Ord 453 Amend Title 12 SignsCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 453
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 12, CHAPTER 1 OF THE CITY CODE
PERTAINING TO SIGNS
The City Council of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota ordains as follows:
SECTION 1
The following language in Section 12- 1D -13 -2 Additional Requirements for all B and I
Districts is amended to read:
A. Building Permits:
B. Where building permit applications for work on existing structures located in the B
and I zoning districts are applied for the code enforcement officer shall issue
building permits upon compliance with local codes and ordinances.
SECTION 2
Section 12- 1D- 13 -3.J Motor Fuel Stations and Motor Fuel Station Convenience Stores
is deleted
SECTION 3
The following language is in Section 1- 1D -15: Signs is amended to read:
Signs are a permitted accessory use in all use districts subject to the following
regulations:
A. Interpretation: A sign is a structure or a part of a structure for the purpose of applying yard
and height regulations.
B. Permit Requirements:
1. Permit Required: Except as herein exempted, no person, firm or corporation shall
install, erect, relocate, modify, alter, or change the color on any sign in the city
without first obtaining a permit.
2. Application and Fees: Application for permits shall be made in writing upon printed
forms furnished by the city, and shall be accompanied by a complete description of
the sign, its proposed location, the manner of construction and materials used in the
sign, a sketch of the sign and such other information as the code enforcement
department deems necessary. Fees shall be established by resolution of the city
council. In addition to any other remedies available to the city, a triple fee shall be
charged if a sign is erected without first obtaining a permit for such sign.
3. Exemptions: No permit shall be required for the following signs; provided,
however, that all signs herein exempted from the peliirit requirements shall confoili
with all other requirements of this chapter:
a. Signs erected by a governmental unit.
b. Signs which are entirely within a building and not visible from outside such
building.
c. Address, nameplate and /or identification signs having an area of two (2)
square feet or less.
d. Garage sale, rummage sale and other similar signs in conjunction with the
sale of household goods and materials from private residences.
e. Real estate signs as regulated in subsection D of this section.
f. Election signs as regulated in subsection I of this section.
g. Holiday displays are not considered signs for the purposes of this section.
C. Real Estate Signs:
1. For purposes of selling or leasing property, a sign not in excess of fifteen (15)
square feet per surface may be placed within the front yard of such property to be
sold or leased.
2. For the purpose of selling or promoting a residential project of six (6) or more
dwelling units, a commercial area of three (3) acres or more or an industrial area of
ten (10) acres or more, one sign not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet of
advertising surface may be erected upon the project site. Such sign shall not remain
after ninety percent (90 %) of the project is developed.
D. Temporary Signs: There shall be no more than one temporary (3 months or less) sign on
any lot. The total area of such sign shall not exceed twenty five (25) square feet.
E. Prohibited Signs: Unless a sign is specifically permitted under this chapter, the sign is
prohibited. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the following signs are
specifically prohibited:
1. Signs within the public right of way or easement; except, that the city council may
grant a conditional use permit to locate signs and decorations on or within city right
of way for a specified time not to exceed sixty (60) days.
2. Illuminated flashing signs within the R, B -1 or B -2 district.
3. In all districts, illuminated signs or devices giving off an intermittent, steady or
rotating beam consisting of a collection or concentration of rays or lights greater
than two (2) square feet in area.
4. Any sign that, by reason of position, shape or color would interfere in any way with
the proper functioning or purpose of a traffic sign or signal.
5. Signs painted directly on the outside wall of buildings.
6. Signs painted on fences, rocks, or similar structures or features in any district.
7. Paper and similar signs attached directly to a building wall by an adhesive or
similar means.
8. Feather -Flag signs
9. Animated signs, lighter than air inflatable devices, string lights, strip lighting
outlining structures, and signs attached or mounted on a vehicle parked primarily
for use as a sign.
10. Roof signs.
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F. Nonconforming Signs: Signs existing on the effective date of this chapter which do not
conform to the regulations set forth in this chapter or any previous ordinance are
nonconforming uses.
G. Election Signs:
1. Election signs are permitted on private property in any district, provided such signs
are removed within ten (10) days following the state general election or within ten
(10) days following the election the sign relates to in a year during which no state
general election is held.
2. No election sign shall be permitted in any R district 46 days before the state primary
in a state general election year, or more than one month preceding the election the
sign relates to in a year during which no state general election is held.
3. No election sign shall be permitted on election day within one hundred feet (100')
of a building in which a polling place is situated or anywhere on public property on
which a polling place is situated. This restriction does not apply to adjacent private
property.
H. Signs In R Districts: Within the R districts, the following signs are permitted:
1. One nameplate sign for each dwelling, and such sign shall not exceed two (2)
square feet in area per surface, and no sign shall be so constructed as to have more
than two (2) surfaces.
2. One nameplate sign for each dwelling group of six (6) or more units, and such sign
shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area per surface, and no sign shall be so
constructed as to have more than two (2) surfaces. (Ord. 429, 8 -3 -2010)
3. One nameplate sign for each pennitted use or use by conditional use permit other
than residential, and such sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area per
surface.
a. By conditional use permit, a non - residential use in a residential zoning
district which is allowed either as a permitted or conditional use may qualify
for a second nameplate sign, provided that each of the following
requirements are met:
(1) The parcel on which such a sign is proposed may be no less than
forty (40) acres in size.
(2) The parcel on which such a sign is to be located must have frontage
on at least two (2) public roadways.
