(a) No sign, except those specifically exempted by this Zoning Ordinance, shall be erected without a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator, application for which shall be accompanied by such scale drawings, photographs, and other information as the building official may require. All signs shall display a tag supplied by the Zoning Administrator as evidence of the permit.
(b) Permits and Fees.
(1) Unless otherwise provided by this Ordinance all new signs shall require a permit. Application for sign permits shall be made to the Zoning Administrator.
(2) Payment of fees to the Village shall be in accordance with the Permit Fee Schedule as fixed by Council.
(3) A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the date of the permit.
(4) No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign, e.g. painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure, or for a change of advertising copy or message on approved painted, printed or changeable copy signs, including theater marquees and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy, so long as the sign area or structure is not modified in any way for the existing owner and/or tenant.
(c) Each application for a Zoning Permit shall include a drawing of the proposed sign showing the following information:
(1) Name and address of the owner of the sign.
(2) Street address or location of the property on which the sign is to be located, along with the name and address of the property owner.
(3) The type of sign or sign structure as defined in this Ordinance.
(4) A site plan with dimensions showing the proposed location of the sign with the measurements from all property lines along with the location of all existing signs and buildings on the same premises and adjacent roadways.
(5) A drawing of the proposed sign showing the following specifications: dimensions, height, design, copy, illumination and construction details (materials, structural supports and electrical components of the proposed sign).
(6) Computations showing total number and area of existing and proposed signs on the lot.
(d) Signs for which a permit is required may be inspected periodically by the Zoning Administrator for compliance with this and other codes of the Municipality.
(e) If a sign is installed, constructed or maintained in violation of any of the terms of this Ordinance, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the owner or lessee thereof to alter such sign so as to comply with this Ordinance. Any owner, lessee or sign contractor who installs a new sign without a permit is subject to three times the normal fee schedule.
(f) The Zoning Administrator may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this Code. The Zoning Administrator shall give 15 days notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure, or premises on which such sign is located, to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. The Zoning Administrator may remove a sign immediately and without notice if, in his opinion, the condition of the sign is such as to present an immediate threat to the safety of the public.
(g) A sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises is no longer conducted on the premises. If the owner or lessee fails to remove it, the Zoning Administrator shall give the owner 15 days written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Zoning Administrator or his duly authorized representative may remove the sign at cost to the owner.
(h) Appeals may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals by the same rights and procedures governing other zoning appeals. Appeals shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator which shall advise the Board of its findings.
(Ord. 11-07. Passed 7-18-07.)