(A) A building permit is required for the relocation or erection of an outdoor advertising device.
(B) Off-premise outdoor advertising signs are classified as commercial activity and shall only be permitted in connection with or within 600 feet of an active operating commercial or industrial business or regularly used building, parking lot, storage or processing of commercial and industrial activity in accordance with rules and regulations established by State Department of Transportation for unzoned commercial or unzoned industrial areas.
(C) Outdoor advertising devices and billboards will not be permitted in the downtown district.
(D) Outdoor advertising devices and billboard are prohibited within 300 feet of a residence as measured from the center of the pole in a straight line to the nearest point on the front door or driveway of the residence, whichever is closer.
(E) Billboards will only be permitted along roads designated as arterial or collector on the City of Crossville's Major Thoroughfare Map.
(F) Locations are also governed by rules and regulations established by State Department of Transportation whose regulations, if more stringent, take precedence over city statutes.
(G) With the exception of signs and billboards fronting Interstate 40, the spacing of which is controlled by the State Department of Transportation, all outdoor advertising devices must be spaced at least 750 feet apart, and at least 750 feet away from any existing non-conforming advertising sign or billboard.
(H) Double-stacking and side-by-side placement of new off-premise outdoor advertising signs is prohibited; except that, double-stacking is permitted for off-premise outdoor advertising signs and billboards fronting on Interstate 40 and for advertising purposes on school properties.
(I) Back-to-back structures and V-shaped structures will be counted as one sign for the purpose of spacing and permitting.
(J) Each sign face for off-premise outdoor advertising signs and billboards cannot exceed 360 square feet in size, except those fronting on Interstate 40, which may be up to 775 square feet.
(K) No portion of any off-premise outdoor advertising sign, the bottom of which is less than ten feet above grade off thoroughfare, shall be erected, placed or hung within ten feet of the street or highway right-of-way, as measured by the leading edge of the sign as determined by the Building Official.
(L) All non-conforming off-premise outdoor advertising devices and billboards which prior to the enactment of this chapter, and which are existing and properly maintained, shall be allowed to remain, and shall be considered as "grandfathered" in place. These signs may not be enlarged or height extended.
(M) Replacement of non-conforming support structures for billboards shall be with steel monopole structures will be allowed and must comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(N) If an existing billboard is ordered removed for any reason or voluntarily removed, any new structure erected at this location must comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(O) Off premise outdoor advertising signs are classified as commercial activity and shall require a City of Crossville business license and registration with the Tennessee Department of Revenue if the business is domiciled within the city limits.
(P) Evidence that a state permit, if required, has been or is being obtained from the state must be submitted before the sign permit can be issued.
(Q) All freestanding off-premises outdoor advertising devices shall be of a steel monopole design. Unique stamped drawings, by an engineer licensed in Tennessee, are required for each freestanding outdoor advertising device. They shall conform to currently adopted wind load requirements of the International Building Code (current edition).
(R) The Building Official will review the application for compliance with all the requirements of this chapter before issuing a sign permit.
(S) The Building Official will inspect and measure excavations and ensure base preparation is as shown on engineering drawings as well as inspect above-ground structure against engineering drawings.
(T) Sign permits are transferable; however, will expire if work has not commenced within six months after date of issue. All work must be completed within nine months or permit and fees will be invalid.
(U) The sign permit fee is $75 per sign for outdoor advertising devices.
(V) Applications for sign permits will include:
(1) A copy of the signed and notarized lease from the property owner to the sign owner;
(2) Name, address, email address, and phone number of the property owner and the sign owner;
(3) The size and height of the sign structure and the size of the sign face;
(4) The tax map and parcel identification for the proposed site indicating the position of the sign on parcel, and enlargement of parcel, if necessary;
(5) For structures over 120 square feet and 20 feet above ground, a licensed engineer's stamped drawing of construction plans for the underground base and above-ground steel column structure. All other structures may require a drawing as determined by the Building Official.
(6) A stake must be placed at the proposed location of the sign, clearly marked with the dimensions of the sign and the dimensions of the foundation written upon the stake.
(7) Evidence of liability insurance coverage of $50,000 property damage, $100,000 personal injury to any one person and $200,000 for personal injury growing out of any one occurrence must be provided. The liability insurance shall save and keep the city and all its officials, employees, and agents, harmless from all damages, liabilities, losses and judgments resulting by reason of the erection or maintenance of any sign, of any injury to persons or damages to property resulting therefrom.
(W) A number to identify each individual structure will be assigned to each off-premise sign permitted and that number must be displayed using four inch permanent numbers on the side of the pole facing the road.
(X) Annual permits and fee. An annual fee of $25 per device will be required for each conforming and non-conforming outdoor advertising device, as defined by this chapter, located in the city at the time of enactment of this chapter or erected in the future.
(1) No annual fee will be charged for the calendar year in which a sign permit is obtained.
(2) The annual fee is due and payable between January 1 and February 1 of each calendar year, with a grace period until March 1. If the annual fee is not paid by March 1, a late fee of $50 will be charged and the structure may be declared non-compliant and removed at owner's expense.
(Ord. 1679, passed 8-9-2022)