(A) General requirements. The sign permit applicant shall present sign design information as required with the sign application. The Director of Planning or designee shall review the application and information. The final administrative interpretation of these design standards and location shall be at the discretion of the Department of Planning Director or designee and Town of Ellettsville Plan Commission. Regular inspections of outdoor signage will be conducted by the Department of Planning. Failure to comply with sign regulations may result in sign permit revocation or code enforcement by the Planning Department or the Town of Ellettsville.
(B) Approval process.
(1) Sign permit required. No sign or sign structure shall be displayed or altered prior to an approved sign permit;
(2) Inspection or fee not required. Normal maintenance or a change in sign face shall not require a sign permit fee or inspection, provided the sign structure and sign cabinet are not altered.
(3) Form. Applications for sign permits shall be provided by the Department of Planning.
(4) Complete application. Within ten business days of the submission of an application for a sign permit, the Director of Planning or designee shall determine whether the application is complete. Complete applications shall be processed in accordance with this section of the Sign Code. The Director of Planning or designee will notify the applicant of the application’s deficiencies within the ten-day review period. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
(5) Information required for standard sign permit.
(a) Permanent sign permit applications shall include the information specified on the application form and the following:
1. Scale drawings showing elevations of the proposed sign, relationship to buildings and other signs, and location of the foundation or post hole location in relation to the property line and public right-of-way;
2. Graphic representation of proposed sign with dimensions;
3. Construction specifications;
4. Electrical components and wiring;
5. Method of attachment and design of structured members to which attachment is to be made;
6. Name, address, telephone number and signature of property owner granting permission for the construction, operation, maintenance or display of sign structure;
7. Name, address, telephone number, and signature of sign contractor, if applicable;
8. Street address of premises or property upon which sign is to be located;
9. Use of property, lot, building or structure for which sign will provide information or advertising;
10. Other information, as may be reasonably required by the Plan Commission or Director of Planning or designee.
(b) Information required for temporary sign permit applications. A temporary sign permit application shall include the sign size and all reasonable measurements, location, materials and time duration, along with such information as deemed necessary by the Plan Commission or Director of Planning or designee.
(6) Review and action. Upon the verification of a complete application, the Director of Planning or designee shall process the application within 15 working days. The Director of Planning or designee shall either issue the permanent or temporary sign permit or notify the applicant in writing of his or her denial and reasons thereof, according to the procedures outlined in this subsection. Revised applications shall be reviewed within ten days of receipt of all revised documents.
(C) Appeals. Any final determination, made by the Director of Planning or designee may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals by filing a written notice of appeal with the Director of Planning or designee within ten days of the determination. All appeals shall be heard in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(D) Inspections and certificates of compliance. Any permitted sign that is not constructed in accordance with the approved application shall be removed by the business or property owner, and may not be reinstalled until such time that the sign has a valid permit. Failure to timely remove or otherwise amend a sign constructed not in accordance with approved plans shall be considered a Class D ordinance violation with the total fine amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation. Each sign shall constitute a separate violation.
(E) Suspension/revocation. The Director of Planning or designee may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued pursuant to the Sign Code where the permit is issued on the basis of a material omission or misstatement of fact.
(F) Expiration. It is unlawful to maintain a sign or sign structure without a validly issued sign permit unless the sign is specifically exempt from a permit requirement pursuant to this Sign Code. Issued permits shall expire and become void if the work authorized by the permit is not completed within 180 days from the date of permit issuance, or if the work is abandoned (as evidenced by failure to make reasonable progress) for a period of 30 days or more at any time after the work is commenced. Before such work can be commenced or resumed thereafter, a new permit shall be obtained and a fee of one-half the amount required for a new permit shall be paid to the town, provided no changes have been made in the original plans and specifications and, further provided, that the permit issuance date has not exceeded one year.
(G) Electrical permit required. All permanent signs that will be lit, either internally or externally, and require an electrical hook-up shall obtain an electrical permit. An approved electrical permit must be submitted before a sign permit can be issued.
(H) Construction plans review. All permanent freestanding signs shall include construction plans for review. A building permit may be required.
(Ord. 10-07, passed 5-24-2010; Am. Ord. 2017-06, passed 6-12-2017; Am. Ord. 2020-27, passed 11-23-2020)