Zoning Ordinance

c. One (1) sign not more than twelve (12) square feet in area giving the names of the contractors, engineers, or architect, during construction of a building;

d. Signs established by; or by order of, any governmental agency;

e. For special events of public interest, one (1) sign not over thirty-two (32) square feet in area located upon the site of the event.

17. Property located within 2,500 feet of the right-of-way of the I-75 Interchanges (Exit

49 and Exit 52), which are located within the II-1 Interstate Interchange Overlay District shall be permitted one (1) Interstate/Interchange monopole sign, which shall be governed by the district provisions of section 3.04.13 of this ordinance.

18. All Digital and/or Electronic Billboards, herein referred to as Digital Billboards, within the City of Athens shall be in compliance with the State of Tennessee Billboard Regulation and Control Act of 1972 as amended (TCA Section 54-21-

122) and the following:

(a) The message display shall remain static and fixed for a minimum of eight (8) seconds with a maximum transition time of one (1) second to the next message. Transitions shall not be scrolling, but shall be instantaneous.

(b) Video, continuous scrolling messages, and animation are prohibited.

(c) The minimum spacing of the Digital Billboards is 2,000 feet between Digital Billboards measured billboard to billboard on the same side of the street.

(d) No person shall erect, operate, use, or maintain a Digital Billboard without first obtaining a sign permit with the City of Athens.

(e) Digital Billboards must be single-faced with one display area.

(f) Digital Billboards must be located at least 300 feet from any residentially zoned property measured from the closest point of any structural element of the billboard to the residential property line.

(g) Displays on Digital Billboards are prohibited where they have varying light illumination and/or intensity, blinking, bursting, distorting, fading, flashing, oscillating, rotating, scrolling, sequencing, shimmering, sparkling, traveling, tracing, twinkling or simulated movement or convey the illusion of movement other than the change of the entire copy of the sign message at one time.

(h) No smoke, steam, or noise shall emanate from the Digital Billboard.

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