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City attorney: historic-district sign rules allow limited off‑premise signs; billboards may be grandfathered
Summary
City Attorney James Lemon told council his zone‑by‑zone analysis shows off‑premise signs are permitted if they meet Zone C size and mounting rules in the historic district; billboards predating a grandfathering date discussed in the memo may remain.
City Attorney James Lemon presented a detailed, zone‑by‑zone analysis of Hannibal's sign regulations after the council asked for clarification. Lemon said the historic district follows the allowances of Zones A, B and C and that off‑premise signs are permitted only if they meet Zone C size limits (discussed in session as a three‑foot dimension for certain signs) and mounting/location restrictions.
Lemon said A‑frame signs are handled under a separate temporary‑sign provision and are not treated identically to off‑premise signs. He noted previous council discussions about murals and whether certain building‑sized paintings constitute advertising; if a mural functions as an off‑premise advertisement it would violate the ordinance and be subject to removal.
On billboards, Lemon said there is a grandfathering cutoff linked to the historic district's creation; he discussed a date (recalled in the meeting as 1988) that would determine whether older billboards remain legal. He recommended that applicants and business owners first consult the historic district board (HDDC) and the board of adjustment before bringing exceptions to council.
