(A) Replacement of or changes in sign copy shall require a permit. No person shall erect or alter any “sign” as herein defined within the Village without securing a permit and complying with the other provisions of this chapter. Routine maintenance, changing parts of a sign or removal of a sign shall not be considered an alteration of a sign requiring a permit, provided that the maintenance, change of parts or removal does not alter the type of installation, surface area, height, or otherwise make the sign nonconforming.
(B) Any person desiring a permit to erect or alter any signs shall make application to the Zoning Administrator by completing an application provided by the Zoning Administrator; and shall furnish the following items and such other information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator in order to show the design, color, component parts, size, area and location of the sign and to show that such sign will comply with this chapter:
1. One drawing of the sign itself reduced to scale to fit on no larger than eight and one-half inch by fourteen inch (81/2" x 14") paper (legal size) showing dimensions of the sign background board, letter, symbols, etc., on same, the proper letter form, and explanation of the materials and construction and naming the color of each component.
2. For window or wall signs, one drawing of the portion of the building elevation attendant to the sign reduced in scale to fit on no larger than eight and one-half inch by fourteen inch (81/2" x 14") paper (legal size) showing in scale and by dimension the sign location and size and dimensions of the major building components and an explanation of the building’s major exterior materials and colors.
3. For ground signs, one site plan showing the location and size of the proposed sign in relationship to the building, sidewalks, public way, etc., reduced to scale to fit on an eleven inch by seventeen inch (11" x 17") piece of paper (tabloid size).
(C) Each application for a permit to erect or alter any sign shall be accompanied by a permit fee of seventy five dollars ($75.00) which shall be non-refundable.
(D) A certificate from a responsible insurance company showing the issuance to the applicant of insurance in an amount not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), insuring the applicant against loss or liability on account of injury to one person, and in the amount of not less than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) for total property damage and personal injuries resulting from a single accident or occurrence must be submitted prior to a permit being issued to erect or alter any sign.
(E) Every such application together with the drawing or sketch of such sign shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator, within thirty (30) days, for compatibility in design, style, size, color and materials both with the building to which it relates and with the character and style of the surrounding area where it is to be located. Following such review, the Zoning Administrator may either approve or deny such application, or may, in their sole discretion, refer it to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review and input prior to approval or denial. Decisions of the Zoning Administrator on sign applications are subject to appeal pursuant to Section 10-2-2-9 of the zoning ordinance.
(F) Signs erected pursuant to an approved application shall be inspected by the Zoning Administrator for compliance with the approved plans. A failure to comply with the approved plans shall void the permit.
(G) No person shall maintain any sign requiring a permit without annually procuring a business license, if applicable, for the business to which the sign pertains, and paying the fees as prescribed in title 3, chapter 1 of this code. (Ord. 2874, 4-16-2015; amd. Ord. 4048, 2-16-2023)