(a) Application for Permit. Except for exempt signs and temporary signs, a sign permit is required prior to the display and erection of any sign.
(1) An application for a sign permit shall be filed with the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement-Officer or other authorized City personnel on forms furnished by the City. The applicant shall provide sufficient information to determine if the proposed sign is permitted under this code and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. An application for an electronic message display shall include the manufacturer's statement that the sign has been pre-programmed, to the extent possible, to conform to the requirements of this code. Such manufacturer's statement shall include, where applicable, the pre-stacked sign settings related to text and graphic features, message change features, message change time intervals, day and night lighting requirements, and any other settings capable of limiting the electronic message display such that it conforms to this code.
(2) The Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel shall promptly process the sign permit application and approve the application, reject the application, or notify the applicant of deficiencies in the application within twenty (20) business days after receipt. Any application that complies with all provisions of this code, the building code, and other applicable laws shall be approved.
(3) If the application is rejected, the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel shall provide a list of the reasons for the rejection in writing. An application shall be rejected for noncompliance with the terms of this code, building code, or other applicable law.
(b) Permit Fee. A nonrefundable fee shall accompany all sign permit applications. The permit fee schedule shall be set by the City. If the sign is part of a new construction or renovation project, the cost of the sign permit fee shall be included in the total project permit fee.
(c) Duration and Revocation of Permit. If a sign is not installed within six (6) months following the issuance of a sign permit or the time period stated within the permit, the permit shall be void. The Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may revoke a sign permit under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The information in the application was materially false or misleading;
(2) The sign as installed does not conform to the sign pennit application; or
(3) The sign violates this code, building code, or other applicable law, regulation, or ordinance.
(d) In the case of an approval with conditions or disapproval an applicant may ask for reconsideration of the decision on the grounds that the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel may have overlooked or failed to consider any fact(s) that would support a different decision. A written request for reconsideration accompanied by such additional fact(s) as the applicant may wish the Community Development Director, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized City personnel to consider, shall be filed with the Director or Officer within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of the decision. No fee shall be required for a request for reconsideration. The request for reconsideration shall be decided within seven (7) days of receipt by the City, not counting any intervening Saturday, Sunday or holiday. Such decision shall be in writing and shall include a statement of the reasons(s) for the decision.
(e) Appeals. Any individual or entity denied a sign permit or granted a permit with conditions shall have the right to appeal the decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals provided a written application for appeal is filed within thirty (30) days after the day of the decision. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hear the Appeal in accordance with Section 1307.06 of this code, and shall provide a decision in writing, including a statement of the reason(s) for the decision not more than ten (10) days after the hearing.
(f) Document Service and Tracking of Decisions. All decisions shall be mailed, transmitted electronically or hand delivered to the applicant. A record shall be kept of the date or mailing, electronic transmittal or hand delivery. For the purposes of calculating compliance with the deadlines provided for herein, all decisions shall be deemed made when deposited in the mail, transmitted electronically or hand delivered to the applicant.
(Passed 9-14-20.)