(A) Generally. Encroachment by a sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object as prohibited by § 91.110 may be allowed by a permit issued by the Building Inspector after being approved by the City Council. There is no right to a permit or the continuation of a permit. All permits issued shall be revocable at the pleasure of the City Council or as provided herein.
(B) Types of permits. Permits issued hereunder may either be continuing permits or temporary permits. All permits shall be considered revocable. A continuing permit shall allow the continued encroachment by a sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object until revoked by the City Council or as provided herein. A temporary permit shall allow the encroachment by a sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object only for so long as is stated in the temporary permit and, in no event, more than 30 consecutive days. A temporary permit may be sooner revoked, however, by the City Council or as provided herein.
(C) Application for permit. Any person firm or corporation desiring to erect, place, locate or allow to remain, any sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object otherwise prohibited pursuant to § 91.110 shall apply in writing to the City Council. The application shall be filed with the Building Inspector and be in the form, if any, as the Building Inspector may prescribe. The application shall include the following information, at a minimum:
(1) The location of the proposed sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object;
(2) The purpose for which the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object is to be erected, placed, located or allowed to remain;
(3) The exact lettering, marks, arrows, symbols, information, directions or advertisements, if any, to be contained thereon;
(4) The size, dimension and proposed placement of the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object;
(5) The lighting, if any, of the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object, including, in addition to any other relevant information, the number and type of globes or lights to be used, the total wattage or candle power thereof and whether the same will be pulsating;
(6) A statement as to whether the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object is to be continuing or temporary; and, if temporary, the dates or time period for which the permit is desired; and
(7) Any other information which may be material or is requested by the Building Inspector.
(D) Review of application. The Building Inspector shall review all applications for permits and forward the same together with the Building Inspector’s recommendations to the City Council.
(E) Issuance of permit. If approved by the City Council, the Building Inspector shall issue a revocable permit in accordance with the application, but subject to reservations or qualifications as the City Council may prescribe. In the case of temporary permits, the permit shall specifically provide that it is limited to a time period specified therein and, in no event, more than 30 consecutive days. Further temporary permits may be applied for. Generally, however, temporary permits will not be issued for a particular location more than 30 days in any 12-month period. Further, no continuing permit will be granted for any sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object located upon (as opposed to overhanging) any sidewalk, street, alley, park way or other similar publicly owned areas in the city.
(F) Permit fees.
(1) Generally. Prior to the issuance of a permit hereunder, the applicant shall pay to the city a permit fee as herein provided. The fee shall be collected by the Building Inspector.
(2) Continuing permits. If the device or object contains any lettering, marks, arrows, symbols, information, directions or advertisements, the fee for a continuing permit shall be $0.50 per square foot or fraction thereof of the exposed sides of the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object, provided, however, that the fee shall in no event be less than $15. In determining square feet, the entire device or object as squared off shall be considered regardless of whether its entire surface contains any lettering, marks, arrows, symbols, information, directions or advertisements. If the device or object does not contain any lettering, marks, arrows, symbols, information, directions or advertisements, the fee shall be $15.
(3) Temporary permits. The fee for a temporary permit shall be $10 for 30 consecutive days, or any part thereof.
(4) Waiver of fee. The City Council reserves the right to waive any fees required hereunder if the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object is to be erected, placed or located by or for a charitable or not-for-profit organization or purpose, or otherwise as it shall determine.
(G) Change in sign. No change shall be made to the sign, show board, advertisement, banner, display, awning, canopy or other similar device or object permitted so that it is different than that permitted except as permitted by a new permit. The same fee shall apply for the new permit as established hereunder for initial permits. In the case of a continuing permit, a new permit shall not be required, however, because of the transfer of the real estate to which it applies. Temporary permits, on the other hand, shall terminate automatically.
(1980 Code, § 14.503) Penalty, see § 91.999