(A) Permit required. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, install, mount, place, apply, paint, attach, affix, expand, enlarge, move, modify, or replace any sign or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit.
(B) Application and permit issuance.
(1) If a sign requiring a permit under the provision of this chapter is to be erected, constructed, installed, mounted, placed, applied, painted, attached, affixed, expanded, enlarged, moved, modified, or replaced on a property, the property owner shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection, or modification of the sign.
(2) No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless the sign is consistent with the requirements of this chapter (including those protecting existing signs) in every respect and with the sign plan in effect for that property.
(3) The following procedures shall govern the application for and issuance of all sign permits under this chapter and the submission and review of sign plans:
(a) Sign plan required. No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit until a sign plan for the property on which the sign will be installed has been submitted to and approved by the Administrator as conforming with this section.
(b) Sign plan contents. For any property on which the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit, the owner shall submit to the Administrator a sign plan containing the following:
1. An accurate plot plan of the property, at such a scale as the Administrator may reasonably require;
2. Location of buildings, structures, parking lots, driveways, and landscaped areas of the property;
3. Computations of the maximum total sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the height of signs and the number of building and freestanding signs allowed on the property included in the plan under this chapter; and
4. An accurate indication on the plot plan of the proposed location of each present and future sign of any type whether requiring a permit or not.
5. For electronic changeable copy signs:
a. Specifications from the manufacturer providing the maximum nit (or equivalent) rating of the sign;
b. Documentation from the manufacturer indicating that the sign is equipped with the required automated light-sensing device; and
c. A notarized letter signed by the property owner acknowledging the owner's agreement to abide by this chapter requiring automatic level controls to reduce light levels at night and under cloudy or other darkened conditions.
(C) Fees.
(1) Permit fees. No sign permit shall be issued until all applicable fees have been paid. The fees for sign permits beginning with the adoption of this chapter shall be $33 per sign. The sign permit fee shall be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rounded to the nearest percentage, as established by the Kentucky Governor's Office for Local Development.
(2) Late fees. In addition to the sign permit fees, the Sign Administrator shall also assess a $50 late fee to any applicant who erects, places, establishes, paints, installs, creates, or in any other way initiates a sign prior to receiving the property permit or approval from the Sign Administrator. This fee is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any penalties for violations of the regulations. Payment of this late fee will in no way exonerate or excuse the applicant from applying in an appropriate manner and complying with the normal requirements and standard permit fees for the permission or applicable permit which is needed.
(D) Review. Within five days of submission of a sign permit application, the Sign Administrator shall review the application for completeness. If the application is complete, the Sign Administrator shall process the application. If the application is incomplete, the Sign Administrator shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies and reference the appropriate sections of this chapter. Upon correcting the deficiencies, the Sign Administrator will process the application.
(E) Issuance of permits. Within seven days of the submission of a complete application for a sign permit, the Administrator shall either:
(1) Issue the sign permit, if the sign that is the subject of the application conforms in every respect with the requirements of this chapter and the applicable sign plan; or
(2) Deny the sign permit, if the sign that is the subject of the application fails in any way to conform with the requirements of this chapter and of the applicable sign plan. In case of a rejection, the Sign Administrator shall specify in the rejection the section or sections of the chapter or applicable plan with which the sign is inconsistent.
(Ord. B2008-13, passed 8-12-08; Am. Ord. B-2018-03, passed 2-13-18)