(A) Construction and completion; required notice. The person erecting, altering, or relocating a sign shall notify the administrator upon start of construction and upon completion of the work for which permits are required.
(B) Inspections. All free-standing signs may be subject to a footing inspection. All electrical signs may be subjected to a final electrical inspection by the administrator.
(C) Sign permit renewal and certification.
(1) All electric signs and all signs on sign structures over 5 feet high from grade to top of sign shall be inspected every 5 years by a sign company licensed by the city to determine that the sign has been maintained in such a manner as to ensure that the sign is in a safely maintained condition as to the electrical, structural, and material specifications of this code, and shall be tagged to so signify.
(2) Any sign which has not been inspected and tagged within 5 years shall be removed at the owner’s expense unless the permit is obtained and the sign duly tagged within 30 days after written notification by the administrator.
(3) Fees for the 5-year inspection permit shall be negotiated between sign owner and sign company leased by the city.
(4) All signs shall bear a label 2 inches by 4 inches, provided by the administrator, which identifies the permit number under which the sign was constructed. These labels shall be a different color for each year and shall indicate year of issue in 1-inch letters.
(5) The 5-year tag for the certification that the sign is in a safe condition as to its material, electrical, and structural application shall be issued when a sign company licensed by the city has duly certified and filed with the city that the sign meets the structural, electrical, and material specifications set out in this code and all applicable laws and ordinances.
(D) Maintenance. Every sign in the city shall be maintained in good structural condition at all times, and shall be kept neatly painted, including all parts and supports. The administrator shall have the authority to order the painting, repair, alteration, or removal of signs which have become dilapidated or are abandoned, or which constitute physical hazard to the public safety.
(E) Signs declared unlawful. The administrator may declare any sign unlawful if it endangers public safety by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment. Any such declaration shall state the reasons of the administrator for stating that any sign owned, kept, displayed, or maintained by any person within the city, the ownership keeping a display which is unlawful pursuant to the provisions of this code. The administrator may declare any such sign to be unlawful, and this declaration shall state in writing the reason or reasons why the sign and the keeping, owning, maintenance, construction, and display or operation thereof, are unlawful.
(1969 Code, § 15-120) (Ord. 1994-20, passed 7-11-1994) Penalty, see § 10.99