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Dubuque Overview
Dubuque, IA Code of Ordinances
CITY CODE of DUBUQUE, IOWA
ORDINANCES PENDING REVIEW FOR CODIFICATION
TITLE 1 ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 2 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND TAXATION
TITLE 4 BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS
TITLE 5 TRANSIT SYSTEM
TITLE 6 HEALTH, HOUSING, SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENT
TITLE 7 POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
TITLE 8 EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
TITLE 9 MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
TITLE 10 PUBLIC WAYS AND PROPERTY
TITLE 11 RIGHTS-OF-WAY
TITLE 12 AIRPORT
TITLE 13 PUBLIC UTILITIES
TITLE 14 BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 15 PLANNING AND ZONING
TITLE 16 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE
CHAPTER 1 TITLE, PURPOSE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER 3 LAND USE GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 4 NONCONFORMITIES
CHAPTER 5 ZONING DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 6 OVERLAY DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 7 SUPPLEMENTAL USE REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8 ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 9 ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 10 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 11 LAND SUBDIVISION
CHAPTER 12 SITE PLANS
CHAPTER 13 SITE DESIGN STANDARDS
CHAPTER 14 PARKING
CHAPTER 15 SIGNS
16-15-1: PURPOSE:
16-15-2: APPLICABILITY:
16-15-3: ENFORCEMENT:
16-15-4: SIGN INSTALLER'S LICENSE:
16-15-4-1: LICENSE REQUIRED:
16-15-4-2: EXCEPTION:
16-15-4-3: LICENSE FEE:
16-15-4-4: INSURANCE REQUIRED:
16-15-5: DEFINITIONS:
16-15-6: PERMIT REQUIRED:
16-15-6-1: PERMIT APPLICATION:
16-15-6-2: ISSUANCE:
16-15-6-3: PERMIT VALIDITY:
16-15-6-4: PERMIT EXPIRATION:
16-15-6-5: SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION:
16-15-6-6: INSPECTIONS:
16-15-7: SIGN CALCULATIONS:
16-15-8: PROHIBITED SIGNS:
16-15-9: EXEMPT SIGNS:
16-15-10: TEMPORARY SIGNS:
16-15-11: PERMITTED ON PREMISES SIGNS:
16-15-11-1: AG AGRICULTURE AND R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, AND R-4 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS:
16-15-11-2: OR OFFICE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-3: OS OFFICE SERVICE DISTRICT:
16-15-11-4: OC OFFICE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-5: C-1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-6: C-2 NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING CENTER DISTRICT:
16-15-11-7: C-2A MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT:
16-15-11-8: C-3 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-9: C-4 DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-10: C-5 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT:
16-15-11-11: CS COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND WHOLESALE DISTRICT:
16-15-11-12: CR COMMERCIAL RECREATION DISTRICT:
16-15-11-13: ID INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-14: LI, HI, AND MHI INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS:
16-15-12: OFF PREMISES SIGNS:
16-15-13:SIGNS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS:
16-15-14: NONCONFORMING SIGNS:
16-15-15: MAINTENANCE:
16-15-16: DISCONTINUED OR ABANDONED SIGNS:
16-15-17: MESSAGE SUBSTITUTION:
16-15-18: PROJECTING SIGNS:
16-15-19: FEE SCHEDULE:
16-15-20: DESIGN, GENERALLY:
16-15-21: CONSTRUCTION, GENERALLY:
16-15-22: PROJECTION AND CLEARANCE, GENERALLY:
16-15-23: STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO SPECIFIC SIGN TYPES:
16-15-23-1: POLE SIGNS:
16-15-23-2: GROUND MONUMENT SIGNS:
16-15-23-3: WALL SIGNS:
16-15-23-4: PROJECTING SIGNS:
16-15-23-5: COMBINATION SIGNS:
16-15-23-6: MARQUEE SIGNS:
16-15-23-7: ELECTRIC SIGNS:
16-15-23-8: ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGNS:
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16-15-6: PERMIT REQUIRED:
A sign shall not hereafter be erected, reerected, constructed, altered or maintained, except as provided by this title and after a permit for the same has been issued by the building official. A separate permit shall be required for a sign or signs for each business entity, and a separate permit shall be required for each group of signs on a single supporting structure. In addition, electrical permits shall be obtained for electric signs. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-6-1: PERMIT APPLICATION:
   A.   Application Form: Application for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms furnished by the building official. Such application shall contain the location by street and number of the proposed sign structure, as well as the name and address of the owner and the sign contractor or erector.
