(a) License required. Except for those signs not requiring a permit, as listed in Section 1155.03, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, move, improve, remove or convert any sign without having a general contractors license in good standing issued by the City according to the provisions of Chapter 1327 of Part 13 of the Codified Ordinances of Springfield, Ohio, unless it is the owner of the business when the sign is being installed by that owner.
(b) Permit required. No sign requiring a permit shall be erected, altered, moved, improved or converted without first obtaining a sign permit from the Community Development Director or his/her designee and making payment of the required permit fee. In addition, an electrical permit for all illuminated signs shall be obtained.
(c) Permit fees. Every applicant, before being issued a sign permit, shall pay to the City such fee as shall be established. However, any person found to be erecting, altering, moving, improving or converting any sign prior to the issuance of a permit, or who has erected, altered, moved, improved or converted a sign prior to the issuance of a permit, shall be charged double the normal fee. The payment of such double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of these regulations in the execution of the work, nor from any other penalties.
(d) Permits for illuminated signs. Applications for signs in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used, shall be submitted to the Building Official or his/her designee. The Building Official or his/her designee shall examine the plans and specifications for all wiring and connections to determine if they comply with the Electrical Code.
(e) Temporary Sign Permits. The Community Development Director or his/her designee may issue Temporary Sign Permits, subject to the following limitations:
(1) No temporary sign shall be permitted if displaying the sign will be injurious to or contrary to the purposes to be accomplished by Chapter 1155 Sign Requirements.
(2) If the temporary sign is not firmly attached to the ground or to a building, the temporary sign shall be constructed so as to be able to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 80 miles per hour without falling over or blowing away.
(3) No sign shall be displayed for more than thirty (30) consecutive days.
(4) No more than six (6) Temporary Sign Permits shall be issued to any one occupied unit within any one (1) calendar year.
(5) No more than one Temporary Sign permit shall be issued to any one occupied unit for display of a temporary sign during any one time.
(6) No more than one (1) temporary sign shall be displayed for every 100 linear feet of frontage in a commercial development.
(7) Signs shall not be located closer than 10 feet from the property line or lease line for the address separating such address from the adjacent address.
(8) Additional signage or exceptions to these regulations may be requested through a conditional use permit application to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(9) A minimum time period of fourteen (14) consecutive days in which no temporary signage is displayed must elapse between the removal and placement of any subsequent temporary signage.
(10) Expired and non-permitted temporary signs are to be defined and treated as 'rubbish' pursuant to Chapter 1323 of Part 13 of the Codified Ordinances of Springfield, Ohio, for the purposes of removal by the City.
(f) Applications. Application for a sign permit shall be made upon a form provided by the Community Development Director or his/her designee and shall contain and have attached thereto a plot plan with the following information; unless the Community Development Director or his/her designee determines that one or more of the following items is not need for a particular application:
(1) Name, address, telephone number and license number (when applicable) of the applicant and owner.
(2) Location of the sign and of the building, structure or lot on which the sign is to be attached or erected. The plot plan for free standing or monument signs shall include existing driveways and the signs setback from such driveways and the lot lines.
(3) Two blueprints or drawings of the plans and specifications of the sign with dimensions, notation of materials, the type of construction and method of attachment to the ground or building.
(4) Copy of stress sheets and calculations showing the structure is designed in accordance with the Building Code when required by the building Code.
(5) An application for an electrical permit for signs using electricity.
(6) Such other information as may be required.
(g) Permit issued. Upon the filing of an application for a sign permit, it shall be the duty of the Community Development Director or his designee to examine such application. If the proposed sign is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the City or State, the sign permit shall then be issued.
(h) Permit expiration. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six months after the date of issuance, said permit shall become null and void. Temporary Sign Permits shall contain an expiration date which shall not be more than 30 days after the issuance date of the permit.
(Ord. No. 10-242. Passed 8-3-10.)