§ 9-1001. Findings, purpose and intent; interpretation.

A.

Signs obstruct views, distract motorists, displace alternative uses for land, and pose other problems that legitimately call for regulation. The purpose of this article is to regulate the size, color, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and condition of all signs placed on private property for exterior observation, thus ensuring the protection of property values, the character of neighborhoods, the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community, the protection against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas, to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of visual communication in the county, to maintain and enhance the county's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth, to improve pedestrian and traffic safety, and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions. This article allows for adequate communication through signage while encouraging aesthetic quality in the design, location, size and purpose of signs in the community. This article shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. If any provision of this article is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such finding shall not affect the validity of other provisions of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provision. These sign restrictions are adopted under the zoning authority of the county in furtherance of the more general purposes set forth in this ordinance.

B.

Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by special use permit under this article, by specific requirements in other portions of this chapter, or otherwise expressly allowed by the board of supervisors are forbidden.

C.

A sign placed on land or on a building for the purpose of identification, protection or directing persons to a use conducted therein shall be deemed to be an integral but accessory and subordinate part of the principal use of land or building. Therefore, the intent of this article is to establish limitations on signs in order to ensure they are appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant and are adequate for their intended purpose while balancing the individual and community interests identified in subsection A of this section.

D.

These regulations are intended to promote signs that are compatible with the use of the property to which they are appurtenant, landscape and architecture of surrounding buildings, are legible and appropriate to the activity to which they pertain, are not distracting to motorists, and are constructed and maintained in a structurally sound and attractive condition.

E.

These regulations distinguish between portions of the county designed for primarily vehicular access and portions of the county designed for primarily pedestrian access.

F.

These regulations do not regulate every form and instance of visual speech that may be displaced anywhere within the jurisdictional limits of the county. Rather, they are intended to regulate those forms and instances that are most likely to meaningfully affect one or more of the purposes set forth above.

G.

These regulations do not entirely eliminate all of the harms that may be created by the installation and display of signs. Rather, they strike an appropriate balance that preserves ample channels of communication by means of visual display while still reducing and mitigating the extent of the harms caused by signs.

H.

These regulations are not intended to and do not apply to signs erected, maintained or otherwise posted, owned or leased by federal, state or local government. The inclusion of "government" in describing some signs does not intend to subject the government to regulation, but instead helps illuminate the type of sign that falls within the immunities of the government from regulation. (3-14-18.)