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(a) General.
(1) A person or organization, may engage in these activities without a license, but in this case, a review by the Director must be performed to ensure that the sign conforms with all aspects of this Article.
(2) The licensing provisions of this Section apply only to a business which chooses to provide certification that sign related activity is in conformance with this Article.
(3) A license must be issued jointly to the business and to a person who is principally employed by the business and responsible for supervising the sign related activity. A business may obtain licenses for multiple employees.
(4) A license is not transferable. If the person and the business holding a license terminate their association, the license becomes invalid and a new license must be obtained.
(5) A license is issued based upon the information submitted at the time of application. Any changes in the information must be submitted to the Director promptly.
(b) Application for License. An application for a sign installer license must include the following:
(1) The joint applicants for a license must submit a complete application on a form approved by the Director, indicating:
(A) the complete business identification including the address and telephone number of the business, the names of the principals, partners, and officers, and any affiliates of the business;
(B) a statement of the experience, education, and training of the principal employee in the sign related activity;
(C) other information which the Director may require.
(2) A certificate of current general liability insurance, from an insurance company qualified to do business in the State of Maryland, of at least $500,000 single limit for bodily injury and property damage per occurrence including contractual liability, personal injury and independent contractors must accompany the application form.
(3) A check in the amount of the application fee, examination fee, and license fee.
(c) Examination.
(1) The applicant must establish and the Director may verify the minimum eligibility requirements of an applicant to be examined for a license as follows:
(A) the applicant must have been regularly and principally employed in sign related activity for 2 years immediately preceding the application. The Director may credit the 2 years of experience upon certification of relevant education at a trade school or other educational institution which the Director deems to be comparable. One year (30 semester hours or Continuing Education Units) of relevant education may be considered as one year of experience. The Director may credit up to the maximum of 2 years of experience with education.
(B) the applicant must be of good character. The Director may ascertain the character of the applicant from the references provided by the applicant and from independent sources, including the office of consumer affairs, the State of Maryland Office of the Attorney General, and the records of the department.
(2) Upon the applicants satisfying the minimum requirements and filing a complete application for a license, the Director must provide the applicant with access to the sign ordinance and other related regulations and must schedule the applicant for an examination.
(3) The applicant must receive a passing grade on an examination based upon the standards of this Article and administered by the Director.
(4) The Director must grade the examination within 20 days of the examination date and notify the applicant, in writing, within 10 days of determining the results of the examination.
(5) An applicant who fails to pass the examination is entitled to one reexamination, without resubmitting the license application. An applicant who fails to pass the reexamination must submit a new application for a license.
(d) Renewals.
(1) A license is valid for one year from the date of issuance, and may be renewed by applying in person at the department.
(2) Applicants for renewal must provide to the Director:
(A) certification that the insurance requirements of Section 59-F-9.2(b)(2) remain in compliance;
(B) a check in the amount of the renewal fee; and
(C) other information which the Director may require.
(e) Denial, Suspension or Revocation.
(1) The Director may suspend, revoke, refuse to issue, or deny renewal of a license if the applicant or licensee:
(A) has secured the license through misrepresentation;
(B) has failed to correct without additional charge, violations of any provisions of this Article;
(C) has been found by a court or the Board of Appeals to have violated the same provision of this Article more than 2 times;
(D) has been found guilty of deceptive business practices;
(E) has committed an act of gross negligence; or
(F) has failed to notify the Director of changes to the information required on the license application.
(2) The Director must provide written notice to the applicant or licensee of any action taken under paragraph (1) above. The notice must:
(A) contain a statement of:
1. the reasons for the action taken; and
2. the right of appeal to the Board of Appeals; and
(B) be delivered:
1. personally to the applicant, licensee, or authorized business representative; or
2. sent by certified mail to the local address in the license application.
(3) A license may be suspended for up to 120 days upon a finding by the Director that a violation of paragraph (1) has occurred.
(4) Following a revocation or refusal to renew, a licensee may request reinstatement after one year has elapsed.
(5) The suspension, revocation, denial or refusal to issue or renew a sign installer’s license may be appealed to the Board of Appeals in accordance with Section 59-F-10.3.
(Legislative History: Ord. No. 13-76, §1.)