ORDINANCE NO. 250876
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Sponsor: Director of City Planning and Development Department
Amending Chapter 88, the Zoning and Development Code, by repealing Subsection 88-445-06, Residential Signs, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section of like number and subject matter for the purposes of allowing digital signs for Institutional and Office Uses in residential districts and adopting new standards for such signs. (CD-CPC-2025-00128)
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That Chapter 88, Zoning and Development Code, is hereby amended by repealing Section 88-445-06, “Residential Signs,” and enacting in lieu thereof a new section of like number and subject matter, said section to read as follows:
88-445-06 - SIGNS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
88-445-06-A. RESIDENTIAL SIGNS
Only the following signs are allowed in residential zoning districts (including AG-R):
1. GENERAL RULES
a. LIGHTING.
Except where otherwise specified, signs in residential districts may be externally illuminated only, unless otherwise specified.
b. FLASHING, MOVING AND SIMILAR SIGNS
Flashing, moving, animated, wind-blown, or other signs that move or simulate movement are prohibited.
c. TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS
In addition to other signs permitted under this section, any lot or parcel containing more than 4 dwelling units, a permitted institutional use, or a permitted commercial use, may contain signs conforming with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and not containing any commercial message.
d. MESSAGES
Any sign allowed under this section may bear a noncommercial message. Limited commercial messages are allowed, in accordance with express provisions of this section, but such commercial messages may not advertise or direct attention to a business or commercial activity other than one lawfully conducted on the premises, as expressly allowed under this section.
e. SETBACK
Signs placed on a corner lot shall not extend forward of a diagonal line which intersects the front and side property lines of the lot at points 20 feet distant from the common intersection of the front and side property lines or, if the corner of the lot is platted on a radius, the extension of the front and side property lines to a point of common intersection. Signs placed on an interior lot shall be set back a minimum of 5 feet from the right-of-way line.
2. DETACHED HOUSE AND SEMI-ATTACHED HOUSE
A lot with a principal use of a detached house or semi-attached house may have:
a. For each entrance (excluding garage entrances) to a dwelling unit, one wall sign, not to exceed 80 square inches in area.
b. One interim sign bearing a noncommercial message or a message related to the sale, lease, rental, or construction of the home. Such sign may not exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
c. Additional interim signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height. A maximum of 16 square feet of sign area is allowed per lot.
d. During the period from 6 weeks prior to a public election to be held in Kansas City to 2 weeks after such election, each lot may display additional signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
3. MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS
A lot with a principal use of a multi-unit building may have:
a. WALL SIGNS
1. One wall sign per building not to exceed 12 square feet in area. The message on such sign may include a commercial message related to the sale, lease, or rental of units in the building or complex.
2. For each building entrance providing access to multiple dwelling units, an additional sign to identify the dwelling units in that building, not to exceed 4 square feet in area, provided that no message on such sign other than a word such as "directory" or similar identifying word may be legible from a location on the public right-of-way or on private property other than that which is part of the same complex.
3. For each entrance (excluding garage entrances) to an individual dwelling unit, one wall sign, not to exceed 80 square inches in area.
4. For any multi-unit residential building containing one or more offices, as permitted under the zoning for the district, one additional wall sign is permitted, which sign may not exceed 16 square feet in area. The wall sign may bear a commercial message related to activities lawfully conducted on the premises or a noncommercial message.
b. INCIDENTAL SIGNS
One additional sign per driveway is permitted, which sign may not exceed 36 inches in height and 2 square feet in area. Such sign may not contain a commercial message.
c. INTERIM SIGNS
(1) One interim sign bearing a noncommercial message or a message related to the sale, lease, rental, or construction of the units. Such sign may not exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
(2) Additional interim signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height. A maximum of 16 square feet of sign area is allowed per lot.
(3) During the period from 6 weeks prior to a public election to be held in Kansas City to 2 weeks after such election, each lot may display additional signs displaying noncommercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
4. INSTITUTIONAL AND OFFICE USES
A lot with an institutional use as its principal use, such as a church, school, police or fire station, community center, public park, an office building, or other permitted principal uses not described herein, may have:
(a) MONUMENT SIGNS
One monument sign per street frontage which may not exceed 32 square feet in area or 6 feet in height. One sign per lot may include changeable copy, but the changeable copy feature must use direct human intervention for changes and may not include any form of digital or electronic display. Such sign may be internally or externally illuminated.
(b) WALL SIGNS
One wall sign per public entrance, which may not exceed 20 square feet in area. Such sign may not include any form of digital or electronic display. Such sign may be internally or externally illuminated.
(c) INCIDENTAL SIGNS
1. One sign per driveway is permitted, which may not exceed 42 inches in height and 6 square feet in area.
2. Incidental signs must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from all property lines.
3. Such sign may not contain a commercial message but may include the logo of the institutional use.
(d) INTERIM SIGNS
1. One interim sign bearing a noncommercial message or a message related to the sale, lease, rental, or construction of the property. Such sign may not exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
2. Additional interim signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height. A maximum of 16 square feet of sign area is allowed per lot.
