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Signs, marquees, awnings and similar devices serve many purposes, including identifying businesses and other entities, advertising their products and services, providing hours of operation and other helpful information. These devices, when not constructed, installed, located or maintained properly, however, may present a hazard to life and property. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate signs, marquees, awnings and similar devices in the unincorporated area of the County to insure the public health and safety. This chapter does not apply to signs the County erects or installs.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)
Signs, marquees, awnings and similar devices regulated by this chapter are also subject to regulations contained in: (a) the County Zoning Ordinance, (b) Title 5, Division 1, Chapter 2, regulating light pollution, (c) Title 9, Division 1, Chapters 1 and 2, relating to erection, construction and placement of structures and (d) other chapters in this code relating to specific types of signs. When more than one regulation applies to a device regulated by the Zoning Ordinance or this code the most restrictive regulation shall apply.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
(a) "Awning" means an architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is comprised of a lightweight, rigid skeleton structure over which a covering is attached.
(b) "Banner" means a sign usually made of a flexible material that has limited durability, such as paper, cloth or plastic.
(c) "Director PDS" means the Director of the County Department of Planning and Development Services and any other person hired or appointed by the Director to enforce or administer this chapter.
(d) "Director DPW" means the Director of the County Department of Public Works and any other person hired or appointed by the Director to enforce or administer this chapter.
(e) "Marquee" means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by a building and includes a sign attached to it.
(f) "Parkway" means the distance measured from the curb face to the property line of a road right of way and includes the area normally set aside for sidewalks.
(g) "Projecting sign" means a sign other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or other structure.
(h) "Road right of way" means the area designated for use as a street, including the travel portion of the street, the shoulders, curbs, gutters and parkways.
(i) "Sign" means a device which displays information with words, colors, shapes, lights or symbols to provide information that identifies, promotes, advertises or provides directions to a business or other organization, an event, an individual, a place, a product or service.
(j) "Street" means a County highway, State highway, other public road or alley, or a private thoroughfare at least ten feet wide that connects with a County highway, State highway, other public road or an alley which provides primary access to an abutting lot.
(k) "Vertical sign" means a sign where the horizontal dimension of the sign is less than its vertical dimension.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12)
(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to construct, erect or install or cause another person to construct, erect or install a sign, marquee or awning or other similar device without a building permit. It shall also be unlawful for a person to commence work to construct, erect or install or cause another person to commence work to construct, erect or install a sign, marquee or awning or other similar device without a building permit.
(b) An applicant for a building permit under this section shall submit an application for the permit on a form provided by the Director PDS. The application shall be accompanied by the permit and plan check fees required by the County Administrative Code and contain all information requested on the form. When required by the Director, the application shall also be accompanied by a plot plan and other plans and information the Director deems necessary to determine whether the project as proposed complies with this code and any other applicable laws and requirements.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12)
(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to construct, erect or install or cause another person to construct, erect or install a sign, marquee or awning or other device where a portion of the device overhangs a County maintained road right of way, without an encroachment permit issued by the Director DPW. It shall also be unlawful for a person to commence work to construct, erect or install or cause another person to commence any work to construct, erect or install a sign, marquee or awning or other similar device where a portion of the device overhangs a County maintained road right of way, without an encroachment permit issued by the Director DPW.
(b) An applicant for an encroachment permit under this section shall submit an application for the permit on a form provided by the Director DPW. The application shall be accompanied by the permit and plan check fees required by the County Administrative Code and contain all information requested on the form. When required by the Director, the application shall also be accompanied by a plot plan and other plans and information the Director deems necessary to determine whether the project as proposed is safe and complies with this code and any other applicable laws and regulations.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09; amended by Ord. No. 10323 (N.S.), effective 2-28-14)
Where a person commences work to construct, erect or install, or constructs, erects or installs a sign, marquee or awning or other similar device without a building permit or an encroachment permit required by this chapter, the person shall pay a permit fee equal to double the cost of the permit had the person obtained the permit before commencing work. The purpose of the increased fee is not intended to be a penalty, but is intended to reimburse the County for expenses incurred to enforce this chapter. The County may waive all or part of the fee at the sole discretion of the Director of the enforcing department. A person who is required to pay the extra fee shall not be excused from complying with all the requirements of this chapter and shall be subject to any other penalty prescribed by law.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)
No person shall place or maintain a sign, marquee awning or similar device above a road right of way that obstructs the view of a person traveling on the road right of way and creates a hazardous condition to the person traveling.
(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)
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