(A) No person, firm or corporation shall erect or maintain any rigid or non-rigid awning, canopy, marquee or sign over any street, sidewalk, alley or other public way in the city without having obtained a permit. Permits for awnings, canopies, marquees or signs shall be issued by the City Clerk, subject to the approval of the Building Commissioner, upon payment of the fee provided. The permit shall designate the location of the proposed structure. The annual fee for permits shall be $0.25 per square foot for each overhanging awning, canopy, marquee or sign.
(B) Each person, firm or corporation maintaining such a sign shall file with the City Clerk a bond or indemnity policy in the sum of $50,000, conditioned to indemnify the city for any loss, damage or liability that may result from the construction or maintenance of the awning, canopy, marquee or sign. The bond or indemnity policy shall have sureties approved by the Mayor and City Council. If a blanket indemnity insurance policy against any loss or liability due to such signs or canopies is secured by the city, no bond shall be required.
(C) Temporary permits may be issued for maintenance of a temporary rigid or non-rigid awning, canopy, marquee or sign for a short time, not to exceed three weeks, upon payment of a fee of $2 for each week or fraction thereof that the sign is to be maintained.
(D) The period for which permits required by this section shall run shall be the same as the general license year.
(E) It shall be the duty of the Building Commissioner to inspect or cause to be inspected every awning, canopy, marquee or sign extending over any sidewalk, street, alley or other public way not less than once yearly. In the event his or her inspection discloses a violation of the terms of this subchapter, he or she shall make a report in writing to the owner of the sign and the owner or occupant of the premises to which it is attached. The owner of the sign or the owner or occupant of the premises shall have ten days from the date of receipt of the notice of violation to comply with the provisions of this subchapter. If the violation is not corrected within ten days, the Building Commissioner is authorized to institute suit for removal of the sign or to file charges for the violation of the terms of this subchapter.
(Prior Code, § 150.130) (Ord. 2176, passed 5-8-1972) Penalty, see § 150.999