signs shall be allowed no more than thirty (30) days prior to the event or function and must be removed within ten (10) days after the event or function. No permit is required for a temporary event sign. Temporary event signs can be utilized for two (2) events per organization or business establishment per calendar year. Temporary event attention attracting devices such as flags, small balloons (two (2) square feet maximum), streamers and pinwheels are permitted. Such devices shall be allowed no more than fourteen (14) days per event and must be removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the event or function. Temporary event attention attracting devices can be utilized for four (4) events per organization or business establishment per calendar year. Attention attracting balloons for temporary events are permitted. Balloons are described as any display of an inflated object, including large inflated characters, blimps, replicas of hot-air balloons, etc., which are anchored to the ground, building or pole. These balloons are allowed in zoning districts B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, and I. A permit is required for a temporary event balloon. Balloons cannot be flown at a height greater than the distance from the point of anchoring to adjoining property lines, streets or thoroughfares, or power lines. Balloons cannot be flown at heights in excess of one hundred (100) feet. The size of the balloon shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in length or fifteen (15) feet in height. Indirect lighting is permitted. The balloon shall be anchored in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and the approval of the building official. The applicant must supply a plot plan and description of anchoring devices. Additional signage attached to tethers, part of the tether, or attached to suspended balloons is prohibited. Such devices will be allowed no more than fourteen (14) days per event and shall be removed within forty-eighty (48) hours after the event. These devices can be utilized for four (4) events per organization or business establishment per calendar year. Snipe signs such as yard or garage sale signs are allowed only on private property. Such signs shall be posted no more than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the event and shall be removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the event. Temporary (cloth signs) or banners on city property. Any bona fide not-for-profit organization maybe permitted to hang approved banners on city brackets. Only banners which are seven feet eight inches times three feet, and which comply with all other requirements of Resolution #3900 dated July 7, 1992, are permitted. A permit for such banners shall only be granted after submission in writing, on a form furnished by the community development department, and approved by the banner review committee. Temporary event banners over public right-of-way. Bona fide not-for-profit organizations promoting or sponsoring civic, cultural, educational, scientific, industrial or economic development, tourism or government events may be permitted to hang approved temporary event signs overhead in the public right-of-way which are seventy-five (75) square feet in area or less, and comply with all other requirements of Resolution No. 3905, August 4, 1992. Applications for approval of temporary event signs shall be submitted in writing at least seven (7) days prior to regularly scheduled meetings of the banner review committee on a form furnished by the community development department. The temporary event signs may be in place no longer than thirty (30) days before and ten (10) days after the event with the allowable time to be determined by the banner committee. (Ord. No. 3791, § 7, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 3848, § 1, 12-19-89; Ord. No. 4036, § 7, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-248 Additional regulations applicable to all signs wherever located.

