Rules for Signs That Need a Permit

Temporary Signs.Project Sign. Any sign which contains, among other things, the names of architects, engineers, contractors, financiers or developers involved in the construction, structural alteration or repair of a structure. A project sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and only one (1) such sign shall be allowed per street frontage upon which the structure is located. Such sign may be posted upon the commencement of the work and shall be removed within fifteen (15) days after issuance of certificate of occupancy.Subdivision Construction Sign. Any sign which contains information regarding the subdivision and improvement of real property. A subdivision sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet, and only one (1) such sign shall be allowed for each mile or fraction thereof of subdivision real property which fronts a street or highway. Any subdivision sign shall not be erected prior to the date that all appropriate County agencies have approved commencement of construction of the subdivision, nor remain erected for a period longer than one (1) year from the date of such approval; provided that the Planning Director, after the passage of such one (1) year period, may extend for up to one (1) year, at any one time, the period during which the sign can remain erected; and provided, further, that the sign must be removed upon the selling and recording of ninety percent (90%) of the available lots in the subdivision, or upon the completion of the subdivision site improvements, whichever is later.Banner. Any banner advertising a special event or promotion may be displayed not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the event or promotion, and shall be removed within one (1) working day after the event or promotion, provided however, no banner shall be displayed for more than a total of thirty (30) consecutive days. No banner shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.Permanent Signs. Only signs of each type as are prescribed in this Section, and which conform with the provisions of this Article, shall be permitted to be erected or maintained upon any building, lot or parcel of land located in the following zoned districts, as defined by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of the County of Kaua'i:Open, Agriculture or Residential R-1 through R-6.One (1) wall or ground sign, unlighted or indirectly lighted, made of wood or nonreflective metals, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area, containing matters related to a business conducted on the premises. The top of the ground sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground.Subdivision Identification Sign. One (1) unlighted sign of not more than twenty-four (24) square feet in area, or two (2) unlighted signs, each not to exceed twelve (12) square feet, located at each entrance to a subdivision or tract, containing only the subdivision or tract name. The top of the sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground.Directional Sign. One (1) directional sign, not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area and the top of which shall not be higher than four (4) feet from the ground, if the entity to which the sign pertains is not readily visible from a public roadway. The sign must be located on the same parcel of property of which the entity is a part, to include a private access road which is utilized for purposes associated with the entity and is either an integral part of the property upon which the entity is located or an exclusive easement serving such property.Residential R-10 through R-20 and Resort.Marquee or Wall Sign. One (1) wall or marquee sign per building wall which faces a street, unlighted or indirectly lighted, not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet in area, containing only the name and/or nature of the business. The bottom of any marquee sign shall be at least seven and one-half (7-1/2) feet above the ground or any walking area beneath the sign.Ground Sign. One (1) ground sign, unlighted or indirectly lighted, not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet in area, not more than eight (8) feet in height from the ground to the top of the sign, identifying a business conducted on the premises.Directional Sign. One (1) directional sign, not to exceed fifteen (15) square feet in area and the top of which shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground, if the entity to which the sign pertains is not readily visible from a public roadway. The sign must be located on the same parcel of property of which the entity is a part, to include a private access road which is utilized for purposes associated with the entity and is either an integral part of the property upon which the entity is located or an exclusive easement serving such property.Subdivision Identification Sign. One (1) unlighted sign of not more than twenty-four (24) square feet in area, or two (2) unlighted signs, each not to exceed twelve (12) square feet, located at each entrance to a subdivision or tract, containing only the subdivision or tract name. The top of the sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground.Commercial.Any shopping center or office building complex that is identifiable by a single name shall be permitted only one (1) ground, marquee or wall sign, along each street front of the premises, which identifies the shopping center or office building complex. Each sign shall be unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, and shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area. The top of any ground sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground and shall be set back a minimum of eight (8) feet from the property line. As an alternative to identifying the shopping center or office building complex, each sign may list the businesses conducted in the shopping center or office building complex, but shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area.Any individual business within a shopping center or office building complex:Only one (1) of the following types of signs shall be permitted along each building wall of the business which is exposed to public view, which merely identifies the business:Marquee Sign. One (1) sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding nine (9) square feet in area, attached to the underside of a marquee, provided that the lowest part of the sign shall be at least seven and one-half (7-1/2) feet above the surface of the ground; or one (1) marquee fascia sign not to exceed three (3) feet in height and nine (9) square feet in area for individual businesses conducted in a building.Projecting Sign. One (1) sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding nine (9) square feet in area.Wall Sign for Walls One Thousand Six Hundred (1,600) Square