3. During the period from 6 weeks prior to a public election to be held in Kansas City to 2 weeks after such election, each lot may display additional signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
(e) DIGITAL SIGNS
The Board of Zoning Adjustment may grant a special use permit to allow a principal use which is located on a lot that is at least six (6) acres in size, or located on a lot that is at least three (3) acres in size and is adjacent to a major arterial street, to install a digital sign face on one otherwise allowable monument sign, subject to the approval criteria in 88-525-09 and subject to the following additional requirements:
1. The sign must be located at least 100 feet from any other residentially zoned and occupied property.
2. The sign must not be located within 150 feet of a public park or a parkway or boulevard.
3. The sign must not be located on a lot that is within a designated historic district or on a lot where there exists a designated historic landmark.
4. The message or image may not change more than once every hour.
5. Changes of image must be instantaneous as seen by the human eye and may not use facing, rolling, window shading, dissolving, or similar visual effects as part of the change.
6. Digital signs must use automatic level controls to reduce lights levels at night and under cloudy and other darkened conditions. All digital signs must have installed ambient light monitors and must at all times allow such monitors to automatically adjust the brightness level of the electronic sign based on ambient light conditions. Maximum brightness levels for electronic and digital signs may not exceed 5000 nits when measured from the sign’s face at its maximum brightness, during daylight hours, and 500 nits when measured from the signs face at its maximum brightness between sunset and sunrise, as those times are determined by the National Weather Service.
7. The sign may not be illuminated between the hours or 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
8. The background color of the sign may not be white.
9. The digital display must be turned off if the display is not properly functioning.
10. Neither the proposed message to be displayed nor the character of the use on the property may be a factor in the BZA’s decision.
5. HOSPITAL SIGNS
A signage plan portraying signs necessary for the proper identification of the facilities within a hospital may be approved by special use permit. Such signs shall be on-premises signs and limited to proper identification of the facilities. Such signs may be internally or externally illuminated.
6. RESIDENTIAL ENTRANCE SIGNS
One monument sign is allowed at each street entrance, identifying the name of the residential neighborhood or multi-unit complex or building. The area of the sign face shall not exceed 32 square feet in area or 6 feet in height; however, the monument structure on which the sign is located may be approved for up to 25 feet in height through the project plan process.
7. INTERIM SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT SIGNS
As an interim use accessory to the permitted activity of lawful subdivision development in a development which will contain at least 20 dwelling units, interim identification signs are permitted, provided that such signs may not exceed 100 square feet in sign area nor more than 15 feet in height; if there is more than one such sign, such signs must be at least 1,000 feet apart. Each such sign may remain in place until 90 percent of the lots in the sector are sold, but no longer than 18 months from the date of erection. All such signs must be located at least 15 feet from the pavement edge or edge of the street or thoroughfare to which it is directed, but not within the sight triangle. All such signs must be within the development or within 2000 feet of the development. These signs may not be illuminated.
8. GROUP HOMES
A lot with a principal use of a group home may have:
(a) For each entrance (excluding garage entrances) one wall sign, not to exceed 80 square inches in area.
(b) One interim sign bearing a noncommercial message or a message related to the sale, lease, rental, or construction of the home. Such sign may not exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
(c) Additional interim signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height. A total of 16 square feet of sign area is allowed per lot.
(d) During the period from six weeks prior to a public election to be held in the city to two weeks after such election, each lot may display additional signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
9. OTHER PRINCIPAL USES AND VACANT LOTS
A lot with a principal use not described in this section, or a vacant lot may have:
(a) One interim sign bearing a noncommercial message or a message related to the sale, lease, rental, or construction of the property. Such sign may not exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
(b) Additional interim signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height. A total of 16 square feet of sign area is allowed per lot.
(c) During the period from six weeks prior to a public election to be held in the city to two weeks after such election, each lot may display additional signs not bearing commercial messages. No such sign may exceed 8 square feet in area or 4 feet in height.
10. AUXILIARY PARKING
Signs to identify parking areas allowed by special use permit shall be approved in conjunction with such special use permit, although no sign may exceed 12 square feet in area or 6 feet in height. Such signs may show only the hours in which the parking lot is open and the persons authorized to use the parking area.
Section 2. That the Council finds and declares that before taking any action on the proposed amendment hereinabove, all public notices and hearings required by law have been given and had.
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I hereby certify that as required by Chapter 88, Code of Ordinances, the forgoing ordinance was duly advertised and public hearings were held.
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Sara Copeland, FAICP
Secretary, City Plan Commission
Approved as to form:
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Sarah Baxter
Senior Associate City Attorney