ORD1982425ORDINANCE #425
AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND RECREATE CHAPTER 31
OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF MUSKEGO
(Sign Code 1
COUNTY, WISCONSIN, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
THE COMMON C0UNC:iL OF THE CITY OF MUSKEGO, WAUKESHA
SECTION 1: Chapter 31 of the Municipal Code of the City
of Muskego is hereby repealed and recreated. Said chapter
relates to the sign code of the City of Muskego and adopted
as Ordinance #425.
SECTION 2. A copy of said ordinance has been on file
in the Office of the City Clerk and open to public inspection
for not less than two weeks prior to the date of this ordinance
and said ordinance is hereby incorporated into the Municipal
Code of the City.
SECTION 3: All ordinances or parts of ordinances incon-
sistent with or contravening this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4: This ordinance shall be in full force and
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS N. DAY OF9w , 1982.
effect from and after its passage and publication.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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31.01 TITLE, SCOPE AND ENFORCEMENT (1) This ordinance shall be known as the
"this Code".
"Huskego Sign Code". may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as
(2) The purpose of this Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard
life, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the
design, quality of materials, construction, electrification. and maintenance
of all signs and sign structures not located within a building.
or interpretation of any official traffic sign, signal or device.
provisions of any other lawful Ordinance.
No sign shall be erected in such a !nanner as to confuse or obstruct the view
The regulations of this Code are not intended to permit any violation of the
(3)(a) Authority. The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed
to enforce all the provisions of this Code.
(b) Right of Entry. Upon presentation of proper credentials the Building
Official or his duly authorized representatives may enter at reasonable times
any building, structure, or premises in the City to perform any duty imposed
upon him by this Code and in accordance with Sec. 963.10(1). Wis. Stars.
(c) Violation and Penalties. Any person who shall violate any provision of
to a penalty as provided in Sec. 25.04 of this Municipal Code. Imposition of
this chapter or any order, rule or regulation made hereunder shall be subject
a forfeiture thereunder shall not preclude the City from maintaining any appro-
priate action to enjoin or remove any violation of this chapter.
31.02 DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS (1) For the purpose of this Code, certain
as specified in this Code. Words used in the singular include the plural, and
abbreviations, terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall be construed
the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine,
and the feminine the masculine.
(a) Building Official - Building Official is the City Building Inspector or
any other officer charged with the administration and enforcement of this Code
or his duly authorized deputy.
structure for the purpose of displaying the advertising message.
(3) Display Surface - Display surface is the area made available by the sign
wiring, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light Bource.
(4) Electric Sign - Electric sign shall mean any sign containing electrical
by a sign structure in the ground.
(5).Freestanding Sign - Freestanding sign shall mean a sign wholly supported
by the building.
(6) Marquee - Marquee in a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported
vhich projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.
(7) Projecting Sign - Projecting sign shall mean a sign other than a wall sign.
parapet of a building or structure.
(e) Roof Sign - Roof sign shall mean a sign erected upon or above a roof or
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(9) Sign - Sign is any medium Including its structure and component
parts, which is used or intended to be used to attract attention to the
subject matter for advertising purposes other than paint on the surface of
a building.
(10) Sign Structure - A sign structure is any structure which supports or
may be a single pole or may or may not be an integral part of the building.
is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this Code. A sign structure
(11) Structure - Structure is that which is built or constructed, an edifice
or building of any kind. or any piece of work artificially built up or com-
posed of parts jointed together in some definite manner.
valance, or advertising display intended to be displayed for a limited period
of time only.
(12) Temporary Sign - Temporary sign shall include any sign, banner, pennant,
(13) Wall Sign - Wall Sign shall mean any sign attached to or erected against
the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a
plane parallel to the plane of said wall.
