[1]
Cross References — As to buildings and building regulations, ch. 500; as to flood prevention and protection, ch. 410; as to business licenses and regulations, ch. 605; as to property maintenance code, §500.070; as to streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 510; as to subdivisions, ch. 405; as to sign permit fees levied, §400.200; as to zoning, ch. 400.
[R.O. 2009 §18-1; Ord. No. 161 §1, 9-8-1964]
A reasonable number of signs advertising a business upon the
same lot upon which the signs are located shall be permissible within
the City. The signs may be of the marquee, wall, bulletin, projecting,
post, ground, roof, banner, road, occupant identification and gasoline
pump island, "V" shaped, standing or changing variety as these are
defined in the building code and may be eliminated if desired.
[R.O. 2009 §18-2; Ord. No. 209 §1(a — b), 4-9-1968]
A.
This
Chapter contemplates freestanding signs which are independent of any
building upon the lot, as well as signs which hang on or upon or rest
atop a building where a business upon the same lot is transacted.
B.
In
the event there is no building erected upon a lot, no sign shall be
permitted thereon.
[R.O. 2009 §18-3; Ord. No. 209 §1(c — d), 4-9-1968]
A.
In
the event there is a building or buildings erected upon a lot, no
signs which are otherwise permitted by this Chapter to be constructed,
used, maintained or displayed shall exceed the height, plus five (5)
feet, of the roof line of the structure used by the business which
is advertised by the sign as being conducted on the lot.
B.
However,
variances in the height limitation may be authorized by majority vote
of the Board of Aldermen so that a sign which exceeds the height,
plus five (5) feet, of the roof line of the structure used by the
business which is advertised by the sign may be constructed. No such
variance may be permitted which is in excess of ten percent (10%)
of the height, above ground, of any sign which would otherwise be
limited by this Section.
[R.O. 2009 §18-4; Ord. No. 161 §§2 — 3, 9-8-1964; Ord. No. 498 §1(Art. XI §2), 12-28-1982]
A.
No
business, except those in the "E" Planned Shopping Center District,
shall be permitted signs having an aggregate area exceeding one percent
(1%) of the lot area. Their sizes and location shall be determined
by the Building Commissioner.
B.
No
sign hereafter constructed shall be more than one hundred twenty (120)
square feet in area.
[R.O. 2009 §18-5; Ord. No. 161 §4, 9-8-1964; Ord.
No. 557 §1, 11-13-1984]
"V" shaped signs or double-faced signs shall be considered as
one (1) sign insofar as the numerical limitations are concerned, but
the limitation as to area shall apply only to a single face thereof.
[R.O. 2009 §18-6; Ord. No. 161 §5, 9-8-1964; Ord.
No. 706 §1, 6-27-1989]
The owner of every such advertising sign or billboard not connected
with businesses on the premises shall pay the City Collector an annual
tax of twenty cents ($0.20) for each square foot of sign or billboard,
which area shall be computed according to the area enclosed within
the outermost dimensions.
[R.O. 2009 §18-7; Ord. No. 161 §6(a — b), 9-8-1964]
A.
No
person shall hereafter construct, erect, place, paint, display or
maintain any sign for outdoor display within the City except as prescribed
by this Chapter and until after a permit to erect it has been obtained
from the Building Commissioner and the required fee has been paid.
B.
No
such permit shall be issued by the Building Commissioner until after
an application has been filed with him/her, accompanied by duplicate
scale or dimensional drawings, showing the plans and specifications,
dimensions, material the sign is to be constructed of, the details
of construction and in the case of ground signs, the proposed location
with reference to the street line and the walls of adjoining buildings.
When the proposed sign is to be attached to a building or other independent
structure, the drawings shall show the position of the sign on the
supporting structure, the method of attachment to such structure and
the character of the structural member to which such attachment is
made. All construction shall conform to the requirements of the building
code. No sign shall be erected or placed in such a manner as to cause
a hazard by obscuring the vision of motorists or pedestrians.
[R.O. 2009 §18-8; Ord. No. 161 §6, 9-8-1964]
A.
The
application, if filed by any other person than the owner of the premises,
shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner, lessee or
agent of the property upon which the sign is to be erected.
B.
The
Building Commissioner may prescribe suitable regulations, consistent
with the provisions of this Chapter, concerning the form and contents
of all applications for the various forms of permits herein required.
C.
Upon
approval of the application and the payment of proper fees, the Building
Commissioner shall issue a permit for the construction and maintenance
of the proposed sign or billboard, which permit shall bear an identification
number.
D.
Such
permit so issued shall be good for no longer than one (1) year from
the date of issuance.
[R.O. 2009 §18-9; Ord. No. 161 §7, 9-8-1964; Ord.
No. 498 §1(Art. XIV §5), 1-11-1983]
The fees for sign permits and inspections are as provided in
the schedule on file in the City Clerk's office.
[R.O. 2009 §18-10; Ord. No. 161 §8, 9-8-1964]
No signs or advertising shall be placed or constructed to prevent
free ingress or egress to or from any window, door, fire escape or
driveway of any building.
[R.O. 2009 §18-11; Ord. No. 241 §2, 5-11-1971; Ord. No. 534 §2, 7-10-1984]
A portable or temporary sign shall be any sign, emblem or printing
having one (1) or more exposed faces not exceeding thirty-two (32)
square feet for each exposed face, which advertises, directs or classifies
any product or service within or outside the City whether associated
or connected with a business or service within or outside the City.
Every advertising sign, billboard, emblem or printing which cannot
be construed as a portable or temporary sign shall be classified and
licensed as a permanent advertising sign and assessed pursuant to
the ordinances of the City.
[R.O. 2009 §18-12; Ord. No. 161 §9, 9-8-1964; Ord.
No. 287 §§3 — 5, 12-12-1974]
A.
A pennant
or banner is any temporary overhead emblem or printing hanging or
draped over rope structure which is not of a permanent nature.
B.
The
owner of every such portable or temporary sign shall pay the City
Clerk a monthly tax of two dollars ($2.00) for each sign and shall
make application with the City Clerk for the payment of such fee along
with a statement of the months the said sign will be displayed and
said fee for each month of anticipated use must accompany said application.
C.
The
owner of every pennant or banner shall pay the City Clerk a monthly
tax of one dollar ($1.00) for each ten (10) feet of pennant or banner
displayed and shall make application for the payment of such fee along
with a statement of the month or months said pennant or banner shall
be displayed and said fee for each month of anticipated use shall
accompany the application.
[R.O. 2009 §18-13; Ord. No. 161 §11, 9-8-1964]
Should any sign, billboard or roof sign or sign structure become
insecure or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, in the opinion
of the Building Commissioner, the owner thereof or the person maintaining
the same shall, upon notice from the Building Commissioner forthwith
in case of immediate danger and in any case, within ten (10) days
secure the same under the supervision of and in the manner to be approved
by the Building Commissioner in conformity with the provisions of
this Chapter.
[R.O. 2009 §18-14; Ord. No. 161 §12, 9-8-1964]
In case any sign of any of the classes herein regulated shall
be installed, erected, constructed or maintained in violation of the
terms of this Chapter, the Building Commissioner shall enclose a notice
by registered mail to the owner or lessee thereof to alter such sign
so as to comply with the provisions of this Chapter and to secure
the necessary permit therefor, in case such permit has not been secured,
or to remove such sign. If such order is not complied with within
ten (10) days after such notice has been mailed, the Building Commissioner
is authorized and empowered to remove such sign at the expense of
the owner or lessee thereof. The remedy by this Section provided shall
be cumulative and shall not exempt any person from any penalty elsewhere
provided for in this Chapter.
