(A) Permit required. Except as herein exempted, no person, firm or corporation shall maintain, install, erect, relocate or modify any sign in the city without first obtaining a permit from the city. If a permit is not obtained prior to installation of a permanent sign, the resulting permit fee shall be two times the cost of a sign permit as stated in the fee schedule.
(B) Application and fee. Applications for sign permits shall be made in writing to the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer upon printed forms furnished by the city. Each application for a permit shall set forth the correct legal description of the tract of land upon which the sign presently exists or is proposed to be located, the location of the sign on said tract of land, the manner of construction and materials to be used in the sign, a complete description and sketch of the sign, and such information as the city deems necessary. At the time of application, the applicant shall pay a fee as set forth in the schedule of fees. Upon receipt of the application and the fee payment, the permit application shall be placed on the Park/Planning Commission agenda for its review. Following review and recommendation by the Park/Planning Commission, the application shall be forwarded to the City Council for final action and issuance of the permit if approved, if a sign authorized by permit has not been installed within 90 days from date of issuance, said permit shall become void. No fee shall be refunded.
(C) Maintenance. All signs shall be constructed in such a manner and of such materials as to be safe and substantial. The exposed backs of all signs and sign structures shall be painted in a neutral color. Signs determined by the city to be in a state of disrepair shall be restored to a good repair by the sign owner, or property owner on which the sign is situated, within 30 days after the mailing of written notice of repair from the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer. In the event of non-compliance with said notice, the city shall be authorized to remove said sign at the expense of the sign or property owner. The City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer or other designated city representative may enter at reasonable times, in accordance with § 10.20 any land in the city to inspect or re-inspect any sign.
(D) Removal of outdated sign. Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises or identifies a bona fide open and operating business conducted, service rendered or product sold shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having beneficial use and/or control of the buildings, structure or land upon which the sign may be found. Such sign shall be taken down and removed within 30 days of the discontinuance of the applicable business, service or product, or within ten days of written notice at the city, whichever is less. Upon receipt of a notice from the city, the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use and/or control of the sign may take appropriate actions to paint over or otherwise render the sign blank and, concurrently, apply to the city for authorization to leave the blank sign erected for a defined period of time to be approved by the city so such sign may be used or otherwise completed for the next bona fide business conducted, service rendered or product sold in conjunction with the location of the sign. Such approval shall rest in the sound discretion of the City Council. In the event of non-compliance, the city shall be authorized to remove such sign at the expense of the sign or property owner.
(E) Removal of sign that endangers public safety. The city shall cause to be removed any sign that endangers the public safety, such as abandoned, dangerous or materially, electrically or structurally defective signs, or a sign for which no permit has been issued. The City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer shall prepare a notice that shall describe the sign and specify the violation involved and shall state that if the sign is not removed or the violation corrected within seven days, the sign shall be removed at the expense of the sign or property owner. If the invoice is not timely paid, the city may certify the amount so billed to the property taxes for the property from which the sign was removed in the manner of an assessment in accordance with applicable city codes and state statutes.
(F) Exemption. No permit shall be required for the following signs; provided that, all signs herein exempted from the permit requirements shall conform with all other requirements of this chapter:
(1) Signs placed within a building, but visible from the outside through a window, glass door or other opening;
(2) Signs having an area of two square feet or less;
(3) Campaign signs;
(4) Signs which are entirely within a building and not visible from outside of said building;
(5) Temporary real estate signs;
(6) Address or nameplate signs on or within ten feet of structures; and/or
(7) Directional signs.
(G) Non-conforming signs. Any sign legally existing on the effective date of this chapter that does not conform to the requirements set forth in this chapter shall become a non-conforming use. Non- conforming, permanent signs shall be allowed to continue, but shall not be rebuilt, replaced, materially altered or relocated without being brought into compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. passed 12-17-2014) Penalty, see § 10.99