A new, slimmer sign ordinance could be coming to Grantsville City in an effort to simplify the way the city addresses signage.
The proposed sign ordinance is only 12 pages, less than half the size of the city’s current ordinance, which is 28 pages. The retooling of the sign ordinance will also make some changes to the way the city handles a variety of signs, banners, marquees and more.
The Grantsville City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. following a public comment period.
An example of the simpler language in the new ordinance can be found in a section on portable signs outside of businesses and ensuring they don’t obstruct traffic.
In the current ordinance: “The sign is entirely outside of roadways, on-site drive isles, landscape areas, or designated parking areas. The signs shall be located on the pedestrian areas abutting the business and within the extent of the business face.”
In the proposed ordinance: “Such signs require a permit and must be stored inside the place of business when not in use and shall not obstruct sidewalks or streets.”
Councilman Scott Stice praised the new sign ordinance for being easier to understand at the Aug. 19 meeting.
“I think it’s a whole lot simpler than what it used to be,” he said.
While the language has changed, key tenants of the current sign ordinance remain in place in the proposal. New advertising signage will still require approval from the city, which are issued by the city’s zoning administrator.
There are a number of exceptions that do not require applications, including official notices, official flags, directional signs and time and temperature signs. During its Aug. 19 meeting, the city council also added campaign signs and special event signs to the list of exceptions.
The city will follow county, state and federal law on campaign signs instead of creating its own policies. Event signs for public or school activities will be limited to 30 days before the event and removed within two days.
The new ordinance also addresses garage and yard sale signs, which must be removed within 24 hours after the sale.
Any sign put up or maintained in violation of the proposed ordinance would be punishable with a class B misdemeanor. The current ordinance lists a $200 or double the sign permit fee, whichever is greater, as the punishment for installing signs without permits or inspections.