[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Las
Vegas as Ch. 10, Art. 4, of the 1972 City Code; amended in its entirety 11-8-1979 by Ord. No.
68-4. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix,
and shall also include the painting of wall signs.
The surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the
message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs,
or outline illuminated by electric lights, luminous tubes as part
of the sign proper.
Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature
of 1,200° F. and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
Any marquee, canopy, awning or street clock as further defined
herein.
Includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
Includes every sign, billboard, ground sign, wall sign, roof
sign, illuminated sign, projecting sign, temporary sign, marquee,
awning, canopy and street clock, and shall include any announcement,
declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used
to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same
is placed out of doors in view of the general public.
The molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing,
and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
[Amended 2-21-1991 by Ord. No. 79-10[1]]
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain within the City of Las Vegas any sign or other advertising structure as defined in this chapter, without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Inspector and making payment of the fee required by § 347-7 hereof. However, political signs are excluded from this requirement. All illuminated signs shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Electrical Code and the permit fees required thereunder. All signs shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of Article IV of Chapter 450, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Las Vegas.
Application for sign permits shall be made upon blanks provided
by the Zoning Inspector and shall contain or have attached thereto
the following information:
A.
Name, address and telephone number of applicant;
B.
Location of building, structure or lot to which or upon which the
sign or other advertising structure is to be attached or erected;
C.
Position of the sign or other advertising structure in relation to
nearby buildings or structures;
D.
Two blueprints or ink drawings of the plans and specifications and
method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground;
E.
Copy of stress sheets and calculations showing the structure is designed
for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required
by this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the City;
F.
Name of person, firm, corporation or association erecting structure;
G.
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to
which or on which the structure is to be erected;
H.
Any electrical permit required and issued for said sign;
I.
Such other information as the Zoning Inspector shall require to show
full compliance with this chapter and all other laws and ordinances
of the City.
Any applicant for placement of a sign in a CH Cultural Historic
Overlay Zone shall follow all permit procedures and sign criteria
as designated by the Design Review Board. Approval of the sign by
the Design Review Board shall be a prerequisite to issuance of a permit.
The application for a permit for erection of a sign or other
advertising structure in which electrical wiring and connections are
to be used shall be submitted to the Electrical Inspector. The Electrical
Inspector shall examine the plans and specifications respecting all
wiring and connections to determine if the same complies with the
Electrical Code of the City of Las Vegas, and he shall approve said
permit if said plans and specifications comply with said code or disapprove
the application if noncompliance with said code is found. The said
action of the Electrical Inspector shall be taken prior to submission
of the application to the Zoning Inspector for final approval or disapproval
of the sign permit.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Inspector, upon the filing
of an application for a sign permit, to examine such plans and specifications
and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect
the sign or other advertising structure, and if it shall appear that
the proposed structure is in compliance with all the requirements
of this chapter and all other laws and ordinance of the City of Las
Vegas, he shall then issue the sign permit. If the work authorized
under a sign permit has not been completed within six months after
the date of issuance, the said permit shall become null and void.
[Amended 2-21-1991 by Ord. No. 79-10]
Every applicant, before being granted a permit hereunder, shall
pay to the City Treasurer the following:
A.
All signs requiring a permit other than temporary signs: 1/100 of
the cost of purchase, construction or installation of said sign or
$25, whichever is greater.
B.
Temporary signs (excluding political signs): $5.
C.
Canopies: $10.
D.
Marquees for each square foot or fraction thereof of display surface:
$2.
E.
Street or wall clocks: same as signs.
All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this
chapter, or any amendment thereto, are mere licenses revocable at
any time by the City Council, and all other such permits shall contain
this provision.
If the Zoning Inspector shall find that any sign or other advertising
structure regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to
the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained
in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall give written
notice to the permittee thereof. If the permittee fails to remove
or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set
forth within 10 days after such notice, such sign or other advertising
structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Zoning Inspector
at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which
it is located. The Zoning Inspector shall refuse to issue a permit
to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The
Zoning Inspector may cause any sign or other advertising structure
which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily
and without notice.
All signs and other advertising structures shall be designed
and constructed to withstand a wind pressure equivalent to a wind
velocity of 100 miles per hour, and shall be constructed to receive
dead loads as required in the Building Code[1] or other ordinances of the City.
Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises
a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold, shall be taken
down and removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial
use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found
within 10 days after written notification from the Zoning Inspector,
and, upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified
in such order, the Zoning Inspector is hereby authorized to cause
removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid
by the owner of the building or structure to which such sign is attached.
The provisions and regulations of this chapter shall not apply to the following signs; provided, however, said signs shall be subject to the provisions of § 347-9:
A.
Real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet in area which advertised
the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are
located only.
B.
Professional name plates not exceeding one square foot in area.
C.
Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure; provided, however, if said signs have raised borders, letters, characters, decorations or lighting appliances, they shall be subject to the provisions of § 347-19 and all applicable provisions of this chapter.
D.
Bulletin boards not over eight square feet in area for public, charitable
or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises
of said institutions.
E.
Signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed
upon work under construction and not exceeding 16 square feet in area.
F.
Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant
in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling
house, and not exceeding two square feet in area.
G.
Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection
when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or
other combustible materials.
H.
Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing
signs, danger, and such temporary, emergency or nonadvertising signs
as may be approved by the City Council.
No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent
free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No
sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
No sign or other advertising structure as regulated by this
chapter shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such
a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location
where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere
with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic
sign, signal or device or which makes use of the words "stop," "look,"
"drive-in," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character
in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
All signs or other advertising structures which are constructed
on property lines, or within five feet thereof, shall have a smooth
surface and no nails, tacks or wires shall be permitted to protrude
therefrom, except electrical reflectors and devices which may extend
over the top and in front of the advertising structures.
Goose neck reflectors and lights shall be permitted on ground
signs, roof signs, and wall signs; provided, however, the reflectors
shall be provided with proper glass lenses concentrating the illumination
upon the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or
adjacent property.
It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign
or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
Ground signs shall include any sign supported by uprights or
braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any building.
A.
Letters, etc., to be secured. All letters, figures, characters or representations in cut-out or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to, or superimposed, upon any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure and shall comply with all requirements in § 347-15.
B.
Location, height limitation. It shall be unlawful to erect any ground
sign whose total height is greater than 20 feet above the level of
the street upon which the sign faces, or above the adjoining ground
level, if such ground level is above the street level.
C.
Space between sign and ground and other signs and structures. Ground
signs shall have an open space not less than two feet between the
base line of said sign and the ground level. This open space may be
filled in with a platform or decorative lattice work which does not
close off more than 1/2 of any square foot of such open space. No
ground sign shall be nearer than two feet to any other sign, building
or structure.
E.
Not to mislead, interfere with, or confuse traffic. All ground signs shall conform to the provisions of § 347-14.
F.
Erection bracing, anchorage and supports. All ground signs shall
be securely built, constructed and erected upon posts and standards
sunk at least three feet below the natural surface of the ground,
and shall be supported and braced by timbers or metal rods in the
rear thereof, extending from the top thereof to a point in the ground
at least a distance equal to 1/2 the height of such sign, measured
along the ground, from the posts or standards upon which the same
is erected.
G.
Supports, etc., to be creosoted. All posts, anchors, and bracing
of wood shall be treated to protect them from moisture by creosoting
or other approved methods when they rest upon or enter into the ground.
H.
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All ground signs shall conform to the requirements set forth in § 347-10.
I.
Exception. A special use permit may be granted by the Planning and
Zoning Commission to a travel service facility of the class of food,
lodging, and motor fuel that is located only on a street leading directly
to a point of egress from the proposed interstate highway but no more
than 1/2 mile from that interstate highway. Such a sign must be freestanding
on the land of the service unit and not more than 40 feet above the
ground, and only one such sign may be permitted for each service unit.
A.
WALL SIGN
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Includes all flat signs of solid face construction which
are placed against a building or other structure and attached to the
exterior front, rear, or side wall of any building, or other structure.
B.
Construction; materials required. All wall signs for which a permit
is required under this chapter shall have a surface or facing of incombustible
material; provided, however, that combustible structural trim may
be used thereon.
C.
Location.
