5.1. PCSR 12-19-2023Request for Action
To Item Number
Planning Commission 5.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Public Hearings December 19, 2023 Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner
Item Description Reviewed by
City of Elk River Zack Carlton, Community Development Director
Ordinance Amendments to Section 30-860
Reviewed by
regarding Sign Permit Requirements; and Section
30-879 Updating Sign Standards for Multi-Family
Building, Case No. OA 23-05
Action Requested
Recommend, by motion, approval of the following amendments pertaining to signage, Sec. 30-860 Permit and Sec.
30-879 Residential Districts.
Background/Discussion
Sign Permits (Sec. 30-860)
To make the wall sign permit application process more streamlined, staff recommend requiring one permit for all
wall signage on a single structure. Currently, a permit is required for each wall sign and with the implementation
of our online permit software, this can be cumbersome for both the applicant and staff. Freestanding signage will
continue to require one permit per sign.
Apartments (Sec. 30-879)
During a recent review of a sign permit for an apartment, it was noted that sign requirements for apartments
outside of Planned Unit Developments are not clearly codified. Staff recommend following the C1 zoning district
standards for freestanding signs as the district closely reflects a non-residential use in a neighborhood. Staff also
recommend wall signage be limited to 32 square feet.
The ordinance does outline nonresidential uses, such as churches, synagogues, and schools, in residentially zoned
districts, which are allowed one freestanding sign and one wall sign, not to exceed 96 square feet in total sign area.
Staff believe this may be too limited for an apartment complex.
Financial Impact
None
Mission/Policy/Goal
Meet changing needs - Agile
Work with citizens to achieve goals
Attachments
Proposed Ordinances
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and
Updated: January 2023
community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity.
Sec. 30-860. Permit.
(a) Required. Unless otherwise provided by this subdivision, the erection, structural alteration, or
relocation of:
(1) a Wall signs shall require a single sign/building permit.s and payment of fees as
described in this section.
Commented \[CL1\]: I took out as I don’t believe it is
necessary. We don't say "Exemptions, as described in this
(2) Individual freestanding/monument signs shall require a single sign/building permit
section"
No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign.
(a)(b) Exemptions. The following types of signs are exempt from permit requirements but
must otherwise be in conformance with all requirements of this subdivision:
(1) The maintenance of a sign or changing the copy like-for-like.
(1)(2) On-premises construction signs that comply with subsection 30-867(b).
(2)(3) On-premises signs, including but not limited to directional signs,
informational signs, private sale signs and nameplates, having a sign area of four
square feet or less.
(3)(4) Portable signs in the downtown district.
(4)(5) Political signs.
(5)(6) On-premises residential or commercial real estate signs that comply with
subsection 30-867(c).
(b)(c) Application. Application for a permit for the erection, structural alteration, or
relocation of a signs shall be made to the city administrator, or designee, upon a form
provided by the city and shall include the following information:
(1) The name and address of the owner of the sign.
(2) The street address or location of the property on which the sign is to be located,
along with the name and address of the property owner.
(3) The type of sign or sign structure as defined in this chapter.
(4) A site plan showing the proposed location of the sign along with the locations and
square footage areas of all existing signs on the same premises.
(5) Structural details as required.
(6) The building official, at their discretion, may require plans prepared by a structural
engineer to verify structural and wind load requirements.
(c)(d) Fee. All applications for permits filed with the city administrator, or designee, shall be
accompanied by a payment of the initial permit fee for each sign in such amount as
determined by city ordinance.
(d)(e) Issuance or denial. The city administrator, or designee, shall issue a permit for the
erection, alteration, change of copy or relocation of a signs within 30 days of receipt of the
completed application and applicable fees, provided that the sign complies with all applicable
laws and regulations of the city. In all applications, where a matter of interpretation arises,
the more specific definition or higher standard shall prevail. When a permit is denied by the
city administrator, or designee, written notice shall be provided to the applicant along with a
brief statement of the reasons for denial. The city administrator, or designee, may suspend or
revoke an issued permit for any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the
application.
(e)(f) Failure to obtain permit. If any sign is installed or placed on any property prior to
receipt of a permit, the specified permit fee shall be doubled. However, payment of the
doubled fee shall not relieve any person of any other requirement or penalties prescribed in
this ordinance.
Sec. 30-879. Residential districts.
(a) Temporary signs as permitted in section 30-851 et seq.
(b) Permanent signs.
(1) One wall sign, not to exceed four square feet in area.
(2) One freestanding sign not to exceed four square feet in area.
(3) Area identification signs as permitted in section 30-865.
(c) Changeable copy signs as permitted in section 30-864.
(d) For permitted nonresidential uses, such as churches, synagogues, and schools, in residentially
zoned areas, one on-premises freestanding sign and one wall sign, not to exceed 96 square
feet in total sign area. Where a zoning lot has in excess of 1,000 linear feet of combined
street frontage, the total sign area shall not exceed 192 square feet with no more than 96
square feet per sign. Freestanding signage shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
(1) For the purpose of this section, zoning lots shall include vacant commonly held parcels
across city streets.
(2) Signs authorized under this section must be removed upon sale of the parcel or when
the zoning lot is dedicated to another use.
(e) Any combination of on-premises freestanding and wall-mounted real estate signs for model
homes having a combined total sign area not to exceed 32 square feet. Freestanding signs for
model homes shall have a maximum height of five feet.
(f) Rural-based businesses shall be allowed up to four off-premises directional signs subject to
the following restrictions:
(1) Individual directional signs shall not exceed six square feet.
(2) Such signs shall be located on private property adjacent to an arterial road, provided that
the property owner's permission is obtained in writing.
(3) Such signs shall only contain the name of the rural-based business, and the direction and
distance to the facility.
(4) Except as otherwise provided, all freestanding signs in residential zones shall have a
maximum height of eight feet.
(5) Signing for straight-ahead movements shall not be allowed.
(g) Apartments shall be allowed one on-premises freestanding sign not to exceed 64 square feet
nor 20 feet in height, and one wall sign per projected elevation, not to exceed 32 square feet.