Sec. 7-248. - Additional regulations applicable to all signs wherever located. (a) Permit required; fee. Before a sign is erected a permit must be obtained from the office of the building official and a fee therefor must be paid in an amount or amounts to be periodically set by resolution of the city council. (b) Maintenance; appearance. All signs shall be of sound structural quality, not require sign alteration, be maintained in good repair, have a clean and neat appearance, and land adjacent shall be kept free from debris, weeds and trash. (c) Construction; installation. All signs permitted as described in this article, unless otherwise provided, shall be constructed and installed according to the requirements and specifications set forth in the Standard Building Code, as adopted from time to time by the city. (d) Any attention attracting device, as defined in section 7-242, is prohibited from use except for temporary promotions and shall be allowed no more than thirty (30) days prior to the event or function and must be removed ten (10) days after the event or function and can be utilized for two (2) events per calendar year. Such device must comply with the setback and height requirements of the district in which it is located. (e) Snipe signs. Snipe signs are prohibited from use except under the guidelines of section 7-247, Temporary event signs. (f) Location. No part of any sign shall be located less than five (5) feet from a side or rear property line, and no less than ten (10) feet from a street right-of-way line. (g) Label, permit number. No sign except a temporary event sign shall be installed, exhibited, or set in place until a sign permit has been issued for it by the city. All signs shall have permanently affixed thereto a label, clearly visible at all times, indicating the permit number for such sign. (h) Time and/or temperature instruments. Time and/or temperature instruments, as defined in section 7-242, may be permitted provided they are designed in harmony with the building and are architecturally compatible. (i) Canopy signs. In the case of a freestanding canopy (such as a canopy over gasoline pumps), the canopy may have signs on the fascia of the canopy. (j) Sign alteration, refacing; permit required. A sign permit shall be required for sign alteration or sign refacing. A permit is not required to change copy on signs with changeable copy displays. (k) No permit for sign maintenance. A sign permit shall not be required for sign maintenance. (l) Setbacks. No part of any sign shall be located less than five (5) feet from a side or rear property line and no less than ten (10) feet from a street right-of-way line. In instances where a sign setback of ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way is not physically possible, the building official may allow for a smaller sign setback from the right-of-way if, in his judgment, the placement of the sign will in no manner constitute a traffic hazard, create a nuisance or infringe upon the rights of an adjacent property owner. In no instances will a sign be allowed to be placed in the public right-of-way except for those signs allowed in B-5 zoning districts. (Ord. No. 3791, § 8, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 8, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4191, § 2, 9-18-2001; Admin. Inter. 9-19-2001; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-249 Qualified exceptions.

Sec. 7-249. - Qualified exceptions. The following types of signs are exempt from all the provisions of this article, except for illumination, construction and safety regulations and the following separately described standards: (1) Public signs. Signs of noncommercial nature and in the interest of, erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his public duty, such as directional signs, regulatory signs, warning signs, and informational signs. (2) Integral. Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or other similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure. (3) Private traffic direction. Signs directing traffic movement onto a premises or within a premises not exceeding four (4) square feet in area for each sign. (4) Political campaign signs. Signs concerning candidates seeking public office, political parties, groups or issues and other data pertinent thereto shall be permitted but shall be confined within private property and shall not encroach into the visibility triangle at street intersections. (5) Identification signs. Signs bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants or premises, professional or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations shall comply with the size requirements of the address designation ordinance, being Ordinance Number 3768 [Article VIII of this chapter]. (6) Construction signs. One (1) sign on each roadway frontage not exceeding two hundred (200) square feet in area and bearing project information and names, addresses and telephone numbers of the contractors, architects, developers, planners, financial institutions, or engineers engaged in the construction project and only during the time construction or development is actively underway. Such signs should set back no less than ten (10) feet from any property line. (7) Temporary (cloth signs) or banners. Any establishment may have a banner or temporary cloth sign without obtaining a sign permit. Such temporary cloth signs or banners may remain in place for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. (8) Historic signs. Signs previously painted on a building designated to be historic by the Meridian Historic Commission may be recreated after approval by the historic preservation commission. (9) Electronic message signs. These signs will be allowed as an exception to the attention attracting device section by the following restrictions: a. Electronic message signs will be allowed in zoning districts B-3, B-4, B-5, I, and P. An electronic message sign will be allowed on private school properties not zoned B-3, B-4, B-5, or I, as determined by the building official on a case by case basis, illuminated concurrent with normal school hours or school events. b. Electronic message signs will be allowed in zoning districts B-3, B-4, B-5, I and P as part of the one (1) detached sign allowed per building as described in sections 7-243(5)c. and (6)c. and shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in area in B-3 and B-5 districts and two hundred (200) square feet in area in B-4, I and P districts and will be part of and not in addition to the maximum area allowed for detached signs. On private school properties, the sign shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet. for all faces, and shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height above the average grade with set back determined by the building official on a case by case basis. Any deviation from these requirements require the approval of the community development director. (10) Wall murals/paintings (wall art). The following wall art is in addition to wall signage described elsewhere in the sign ordinance. Any property owner desiring to paint, place or erect any painting, mural, public art, or works of art upon an exterior wall of buildings within the city must submit a written request to the community development department's public art review committee before said work is performed. The committee shall inform the applicant of application requirements and shall consider existing signage and the proposed wall art in making their decision. (Ord. No. 3791, § 9, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 9, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4042, § 1, 3-19-96; Ord. No. 4145, § 2-15-2000; Ord. No. 4155, § 1, 3-21-2000; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007; Ord. No. 4347, § 1, 4-7-2009; Ord. No. 4387, § 1, 6-7-11)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-250 Removal of obsolete signs.

