(A) Administration.
(1) Except where herein otherwise stated, the provisions of this subchapter shall be administered by the Building Inspector or by deputies of his or her Department as he or she may designate to enforce provisions of this subchapter.
(2) The Building Inspector (or his or her authorized representative) is hereby empowered in performance of its functions to enter upon any land in the city for the purpose of making inspections, examinations and surveys, or to place and maintain thereon markers, notices or signs required to effect provisions of this subchapter.
(3) The above authorized person shall be required to present proper credentials upon demand when entering upon any land or structure for the purpose of this subchapter.
(B) Duties of the Building Inspector.
(1) The Building Inspector shall have the power to grant sign permits, and to make inspections of buildings or premises necessary to carry out his or her duties in the enforcement of this subchapter.
(2) Unless otherwise provided in this subchapter or other provisions of this code, it shall be improper for the Building Inspector to approve plans or issue any permits or certificates for any sign until he or she has inspected the plans in detail and found them to conform with this subchapter, nor shall the Building Inspector vary or change any terms of this subchapter.
(3) If the Building Inspector shall find that any of the provision of this subchapter are being violated, he or she shall notify in writing the person responsible for the violations, indicating the nature of the violation and stating the action necessary to correct it. He or she shall order discontinuance of illegal use of land, buildings or structures; removal of illegal signage; discontinuance of any illegal work being done; or shall take any other action authorized by this subchapter to ensure compliance with or to prevent violation of its provisions.
(C) Permit required.
(1) Generally. It shall be unlawful to commence or to proceed with the erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension or moving or any sign or sign structure or any portion thereof without first having applied in writing to the Building Inspector for a sign permit to do so and a sign permit has been granted therefore. Primary responsibility for securing the necessary permits shall be the property owner’s. However, if the property owner should contract part or all of the proposed work, it shall become the responsibility of the person or firm hired to ensure that all required permits and approvals have been secured prior to any work being initiated.
(2) Exception. No permit shall be required for signs or banners attached to or painted on interior windows or doors. The door or window signs or banners shall not cover more than 50% of the total window or door area to which they are applied.
(3) Form. Application for permits shall be made in a form as required by the Building Inspector. There shall be a separate permit for each sign to be constructed, altered or erected.
(4) Fee. The applicant for a sign permit shall pay a fee to the Building Inspector as follows:
SIGNS | |
Sign Size | Fee |
SIGNS | |
Sign Size | Fee |
0 - 24 square feet | $25 |
25 - 49 square feet | $50 |
50 - 74 square feet | $75 |
75 - 99 square feet | $100 |
100 - 150 square feet | $150 |
Over 150 square feet | $300 |
Temporary signs | $50 |
Poster Panel - Billboards
| |
Billboard Size | Fee |
0 - 199 square feet | $300 |
200 - 300 square feet | $500 |
(5) Expiration. Any sign permit issued hereunder, shall expire and be void unless:
(a) Construction work has been commenced within six months after the date of issuance of the permit; and
(b) Construction has been completed within one year of the time of issuance of the permit.
(D) Voiding of sign permit. A permit may be revoked by the Building Inspector at any time prior to the completion of the sign for which the same was issued, when it shall appear to the Building Inspector that there is departure from the plans, specifications or conditions as required under the terms of the permit, that the same was procured by false representation, or that any provisions of this subchapter are being violated. Written notice of the revocation shall be served upon the owner, his or her agent or contractor, or upon any person employed on the building or structure for which the permit was issued, via a stop-work order, which shall be posted in a prominent location, and thereafter no the construction shall proceed.
(E) Compliance with sign permits. Sign permits on the basis of approved plans and applications authorize only the use, arrangement and construction set forth in the approved plans and applications, and no other use, arrangement or construction. Any use, arrangement or construction at variance with the authorized shall be deemed a violation of this subchapter as provided herein.
(1980 Code, § 29.1404) (Ord. 9104, passed 4-2-2007) Penalty, see § 162.999