(A) Applicability.
(1) If any temporary or permanent sign is not otherwise exempted in division (B), it shall be unlawful to construct, alter, or relocate such temporary or permanent sign without a valid sign permit approved by the Development Department and issued by its Construction Codes Division.
(2) A property owner, business occupant, or organization allowed more than one sign shall obtain a separate permit for each sign.
(3) In instances where a sign is proposed for construction, alteration, relocation, or demolition within the Historic District, no sign permit shall be issued by the Construction Codes Division until the project has been submitted to, and received a written Certificate of Appropriateness from, the Historic District Commission.
(4) For any sign with lighting, including ground lighting, the Town requires an electrical permit and inspections pursuant to the provisions of the Electrical Code, as adopted by the Town of Collierville. In cases where an electrical permit is required, it shall be obtained at the same time as the sign permit.
(B) Exemptions from sign permits.
(a) Real estate signs;
(b) Political signs;
(c) Convenience signs;
(d) Integral signs;
(e) Attached ballfield fence signs;
(f) Temporary signs in residential areas and for institutional uses that are six square feet or smaller permitted by this subchapter;
(g) Horizontal directional signs on and flush with paved areas;
(h) Signs posted in conjunction with door bells or mailboxes, not exceeding 36 square inches in surface area;
(i) Address signs, not more than one for each street frontage of each principal use on a lot and none exceeding 72 square inches in area, showing only the numerical address designations of the premises upon which they are situated. All address signs shall be prominently displayed and written in contrasting colors to the color of the structure or background against which the signs are placed in order to facilitate emergency identification for public service employees;
(j) In buildings located in non-residential zones, signs that are placed greater than three feet behind the interior surface of glass and that are legible from the public right-of-way; and
(k) Flags in nonresidential zoning districts.
(2) The following activities may be conducted without obtaining a sign permit.
(a) Cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure, or other customary maintenance performed periodically to a properly permitted sign unless a structural change is made.
(b) Painting or repainting of a sign or sign structure located outside the Historic District.
(C) Procedure. All applications for signage shall be reviewed by the Development Director or his or her designee prior to the issuance of a sign permit.
(1) Initiation. An application for a sign permit shall be initiated by the property owner or other person having authority to file an application.
(2) Application for a sign permit. An application for a sign permit shall be made in accordance with application requirements established by the Development Department. For signs within the Historic District that must be approved by the Historic District Commission, the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission is required prior to approval of the sign permit application.
(3) Development Department decision on sign permit. Within 30 days of receiving a complete sign permit application, the Development Department shall review the application and shall approve it, approve it with stated conditions, or reject it.
(E) Approval for sign construction, alteration, relocation, or demolition. Construction, alteration, relocation, or demolition of a sign or sign structure authorized by a sign permit shall be completed within a period of 180 days of the date of the sign permit approval. Upon written request, one extension of 180 days may be granted by the Development Department if the applicant can show good cause.
(F) Nullification. A sign permit shall become null and void if the sign varies in any respect from the approved design or location.
(G) Fees. The permit fee for each sign allowed under the requirements of this chapter shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
(H) Review of permitting decisions. Permit applicants may appeal unfavorable decisions or interpretations rendered pursuant to this subchapter to the Board of Zoning Appeals, as set forth in § 151.182(B).
(Ord. 2010-01, passed 8-23-10; Am. Ord. 2012-15, passed 9-24-12; Am. Ord. 2013-01, passed 1-13-14; Am. Ord. 2021-01, passed 5-24-21)