Sec. 7-250. - Removal of obsolete signs. If a building, structure, or premises is vacated for a six-month period of time, the owner of the property shall be responsible for removing any sign or signs located thereon with the exception of advertisements dealing with lease or sale of the premises. The property owner shall also be responsible for removing a sign when the advertised business or activity is no longer conducted in or upon the premises which the sign is located. Additionally, the facade of the building, structure or premises shall be restored to its pre-sign appearance. (Ord. No. 3791, § 10, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 10, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 4305, § 1, 1-16-2007)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-251 Nonconforming signs.

Sec. 7-251. - Nonconforming signs. (a) Intent. Signs which were legally in existence prior to the adoption of this article which do not conform to the provisions of this article are declared nonconforming signs. It is the intent of this section to recognize that the eventual elimination, as expeditiously and fairly as possible, of nonconforming signs is as much a subject of health, safety, and welfare as is the prohibition of new signs that would violate the provisions of this article. It is also the intent of this section that any elimination of nonconforming signs shall be effected so as to avoid any unreasonable invasion of established property rights. (b) General nonconforming sign provisions. Subject to the exceptions hereinafter set forth, any nonconforming sign may be continued in operation after the effective date of this article, provided that nonconforming signs shall not be: (1) Changed to or replaced with another nonconforming sign. This does not include changing the sign face. (2) Structurally altered so as to extend their useful life. (3) Expanded. (4) Relocated. (5) Reestablished after damage or destruction of more than fifty (50) percent of the value at the time of such damage or destruction. (6) Modified in any way that would increase the degree of nonconformity of such sign. Nothing in this article shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any portion of a sign or structure declared unsafe by proper authority. Such signs may be improved only to the extent that such improvement does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the current market value of the existing structure. (c) Termination of nonconforming signs. (1) Any permanent nonconforming sign or sign structure which is partially destroyed or damaged by fire, accident, or natural cause beyond fifty (50) percent of its current market value shall thereafter be removed or reconstructed in conformance to the regulations of this article. (2) Any permanent nonconforming sign or sign structure which is improved and altered to comply with the provisions of this article shall thereafter be considered as conforming. (3) Snipe signs shall be removed within three (3) months of enactment of this article. (4) Within three (3) months of the enactment of this article, all portable signs shall be removed and a portable sign permit must be obtained at which time the portable sign must conform to the provisions of this article. (5) Any sign determined to be in the public right-of-way shall be removed one (1) month after notification thereof by the building official to the owner of such sign, if known. (Ord. No. 3791, § 11, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 3893, § 2, 10-16-90; Ord. No. 4036, § 11, 11-21-95)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-252 Variances.

