(a) No sign shall hereafter be erected, reerected, constructed, altered, or maintained, except as provided by this chapter and a permit for same has been issued by the Building Commissioner. A separate permit shall be required for a sign for each business entity, and/or separate permit shall be required for each group of signs on a single supporting structure. In addition, electrical permits shall be obtained for electric signs.
(b) Application for sign permits shall be made upon forms provided by the Building Commissioner and shall include the following:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(2) The name of a person, firm, corporation, or association erecting the sign or sign structure;
(3) Three sets of engineered drawings and specifications for the construction and installation of the signs;
(4) A site plan and the locations of buildings and structures upon which the signs are to be erected or attached;
(5) The building elevations;
(6) The sizes and locations of any existing signs;
(7) Sufficient electrical and manufacturer's information needed to determine the light fixture intensities and photometrices of the sign illumination and to also obtain an electrical permit; and
(8) Such other information as the Building Commissioner shall require to show full compliance with this and all other City laws and ordinances.
(c) A sign permit fee shall be paid in accordance with the schedule established by Table 1305.05(d).
(d) The Building Department shall act on all applications for sign permits on which they are authorized to act pursuant to this Chapter within thirty (30) days of receipt of the completed application and payment of the sign permit fee. The Building Department shall issue either a sign permit or denial letter within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the completed application and payment of the sign permit fee. Denial letters may be appealed to the Appeals Board pursuant to Section 1321.14 of the Codified Ordinances of Norwood, Ohio.
(e) A sign shall not be enlarged or relocated except in conformity to the provisions of this chapter for new signs, nor until a proper permit has been secured. The changing of movable parts of an approved sign that is designed for such changes, or the repainting or reposting of display matter, shall not be deemed an alteration, provided the conditions of the original approval and the requirements of this chapter are not violated.
(f) The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign insofar as requiring the issuance of a sign permit but the signs shall be in conformance with all other building, structural, and electrical laws and regulations of the City:
(1) Changing of the copy or message on an existing approved painted or printed sign, marquee, changeable copy sign, or a similar approved sign which are all specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy;
(2) Painting, repairing, cleaning or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign not involving structural changes. Replacement of a plastic face shall be included as an exempt operation provided that it is due to a change caused by breakage and/or deterioration of the existing sign face, but not for the substitution of a new or different sign face; and
(3) Changes in the content of show window displays and permitted temporary signs.
(g) All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guy wires, and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner or lessee of every sign to maintain the immediate premises occupied by the sign in a clean, sanitary, and healthful condition. The Building Commissioner may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(h) All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the Building Commissioner. Footing inspections may be required by the Building Commissioner for all signs having footings. All signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the governing electrical code and the electrical components used shall bear the label of an approved testing agency. The Building Commissioner may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with provisions of subsection (e) hereof. All signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the Building Commissioner.
(Ord. 15-2017. Passed 5-23-17.)