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(a) (1) For all permits issued after May 19, 2012, applications for permits to erect, install or alter signs shall be made by the owner or lessee of the real property on which the sign will be located. The application shall be signed by the applicant who shall be the owner or lessee of the real property. If the sign application requires engineered drawings pursuant to section 14E-6-600.28, then the sign must be installed and erected by or under the direction of a general contractor duly licensed in the City of Chicago and the application shall contain the name and license number of the general contractor that will perform or direct the installation and erection of the sign. If the sign is a dynamic image display sign or a static sign which has direct or indirect lighting, the application shall also be signed by a licensed electrical contractor. All such applications shall be made in a form prescribed by the Building Commissioner. For every permit application for a dynamic image display sign submitted on or after April 2, 2014, or for any application for a renewal of such permit, the applicant shall also attach the affidavit required in section 13-20-675(d)(2).
(2) Any substantial change in information that is different from the information provided in the application for a permit to erect, install or alter any sign shall be reported to the Commissioner within 10 days of such change, including any change in: (i) the permittee of any permit issued on or before May 19, 2012, or (ii) the owner or lessee of the real property identified in any permit issued after May 19, 2012, or (iii) the name or contact information of the payer of record for a permit. Such change of information shall be submitted to the Commissioner in a form prescribed by the Commissioner in rules. For purposes of this subsection (a)(2), the term “substantial change in information” shall not include any alteration of a sign or sign structure, as defined in Sections 13-20-510 and Section 5-20-550(e),* which would require a new permit to be obtained for such sign or sign structure.
* Editor's note– As provided in Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 10. Section 5-20-550 does not exist. Future legislation will correct if needed.
(3) (A) If the Building Commissioner determines that an application or any supporting documentation required for a permit under Section 13-20-550 is incomplete or otherwise deficient, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant or the applicant's agent of such fact in writing. Such notification, which shall be dated, shall explain why the application or supporting documentation is deficient. No further processing of the application shall occur until the deficiencies identified in the notification are corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected within 120 days of the date indicated on the face of the notification, the application shall be deemed, by operation of law, to have been withdrawn. Provided, however, that upon receipt of a written request from the applicant, and for good cause shown, the Building Commissioner may extend, to a date certain, the period to cure the deficiencies identified in the notification required under this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, the terms “in writing” and “notification” shall include any electronic communication or notation in the City's electronic permit application and plan review systems that are available for viewing by the applicant or the applicant's agent.
(B) If an applicant disagrees with the Building Commissioner's determination that the application or any supporting document is deficient under this Code, the applicant may file a written petition with the Commissioner to contest the deficiency. The Commissioner may promulgate rules establishing the process for contesting a deficiency.
(C) No application for a new sign permit shall be accepted or otherwise processed by the Department of Buildings if any person, including but not limited to any sign company, holds a current and valid sign permit for an existing sign at the location identified in the permit application.
(b) Except as provided in section 13-20-565(a), a non-refundable review fee equal to one-half of the permit fee shall be paid at the time the application is submitted. If the permit is issued, the review fee shall be deducted from the amount of the permit fee due.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to make a false statement of material fact to the City in any sign permit application or supporting document or on any change of information form submitted in connection with any permit. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, such violation may result in revocation of such permit in accordance with Section 13-20-645 and the imposition of other penalties under Chapter 1-21 of this Code.
(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-14, p. 98037, § 21; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 17; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 10)