OR 2017-1457 Temporary SignsAN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 2017-1457
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS,
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 6
"BUSINESS REGULATIONS", ARTICLE 6-15 "TEMPORARY SIGNS",
SECTION 6-15-2 "DEFINITIONS"; PROVIDING FOR A NEW DEFINITION
FOR `PUBLIC PROPERTY'; BY AMENDING CHAPTER 6 "BUSINESS
REGULATIONS", ARTICLE 6-15 "TEMPORARY SIGNS", SECTION 6-15-
3 "NONCONFORMING SIGNS" TO "SIGNS" AND BY AMENDING
SUBSECTION (A); BY AMENDING SECTION 6-15-4 "PERMIT
PROCEDURES AND FEES", BY ADDING SUBSECTION 4; BY ADDING
TWO NEW SECTIONS 6-15-7 "POLITICAL SIGNS" AND 6-15-8 `SIGN
ZONES" TO ARTICLE 6-15 "TEMPORARY SIGNS"; PROVIDING A
SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO
EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00) FOR
EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell Code of Ordinances provides regulations and standards for
the erection and maintenance of temporary private signs;
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell desires to add the definition of `Public Property' to the Code
of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the City of Coppell finds that the signs regulations should be updated and further
defined so as to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 6, Business Regulations, Article 6-15, Temporary Signs,
Section 6-15-2 Definitions of the Coppell Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended to add a
definition of "Public Property", which shall herein read as follows:
"CHAPTER 6 - BUSINESS REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6-15. TEMPORARY SIGNS
Sec. 6-15-2- Definitions.
Public Property means any property owned or under the control of the City of
Coppell Texas, including but not limited, Town Center, Town Center Annex, all
public parks, City Service Center, Municipal Court and Police Complex, Fire
City of Coppell Ordinance Pg 1 TM 81100
Stations, performing arts center, old Town Square and any other right-of-way,
easement or licensed premises.
SECTION 2. That Chapter 6, Business Regulations, Article 6-15, Temporary Signs,
Section 6-15-3 Nonconforming Signs of the Coppell Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended,
which shall herein read as follows:
"CHAPTER 6 — BUSINESS REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6-15. TEMPORARY SIGNS
Sec. 6-15-3. Signs
It is declared purpose of this section that in time all temporary signs shall
either conform to the provisions of this section or be removed. By the passage of
this ordinance and its amendments, no presently illegal sign shall be deemed to
have legalized unless such sign complies with all current standards under the terms
of this article and all other ordinances of the city. Any sign which does not conform
to all provisions of this article shall be a prohibited sign.
(A) No person may place, erect, or otherwise maintain any sign, as
defined herein, either prior to or after the adoption of this ordinance,
except as permitted in this article or under the Chapter 12, and, on
any private property such sign in violation of this article, same shall
be construed as a public nuisance and the city may, without notice,
remove and destroy any such sign, except as provided herein.
(B) Public Property: no person may cause, permit, suffer or allow any
sign, as defined herein, except as permitted in this article on any
public property and, such signs shall be constructed.
SECTION 3. That Chapter 6, Business Regulations, Article 6-15, Temporary Signs,
Section 6-15-4. Permit procedures and fees of the Coppell Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended,
which shall herein read as follows:
"CHAPTER 6 — BUSINESS REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6-15. TEMPORARY SIGNS
Sec. 6-15-4. Permit procedures and fees.
City of Coppell Ordinance Pg 2 TM 81100
Permits: No person shall erect, construct, relocate, alter, or repair any on
premise or off -premise on any property except as authorized or permitted
under this Article. All signs permitted under this article shall not be placed,
erected or maintained unless a permit is issued in accordance with this
chapter, except as otherwise provided in this section. This section does not
apply to government signs.
4. Any permanent sign placed, erected or maintained are exempt from this
Article.
SECTION 4. That Chapter 6, Business Regulations, Article 6-15, Temporary Signs,
Section 6-15-7. Provisions for temporary off -premises signs of the Coppell Code of Ordinances,
is hereby added, which shall herein read as follows:
"CHAPTER 6 — BUSINESS REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6-15. TEMPORARY SIGNS
Sec. 6-15-7. Political Signs and Polling Places
1. Political signs:
(A) Political signs on private property are exempt from the provisions of this
article if it:
i. Does not have an effective area greater than 36 square feet;
ii. Is eight feet or less in height;
iii. Is not illuminated; or
iv. Does not have any moving elements.