31.03 PERMITS, FEES AND INSPECTION (1) No sign shall hereafter be erected,
Code and a permit for the same has been issued by the Building Official. A
re-erected, constructed, altered, or maintained, except as provided by this
separate permit shall be required for a sign or signs for each business entity.
and/or a separate permit for each group of signs on a single supporting struc-
ture. In addition, electrical permits shall be obtained for illuminated signs.
nished by the Building Official. Such application shall contain the location
(2) Application for a sign permlt shall be made in vriting upon forms fur-
by street and number of the proposed sign structure, as well as the name and
may require the filing of plans OIC other pertinent information where in his
address of the owner and the sign contractor or erector. The Building Official
opinion such information is necessary to insure compliance with this Code.
Standard plans may be filed with I:he Building Official.
(3) The following signs shall not require a sign permit. These exceptions
shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsi-.
bility of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with the provisions
of this Code or any other law or ordinance regulating the same.
(a) The changing of the advertising copy or message on a painted or printed
sign. For theater marquees and s:tmilar signs specifically designated for the
use. of replaceable copy.
changing of the advertising copy or message thereon shall not be considered an
(b) Painting, repainting, or cleaning of an advertising structure or the
erection or alteration which requires sign permit unless a structural change
is made.
(c) All residential signs permitted by right in Zoning Ordinance.
(4) A sign permit fee and a plan-checking fee shall be paid.
(a) $1.00 per square foot.
(b) $15.00 minimum.
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(5) All signs, together with all of their supports. braces, guys, and
display surfaces of all signa shall bd! kept neatly painted or posted at all
anchors. shall be kept in repair and jlo proper state of preservation. The
times .
(6) All signa for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspectioo
by the Building Official. Footiog inspections may be required by the Building
Official for all signs having footingm.
the governing electrical coda and the electrical components used shall bear
All signs containing electrical wiriog shall be subject to the provisions of
the label of an approved testing agemy.
in accordance with the provisions of alub. (5).
The Building Official may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained
All signs may be reinspected at the discretioo of the Building Official.
(7) Appeal Procedure. Any person feeling himself aggrieved by any order or
ruling of the Building Inspector may a,ppeal from such ruling to the Board of
Appeals within 20 days after written n.otice of such ruliog shall have been
delivered to him. Such appeal is to be in writing, setting forth the order
appealed from, and the respects io which said person feeling himself aggrieved
claims that said order or ruling is erroneous or illegal. Said notice of
appeal shall be filed with the Clerk uho shall thereupon notify the Building
of the Board of Appeals. The said Board of Appeals, after consideration thereof,
Inspector of said appeal, and the appeal shall be heard at the next meeting
of the inspection shall be enforced un.tFl changed by said Board of Appeals.
shall affirm, reverse or modify said ruling as is just. The ruling or order
31.04 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION (1) Load Capacity. Signs and sign structures
shall be designed and constructed to resist wind and seismic forces as specified
transfer lateral forces to the foundatioos. For signs on buildings the dead
in this Section. All bracing syaterm, shall be designed and constructed to
building to the ground in such mnoer .YE not to overstress any of the elements
and lateral loads shall be transmitted through the structural frame of the
thereof.
exceed two-thirds of the dead-load resisting moment. Uplift due to overturning
The overturniog -meat produced from; lateral forcea shall io no case
shall be adequately resisted by proper anchorage to the ground or to the
structural frame of the buildiog. The might of earth superimposed over foot-
ings may be used io determining the dead-load resisting mmt. Such earth
shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted.
to resist wind force. as specified in Chapter Ind 53, State BuFLding Code.
(b) Seismic Loads - Sip and migo acructurea shdl be designed and coo-
(a) Wind Loads - Signs aod sign structures shall be designed and constructed
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structed to reaist seiamic force. aa specified io Chapter Ind 53. State Building
Cod..
(c) Combined Load. - Uiod and seismlc loada need not bo codined io the
deaign of signs or ai80 atructuras; only that loading producing the larger
atceases ~ed be wed.
rbultansoruly with th. wind or seismic loads.