(1)
Limitation on placement and area. No wall sign shall cover wholly
or partially any wall opening, nor project beyond the ends or top
of the wall to which it is attached, and any one wall sign shall not
exceed an area of 500 square feet.
(2)
Projection above sidewalk and setback line. No wall sign shall be
permitted to extend more than six inches beyond the building line,
and shall not be attached to a wall at a height of less than 10 feet
above the sidewalk or ground.
(3)
Obstruction to doors, windows, or fire escapes. No wall sign shall
be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress
to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
D.
Construction.[1]
(1)
Supports and attachment. All wall signs shall be safely and securely
attached to the building wall by means of metal anchors, bolts, or
expansion screws of not less than 3/8 inch in diameter embedded in
said wall at least five inches; provided, however, that such signs
may rest in or be bolted to strong, heavy metal brackets or saddles
set not over six feet apart, each of which shall be securely fixed
to the wall as hereinbefore provided. In no case shall any wall sign
be secured with wire, strips of wood or nails.
A.
ROOF SIGN
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon
or over the roof of any building with the principal support on the
roof structure.
B.
Construction; materials required. Every roof sign, including the
upright supports and braces thereof, shall be constructed entirely
of incombustible materials; provided, however, that combustible structural
trim may be used thereon.
C.
Location.
(1)
Height and area limitations. No roof sign shall have a surface or
facing exceeding 300 square feet, nor have its highest point extended
more then 10 feet above the roof level.
(2)
Setback from roof edge. No roof sign shall be erected or maintained
with the face thereof past the outside wall toward which the sign
faces.
D.
Construction.[1]
(1)
Bracing, anchorage and supports. Every roof sign shall be thoroughly
secured to the building by iron or other metal anchors, bolts, supports,
rods, or braces. When erected upon buildings which are not constructed
entirely of fireproof material, the bearing plates of said sign shall
bear directly upon masonry walls and intermediate steel columns in
the building. No roof sign shall be supported or anchored to the wooden
framework of a building.
A.
HORIZONTAL PROJECTING SIGN
PROJECTING SIGNS
VERTICAL PROJECTING SIGN
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Any sign which is greater in width than in height.
Includes any sign which is attached to a building or other
structure and extends beyond the line of the said building or structure
or beyond the surface of that portion of the building or structure
to which it is attached.
Any sign which is greater in height than in width.
B.
Construction.
(1)
Every projecting sign, including the frames, braces and supports
thereof, shall be designed by a structural engineer or manufacturer,
and shall be approved by the Zoning Inspector as in compliance with
the Building Code, and by the Electrical Inspector as in compliance
with the Electrical Code of the City of Las Vegas, shall be constructed
of incombustible materials, shall be illuminated and shall be two
faced.[1]
(2)
Illumination. The reflectors shall be provided with the proper glass
lenses concentrating the illumination upon the area of the sign and
preventing glare upon the street or adjacent property; and no floodlight
or spotlight nor reflectors of the goose-neck type shall be permitted
on projecting signs.
(3)
Limitation of glass. The lettering or advertising designs to be illuminated
may be composed of glass or other transparent or semitransparent incombustible
material. Any glass forming a part of any sign shall be safety glass
or plate glass at least 1/4 inch thick, and, in case any single piece
of pane of glass has an area exceeding three square feet, it shall
be wired glass. One section, not exceeding three square feet in area,
constructed of wire glass or safety glass shall be permitted on each
side of a sign.
(4)
Moveable parts to be secured. Any moveable part of a projecting sign,
such as the cover of a service opening, shall be securely fastened
by chains or hinges.
(6)
Thickness limitation. The distance measured between the principal
faces of any projecting sign shall not exceed 18 inches.
C.
Location.
(1)
Projection from wall and over public property. No projecting sign
shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public
thoroughfare, and shall not be placed or project over any wall opening.
D.
Anchoring of sign.[2]
(1)
Bracing, anchorage and supports. Projecting signs exceeding 10 square feet in area or 50 pounds in weight shall not be attached to nor supported by frame buildings nor the wooden framework of a building. Said signs shall be attached to a masonry wall with galvanized expansion bolts at least 3/8 inch in diameter, shall be fixed in the wall by means of bolts extending through the wall, shall contain proper size metal washer or plate on the inside of the wall, and shall comply with § 347-10 hereof.
