1321.04 PERMITS.
   (a)   Permit Required. No person shall erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain within the Municipality any commercial or identification sign or other advertising structure except those exempted in subsection (g) hereof without first obtaining a sign permit from the Village of Woodmere and making payment of the fee required by subsection (d) hereof, except that repairs or maintenance not involving structural or usage changes may be permitted without first obtaining a permit.
(Ord. 1995-61. Passed 6-21-95.)
   (b)   Application for Permit. Application for signage permits shall be made by the property owner or the owner's agent on the owner's behalf upon blank forms provided by the Village Building Inspector and shall contain the following information:
      (1)   The name, address and phone number of the property owner or owner's agent with respect to the request and the name, address, and phone number of the person or company responsible for the construction, erection and installation.
      (2)   With requests for permits for freestanding signs, a site plan showing the subject lot with the locations of all structures and signs. In addition, the site plan should show the location of public streets, sidewalks, or curbs and buildings on adjacent properties when proposed signage is within fifty feet of any of these.
      (3)   For all signage requiring a permit, copies in such number as determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission of a scale drawing of the proposed signage showing all text and graphics, with color scheme and samples. Documentation should include sign construction, erection, and installation specifications.
      (4)   For projects where new signage for three or more parties is proposed or anticipated, a Master Signage Plan shall be submitted showing the information described in (b)(3) above for all proposed or anticipated signage on the property.
      (5)   Documentation that the request is in compliance with this chapter and with all other ordinances of the Village. This shall include an accounting of used vs. allowable signage area and, for properties where three or more tenants display commercial signage, demonstration that the sign conforms to an approved "Master Signage Plan".
         (Ord. 1994-41. Passed 5-18-94.)
   (c)   Referral of Application to Planning and Zoning Commission; Issuance. The Building Inspector, upon receiving an application for a sign permit, shall examine such plans, specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign or other advertising structure. If it appears that the proposed sign is in compliance with this chapter and all other ordinances of the Municipality, the application shall be referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission within ten business days from receipt of the application, whose approval must be obtained before the permit is issued. The Planning and Zoning Commission has the discretion to waive the submission of any items as it deems appropriate. The Planning and Zoning Commission may refer any submission to the Architectural Review Board for review of aesthetic effects upon the building or surrounding property, if it deems necessary. When approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the application shall be returned to the Building Inspector who shall then issue the permit within three business days. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six months after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(Ord. 1995-61. Passed 6-21-95.)
   (d)   Permit Fees. Every applicant, before being granted a sign permit, shall pay to the Municipality the following permit fee for each sign or other advertising structure regulated by this chapter, except those exempted by subsection (g) hereof. A fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for each sign permit for a permanent sign and a fee as provided in Section 1321.03(r)(1)B. for each temporary commercial sign permit shall be paid to the Municipality for each permit required by this chapter.
   (e)   Revocability of Permits. All rights and privileges acquired under this chapter are mere licenses granted for the duration of the requested use only and are revocable at any time by the Building Inspector. All permits are conditioned upon the continued use of the premises or business for the purpose set forth in the application for the permit.
   (f)   Authority to Revoke. The Building Inspector is hereby authorized to revoke any permit issued by the Village upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1994-41. Passed 5-18-94.)
   (g)   Permit Exemptions. The permit provisions of this section shall not apply to the following signs; such signs, however, are still subject to the other requirements and limitations provided for in this chapter:
      (1)   Signs located in any residential district of the Village.
      (2)   Any sign advocating action or non-action on a public issue or idea, promoting the advocacy of any candidate, or expressing or commenting upon any political, sociological, philosophical, religious or other issue.
      (3)   Non-illuminated real estate signs not exceeding four square feet in area and not more than one per lot which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the business premises upon which such signs are located.
      (4)   Directory signs not exceeding two square feet in area, containing only the name of the occupant or tenant, the title of the person practicing a profession, the name of the building or property, the name of the agent and the hours and days of operation;
      (5)   Bulletin boards not exceeding fifteen square feet in area erected upon the premises of a public institution for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities or services;
      (6)   "Open" and/or "Closed" and "Hours of Business" non-illuminated signs not exceeding one square foot in area.
      (7)   Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and dates of erection, provided that such signs do not exceed two square feet in area;
      (8)   Traffic or other Municipal signs, directional signs, handicapped access and parking signs, railroad crossing signs, danger signs and such temporary emergency signs as may be approved by Council;
      (9)   Temporary signs, except as provided in Section 1321.03(r)(1)B. and C. and (2);
      (10)   Security signs, provided that such signs shall not exceed one square foot in area. Such signs shall be mounted not more than three feet above the ground nor more than five feet from the foundation wall or from plantings of a height equal to or greater than the installed sign.
         (Ord. 1995-61. Passed 6-21-95.)