(A) Exemptions. The provisions and regulations of this subchapter shall not apply to the following signs:
(1) Hours and business numbers identifying the address of a parcel of land;
(2) Announcement or professional signs and name plates in residential zoning districts identifying the occupant of a parcel of land and not exceeding one square foot in area;
(3) Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal;
(4) Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, municipality, educational institution, or non-profit organization;
(5) Traffic or other municipal signs, such as legal notices, railroad crossings, danger, and other emergency signs as may be approved by the County Board;
(6) Community special event signs approved by the County Board;
(7) Bulletin boards not over 12 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises of said institutions set back ten feet from all property lines;
(8) Signs used exclusively for traffic direction, on private streets, or in parking areas, not exceeding ten square feet in area and not illuminated. Such signs shall be placed so as not to cause traffic or pedestrian hazards;
(9) Non-electric or electric signs which do not require approval of the Economic Development Office, inside buildings which are visible from the outside, and all other signs inside buildings which are not visible from the outside;
(10) Community information signs advertising events or promotions not conducted on the premises which are sponsored by religious, charitable, business, or other associations and organizations; and
(11) Credit card signs or stickers affixed to windows.
(B) Permits required. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, structurally alter, or relocate within the county any sign as defined in this subchapter, except temporary signs, without first obtaining an erection permit from the Economic Development Office and making payment of the fee as required by this section. All signs that have electrical provisions shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the electrical code and the permit fees required thereunder.
(1) Every applicant, before being granted an erection permit hereunder, shall pay a permit fee for each such sign and sign structure regulated by this subchapter. Unless otherwise specified in this subchapter, each sign shall be considered a separate structure requiring its own permit.
(a) Permit fees shall be based on the market value of the sign at the time when said permit is applied for.
(b) The permit fee shall be $5 for the first $200 of valuation and $2 for each additional $200 of valuation or part thereof up to $1,000 of valuation. Each additional $1,000 of valuation or part thereof shall be assessed a permit fee of $5.
(2) (a) The owner of any building to which a sign is to be attached, said sign to encroach or hang over public right-of-way shall, before any permit be granted for construction or installation of said sign, furnish the county satisfactory evidence of liability insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $100,000 liability coverage on account of any one accident, from an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, with an endorsement thereon holding the county harmless from any claims or causes of action arising out of the installation or maintenance of said sign.
(b) The owner of any building to which a sign has been attached prior to the passage of this subchapter, which said sign encroaches or hangs over the public right-of-way, shall comply with the insurance requirements of this section within 30 days after enactment of this subchapter.
(3) It shall be the duty of the Economic Development Office, upon filing of an application for an erection permit, to examine such plans, specifications, and other data relating to the proposed sign and sign structure. If it appears that the proposed sign and sign structure is in compliance with all the requirements of the building code, this subchapter, and all other laws and ordinances of the county, the Economic Development Office shall then issue an erection permit. If the work authorized under an erection permit has not been completed within six months after date of issuance, said permit shall become null and void, except that if good cause is shown, the Economic Development Office may extend the permit for not more than one consecutive six-month period.
(4) (a) The application for an erection permit of a sign in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall be submitted to the Economic Development Office.
(b) The Economic Development Office shall examine the plans and specifications respecting all wiring and connections to determine if the same complies with the electrical code of the county and then shall issue an electrical permit if the said plans and specifications comply with said code.
(C) Application for erection permit. An application for erection permits shall be made upon applications provided by the Economic Development Office and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(1) Name, address, and telephone number of the person erecting the sign;
(2) Location of building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected;
(3) Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(4) Written consent of the owner or authorized representative of the building, structure, or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected;
(5) When requested by the Economic Development Office, blueprints or drawings of the plans and/or specifications, and method of construction, attachment to the building or in the ground, and the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings, structures, or other signs;
(6) When requested by the Economic Development Office, a copy of stress sheets and calculations showing that the sign and sign structure are designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by this and other laws and ordinances of the county;
(7) Location and size of the proposed sign;
(8) Proof of insurance policy of bond; and
(9) Such other information as the Economic Development Office may require to show full compliance with this and all other ordinances of the county.
(D) Revocation of permit. The Economic Development Office is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued by him or her upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provisions of this subchapter.
(E) Structural and fabrication regulations. All signs shall be built, constructed, and erected in accordance with the building code, other ordinances of the county, and the Maintenance and Improvement Manual published by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Inc.
(1) Design of signs. Every freestanding elevated sign, including the frames and poles or supports and footings, and every attached projecting sign, including frames, braces, and supports thereof, shall be designed by a structural or manufacturer’s engineer in conformance with wind pressure and dead load requirements established in this subchapter and in accordance with the building code and other ordinances of the county.
(2) Erection of signs. Every elevated freestanding sign shall be erected under the supervision of an experienced construction superintendent or manufacturer’s representative capable of interpreting the construction and erection drawings required in order to assure conformance with all provisions of this subchapter.
(3) Markings on signs. In addition to sign markings as required in the electrical code, every sign hereafter erected shall have permanently affixed on the exterior of the sign the date of erection and the permit number, which shall not be covered in any future reconditioning or painting of said sign.
(4) Treating required. The owner of any sign (existing or proposed) shall be required to have it properly painted, galvanized, or otherwise treated to prevent rust and deterioration of all parts and supports of the said sign.
(5) Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure and to receive dead loads as required in the building code or any other ordinance of the county.
(6) No glass permitted. No glass shall be permitted except in the lighting mechanism.
(7) Lights. Lights shall be permitted on signs, providing they are made of corrosion-resistant materials. The lights shall be provided with proper lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign and preventing glare upon the street or adjacent property. All lighted signs in residential zoning districts, or on property which adjoins or abuts a residentially used property along the front or side lot lines shall be of the illuminated type.
(8) Electrical connections. All electrical connections shall be weather-tight.
(9) Movable parts to be secure. Any movable part of any sign, such as the cover of a service opening, shall be securely fastened.
(10) Face of sign shall be smooth. All signs or other advertising structures which are constructed at the property line, or within five feet thereof, and are less than ten feet above the ground over which they are located, shall not have a surface with nails, tacks, or wires that protrude therefrom, except electrical reflectors and devices which may extend over the top and in front of the advertising structures.
(11) Letters to be secure. All letters, figures, characters, or representatives in cutout or irregular form maintained in conjunction with, attached to, or superimposed upon any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure and shall comply with the building code requirements.
(12) Materials required.
(a) The support structures of all freestanding elevated and roof signs for which a permit is required under this subchapter shall be constructed of incombustible material, excluding trim.
(b) The facings of freestanding elevated and roof signs and facings, and supports of freestanding ground, attached projecting, attached wall, and outdoor advertising signs are allowed to be constructed of combustible materials if it is determined that they do not increase the fire hazard of the structure.
(13) Supplementary signs. No supplementary sign or other appendage may be hung from or supported by an approved sign or its support if it will adversely affect the structure of the approved sign or make the approved sign non-conforming.
(F) Signs not to constitute a traffic hazard. No sign as regulated by this subchapter shall be erected at the intersection of any street, alley, or driveway in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; or which makes use of the words “STOP,” “LOOK,” “DANGER,” or any other word, phrase, or symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
(Ord. passed 5-16-2023) Penalty, see § 154.999