Sec. 7-252. - Variances. (a) Intent. Variances will not be allowed by this article except for setbacks. Setback variances will only be allowed to overcome some exceptional condition which clearly poses practical difficulty or particular hardship in such a way as to prevent an owner from displaying his/her sign as intended by this article. Such practical difficulty must be clearly exhibited and must be a result of an external influence; it may not be self-imposed. The building official will make setback variance determinations. (b) Petition for variance: (1) Standing. A petition for variation from the setback provision(s) of this article may be made by any person having a proprietary interest in the sign for which such variance is requested. (2) Filing. A variance request shall be filed in writing with the building official and shall include the following information: a. The names, addresses and telephone number of the petitioner, the owner of the property on which the sign is to be erected or affixed, the owner of the sign, and the person to be erecting or affixing the sign. b. A description of the requested variance. c. Clear justification of the requested variance. d. The location of the building, structure, or lot on which the sign is to be erected or affixed. e. A site plan of the property involved showing accurate placement thereon of the proposed sign. f. A drawing of the plans and specifications of the sign to be erected or affixed and the method of construction and attachment to the building or the ground. Such plans and specifications shall include details of dimension, material, color and weight. g. The written consent of the owner of the building structure or property on which the sign is to be affixed. h. Such other information as the building official may require to determine full compliance with this [article] and other applicable ordinances of the city. (3) Fees. The fee for a sign variance request shall be set by the city council by resolution. (c) Standards for variances. In order for the building official to grant a variance from the setback requirements of this article: (1) Special condition(s) and circumstance(s) must clearly exist which are peculiar to the location on which the sign is proposed. (2) The special conditions or circumstances clearly must not result from the actions of the applicant. (3) The granting of the variance will not confer on the applicant any special privilege denied to others in the same vicinity. (4) Except for the provision for which a variance is requested, the sign or signs shall be in compliance with all other provisions and sections of this article and all other applicable ordinances of the city. (5) The granting of the variance will not cause the proposed sign to conflict with utility and street fixtures or with traffic safety and required visibility at any time. (d) Appeals. Any party aggrieved by an adverse recommendation on a variance may file an appeal of the decision of the building official to the board of zoning appeals. (1) Procedure for appeals. No appeal shall be ruled upon by the board of zoning appeals until the following conditions have been met: a. Written notice of appeal required. A written notice of appeal is required and shall state the decision being appealed and shall be given to the building official within fifteen (15) days from the date of such decision. The building official shall then forward to the board of zoning appeals the decision of the building official with all original documents and exhibits in the case. When an appeal is perfected in this manner, the board of zoning appeals may approve, deny, or delay action on the appeal, or where there is need for additional information may remand the case to the building official for further consideration. b. Reserved. (2) Appeal to the city council. An appeal from the decision of the board of zoning appeals may be appealed to the city council. (Ord. No. 3791, § 12, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 12, 11-21-95)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-253 Enforcement.

Sec. 7-253. - Enforcement. (a) When the building official finds violations of the provisions of this article, the building official shall document the building official's findings, notify in writing the person or persons responsible for such violations and request necessary corrective action within thirty (30) days. The building official shall request removal of nonconforming signs, nonconforming additions, alterations, or structural changes and discontinuance of any illegal work being done. The building official shall take any other action authorized by this article to ensure compliance with or to prevent violation of its provisions. (b) If voluntary compliance, as described above, is not obtained, the building official shall file a sworn complaint in the municipal court seeking the imposition of fines and imprisonment, as provided elsewhere herein, and the abatement of the nuisance created by the offending sign or ground condition. If the court finds the person responsible for the violations guilty, it shall enter a conditional order of abatement authorizing the city to abate the offending conditions if the same shall not have been abated within fifteen (15) days by the person responsible therefor. If such conditions are not abated within that time, the same shall be abated by the city and the costs thereof, plus a penalty of twenty-five (25) percent shall be paid by the person responsible. If the costs and penalty are not promptly paid, the city council, after notice to the responsible party of the date, time and place of a public hearing thereon, shall assess the costs of abatement, plus the twenty-five (25) percent penalty against the land upon which the offending condition or sign is located, if the owner thereof is the person guilty of such violation, otherwise the costs plus penalty shall be collected through a civil suit. (Ord. No. 3791, § 13, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 13, 11-21-95)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-254 Penalty; nuisance.

Sec. 7-254. - Penalty; nuisance. Failure to comply with the regulations established in this article is a misdemeanor and shall subject the violator to a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or six (6) months in jail, or both. Each day during which a violation continues is a separate offense and shall subject the violator to additional penalties and confinement. The maintenance of a sign or ground condition contrary to the provisions of this article constitutes a nuisance and in addition to the other penalties, herein shall subject the person responsible for such condition or sign to an order of abatement. (Ord. No. 3791, § 14, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 14, 11-21-95)

Source: City of Meridian, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/meridian/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH7BUBURE_ARTIXSIFetched: 11/1/2026