A. General.
1. Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of this subsection is to set forth well-defined application processes, review criteria, and uniform procedure to guide in the processing and review of sign permit applications to ensure compliance with the design objectives of Chapter 4, Article IV, Section 1.B. (i.e. identification, aesthetics, land values, safety, sustainability, and compatibility).
2. Applicability. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move, or convert any sign in the city, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit for each such sign. These directives shall not be construed to require any permit for the cleaning, maintenance, or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a permit has previously been issued under this article, provided that such sign or structure is not modified in any way. Signs and structures supporting signs previously erected without a valid permit shall be in violation of this article and shall be deemed illegal signs. It shall be mandatory to obtain a permit for an illegal sign, or to immediately remove such sign and the structure supporting such sign upon notice that the sign or structure supporting the sign is illegal. The notice shall contain a time period for removal.
If the Building Official determines that a sign and support structure, which are subject to the standards of the sign code pursuant to Chapter 4, Article IV, are exempt from the Florida Building Code, then such sign and support structure shall require a sign permit under the authority of the Director of Planning and Zoning in accordance with Chapter 2, Article II, Section 5.A.
3. Licensing and Contractors. No person shall install, alter, or cause to be installed or altered, any temporary or permanent sign unless the person is licensed as required by the State of Florida or Palm Beach County contractor licensing regulations. It shall be unlawful for any licensed sign contractor to knowingly construct or cause to be constructed, a sign contrary to the standards and requirements of these Land Development Regulations, the Florida Building Code, or any other applicable code, whether or not said contractor installs such sign. In addition, no person shall engage in the business of erecting, painting, wiring, or maintaining signs within the city without first having procured a business tax receipt for such business from both the city and the county.
B. Submittal Requirements. Applications for permits required by this section shall contain the following information:
1. Applicant Information. Name, address and telephone number of the person, firm, corporation or association erecting or affixing such sign;
2. Owner Consent. Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected or affixed;
3. Location. Property location (address of premises upon which sign is to be located);
4. Site Plan. Two (2) sets of site plans, surveys, or other such scaled drawings deemed acceptable to the Building Official or designee, illustrating the proposed location of the sign and sign structure, including their position and setbacks relative to buildings, structures, property lines, road rights-of-way, and any pertinent improvements such as utility lines and other types of infrastructure;
5. Sign Detail. Two (2) sets of illustrations, sketches, pictures, photographs, or other such scaled drawings deemed acceptable to the Building Official or designee, detailing the type of sign proposed (as identified in Chapter 4, Article IV) and including the following information:
a. Aggregate sign area (expressed in square feet);
b. Overall sign height;
c. Height of each letter, digit, character, or logo;
d. Text font(s);
e. Sign color(s), including color of each letter, digit, character, or logo; and
f. Sign material(s);
6. Wind Load. Stress tests and calculations showing the sign (and support structure) are designed for the high velocity wind requirements in the Florid Building Code. The seal of a Florida registered engineer or architect shall be affixed to drawings of the sign and/or support structure that have an area exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet and/or six (6) feet in height, certifying that such signs are designed to meet the required loading;
7. Electrical. All electrical details required to determine code compliance for the sign and the structure supporting the sign;
8. Valuation. Estimated value or cost of the proposed sign;
9. Payment. Each application for a sign permit required under this section shall be accompanied by the applicable fees pursuant to Section 1.E. above; and
10. Miscellaneous. Any other information as required by the Building Official that demonstrates compliance with the Florida Building Code and other applicable laws and ordinances of the city.
C. Approval Criteria. Each application for a sign permit required under this section shall comply with the Florida Building Code and all applicable Land Development Regulations.
D. Review Process. The Building Official or designee shall have ten (10) days to review an application for a sign permit to ensure that it is complete. If the application is found to be incomplete, the Building Official or designee shall send written notification to the applicant indicating the specific reasons (with appropriate code references) as to why the application is deficient. Once a sign permit application is deemed to be complete, staff will conduct a review of the application and within forty-five (45) days, shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application for a sign permit.
E. Expiration. Any permit for a sign may be revoked by the city upon the determination that the sign is not in full compliance with the provisions of these Land Development Regulations or other applicable codes. A sign permit shall become null and void if no work has commenced within six (6) months upon the issuance of such permit.
F. Miscellaneous.
1. Display of Permit Number. Every sign or structure supporting a sign hereafter erected shall permanently include in a conspicuous place thereon, the corresponding permit number.
2. Inspection. The city may inspect at any time each sign or structure supporting a sign regulated by this article for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same is unsafe, in need of repair or maintenance, not in conformance with the permit application or otherwise in violation of the provisions of this article.
3. Revocation of Permits. The Building Division is authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued if there has been a violation of the provisions of this article or a misrepresentation of fact on the permit application and specified in the latest adopted Florida Building Code.
4. Appeal. Any appeal of a decision made by a city official shall be processed in accordance with Chapter 1, Article VIII, Section 1 (Appeals from an Administrative Official).
(Ord. 10-025, passed 12-7-10)