2830

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

grandfathering in non-conforming signs; setting

forth prohibited signs and relating to special

signs, billboards and illumination and further

providing for permits and fees, structural

requirements, inspections and removal of unsafe,

also including administration, penalties,

definitions, variances and severability clause,

and to permit owners of all existing signs to

conform to the regulations in effect at the time

of the adoption of this act.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY     COUNCIL

OF HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND, That Sections     3.600,

3.601, 3.602, 3.603, 3.604, 3.605, 3.606,     3.607,

3.608, 3.609, 3.610, 3.611, 3.612, 3.613,     3.614,
3.615, be and are hereby added to Title 3 "Building,"

subtitle "Signs" of the Howard County Code, to   read as
follows:

3.600 - PURPOSE AND SCOPE

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT IS TO REGULATE ALL
EXTERIOR SIGNS AND INTERIOR WINDOW SIGNS PLACED FOR
EXTERIOR OBSERVANCE SO AS TO PROTECT PROPERTY VALUES,
TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN
THE COUNTY, TO PROTECT HEALTH, SAFETY AND MORALS, AND
TO PROMOTE THE PUBLIC WELFARE.

THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES ARE THE RESTRICTION OF
ADVERTISING TO THE BUSINESS OR USE OF THE PREMISES ON
WHICH THE SIGN IS LOCATED AND THE RESTRICTION OF THE
TOTAL SIGN AREA PERMISSIBLE PER SITE. ANY SIGN PLACED
ON LAND OR ON A BUILDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF
IDENTIFICATION OR FOR ADVERTISING A USE CONDUCTED
THEREON OR THEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED ACCESSORY AND
INCIDENTAL TO SUCH LAND, BUILDING OR USE. IT IS
INTENDED THAT THE DISPLAY OF SIGNS WILL BE APPROPRIATE
TO THE LAND, BUILDING OR USE TO WHICH THEY ARE
APPURTENANT AND BE ADEQUATE, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE, FOR
THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF IDENTIFICATION OR
ADVERTISEMENT. WITH RESPECT TO SIGNS ADVERTISING
BUSINESS USES, IT IS SPECIFICALLY INTENDED, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, TO AVOID EXCESSIVE CLUTTER AMONG SIGN
DISPLAYS IN THEIR DEMAND FOR PUBLIC ATTENTION.

IT IS ALSO INTENDED BY THIS SECTION THAT ALL
TEMPORARY SIGNS ERECTED FOR DIRECTIONAL PURPOSES, FOR
PUBLIC INFORMATION, OR TO CALL ATTENTION TO SPECIAL