(A) Compliance with this section. No person shall erect or cause to be erected, placed, altered, or moved, any sign, unless in conformity with this section. Nothing in this section will relieve any person from complying with the provisions of any other ordinance of the city of other provisions of this code.
(B) Permit required.
(1) No sign shall be erected, altered, reconstructed, maintained, 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. Application for a permit shall be in writing addressed to the issuing authority and shall contain the following information:
(a) Names and addresses of the owners of the display structure and property;
(b) The address at which any signs are to be erected;
(c) The lot, block, and addition at which the signs are to be erected and the street on which they are to front;
(d) A complete set of plans showing the necessary elevations, distances, sizes, and details to fully and clearly represent the construction and place of the signs;
(e) The cost of the sign;
(f) The type of sign (i.e., wall sign, monument sign, and the like); and
(g) Certification by applicant indicating the application complies with all requirements of this subchapter.
(2) The issuing authority shall approve or deny the sign permit in an expedited manner no more than 60 days from the receipt of the complete application, including applicable fee, subject to additional review time claimed by city pursuant to M.S. Chapter 15, as it may be amended from time to time.
(3) No permit for a sign may be transferred or assigned to anyone other than the owner of the property on which the sign is located.
(C) Placement provisions applicable to all signs.
(1) No sign may be placed so as to interfere with any electric lights, or electrical or telephone wires or their supports, or placed in a manner which is deemed a detriment to public safety.
(2) Illuminated signs shall be shielded to prevent lights from being directed at oncoming traffic. Nor shall such signs interfere with or obscure an official traffic sign or signal. This includes indoor signs which are visible from public streets.
(3) No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained that prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign or sign structure shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
(4) No sign or sign structure shall be placed on or protrude over the public right-of-way except wall (maximum protrusion 18 inches), canopy, awning, or marquee. No sign shall be placed within any drainage or utility easement or within the public right-of-way except by the issuance of a conditional use permit from the city and shall be located a minimum of eight feet above surface grade.
(5) If a sign is not a part of the principal structure or attached thereof, the sign location shall require a permit approved by the City Council. The City Council will consider the proposed location of the sign and approval will be based on the following criteria:
(a) Will the request cause traffic visibility issues or safety concerns?
(b) Is the request incompatible with surrounding area?
(c) Will the location create unreasonably excessive burden on existing storm water management, streets, snow removal, or utilities?
(6) Signs defined in this chapter as changeable copy signs, electronic, multi-vision signs, portable signs, animated signs, rotating signs, shimmering signs, stringers, dynamic signs, electronic graphic display signs, video display signs, or suspended signs shall require a conditional use permit.
(7) Billboards shall require a conditional use permit approved by the City Council and may be allowed on a very limited basis. Consideration for the use of a billboard include:
(a) Will the request cause traffic visibility issues or safety concerns?
(b) Is the request incompatible with surrounding area?
(c) Will the location create unreasonably excessive burden on existing storm water management, streets, snow removal, or utilities?
(D) Maintenance. Signs and sign structures shall be properly maintained and kept in a safe condition.
(Ord. passed 4-13-2021) Penalty, see § 150.99