CHAPTER 7
SIGNS
ARTICLE 2. PERMITS, FEES, INSPECTIONS, APPROVALS AND INDEMNIFICATIONS
SECTION:
§3222 Building, Encroachment, And Electrical Permits
§3224 Signs Exempted From Permit Requirements
§3220 PERMITS REQUIRED
Except as otherwise provided within these regulations, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign within the city limits, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit for each such sign from the building inspector as required by these regulations. These directives shall not be construed to require any permit for the repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a permit has been previously issued, so long as the sign or sign structure is not modified in any way. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)
§3221 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
Application for such permits shall be made upon forms provided by the building inspector and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information and material:
A. The consent of the owner or person entitled to possession or their authorized representative or the sign user (name, address and telephone number).
B. Name, address, telephone number, license number of the sign contractor or sign erector as required by ordinance.
C. A plot plan indicating the location of the building, structure, lot or parcel of property to which or upon which the sign or other advertising structure is to be placed or erected, including data showing building elevation and street frontages.
D. A detailed sketch with color swatches depicting the sign or sign structure and its relation to the building or use which it intends to identify.
E. Copies of a plan showing:
1. Position of sign or other advertising structure in relation to adjacent buildings or structures.
2. Construction design, size and type of material used.
3. A statement or diagram depicting the size and dimensions of all existing permanent advertising displays on the premises at the time of application. Current dated photographs may be used for this purpose. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)
§3222 BUILDING, ENCROACHMENT, AND ELECTRICAL PERMITS
A building permit shall be required for any sign which, in the opinion of the chief building official, constitutes a structure or structural alteration. An electrical permit shall be required for any sign to be served by electricity. An encroachment permit shall be required from the city public works department for any sign located within or projecting into the public right of way. Applications for encroachment permits under this article shall be filed with the public works department accompanied by a plot plan sufficient to show the details of the proposed sign size, height, any other information deemed necessary by the planning director or public works director, and application fees established from time to time by resolution of the city council adopted in accordance with the procedures required by law. The public works director retains the right to revoke any issued encroachment permit for a sign in the right of way determined to be a nuisance or detrimental to the public safety or convenience. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983; Ord. 1106, §1, adopted 2008)
§3223 ISSUANCE OF PERMITS
The director of community development shall issue a permit for the erection, alteration or relocation of a sign within the city when an application therefor has been properly made and the sign complies with all appropriate laws and regulations of the city.
Every permit issued by the director of community development under the provisions of this article shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within sixty (60) days from the date of such permit, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days or more at any time after the work is commenced. Before such work can be commenced or resumed thereafter a new permit shall first be obtained and the fee therefor shall be one-half (1/2) the amount required for a new permit for such work, provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work; and provided further, that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year.
The director of community development may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under provisions of this article whenever the permit is issued on the basis of a material omission or misstatement of fact, or in violation of any provisions of this article.
A. Revocation: The building inspector may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of these regulations whenever the permit is issued on the basis of a misstatement or omission of material fact or fraud or failure to comply with this ordinance.
B. Review: The building inspector may, in writing, deny issuance of a permit when in fact the sign or sign structure in question requires review and opinion for quality construction and design standards. Such review of the application will then be conducted by the building code board of appeals and a decision rendered within fourteen (14) working days after the initial permit application was filed with the city. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)
§3224 SIGNS EXEMPTED FROM PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
The following signs do not require a sign permit:
A. Professional or business signs in residential zones not to exceed two (2) square feet in area for home occupations as allowed by the zoning ordinance.
B. For real estate signs, no single face may exceed six (6) square feet for each single-family home or duplex, and sixteen (16) square feet for multiple-family uses. Signs for commercial uses may not exceed thirty two (32) square feet per face. These signs must be removed when the property is taken off the market.
C. One political campaign sign on private property not exceeding four (4) square feet in area or four feet (4') in height. These signs shall be removed within ten (10) days following the elections. Such signs should not be erected prior to eighty-eight (88) days before the election. Property owners and residents are strongly encouraged to comply with this eighty-eight (88) day limit. The City shall post on the portion of its website where the City posts the "voluntary spending limit candidates/committees" list pursuant to section 2081D7 of this code, a list of candidates and campaign committees who have committed in writing to distributing and posting campaign signs on private property no more than eighty-eight (88) days before the election.
D. Names of buildings or dates of erection of buildings when cut in a masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
E. Traffic or other municipal signs, railroad crossing signs, danger and other such emergency signs including wording painted on streets.
F. Signs of a directional nature for special events not to exceed twenty four (24) square feet each to be allowed for the duration of the event, but not to exceed fourteen (14) days.
G. Permanent signs serving as directional signs to institutes of an educational, religious, charitable or civic nature not to exceed four (4) square feet in area.
H. Directional signs located within parking lots identifying the entrance and exit and other directional information only. Such signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet each or eight (8) square feet for all such signs per acre of parking.
I. Signs showing the location of public telephones, restrooms and underground utility facilities.
J. Signs (or decals) advertising credit cards, association memberships or trading stamps not to exceed two (2) square feet for each sign.
K. Holiday lights, decorations and displays, provided such lights, decorations and displays are removed within ten (10) days after the holiday.
L. Any sign, posting, notice, etc., placed by or required by a governmental entity in carrying out its responsibility to protect the general health and welfare of the community.
M. Street signs and address numbers.
N. Downtown parking district signs with business identification.
O. Signs prohibiting parking on private property in conformance with section 7389 of this code. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983; Ord. 1106, §2, adopted 2008; Ord. 1208, §2, adopted 2020)