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All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
(a) The property owner shall maintain the sign in a condition fit for the intended use, and has a continuing obligation to comply with all building code requirements.
(b) Every sign or other advertising structure hereafter erected shall have permanently displayed in a conspicuous place thereon, in letters not less than one-half inch in height, the date of erection, the name address and telephone number of a firm or person responsible for erecting the sign, the permit number, the primary voltage and the volt amperage of any electrical apparatus used in connection therewith. Every illuminated sign, which is internally illuminated must bear an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., approval label. Any other illuminated sign must contain Underwriters approved parts.
(c) Whenever any sign, either conforming or nonconforming to these regulations, is required to be removed for the purpose of repair, relettering or repainting, the same may be done without a permit or any payment of fees, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) There is no alteration or remodeling to the structure or the mounting of the sign itself.
(2) There is no enlargement or increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its structure.
(3) The sign is accessory to a legally permitted, conditional or nonconforming use.
(d) In the event a sign is or becomes unsafe or is in danger of falling, the owner shall, upon written notice from the Zoning Enforcement Officer, proceed at once to put such sign in a safe and secure condition or remove the sign. If the correction has not been made within 30 days, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may remove or cause such unsafe sign to be removed, repaired or maintained at the expense of the property owner or lessee, sign owner or sign lessee.
(e) In cases of emergency, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may cause the immediate removal of a dangerous or defective sign, at the expense of the owner or lessee, without notice. Signs removed in this manner must present a hazard to the public safety as defined in the Ohio Building Code or the City Traffic Code.
(f) Any abandoned sign or sign no longer serving its intended purpose shall be removed within 30 days. Unauthorized signs shall be removed within 30 days.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
A sign existing lawfully at the time this chapter is adopted, but which does not conform with the sign regulations of the district in which it is located, may be repaired and maintained in its original state, and structural or electrical parts may be repaired or restored to a safe condition in compliance with the National Electric Code.
(a) Nonconforming signs shall be removed and any subsequent modification or replacement, excluding maintenance pursuant to Section 1290.14, shall conform to all requirements of this chapter:
(1) When the Zoning Enforcement Officer determines that more than 50% of the market value of the sign as determined according to Section 1282.12 has been destroyed or has been taken down.
(2) When the use which the nonconforming sign is accessory to is vacant for 90 consecutive days; and
(3) Following five years from the date of the amendment to this chapter which made the sign nonconforming.
(b) A nonconforming sign may not be altered, modified or reconstructed other than to comply with this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding division (b) above, a nonconforming sign may be altered:
(1) When either the existing use has new ownership which results in a change in the name of the use or business on the property; or the space is reoccupied by a similar use, and the new occupant requires no external building or site renovation; and
(2) The alterations do not require changes to the structure, framing or erection or relocation of the sign.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
(a) Signs Requiring a Permit. A permit shall be required for all permanent signs exceeding one square foot and all temporary signs exceeding five square feet of sign area, except as stated in division (c) below.
(1) The Zoning Enforcement Officer and Planning Coordinator shall review and act on sign applications for all signs pursuant to criteria set forth in this Chapter 1290.
(2) Signs advertising upcoming community events shall be permitted upon written request and approval of the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Planning Coordinator. One on-site sign of 32 square feet shall be permitted. Off-site signs shall not exceed 6 square feet each. Signs shall not be located on trees, utility poles or in the right-of-way. No sign specified herein shall be displayed for a period exceeding 30 days from the date of the Mayor's approval.
(b) Sign Permit. A sign permit shall be valid for a 12-month period, during which time the sign shall be erected. The permit may be extended by the Zoning Enforcement Officer an additional 12 months for good cause shown.
(c) Signs Not Requiring Permit. The erection of the following signs shall not require a permit, provided that all applicable regulations of this chapter are complied with:
(1) Temporary signs for single-family and two-family dwellings.
(2) Nameplates.
(3) Temporary window signs.
(4) A traffic or other Municipal sign, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs and such temporary emergency or non-advertising signs as may be approved by Council are exempt from these requirements.
(d) Master Sign Plan. For multi-tenant buildings and development projects with multiple buildings in Business, Office, and Industrial Districts, the Planning Commission may approve basic sign parameters that set forth the location, size and style of each tenant sign. Such sign parameters may be established when the Planning Commission reviews development plans for new buildings or at the time that a specific sign application is made for an identification sign for an existing building. Whenever the Planning Commission has approved such sign parameters, the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall be authorized to review and approve any subsequent sign application submitted for a tenant of the development or building that complies with such sign parameters.
(e) Application Requirements. Applications for permits to erect, place, paint or alter a sign shall be made by the applicant and shall be submitted on forms furnished by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Each application shall be made separately. Each application shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) A complete site plan, showing the exact location of the sign and its relationship to the building, the locations and square footage of all existing signs on site, the lot frontage, the adjacent parcels and parking lots, drives and sidewalks;
(2) The design and layout of the proposed sign, drawn to scale and including the total area of the sign and the size, character and color of letters, lines and symbols;
(3) Details and specifications for construction, erection and attachment as may be required by the applicable building code;
(4) A permit fee for each sign application, pursuant to the fee schedule as listed in the most current edition of the Fee Ordinance; and
(5) The method of illumination if any.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01; Ord. 186-01. Passed 1-28-02; Ord. 77-02. Passed 5-28-02; Ord. 191-03. Passed 9-8-03.)