(2)
Anchorage with wire, etc., prohibited. No projecting sign shall be
secured with wire, strips of wood or nails, nor shall any projecting
sign be hung or secured to any other sign.
E.
V-shaped signs prohibited. V-shaped signs, consisting of two single-faced
signs erected without a roof or ceiling, shall not be permitted.
[Amended 2-21-1991 by Ord. No. 79-10]
A.
TEMPORARY SIGNS
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Includes any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising
display constructed of cloth, canvass, light fabric, cardboard, wall
board, or other light materials, with or without frames, intended
to be displayed for a short period of time only
B.
Construction.
(1)
Materials and area limitations. No temporary sign of combustible
material shall exceed four feet in one of its dimensions or 100 square
feet in area, and provided such signs in excess of 60 square feet
shall be made of rigid materials, that is, of wall board or other
light materials with frames.
C.
Location.
(1)
Projection from wall and over public property. No temporary sign
shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public
thoroughfare a distance greater than four inches from the wall upon
which it is erected, and shall not be placed or project over any wall
opening.
(2)
Obstruction to doors, windows and fire escapes. No temporary sign
shall be erected so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any
door, window or fire escape, nor shall such sign be attached to any
strand pipe or fire escape.
D.
Erection; anchorage and support. Every temporary sign shall be attached
to the wall with wire or steel cables, and no strings, ropes or wood
slats for anchorage or support purposes shall be permitted.
E.
Duration of permits. Permits for temporary signs shall authorize
the erection of said signs and their maintenance for a period not
exceeding 30 days.
F.
Advertising permitted. The advertisement contained on any temporary
sign shall pertain only to the business, industry, or pursuit conducted
on or within the premises on which such sign is erected or maintained.
This provision shall not apply to signs of a civic, political or religious
nature.
G.
Political signs. Political signs or posters shall be permitted on
private property only with the consent of the owner of the property.
Political signs shall be allowed up to a total area of six square
feet in a residential zone and up to 32 square feet for each sign
in a nonresidential zone. Such signs shall not be permitted on any
public structure or otherwise located within public lands or right-of-way.
Political signs and posters shall not be displayed more than 60 days
prior to or more than 15 days after an election to which they pertain.
A.
MARQUEE
Definition. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Includes any hood or awning of permanent construction projecting
from the wall of a building above an entrance and extending over a
thoroughfare.
B.
Construction.
(1)
Materials required. All marquees, including the anchors bolts, supports,
rods and braces thereof, shall be constructed of incombustible materials,
shall be designed by a structural engineer and approved by the Zoning
Inspector as in compliance with the Building Code, and by the Electrical
Inspector as in compliance with the Electrical Code of the City of
Las Vegas, and shall be illuminated.[1]
(2)
Drainage. The roofs of all marquees shall be properly guttered and
connected by down spouts to a sewer so that the water therefrom will
not drip or flow onto public property.
(3)
Roofs, use and glass. The roofs of all marquees shall be used for
no other purpose than to form and constitute a roof, and at least
25% of the area of the roof of every marquee shall be of glass or
other incombustible transparent substance. Any type of marquee located
past the building line shall not contain any type of lettering.
C.
Location.
(1)
Height above sidewalk. No portion of a marquee shall be less than
10 feet above the level of the sidewalk or other public thoroughfare.
(2)
Setback from curbline. No marquees shall be permitted to extend beyond
a point one foot inside the curbline.
(3)
Width. No marquee shall be wider than the entrance or the entrance
of the building, plus five feet on each side thereof; provided, however,
that where the entrance to a building is not more than 20 feet apart,
a marquee may be made a continuous, single structure between said
entrances.
D.
Anchoring.[2]
(1)
Bracing, anchorage and supports. Marquees shall be supported solely
by the building to which they are attached, and no columns or posts
shall be permitted as support.
(2)
Roof live load requirement. The roof of any marquee, except glass area required, shall be designed and constructed to support a live load of not less than 100 pounds per square foot. The wind pressure requirements shall be those stated in § 347-10.
(3)
Anchorage to wood structure prohibited. No marquee shall be erected
on any building of wood frame construction unless attached to the
masonry, concrete or steel supports of the building.
E.