Vertical deaiga load.. except roof live lodr. shall be asad to be actio8
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shall conform to the requirements of the State Building Code. Loads. both
(d) Allowable Stresses - The deelign of wood, concrete, or atcel members
vertical and horizontal, exerted cNn the soil ahall not produce streaser
exceeding those specified in the $:tare Building Code.
of the ultimate strength of the rope or fasteners.
increased as specified in Chapter Ind 53. State Building Code.
The working stresses of wire rope and its fastenings ehall not exceed ZSX
Working stresses for wind or eei.mic loads combined with dud loads mey bc
(2) Supports. The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be
placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed,
and erected in conformance with th!e requirements of this Code.
(3) Materials and Details. Materials of construction for signs and sign
etructures shall be of the quality and gr8de as specified for buildings in
the State Building Code.
In all signs and.sign structures the materials and details of construction
shall, in the absence of specifled requirements. conform with the following:
(a) Structural steel shall be of such quality as to conform with A.S.T.M.
Standard A36. Secondary members in contact with or directly supporting the
display surface may be formed of light gauge steel, provided such members
are designed in accordance with the specifications of the design of light
gauge steel as specified in A.S.T.M. Standard A36 and in addition shall be
galvanized. Secondary members when formed integrally with the display sur-
face, shall be not less than No. 24 gauge in thickness.
hot-rolled steel members furnishfag structural support for signs shall be
of the secondary members shall be No. 12 gauge. The minimum thickness of
one-fourth inch (1/4") except that if galvanized, such members shall be not
less than one-eighth inch (1/8") thick. Steel pipes shall be of such quality
with one galvanized bolt provided the connection is adequate to transfer the
as to conform with A.S.T.M. Standard AX. Steel members msy be connected
stresses in the members.
When not formed integrally with the display surface. the minimum thickness
six inches (6") of the soil, shall be of all heartwood of a durable species
(b) Anchors and supports when of wood and embedded in the soil, or within
or shall be pressure-treated with an approved preservative. Such members
shall be marked or branded by an approved agency.
(4) Anchorage - Members supporting unbraced signs shall be so proportioned
that the bearing loads imposed on the soil in either direction, horizontal
or.vertica1, shall not exceed the safe values. Braced ground eigne shall
be anchored to resist the specified wind or seismic load acting in any direc-
tion. Anchors and supports shall 'be designed for safe bearing loads on the
soil and for an effective resistance to pull-out amounting to a force 25%
greater than the required resistance to overturning. Anchors and supports
shall penetrate to a depth below ground greater than that of the frost line.
Signs attached to masonry. concrete, or steel shall be safely and securely
screws of sufficient size and anchorage to support safely the loads applied.
fastened thereto by means of metal anchors, bolts, or approved expansion
No wooden blocks or plugs or anc'hors with wood used in connection with
aigns attached to wood framing.
screvs or nails shall be considered proper anchorage. except in the case of
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No anchor or support of any sign s'hall be connected to, or supported by, an
unbraced parapet wall, unless such wall is designed in accordance with the re-
quirements for parapet walls specified in the State Building Code.
vood, metal, glass or approved plastics.
(5) Display Surfaces - Display surfaces in all types of signs may be made of
Class thickness and area 1imitatio:ns shall be as set forth in Table 4-A.
TaBk No. 4A - Size. Thickness alnd Typa of Glass Panels in Signs. Maximum Sin ol E~rposed
Glass Panel
Mlnimum
.Area Thickness
Any Dimnsion fln Square of Qlass
(In Inches)
30
45
fU
Over 1U Over ,3600 1 I4 Wlred Glau
Inches (In Inches) Type of Glass
500 118
700 3118
Plain, Plafe or Wired
Plaln. Plate or Wired
,3600 f 14 Plain, Plafe or Wlred
Sections of approved plastics on w,all signs shall not exceed one hundred and
fifty square feet (150 sq. ft.) in area.
Exceptions:
Sections of approved plastics on signs other than wall signs may be unlimited
Sections of approved plastics on w,all signs shall be separated three feet
area if approved by the Building Official.
