(A) Permits, applications, plans, specifications and revocation.
(1) Permits generally.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, re-erect, repair, alter, paint or relocate, reconstruct or reface, on the same or another premises or to maintain within the city, any sign as defined in this section unless a permit shall have been first obtained from the city and a permit fee paid in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council.
(b) This section shall not be construed to prevent repair or restoration of any part of an existing sign when said sign is less than 50% destroyed or damaged by storm or other accidental emergency, and when the Building Official has ordered said repair or restoration of the sign to return that sign to a safe condition. If a sign is to be repaired or restored under this exception, the sign message must remain the same. If the sign copy will be changed, a sign permit is required.
(2) Application. Application for sign permits shall be made upon forms provided by the city for this purpose and shall contain the following information:
(a) Name, address and telephone number of applicant(s).
(b) Location and dimensions of the building, structure or lot to which the sign is to be attached or erected.
(c) Position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings, structures, property lines and rights-of-way, existing or proposed.
(d) Two copies of the plans and specifications with color renderings and showing the method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground.
(e) Copies of stress sheets and calculations if deemed necessary by the Building Official, showing the structure as designed for dead load and wind pressure in accordance with the regulations adopted by the City of Hamtramck.
(f) Name, address and phone number and license information of the sign erector.
(g) Insurance policy as required herein.
(h) Such other information as may be required by the Building Official to show full compliance with this and other applicable laws of the City of Hamtramck and State of Michigan.
(i) The Building Official may require that the application containing the aforesaid material shall, in addition, bear the certificate or seal of a registered structural or civil engineer as a condition to the issuance of a permit.
(j) Indicate the zoning district in which the sign is located.
(3) Insurance requirements. Permits may be issued to sign erectors only under the following conditions:
(a) Insurance certificates. Before a permit is issued for the erection of any sign which overhangs any public property or right-of-way, the installing company shall submit for filing with the Community Development Department a certificate of insurance, in a form acceptable to the city, for public liability in the amount of $100,000 for injuries to one person and $300,000 for injuries to more than one person, and property damage insurance in the amount of $25,000 for damage to any city property due to the actions of himself or any of his or her agents or employees.
(b) Lapsing of insurance. At any time, the insurance of any sign erector is permitted to lapse, his or her contractor registration shall automatically be revoked.
(c) Notification of change. A sign erector shall notify the city of any change in address, and if a firm or corporation, any change in ownership or management if other than that indicated on the insurance certificates.
(4) Permit insurance and revocation. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this section, or any amendment thereto, are mere licenses and may be revoked by the city upon violation of this section.
(a) Compliance. Except as provided herein, permits are required for all signs. All signs shall be inspected for compliance at the time of installation. If work indicated to be done on the application for permit has not been started within three months the permit will expire and become null and void.
(b) Concealed work. All work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection until approved. It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause said work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the Building Official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for any expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.
(c) Removal of signs. Should any sign be found unsafe, insecure, improperly constructed or not in accordance with the requirements of this section, the erector and/or owner shall be required to make the sign safe, secure and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of this section within ten days of notice. Failure to comply shall result in an order to remove the sign, with costs charged to the permit holder, within 48 hours from the time of notification in writing. Exception: Existing signs determined to be unsafe and an immediate hazard to health or safety shall be removed or repaired at the owner's expense within 48 hours of notification by the Building Official.
(B) Permit fees. All fees for permits or services shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
(C) Signs not requiring a permit. Signs not requiring a permit shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. Such exemptions, however, shall not be construed to relieve the owner of the sign from responsibility for its proper location, erection and maintenance as described in this subchapter.
(Ord. 497, passed 2-3-2004; Am. Ord. 523, passed 6-13-2006; Am. Ord. 2011-7, passed 12-13-2011; Am. Ord. 2019-02, passed 10-8-2019; Am. Ord. 2020-28, passed 3-3-2020; Am. Res. 2021-46, passed 4-13-2021)