Feet or Less. One (1) wall sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding forty-eight (48) square feet in area or twenty percent (20%) of the area of the wall on which the sign shall be displayed, whichever is less.Wall Sign for Walls Greater than One Thousand Six Hundred (1,600) Square Feet. One (1) wall sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding three percent (3%) of the area of the wall on which the sign shall be displayed.Any business not part of a shopping center or office building complex shall be permitted only two (2) signs of the following types on each street frontage of the business:Any type of sign permissible under Paragraph (b)(3)(B)(i) of this Section, i.e., a marquee, projecting or wall sign; andA ground sign that is unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding twentyfour (24) square feet in area nor eight (8) feet in height from the ground to the top of the sign, relating to the business conducted on the premises; andOnly one (1) of the following types of signs shall be permitted if the conditions allowing these types of signs are met:Directional Sign. One (1) unlighted directional sign, not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area and the top of which shall not be higher than four (4) feet from the ground, if the entity to which the sign pertains is not readily visible from a public roadway. The sign must be located on the same parcel of property of which the entity is a part, to include a private access road which is utilized for purposes associated with the entity and is either an integral part of the property upon which the entity is located or an exclusive easement serving such property.Gasoline Service Stations. A gasoline service station may have the following types of signs:One (1) ground sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, as provided by an oil company, not exceeding sixteen (16) feet in height nor thirty-six (36) square feet in area;One (1) "lighter box" sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, as provided by an oil company, not exceeding sixteen (16) feet in height nor thirty-six (36) square feet in area and containing only the company logo.Theaters. Two (2) marquee fascia signs, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, each not exceeding one hundred (100) square feet, which identifies an act, attraction or motion picture being or to be shown at the theater.Subdivision Identification Sign. One (1) unlighted sign of not more than twenty-four (24) square feet in area, or two (2) unlighted signs, each not to exceed twelve (12) square feet, located at each entrance to a subdivision or tract, containing only the subdivision or tract name. The top of the sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground.Industrial.Any shopping center or office building complex that is identifiable by a single name shall be permitted only one (1) ground, marquee or wall sign, along each street front of the premises, which identifies the shopping center or office building complex. Each sign shall be unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, and shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area. The top of any ground sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground and shall be set back a minimum of eight (8) feet from the property line. As an alternative to identifying the shopping center or office building complex, each sign may list the businesses conducted in the shopping center or office building complex, but shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area.Any individual business within a shopping center or office building complex:Only one (1) of the following types of signs shall be permitted along each building wall of the business which is exposed to public view, which merely identifies the business:Marquee Sign. One (1) sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding nine (9) square feet in area, attached to the underside of a marquee, provided that the lowest part of the sign shall be at least seven and one-half (7-1/2) feet above the surface of the ground; one (1) marquee fascia sign not to exceed three (3) feet in height and nine (9) square feet in area for individual businesses conducted in a building.Projecting Sign. One (1) sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding nine (9) square feet in area.Wall Sign. One (1) wall sign per building wall which faces a street, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet for each business located therein.Any business not part of a shopping center or office building complex shall be permitted only two (2) signs of the following types on each street frontage of the business:Any type of sign permissible under Paragraph (b)(3)(B)(i) of this Section, i.e. a marquee, projecting or wall sign; andA ground sign that is unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, not exceeding twentyfour (24) square feet in area nor eight (8) feet in height from the ground to the top of the sign, relating to the business conducted on the premises; andOnly one (1) of the following types of signs shall be permitted if the conditions allowing these types of signs are met:Directional Sign. One (1) unlighted directional sign, not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area and the top of which shall not be higher than four (4) feet from the ground, if the entity to which the sign pertains is not readily visible from a public roadway. The sign must be located on the same parcel of property of which the entity is a part, to include a private access road which is utilized for purposes associated with the entity and is either an integral part of the property upon which the entity is located or an exclusive easement serving such property.Gasoline Service Stations. A gasoline service station may have the following types of signs:One (1) ground sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, as provided by an oil company, not exceeding sixteen (16) feet in height nor thirty-six (36) square feet in area;One (1) "lighter box" sign, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, as provided by an oil company, not exceeding sixteen (16) feet in height nor thirty-six (36) square feet in area and containing only the company logo.Theaters. Two (2) marquee fascia signs, unlighted, or indirectly or directly lighted, each not exceeding one hundred (100) square feet, which identifies an act, attraction or motion picture being or to be shown at the theater.Subdivision Identification Sign. One (1) unlighted sign of not more than twenty-four (24) square feet in area, or two (2) unlighted signs, each not to exceed twelve (12) square feet, located at each entrance to a subdivision or tract, containing only the subdivision or tract name. The top of the sign shall not be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground.