No sign shall be erected, altered, reconstructed or moved in the city without first securing a permit from the city. The content of the sign shall not be reviewed or considered in determining whether to approve or deny a sign permit.
(A) Permanent signs. To apply for a permanent sign permit, a complete application shall be submitted to the city containing the following:
(1) Names and addresses of the applicant, owners of the sign and lot;
(2) The address at which the sign(s) are to be erected and the street on which they are to front;
(3) A complete set of scaled plans showing the sign dimensions, area, height, ground elevations, applicable setbacks and other details to fully and clearly represent the safe construction and placement of the proposed sign(s);
(4) Type of sign(s) being requested (i.e., wall sign, pylon sign and the like);
(5) The permit fee; and
(6) A permit from either MnDOT or the county if the proposed sign is along a state highway or county road (only if applicable).
(B) Temporary signs. To apply for a permit to allow a temporary sign, a complete application shall be submitted to the city containing the following:
(1) Names and addresses of the applicant, owners of the sign and lot;
(2) The address at which the sign(s) is to be erected;
(3) A generalized plan set showing the sign dimensions and height and a notation of the materials to be used;
(4) A generalized site plan which clearly represents the placement of the proposed sign(s) on the applicable property;
(5) The proposed time frame(s) over which the sign(s) will be posted; and
(6) A permit from either MnDOT or the county if the proposed sign is along a state highway or county road (only if applicable).
(C) Temporary sign renewal. A previously approved temporary sign permit issued by the city may be renewed provided the sign design, size, location or other previously approved details are not proposed to significantly change. A temporary sign permit renewal application shall include the following:
(1) Names and addresses of the applicant, owners of the sign and lot;
(2) The address at which the sign(s) is to be erected;
(3) The date of issuance of the original permit which is being renewed; and
(4) The proposed time frame(s) over which the sign(s) will be posted.
(D) Review.
(1) The city shall approve or deny complete sign permit applications upon receipt of a complete application.
(2) If the permit is denied, the city will send a written notice of denial to the applicant.
(3) The written notice will indicate the reason(s) for denial and a description of the applicant’s appeal rights.
(E) Exemptions. The following signs shall not require a permit. However, these exemptions shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance regulating signs:
(1) The changing of the display surface on a previously approved sign;
(2) Signs six square feet or less in size, per surface if double sided;
(3) Window signage that does not cover more than one-third of the total area of the window in which the sign is displayed; and
(4) Governmental signs.
(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008; Ord. 354, passed 11-1-2010)