No person shall erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain within the City without first obtaining a permit from the Building Commissioner and making payment of the fees required hereof.
(a) Sign Permit Required.
(1) Repairs or maintenance not involving structural or electrical changes may be permitted without obtaining a permit. No sign structure for which a permit has been issued and which has been erected shall be removed without written application and approval of the Building Commissioner.
(2) No person may erect, alter or relocate any of the sign without first obtaining a permit from the Building Commissioner, approval from the Planning Commission, approval from City Council, and paying the required fees, with the exception of:
A. Signs that are two (2) square feet in area or less located in U-1 Single Family House Districts;
B. Window signs, and
C. Temporary signs that are not more than six (6) square feet in area nor more than four (4) feet in height.
(3) Routine maintenance or changing parts of signs shall not be considered an alteration of a sign, provided that the maintenance or change of parts does not alter the type of installation, surface area, heights, or otherwise make the sign non conforming.
(b) Electrical Permit Required. In addition to complying with the provisions of this Chapter, all signs in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall be regulated pursuant to the Codified Ordinances of the City of Warrensville Heights.
(c) Application for Sign Permit. Applications for sign permits shall be made upon forms provided by the Building Department and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(1) Date of application.
(2) Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(3) Location of building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign or other advertising structure is to be attached or erected.
(4) Position of the sign or other advertising structure in relation to nearby buildings or structures.
(5) Two drawings of the plans and specifications and method of construction and attachment to the building or method of installation in the ground.
(6) Name of the person, firm, corporation or association erecting the structure.
(7) Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the structure is to be erected.
(8) Such other information as the Building Department shall be required to show full compliance with this and all other ordinances of the City.
(d) Issuance of Permits.
(1) Upon determining that a sign application is complete and accurate, the Building Commissioner shall submit the sign application to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendation.
(2) The Planning Commission shall review the application for compliance with this Chapter and shall make a recommendation for approval, approval with modifications, or denial of the application to City Council.
(3) Any sign application which requires a variance shall first be submitted to the Board of Zoning Appeals for consideration.
(4) Upon approval of a sign application by City Council, the Building Commissioner shall issue a sign permit and, if required, an electrical permit for erection of the sign. No permit shall be issued for any permanent sign without the approval of City Council.
(f) Validity of Permit. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within one (1) year after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(g) Fees. Fees for sign permits shall be charged in accordance with the schedule of sign fees as established and periodically revised by City Council.
(h) Permit Revocable at any Time. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this chapter or any amendment hereto, are mere licenses revocable at any time by City Council.
(i) Revocation. The Building Commissioner is hereby authorized to revoke any permit issued by him or City Council upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provisions of this chapter.
(j) Failure to Obtain a Permit. Any person who erects, alters or moves a permanent sign after the effective date of this Chapter without obtaining a permit as required by this section, shall be subject to a penalty and or remedy as provided by Section 1163.99. (Ord. 2020-124. Passed 11-4-20.)