§ 196-9. Temporary signs.

A. 

A sign permit is required for temporary signs. All temporary signs must be installed with permission of property owners and must be removed within the time specified by the Land Use Director or Historic Districts Commission when the permit is issued. Temporary signs are not to be attached to a utility pole, traffic signs, fences, trees or other vegetation.

B. 

Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.

C. 

Temporary signs shall be located on the property of the business or use they serve, except real estate signs, signs on Town of Groton Commons and Main Street banners, and shall be limited in size to eight square feet per side.

D. 

Temporary signs shall not be located on Town-owned property without written permission from the Town Manager or his designee and, if deemed necessary by the Town Manager, from the Select Board and DPW Director.

[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM by Art. 14]

E. 

Signs to identify a new business or use, which comply with the requirements for permanent signs, shall be allowed for up to one year while a new business is being established.

F. 

A sign permit is required for temporary signs in all cases except for the following. Such temporary signs must be removed within the time specified.

(1) 

Political signs with the permission of the property owner.

(2) 

Yard sale signs being displayed no more than two days prior to the event and removed within 12 hours following the sale. Yard sale signs shall not be installed on Town-owned or publicly owned lands, including commons, parks and open space.

(3) 

Contractor or vendor signs (up to six square feet in total area) being displayed while the specific contractor or vendor is actively at work, or for no more than 48 hours following final building permit inspection, completion or suspension of such work.

(4) 

Business event signs, such as advertising an intermittent "sale," agricultural or unique product, when such signs are in compliance with temporary sign regulations and are attached to or part of an approved sign framework.

(5) 

Freestanding special event signs for institutional, religious or not-for-profit organizations, which comply with temporary sign regulations, are not displayed for more than five days prior to the event, and are removed within one day following the event. No more than one such temporary sign shall be displayed on the same property.

(6) 

Special event signs for institutional, religious or not-for-profit events, attached to a building or site structure, which are displayed only on the day of the special event.

(7) 

"Grand Opening," "Open House" or celebratory signs, such as to welcome a returning soldier, up to 25 square feet, which are displayed for not more than 10 days.

(8) 

A single small sign posted in a window, which is less than 1.5 square feet in size, not illuminated, displayed for not more than two weeks, and not displayed in conjunction with any other temporary sign posted in a window at the same address.

(9) 

Signs pertaining to the lease or sale of a lot or building, provided that such signs do not exceed a total area of six square feet, until such time as all lots, apartments or buildings have been rented or sold.