§ 138-3750. Purpose and intent.

It is the purpose of this division to promote the public health, safety and general welfare through a comprehensive system of reasonable, consistent and nondiscriminatory sign standards and requirements. These sign regulations are intended to:

(a)

Enable the identification of places of residence and business.

(b)

Allow for the communication of information necessary for the conduct of commerce.

(c)

Lessen hazardous situations, confusion, and visual clutter caused by proliferation, improper placement, illumination, animation and excessive height, area and bulk of signs which compete for the attention of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

(d)

Enhance the attractiveness and economic well-being of the county as a place to live, vacation and conduct business.

(e)

Protect the public from the dangers of unsafe signs.

(f)

Permit signs that are compatible with their surroundings and aid orientation, and preclude placement of signs in a manner that conceals or obstructs adjacent land uses or signs.

(g)

Encourage signs that are appropriate to the zoning district in which they are located and consistent with the category of use to which they pertain.

(h)

Curtail the size and number of signs and sign messages to the minimum reasonably necessary to identify a residential or business location and the nature of any such business.

(i)

Establish sign size in relationship to the scale of the lot and building on which the sign is to be placed or to which it pertains.

(j)

Preclude signs from conflicting with the principal permitted use of the site or adjoining sites.

(k)

Regulate signs in a manner so as to not interfere with, obstruct vision of or distract motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians.

(l)

Require signs to be constructed, installed and maintained in a safe and satisfactory manner.

(m)

Implement the county's comprehensive plan and comply with the minimum requirements established by state law that requires the regulation of signage.

Further, it is the intent of the board of county commissioners that protection of First Amendment rights shall be afforded such that any sign, display, or device allowed under this section may contain, in lieu of any other copy, any otherwise lawful noncommercial message that complies with the size, lighting and spacing requirements of this section.

(Ord. No. 18-36 , § 3(Att. B), 10-23-18)