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(A) This subchapter shall be administered by the Zoning Administrator or his or her designated representative.
(B) Permits required.
(1) It shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate, or alter any sign without obtaining a sign permit, except for exempt signs as regulated in § 154.156(F) and other signs specifically noted as not requiring a permit in this chapter.
(2) A permit shall not be required for alterations to an existing sign that are limited to the information communicated on the sign without increasing the sign’s size or structural modification, provided all other requirements of this chapter are met. However, a permit shall be required for all such alterations to existing signs located within the CBD District.
(3) Where a sign permit has been issued by the city, it shall be unlawful to change, modify, alter, or otherwise deviate from the terms or conditions of said permit without prior approval of the Zoning Administrator. A written record of such approval shall be entered upon the original permit application and maintained in the files of the city.
(4) The application for a sign permit shall be made by the owner or tenant of the property on which the sign is to be located, or his or her authorized agent, or a sign contractor. Such applications shall be made in writing on forms furnished by the city and shall be signed by the applicant.
(5) The application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by the following plans and other information:
(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner or persons entitled to possession of the sign and of the sign contractor or erector;
(b) The location by street address of the proposed sign structure;
(c) Complete information as required on application forms including a site plan and elevation drawings, colors, and caption of the proposed sign, and such other data as are pertinent to the application;
(d) Plans indicating the scope and structural detail of the work to be done, including details of all connections, supports, and footings, and materials to be used;
(e) Methods of illumination for the proposed sign, if any;
(f) Required information for an electrical permit for all electrical signs if the person installing the sign will make the electrical connection; and
(g) A statement of estimated costs of the sign.
(6) (a) Prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the Zoning Administrator or designee shall refer the sign permit application to the Sign Review Committee. The Sign Review Committee shall consist of the following individuals: Zoning Administrator; City Manager; and one member of the Planning Commission, as approved by a majority vote of the Planning Commission.
(b) The Sign Review Committee shall review a sign permit application for compliance with this chapter. A sign permit shall not be issued by the Zoning Administrator until all members of the Sign Review Committee have determined that the sign permit application is in compliance with this chapter. A member of the Sign Review Committee shall have the authority to refer a sign permit application to the Planning Commission and/or City Planning Consultant for additional review or comment prior to the decision of the Sign Review Committee.
(c) Signs proposed to be erected in the CBD District and requiring a permit shall be reviewed by the city’s Historic District Commission prior to review by the Sign Review Committee.
(d) A summary of sign review responsibilities is provided as follows.
District | Sign Type | Section No. | Review Responsibility |
District | Sign Type | Section No. | Review Responsibility |
Any district | Exempt signs | 154.156(F) | No permit required |
CBD | Projecting signs | 154.157(B)(3) | HDC and SRC |
CBD | Canopy signs | 154.157(B)(4) | HDC and SRC |
CBD | Wall signs | 154.157(B)(5) | HDC and SRC |
CBD | Poster panel, “A” frame, and sandwich signs | 154.157(B)(6) | HDC and SRC |
CBD | Ground signs | 154.157(B)(7) | HDC and SRC |
CBD | Window signs | 154.157(B)(8) | HDC and ZA |
Outside CBD | Ground signs | 154.158 | SRC |
Outside CBD | Wall signs | 154.159 | SRC |
Any district | Temporary signs and banner signs | 154.160(A) | ZA |
Any district | Weekend/holiday promotional sales banner signs | 154.160(A)(3) | No permit required |
Any district | Special event signs | 154.160(B) | ZA |
Any district | Menu board | 154.161(A) | SRC |
LS, GC, and LI Districts | Changeable copy signs | 154.161(B) | SRC |
Any district | Historic marker | 154.161(C) | SRC |
Outside CBD | Window signs | 154.161(D) | No permit required |
Any district | Commercial mural signs | 154.161(E)(1) | PC |
Any district | Noncommercial mural signs | 154.161(E)(2) | SRC |
Any district | Residential development entry signs | 154.161(F) | SRC |
Outside CDB | Poster panel, “A” frame, and sandwich signs | 154.161(G) | SRC |
Table notes: HDC: Historic District Commission PC: Planning Commission SRC: Sign Review Committee ZA: Zoning Administrator | |||
(7) Sign permit applications shall be accompanied by the required sign permit fee, as established by the City Council.
(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 353, passed 3-9-2015; Ord. 372, passed 6-8-2015) Penalty, see § 154.999
(A) Inspections. Signs for which a permit is required will be inspected upon completion and may be inspected periodically by the Building Department representative for compliance with these regulations and with any applicable ordinances of the city.
(B) Maintenance. All signs and components thereof shall be kept in good repair and in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition.
(C) Removal.
(1) The Zoning Administrator may order the removal of any permanent sign and its supporting structural components erected or maintained in violation of these regulations. The Zoning Administrator shall give 30 days’ notice in writing, to the owner of such sign and its supporting structure requiring him or her to bring such sign into compliance within 60 days. Any sign erected of a temporary nature shall require written notice of only three days.
(2) Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Building Official or designee may remove the sign and its supporting structure. The Building Official or designee may remove a sign and its supporting structure immediately and without notice if, in his or her opinion, the condition of the sign and its supporting structure presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public. The cost of such removal by the city shall be assessed against the owner of such sign or the owner of the building, structure, or premises.
(3) Signs within a public right-of-way or on city property may be removed by the city without notice and may be disposed of.
(D) Obsolete signs.
(1) An obsolete sign and its supporting structure shall be removed by the property owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises has been discontinued for at least 90 days. Except as provided in divisions (D)(2) and (D)(3) below, such removal shall occur within 30 days after written notice from the Zoning Administrator.
(2) A sign which is in conformity with the other provisions of this chapter may remain in place if such sign is obscured by the use of a blank panel attached within the frame of the sign and shall be permitted to remain for a period not to exceed 120 days.
(3) Where a successor to an inactive business agrees, within 30 days of the date of written notice by the Zoning Administrator, to maintain the sign as provided for by these regulations, this removal requirement shall not apply, provided that the existing sign and structure conforms to all current sign requirements.
(E) Nonconforming signs.
(1) Policy. It is the policy of the city to require that all signs within the city be brought into compliance with the terms of this chapter.
(2) Valid permit required. The status afforded to signs and sign structures pursuant to this division (E) shall not be applicable to any sign or sign structure for which a sign permit was initially required but for which no sign permit was ever issued. Such sign and/or sign structures are deemed illegal and are subject to the provisions of division (C) above.
(3) Existing sign rendered nonconforming. Nonconforming signs are those signs that do not comply with the size, placement, construction, or other standards or regulations of this chapter, but were lawfully established prior to its adoption. A nonconforming sign may be continued and shall be maintained in good condition as described elsewhere in this subchapter, however, the following alterations are regulated.
(a) A nonconforming sign shall not be structurally altered or repaired so as to prolong its useful life or so as to change its shape, size, type, or design unless such change shall make the sign conforming.
(b) A nonconforming sign shall not be replaced by another nonconforming sign.
(c) A nonconforming sign shall not be expanded, relocated, or modified in any way that would increase the degree of nonconformity of such sign.
(d) A nonconforming sign shall not be reestablished after obsolescence as defined in division (D) above.
(e) A nonconforming sign must not be reestablished after damage or destruction if the estimated expense of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the appraised replacement cost as determined by the Zoning Administrator or if 50% or more of the face of the sign is damaged or destroyed.
(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 372, passed 6-8-2015) Penalty, see § 154.999
OFF-STREET PARKING, LOADING, AND ACCESS CONTROL
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