(3') laterally and six feet (6') vertically by the required exterior wall con-
struction.
Sections of approved plastics on signs other than wall signs may not be re-
quired to be separated if approved b.y the Building Official.
(6) Approved Plastics - The Building Official shall require that sufficient
technical data be submitted to subst,antiate the proposed ue of any plastic
material and, if it is determined th,at the evidence submitted is satisfactory
for the use intended. he may approve its use.
(7) Clearance Requirements. General - All types of signs shall conform to
the clearance requirements of this section.
than six feet (6') horizontally or twelve feet (12') vertically from overhead
electrical conductors which are energized in excess of 750 volts. The term
either bare or insulated, installed above the ground except such conductors aa
"overhead conductors" as used in this Section means any electrical conductor,
are enclosed in iron pipe or other material covering of equal strength.
(a) Clearance from High Voltage Paver Linea - Signs shall be located not less
(b) Clearance from Fire Escapes or Exits - No sign or sign structure shall
be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports wFl1
interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape or exit.
extent that li&t or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by
this Code.
in which there are openings within the area of the sign. shall be constructed
of incombustible material or approved plastics.
(c) Obstruction of Openings - No sign shall obstruct any openings to such an
Internally illuminated signs erected within five feet (5') of an exterior wall
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31.05 FREESTANDING SIGNS (1) Materials. Freestanding signs ahall be con-
structed of any material as provided in sec. 31.04.
(2) Supports. All supports of freestanding signs shall be placed upon
private property and shall be securely built, Constructed and erected to con-
form with requirements specified in sec. 31.04. 0
31.06 PROJECTING SIGNS (1) Materials. Projecting Signs shall be constructed
of any material as provided in sec. 31.04.
the frame of the building to which they are constructed and erected, and
shall be designed in accordance wilth the requirements specified in sec. 31.04.
31.07 WALL SIGNS (1) Materials. Wall signs shall be constructed of any '
(2) Design. Projecting Signs shall be thoroughly secured and anchored to
material as provided in sec. 31.04.
ments specified in sec. 31.04.
(2) Design. Wall signs shall be designed in accordance with the require-
31.08 MARQUEES. Signs may be phced on. attached to. or constructed in a
marquee. Such signs shall, for thc purpose of determining projection, clear-
ance, height and material. be considered a part of and shall meet the require-
ments for a marquee as specified in the State Building Code.
31.09 nECTRIC SIGNS. (1) Incombustible Materials. The display area of
electric signs shall be constructed of incombustible materials.
tight, excepting that service holerl fitted with covers shall be provided into
(2) Watertight Shell - The enclorled shell of electric signs shall be water-
each compartment of such signs.
(3) Installation - Electrical equipment used in connection with display
signs shall be installed in accordance with local ordinance8 regulating
electrical installation.
of the sign the name of the sign erector and date of erection. Such name and
(4) Erector's Name - Every electric sign shall have painted on the surface
date shall be of sufficient size and contrast to be readable from a reasonable
distance. Failure to provide such name and date shall be grounds for rejec-
tion of the sign by the Building Official.
31.10 TEMPORARY SIGNS - See Section 6.10(12) of the Zoning Ordinance.
31.11 POLITICAL SIGNS - Nothwithatanding any other provision of this Code,
temporary political signs may be erected in any district without a permit
with the permission of the property owner. Provided, no such sign ahall be
provided they are not a danger to life or property, and are located on property
placed within the limits of any street or highway. Highway limits include
all the dedicated right-of-way, encompassing the traveling portion of the
highway, the shoulders. the ditches, and adjacent dedicated areas. The pro-
all other structures on which signs might be posted or placed except politi-
hibition hereunder extends to trees, utility poles, fence posts, stakes. and
Section shall be summarily removed by the Board of Public WorLs. All political
cal signa installed or placed on motor vehicles. Any sign violating this
signs, wherever located, must be removed vithin 10 days after the election
for which it was erected.
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