(B) Real estate signs: Real estate agents or homeowners may erect on private
or public right-of-way, as measured and configured in accordance with
Figure 1 * hereof, temporary off -premises signs which are only directional
and only refer to open houses within the city. Signs may contain only a
directional arrow and the words "OPEN HOUSE". Such signs shall be
erected only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. Thursday and 10:00 p.m.
Sunday. Signs shall not exceed two square feet in effective area or 36
inches in height, as measured from grade. Signs may be placed within the
public right-of-way provided that they do not project out over the street or
sidewalk. Signs must be placed within a sign zone described by section 6-
15-8, Sign Zone, of this article, if such a sign zone is available at the
location. No sign shall be allowed within any street median or attached to
any tree, public utility pole, street sign, traffic control sign or devise or
other sign. No permit or fee is required.
City of Coppell Ordinance Pg 3 TM 81100
2. Electioneering at polling locations.
(A) Definitions. The following words and phrases as used in this article shall
have the meanings as set forth in this section:
Electioneering shall mean the posting, use, or distribution ofpolitical signs
or literature, including the use of tents, chairs, booths, tables or other
furniture or devices to post, use or distribute political signs or literature.
Voting period shall mean the period each day beginning the hour the polls
are open for voting and ending when the polls close or the last voter has
voted, whichever is later on Election Day and early voting days.
i. Regulations and exceptions.
a. The following regulations apply to electioneering on
the premises of public property during the voting
period:
1. It is an offense for any person to engage in
electioneering on driveways of the premises of a
polling location. This restriction shall not apply to
electioneering signs that are attached to vehicles
that are lawfully parked at the premises of a polling
location.
2. It is an offense for any person to attach, place or
otherwise affix any electioneering sign, literature
or material to any building, tree, shrub, pole or
other improvement on public property used as a
polling location.
3. It is an offense for any person to place any
electioneering sign or literature within 25 feet of
the public road way adjacent to the public property
where a polling location is located.
4. It is an offense for any person to place an
electioneering sign on the premises that exceeds 36
square feet and is more than eight feet in height,
including any supporting poles.
5. In addition to imposing any criminal penalty,
electioneering sign(s) located in violation of this
section may be removed and disposed of by the
entity in control of the public property.
6. The authority to conduct electioneering on public
property under this article is limited to the property
on the premises where the voting is conducted only
for the voting period.
City of Coppell Ordinance Pg 4 TM 81100
SECTION 5. That Chapter 6, Business Regulations, Article 6-15, Temporary Signs,
Section 6-15-8. Sign zones of the Coppell Code of Ordinances, is hereby added, which shall herein
read as follows:
"CHAPTER 6 — BUSINESS REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6-15. TEMPORARY SIGNS
Sec. 6-15-8. Sign zones
(A) Now hiring signs: Businesses may erect one temporary off -premises sign
which lists the business name and "Now Hiring" in black lettering on a white
background. Such signs shall:
i. Be located along the nearest thoroughfare as indicated on
the most recently approved City of Coppell Major
Thoroughfare Plan.
ii. Not exceed 18 -inches x 24 -inches in total sign panel area.
(B) Illegal signs: All signs not authorized by this article shall be removed by
the city manager or designee, and shall impose a fee established by
resolution of the city council, for such removal.
SECTION 6. That all provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell, Texas,
in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other
provisions not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 7. That should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or phrase of this ordinance
or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be held to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid,
the same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole, or any part or provision thereof
other than the part so decided to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, and shall not affect the validity
of the Code of Ordinances as a whole.
SECTION 8. An offense committed before the effective date of this ordinance is governed
by prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, in effect when the offense
was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose.
City of Coppell Ordinance Pg 5 TM 81100
SECTION 8. An offense committed before the effective date of this ordinance is governed
by prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, in effect when the offense
was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose.
SECTION 9. That any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions or terms
of this ordinance or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of Coppell, Texas, shall be subjected to a fine
not to exceed the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each offense; and each and every day
such violation is continued shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 10. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its passage
and the publication of the caption, as the law and charter in such cases provide.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this the 161""' day of
2011.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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CITY uR
A;ffEST:
RISTEL PETT OS, CITY S RETARY
City of Coppell Ordinance Pg 6 TM 81100