Illumination required. Every marquee projecting over public property
shall be illuminated by at least 16 candle power of illumination for
each 50 square feet or fraction thereof of area from sunset to 10:00
p.m. every night, Monday through Saturday of each week.
A.
AWNING
CANOPY
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Includes any structure made of cloth or metal with a metal
frame attached to a building and projecting over a thoroughfare, when
the same is so erected as to permit its being raised to a position
flat against the building when not in use.
Includes any structure, other than an awning, made of cloth
or metal with metal frames attached to a building, projecting over
a thoroughfare, and carried by a frame supported by the ground or
sidewalk.
C.
Location.
(1)
Height above sidewalk, awnings. All awnings shall be constructed
and erected so that the lowest portion thereof shall not be less than
10 feet above the level of the sidewalk or portion of the thoroughfare.
(2)
Height above sidewalk, canopies. All canopies shall be constructed
and erected so that the lowest portion thereof shall not be less than
10 feet above the level of the sidewalk or portion of the thoroughfare.
(3)
Setback from curbline, awnings and canopies. No awning or canopy
shall be permitted to extend beyond a point 12 inches inside the curbline.
D.
Anchoring.[1]
(1)
Awnings, support. Every awning shall be securely attached to and
supported by the building. Posts or columns beyond the building line
shall not be permitted for awnings.
(2)
No awnings shall be attached to the wood jambs, frames, or other
wood members of a building (frame buildings excepted) when such building
is less than 10 feet from public property.
E.
Advertising. No advertising shall be placed on any awning or canopy.
F.
Awnings to be rolled. Every awning shall be rolled or folded against
the building wall except when serving as protection from sun, rain,
snow or other inclement weather.
A.
STREET CLOCK
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Any timepiece erected upon a standard upon the sidewalk or
on the exterior of any building or structure for the convenience of
the public and placed and maintained by some person for the purpose
of advertising their place of business.
B.
Construction.
(1)
All street clocks as herein defined shall be constructed of incombustible
material, including the frames, braces and supports thereof.
(2)
Regulation of size of dial. The dial of such clocks shall not be
less than 30 inches nor more than 40 inches in diameter.
(3)
Requirements on glass. Any glass forming a part of a clock or the
sign thereon shall be safety glass or plate glass at least 1/4 inch
thick, and, in case any single piece or pane of glass has an area
exceeding three square feet, it shall be constructed of wired glass,
securely held in place.
C.
Location.
(1)
Clock erected on walls. Clocks supported on the corner of any building
or structure at the intersection of two streets shall not be less
than 15 feet nor more than 20 feet above the sidewalk and shall not
project from the face or wall of the building or structure, in any
direction, more than five feet.
(2)
Clocks erected on sidewalks. Every clock erected on the sidewalk
shall be supported upon a post of ornamental design the total height
of which shall be not less than 15 feet, shall be not more than 20
inches from the outer edge of the curb, and shall be at least 20 feet
from the point of intersection of the lines of any street, measured
parallel of intersection of the lines of any street, measured parallel
with the street.
D.
Anchoring.[1]
(1)
Clocks erected on walls. All clocks erected on the exterior of any building or structure shall comply with the requirements set forth in § 347-19, regulating wall signs, or § 347-21, regulating projecting signs, in all respects concerning erection, whichever applies, except that clocks may project not more than five feet over the sidewalk.
E.
Limitation on permits, clocks on sidewalks. Any person erecting a
street clock on any public sidewalk shall obtain the special written
permission of the City Council in addition to all other permits required
hereunder.
F.
Limitation on permits, general. No person shall be permitted to erect
more than one street clock as herein defined for any place of business,
at any one location.
Every sign or other advertising structure in existence on adoption of this chapter which violates or does not conform to the provisions hereof, shall be nonconforming and shall be allowed to remain, providing the sign conforms with §§ 347-5, 347-9, 347-10, 347-11, 347-12, 347-13, 347-14, and 347-22.
The Zoning Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke
any permit issued by him upon failure of the holder thereof to comply
with any provision of this chapter.
[Amended 2-21-1991 by Ord. No. 79-10]
Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this
chapter may be sentenced or fined, or both, up to the maximum amount
permitted by applicable law, such amount to be set by the Municipal
Judge in his sound discretion.
