(a) Permits.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this code it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or alter any sign in the Village, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining from the Zoning Inspector, a sign permit for each such sign.
(2) A permit is not required for a change of copy on any change panel sign, nor for the repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a permit has previously been issued, so long as the sign or sign structure is not modified in any way.
(3) No new permit is required for signs which have permits and which conform with the requirements of this Regulation on the date of its adoption unless and until the sign is altered or relocated.
(4) Every sign permit issued by the Zoning Inspector shall become null and void if erection is not completed within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of such permit.
(5) No permit for a sign issued hereunder shall be deemed to constitute permission or authorization to maintain an unlawful sign nor shall any permit issued hereunder constitute a defense in an action to abate an unlawful sign.
(b) Application for Permit: Application for a permit shall be made to the Zoning Inspector upon a form provided by the Inspector and shall be accompanied by such information as may be required to assure compliance with all appropriate provisions of this Regulation. As a minimum, the application shall contain the following information:
(1) Name and address of owner of the sign.
(2) Name and address of owner or the person in possession of the premises where the sign is located or to be located.
(3) Clear and legible drawings with description definitely showing the location and dimensions of the sign which is the subject of the permit and location of all other existing signs on the same premises. In the case of billboard signs, the location of all other billboard signs within 1,000 feet must be indicated.
(c) Issuance; Denial:
(1) The Zoning Inspector shall issue a permit for the erection, alteration, or relocation of a sign within the Village when an application has been properly made and the sign complies with all other provisions of this Regulation. The Zoning Inspector must formally grant or deny a sign application within thirty (30) days of the date an application is filed. Appeal may be taken to the Board of Appeals from the Zoning Inspector's denial of a sign permit.
(2) The Zoning Inspector shall, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under provisions of this section whenever the permit is issued on the basis of a mis-statement of fact or fraud. When a sign permit is denied by the Zoning Inspector, he shall given written notice of the denial to the applicant, together with a brief written statement of the reasons for the denial.
(d) Reserved.
(e) Permit Life: Whenever there is a change in the sign user, owner or owner of the property on which the sign is located, the new sign owner, user or new property owner shall forthwith notify the Zoning Inspector of the change. No new sign permit is required, unless the sign is altered or relocated.
(f) Inspection: The person erecting, altering or replacing a sign shall notify the Zoning Inspector upon completion of the work for which permits are required.
Inspections - All freestanding signs shall be subject to a footer inspection and all signs to a final inspection by the Zoning Inspector.