Temporary signs.

A. General requirements.

(1) A sign permit for temporary signs which are advertising or business signs as defined in § 265-3, supra, may be granted for a period not to exceed 45 days, and a sign permit for temporary signs containing noncommercial messages may be granted for a period not to exceed 90 days, provided that such signs are not attached to fences, trees, utility poles or the like, and further provided that such signs are not placed in a position that will obstruct or impair vision or traffic or in any manner create a hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public.

(2) A temporary sign shall not be illuminated nor shall any lighting device be used in connection therewith.

(3) Temporary signs advertising a commercial business shall be placed only on the property where such commercial business is located.

(4) In nonresidential districts, the maximum surface area for all temporary signs shall not exceed 80 square feet per parcel, and the maximum surface area for any one temporary sign shall not exceed 16 square feet, and in residential districts, the maximum surface area for all temporary signs shall not exceed 40 square feet per parcel, and the maximum surface area for any one temporary sign shall not exceed eight square feet.

(5) No temporary sign shall be located in the right-of-way of any highway or closer than 10 feet from the edge of the pavement, or on any public property. No sign shall block or obstruct any fire hydrant.

(6) No more than two temporary sign permits shall be issued per parcel per year.

(7) An administrative fee shall be paid by the applicant upon the issuance of a permit for each such sign or group of signs pursuant to the fee schedule established by the Town Board from time to time. In addition, the applicant will deposit an amount, as established by the Town Board from time to time, as a cash deposit based upon the total square footage of the signs to ensure the removal of any such signs at the expiration of the permit and upon the applicant providing written certification that the sign has been removed. If the sign is not removed within five days after the expiration of the permit, the cash deposit shall be forfeited to help defray the cost of enforcement.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

(8) The Building Inspector shall have the right, at any time, to remove any sign which is placed in the right-of-way. The applicant, at the time of applying for the permit, must certify that the applicant owns the property where the sign(s) will be placed or has the permission of the owner(s) to place such sign(s). The Building Inspector shall have the right to remove any sign which is placed on any property without permission of the property owner.

B. In order to maintain safety on the roads and highways in the Town of Webster, to prevent trespassing and unwanted entry upon private and public property, to prevent unsightly visual pollution, and to promote the general well-being of the residents within the Town of Webster, the applicant must provide the location(s) where the sign(s) will be located and a contact person(s) for the location(s).

C. A sign promoting a specific charitable, philanthropic, religious or civic event must be applied for to the Building Inspector as a temporary sign under this section. This subsection shall apply to all signs not otherwise referred to or regulated in § 265-5A(5).

D. In the event of a violation of any of the foregoing provisions of this section, the Code Enforcement Official shall give written notice, specifying the violation, to the applicant and the named owner of the land upon which the sign is erected, with such written notice sent to the addresses as stated in the application for the sign permit, to conform or remove such sign. The sign shall thereupon be conformed or removed by the owner of the sign and the owner of the land within three days from the date of said notice. In the event that such sign shall not be so conformed or removed within three days, the Code Enforcement Official shall thereupon revoke the permit, and such sign and supporting structure shall be removed by the applicant and /or the named owner of the land, or removed by the Code Enforcement Official, and the cash deposit forfeited.