   B.   Submission: Plans, engineering calculations, diagrams and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for a permit. The building official may require plans, computations and specifications to be prepared and designed by an engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice as such.
   C.   Exception: The building official may waive the submission of plans, calculations, construction inspection requirements, etc., if he or she finds that the nature of the work applied for is such that reviewing of plans is not necessary to obtain compliance with this title.
   D.   Information On Plans And Specifications: Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper or cloth and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this title and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-6-2: ISSUANCE:
   A.   The building official shall within twenty (20) days of the filing of a completed application for a sign permit either issue a permit to the applicant or issue a written notice of intent to deny a permit to the applicant. The building official shall issue a sign permit immediately unless:
      1.   An applicant has failed to provide information required by this chapter for issuance of a permit or has falsely answered a question or request for information on the application form.
      2.   The permit application fee required by this chapter has not been paid.
      3.   The completed application demonstrates that the sign applied for is not in compliance with requirements of this chapter or is not in compliance with another part of this code.
   B.   If the building official determines that the permit will not be issued, the building official shall immediately send a notice, which shall include the specific grounds under this chapter for such action, to the applicant by personal delivery or certified mail. The notice shall be directed to the address set out in the application. The applicant shall have ten (10) days after the delivery of the written notice to submit, at the office of the building official, a written request for a hearing. If the applicant does not request a hearing within said ten (10) days, the building official's written notice shall become a final denial.
   C.   If the applicant does make a written request for a hearing within said ten (10) days, then the building official shall, within ten (10) days after the submission of the request, designate a neutral hearing officer and send a notice to the applicant indicating the name of the hearing officer, the date, time, and place of the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted not less than ten (10) days nor more than twenty (20) days after the date that the hearing notice is issued. The city shall provide for the hearing to be transcribed.
   D.   At the hearing, the applicant shall have the opportunity to present all of applicant's arguments and to be represented by counsel, present evidence and witnesses on his or her behalf, and cross examine any of the city's witnesses. The building official may also be represented by counsel, and shall bear the burden of proving the grounds for denying the permit. The hearing shall take no longer than two (2) days, unless extended at the request of the applicant to meet the requirements of due process and proper administration of justice. The hearing officer shall issue a final written decision, including specific reasons for the decision pursuant to this chapter, to the applicant within five (5) days after the hearing.
   E.   If the decision is to deny the permit, the decision shall advise the applicant of the right to appeal such decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. If the hearing officer's decision finds that no grounds exist for denial of the permit, the hearing officer shall, contemporaneously with the issuance of the decision, order the city to immediately issue the permit to the applicant. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-6-3: PERMIT VALIDITY:
   A.   The issuance or granting of a permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this title or of any other ordinance of the city. Permits presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this chapter or of any other ordinances of the city shall not be valid.
   B.   The issuance of a permit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the building official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications and other data. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-6-4: PERMIT EXPIRATION:
   A.   Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions of this title shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the structure or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of such permit, or if the structure or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained. In order to renew action on a permit after expiration, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee.
   B.   Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which he may commence work under that permit when he is unable to commence work within the time required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The building official may extend the time for action by the permittee for a period not exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days upon written request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken. No permit shall be extended more than once. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-6-5: SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION:
The building official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this title whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this title. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-6-6: INSPECTIONS:
   A.   All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official.
   B.   Footing inspections shall be required by the building official for all signs having footings.
   C.   All signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the electrical code, and the electrical components used shall bear the label of an approved testing agency.
   D.   The building official may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of section 16-15-15 of this chapter.
   E.   All signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the building official. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
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