(3) No more than one sign may be allowed to be oriented toward any
one public roadway.
(4) The sign shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area per
surface.
(5) The sign shall not exceed nine feet (9') in height from the average
natural grade at the base of the sign.
(6) The sign may be illuminated, provided the direct source of light is
not visible from the public right of way or adjacent residential
district.
(7) The sign may not be constructed as an internally lit cabinet.
(8) The sign shall be constructed in a monument style fashion, including
a base of natural stone, brick or other masonry material.
Ord. 453 Page 3 of 6
(9) The sign area shall be landscaped with materials subject to a plan
submitted with the
(10) CUP application and approved by the city council.
(11) Lighting shall be limited from dusk to twelve o'clock (12:00)
midnight. (Ord. 434, 4 -5 -2011)
4. By conditional use permit, a use in a residential zoning district which is allowed
either as a permitted or conditional use may qualify for a wall sign in addition to a
nameplate sign, provided that each of the following requirements are met:
a. The parcel on which such a sign is proposed be no less than five (5) acres in
size.
b. The sign shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area.
c. The sign may be illuminated, provided the direct source of light is not
visible from the public right of way or adjacent residential district.
5. Symbols, statues, sculptures and integrated architectural features on nonresidential
buildings may be illuminated by floodlights, provided the direct source of light is
not visible from the public right of way or adjacent residential district.
6. Any sign over one square foot shall be set back at least ten feet (10') from any
property line. No sign shall exceed ten feet (10') in height above the average grade
level. Signs may be illuminated, but such lighting shall be diffused or indirect and
the direct source of light not visible beyond any lot line.
Signs In B And I Districts:
1. Nameplates And Business Signs: Nameplate signs and business signs are permitted
subject to the following regulations:
a. B -1 And B -1A Districts: Within the B -1 and B -1A districts, the aggregate
square footage of sign space per lot shall not exceed the sum of one square
foot per front foot of building plus one square foot for each front foot of lot
not occupied by a building. No individual sign shall exceed fifty (50) square
feet in a B -1 area.
b. B -2, B -3, B -4 And I Districts:
(1) Within the B -2, B -3, B -4 and I districts, the aggregate square footage
of such space per lot shall not exceed the sum of two (2) square feet
per front foot of building, plus one square foot for each front foot of
lot not occupied by such building which fronts on a public right of
way fifty feet (50') or more in width. The least width of a lot for
purposes of this chapter shall be the front. No individual sign surface
shall exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area, nor shall two (2)
or more signs be so arranged and integrated as to cause an
advertising surface over one hundred (100) square feet.
(2) Where a B -4 district includes a theater, additional sign surface area
may be permitted for the exclusive use of the theater. The total
aggregate surface area permitted for theaters including any pylon,
marquee or other signage shall not exceed two hundred (200) square
feet.
2. Pylon Or Freestanding Sign: The erection of one pylon type sign for any single lot
in the B -2, B -3, B -4 and I districts is permitted under the following provisions:
a. A pylon or freestanding sign shall not be higher than twenty five feet (25')
above the average grade level at the base of the sign.
Ord. 453 Page 4 of 6
b. No part of the pylon or freestanding sign shall be less than ten feet (10')
from lot lines nor less than five feet (5') from any driveway or parking area.
c. No part or projection from a pylon or freestanding sign shall be less than
fourteen feet (14') vertical distance above the grade level at the base of the
sign.
d. The gross area of any surface of a pylon or freestanding sign shall not
exceed one hundred(100) square feet.
3. Electronic displays, including Light - Emitting- Diodes (LED), or similar
technologies may be permitted at motor fuel stations under the following
conditions:
a. The characters in an electronic display must be a uniform color.
b. Any electronic display is limited to a maximum of four (4) characters.
c. The total area for an electronic display is not to exceed six (6) square feet in
area.
d. The text of the sign may not change more than three (3) times in a day (24
hours).
e. The electronic display shall be allowed only during the hours of operation
approved in the conditional use permit for the motor fuel station.
f. Any existing motor fuel station seeking permit for electronic display of fuel
prices shall submit a request to amend their conditional use permit.
4. Comprehensive Sign Plan: A comprehensive sign plan shall be provided for
industrial developments. Such plan, which shall include the location, size, height,
lighting and orientation of all signs shall be submitted to the planning commission
for preliminary plan approval regulations. Provided such a comprehensive plan is
presented, exceptions to the sign performance standards of this chapter may be
permitted if sign areas and densities for the plan as a whole are in conformity with
the intent of this chapter and if such exception results in an improved relationship
between the various parts of the plan. (Ord. 429, 8 -3 -2010)
SECTION 3
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its publication as provided by law.
Adopted and ordained into an Ordinance this fourth day of June, 2013.
CITY COUNCIL
CIT : OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
ATTEST
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
Ord. 453
ra Krebsbach yor
Page 5 of 6
SUMMARY PUBLICATION
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS ORDINANCE 453
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE 12, CHAPTER 1
PERTAINING TO SIGNS
The City Council of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota authorizes the amendment of City Code Title 12,
Chapter 1, pertaining to signs. The amendment updates and modernizes the city's sign regulations in all zoning
districts.
The complete text of Ordinance 453 may be obtained at the Mendota Heights City Hall or from the City's website at
www.mendota-heights.com.
Dated: June 4, 2013
Published: June 9, 2013
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