(a) Applications for permits to erect, place, paint, illuminate, alter or otherwise effectuate a change in a sign shall be submitted on forms furnished by the City and shall be made either separately or included with an application for a building permit. Such application shall be dated and include the name, address and telephone number of the applicant and the name of the person erecting the sign. Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or lot on which the sign is to be erected shall be required when such owner is not the applicant. The location of the building, structure or lot on which the sign is to be erected is also required.
(b) Each application shall be accompanied by drawings to scale and photographs, showing the following:
(1) The design and layout proposed, including the total area and dimensions of signs, the size, height, character, materials, colors and type of lines, lettering or other symbols;
(2) Photographs or drawings of the building for which the signs are proposed and photographs of surrounding buildings, signs and uses;
(3) The number and types of lamps and lens material to be used in any illuminated signs;
(4) The total area, dimensions, weight and physical composition of the proposed sign;
(5) The exact location of the sign in relation to the building and property and in relation to nearby buildings or structures; and
(6) Details and specifications for construction, erection and attachment as may be required by the Building Code and this chapter.
(c) A sign permit is applicable only to the specific sign (or signs) for which it is granted. Once a sign permit is granted, no temporary or permanent sign shall be attached or added to the given sign. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of the permit. A permit may be renewed once.
(d) All signs and drawings, required by subsection (b) hereof unless otherwise specifically excepted by this section shall be referred by the Building Commissioner to the Planning and Design Commission for its approval, approval with modification or disapproval.
(e) The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign and shall not require a sign permit:
(1) Replacing copy. Subject to the provisions of Section 1145.05
(i), the changing by a permit holder of the advertising copy or message on an approved sign which is specifically designed and approved for the use of changeable copy.
(2) Maintenance. Painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a supporting sign structure unless a structural change or other modification is made.
(f) No permit for a sign issued hereunder shall be deemed to constitute permission or authorization to maintain an unlawful sign nor shall any permit issued hereunder constitute a defense in an action to abate an unlawful sign.
(g) The Building Commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to revoke any permit issued upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provisions of this chapter or any regulation pertaining to signs or where the permit was issued on the basis of fraud or misstatement.
(h) The permit provisions of this section shall not apply to the following signs; however, such signs shall be subject to the other regulations in this chapter:
(1) Memorial signs;
(2) Traffic signs, legal notices and informational signs;
(3) Federal, State, County or Municipal signs; house (street) numbers; or name plates in one- and two-family residential districts;
(4) Security signs;
(5) Credit card signs;
(7) Political signs;
(8) Permanent window signs;
(9) Home sale signs;
(10) Temporary signs - civic; and
(11) Temporary signs - commercial.
(i) For buildings housing more than one business entity requiring signs, a comprehensive sign scheme shall be submitted indicating the typical sign design standard, locations, sizes, details, lettering type and size, colors and other information required by Section 1145.07(b) to be used for the installation of any signs requiring a permit on the premises. Sign submittals which comply with a previously approved sign scheme in the opinion of the Building Commissioner, shall not require further approval, from the Planning and Design Commission.
(Ord. 03-37. Passed 11-3-03.)