[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.