Permits are required for the following sign types: Awning, Vehicle-Oriented Directional, Wall-Mounted Directional, Drive-through Lane, Principal Ground, Entry Monument, New Construction Alternative, Suspended, Verandah, Projecting, Wall (except for signs on property containing a single-unit residence or duplex), Façade Renovation Alternative, and New Business Alternative. No other sign types shall require a sign permit.
(A) Sign Permits
If a sign requiring a permit under this chapter is to be placed, constructed, erected or modified on a site, the owner of the lot or parcel shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection or modification of such a sign in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the procedure listed in Section 3.16. No sign permit shall be issued for the erection of a prohibited sign. Until a sign permit is obtained from and the appropriate fee paid to the town, no permanent sign shall be erected, altered, relocated, maintained or displayed. The sign permit is in addition to any building permit required to be obtained pursuant to the provisions of the State building code.
No sign permit or permit fee shall be required for changing the copy of a sign, including any change of copy on a changeable copy sign, as long as no changes are made to the sign's height, size, location, or structure. A sign lawfully erected may be repainted or have ordinary and customary repairs performed, including replacement of plastic or glass panels, without a sign permit; however, if such sign is to be structurally altered in any manner, a new sign permit shall be required and the altered sign must meet all requirements of this Chapter and the Land Development Ordinance.
(B) Building Permits
The town has no authority to waive or provide variances to the State building code, therefore all signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the State building code.
(C) Electrical Permits
Electric signs that have internal wiring or lighting equipment, and external lighting equipment that directs light on signs, shall not be erected or installed until an electrical permit has been obtained from the Inspections and Permits Department. All such signs and equipment shall bear the seal of approval of an electrical testing laboratory that is nationally recognized as having the facilities for testing and requires proper installation in accordance with the National Electrical Code. All wiring to electric signs, or to freestanding equipment that lights a sign, shall be installed underground.