I. Purpose

The purpose of the sign standards is to keep all types of signs whether commercial or otherwise to a minimum and as unobtrusive as possible while still fulfilling the needs of Shelburne and its residents.

II.  Definitions

Flashing Sign – Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign that exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.

Height  - The height of a sign shall be measured from the highest or lowest point (as appropriate) of the sign to a plane parallel to the average of the natural ground surface at the location of the sign.

Illuminated Sign – Any sign which emanates light either by means of electrical bulbs, fluorescent lights, or lamps on its surface, or by means of illumination transmitted through the sign face.  Any decorative lighting that is used expressly for the purpose of advertisement shall be constructed as a sign.

Free-Standing Signs - A self-supporting sign not attached to any building, wall, or fence, but in a fixed location. This does not include portable or trailer type signs.

Off-Premise Sign – Any sign visible from a public right-of-way identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services not located on the premises where the sign is installed and maintained.

On-Premise Sign – Any sign visible from a public right-of-way identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services located on the premises where the sign is installed and maintained.

Permanent Sign – Any sign that is not a temporary sign which is permanently affixed or attached to the ground, wall or other support.

Projecting Sign - A sign which is affixed to a building, tree or other support and which extends more than six inches beyond the surface to which it is affixed.

Temporary Sign – A sign constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, wood, paper or other similar material with or without a structural frame and intended for a limited display.

Sign – A sign includes the informational area, the support and the framing.

III.  Signs Allowed without a Permit

The following signs may be erected without a permit and are not included in the maximum sign area allowed unless otherwise indicated, but must comply with all other requirements of this chapter as stated herein:

A.     Historic plaques or markers no greater than two (2) square feet in area.

B.     Trail Signs no greater than three (3) square feet in area.

C.     National, state flags [not to exceed forty (40) square feet in area].

D.     Political signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet and shall be located, erected and removed in accordance with State Statues.

E.      Signs affixed to or placed within twelve (12) inches of a window so as to be visible from the exterior, which advertise products or services available within the building, prices, payment methods or sales, provided that the signs do not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total area of the window.

F.      Temporary signs can be no larger than 6 sq ft and can be in place for no more than five (5) days. It is the responsibility of the person who erected the sign to remove the sign.

G.     Signs installed by governmental bodies.

H.     Customary signs which give warnings or are used to identify property that are no larger than two (2) square feet in area, examples being “Beware of Dog”, “No Trespassing” signs or signs showing the name of the resident.

I.        Real Estate Signs

¨      One (1) unlit sign, no greater than six (6) square feet in area, is permitted to be installed on each parcel being offered for sale.

¨      One (1) unlit sign, no greater than four (4) square feet in area, is permitted to be installed at a highway junction outside of the public right-of-way as a directional sign per lot or cluster of lots.

¨      All signs must be removed within ten (10) days of the sale of the property.

J.       Directional Signs - one unlit non-advertising sign, no greater than three (3) square feet in area is permitted to be installed at each highway intersection leading to a business, as a directional sign to that business.  Location of the sign(s) to be approved by the Town Road Agent if within the ROW of a Town Road or approved per State Statute if in a State ROW.

K.    All signs shall be properly maintained to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.  Any sign which is damaged in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of its value must be repaired or removed in 90 days or it shall be removed at the owners expense.

IV.  Signs Requiring a Permit

No sign (other than those listed in section III) shall be erected or affixed to any building exterior or placed freestanding on any premises or altered or moved without a permit issued by the Town Building Inspector..  The following are the General Requirements which apply to all Signs Requiring a Permit:

A.            All Signs must relate to a business in Shelburne.  All signs must be On-Premise.

B.            No Sign may be erected within a public right-of-way and shall be set back from any public right-of-way a distance not less than five (5) feet, except where allowed by State Statute.

C.            All Signs shall be set back a distance not less than fifteen (15) feet from the points intersecting rights-of-way

D.            No Sign may exceed eight (8) feet in height in the River Valley and Forest Districts or twenty (20) feet in height in the Route 2 and Industrial Districts.

E.             Only one freestanding Sign is permitted on a lot except by Special Exception.

F.             No portion of any projecting Sign shall be less than eight (8) feet above grade level.

G.            One (1) free standing Sign not to exceed thirty-two square feet (32 sq. ft.) and one (1) Sign painted on or attached to one (1) wall of a building not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the square footage of the wall on which it is displayed, up to thirty-two square  feet (32 sq. ft.) which ever is less, shall be allowed.

H.            In the case of a shopping center or professional park, there shall be allowed one (1) lot Sign identifying the shopping center or professional park sharing a common group name which shall not exceed thirty-two square feet (32 sq. ft.).  For each individual tenant, one Sign painted on or attached to one wall of the building not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the square footage of the wall on which it is displayed, up to thirty-two square feet (32 sq. ft.) which ever is less, shall be allowed. A Sign pertaining to the lease or sale of a lot or building on which it is placed shall be allowed so long as such sign does not exceed eighteen square feet (18 sq. ft.).

I.               All signs shall be properly maintained to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.  Any Sign which is damaged in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of its value must be repaired or removed in 90 days or it shall be removed at the owners expense.

J.              Non-conforming Signs may be removed for painting or repair.  The repaired Sign can not be larger or more non-conforming than the original and must be placed in the original location.

K.           Should the current location of a non-conforming sign become unavailable the owner must request a special exception to relocate the sign.

V.  Illumination Standards

This section is intended to allow for the illumination of signs for public visibility during non-daylight hours, and applies to all signs, permitted or otherwise.

A.            A sign shall be illuminated only by a steady or continuous white light.

B.            A sign must not flash either from interior or exterior light sources.

C.            A sign shall not contain any “neon” lighting.

D.            Signs shall be illuminated so that no hazard is created to pedestrian or vehicular traffic due to intensity or direction of illumination.

E.             Signs shall be illuminated such that they do not cast light, glare or reflected light on adjacent buildings or create a nuisance for abutters.

F.             The minimum amount of lighting required to allow the sign to be readable shall be used and it shall be appropriate to the character of the sign and surroundings.

G.            Signs lit by external means shall be lighted from above.

H.            Signs that are lighted internally shall have a dark background with only the lettering being of a light color.  The lettering shall not comprise more then thirty-five percent (35%) of the area of the sign.

I.               Light sources which cast light on any sign shall be shielded by opaque material so that the bulbs, floodlights or tubes are not visible off the property on which the sign is located

J.              The use of reflective tape or paint to illuminate a sign is permitted.

K.           No sign shall be illuminated between 11 PM and dusk of the following day unless the business is open during such hours.