An application for a permit to erect, place, display, alter, move or paint a sign, excluding alterations which do not alter the sign's copy, dimensions or location, shall be made by the owner or lessee of the property for which a sign is proposed or his or her agent. The application shall be submitted to the Building Department on forms furnished by the City and shall be made either separately or with the application for a permit for a building and otherwise in accordance with the Building Code. The fee shall be assessed pursuant to Section 185.04 of these Codified Ordinances.
(a) Permit Required. All signs not exempted under Section 1196.02
shall be subject to the applicable regulations regarding permitted types, number, area, height and location. Permits shall be required for all permanent and temporary signs with the exception of the following:
(1) Free-standing signs, window signs, wall signs, or flags with a noncommercial message displayed in any zoning district having a total sign face area of forty square feet for all sign faces visible from any point along the street frontage. Where a sign has two or more display faces, the area of all faces of the sign shall be included in determining the area of the sign, unless the two faces are joined back-to-back, are parallel to each other, are of equal size and are not more than sixteen inches apart, in which case one face shall be included in determining the area of the sign;
(2) A temporary sign that does not exceed six square feet in area per side and four feet in height displayed on a property with an individual single-family, two-family or townhouse dwelling, or a vacant property intended for such dwelling, that is offered for sale or lease; and
(3) Temporary window signs in Retail Business and Shopping Center Districts as provided for in this chapter.
(b) Contents of Applications. Each application shall present the following information through the use of photographs and drawings at a scale which clearly shows details and the design of the sign:
(1) The design and colored layout of each sign proposed, including the total area of all signs and the area, height, materials and type of lettering of individual signs;
(2) Photographs or drawings of the building for which the signs are proposed and photographs of surrounding buildings, signs and uses. Also included shall be the width of the building or building unit face and the lot dimensions for lots not occupied by buildings;
(3) The number and types of lamps and lens material to be used in any illuminated signs and data showing that the illumination meets the standards established in Section 1196.14(d);
(4) A site plan showing the exact location of each sign in relation to the building and property; and
(5) Details and specifications for construction, erection and attachment as may be required by this chapter, the Building Code, or other applicable provisions in these Codified Ordinances.
(c) Temporary Signs. Permits for temporary signs, where required, shall be issued for periods not exceeding sixty-two days, except that permits for development signs shall be issued for a period not exceeding one year and may be renewed while construction is diligently being pursued. Development signs shall be removed immediately upon placement of a permanent sign.
(d) Planning Commission Approval. Planning Commission approval shall be required for all signs within shopping centers and industrial parks and in all instances where compatibility in design is required in shopping strip areas. A shopping strip area is defined as an area that has four or more retail or commercial establishments abutting or adjoining each other. All other signs shall be approved by the Building Commissioner.
(Ord. 153-22. Passed 9-18-23.)