[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, re-erect, make an alteration, or relocate any sign unless the proper permits have been first obtained from the City building inspector except as provided in § 58-15, and a permit fee paid in accordance with the schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council. A separate permit shall be required for each sign unless multiple signs are applied for on the same application. Electrical signs shall, in addition, require an electrical permit.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
The City building inspector shall evaluate, authorize or deny
as a part of the permit the person assigned to the installing of,
erecting, maintaining, repairing or altering a sign. The authorization
of the erector shall be based on the building inspector's evaluation
of the direct experience of the person specified for the sign work.
Notwithstanding the previous sentences, a person does not undergo
an evaluation to install a nonelectrical sign, provided the sign does
not exceed an area of 32 square feet, a height of seven feet above
grade, has no illumination, and no remuneration, monetary or otherwise,
is involved.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
Applications for sign permits and the appropriate nonrefundable
fee shall be made upon forms provided by the building department for
this purpose and in accordance with application specifications published
by the building inspector. These specifications shall be as complete
in form as necessary for evaluation of the sign in relationship to
the requirements of this chapter.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
Within five days of receiving an application for a sign permit,
the building inspector shall review it for completeness. If the building
inspector finds that it is complete, the application shall then be
processed. If the building inspector finds that it is incomplete,
the administrator shall, within such five-day period, notify the applicant
of the specific ways in which the application is deficient, with appropriate
references to the applicable sections of this chapter. If it is discovered
that the sign permit application contains any false information, the
building inspector may revoke the permit or deny the application whichever
is appropriate.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
The building inspector shall issue a permit and permit sticker
or tag for the erection, structural alteration, or relocation of a
sign within five days of receipt of a valid application, provided
that the sign complies with all applicable laws and regulations of
the City. In all applications, where a matter of interpretation arises,
the more specific definition or higher standard shall prevail.
When a permit is denied, the building inspector shall within
five days, give notice to the applicant along with a brief statement
of the reasons for denial, citing code sections and interpretation
of possible nonconformity.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
A person conducting or performing work covered by a permit required
by this chapter shall notify the building inspector when such work
has commenced. Unless otherwise indicated, no person shall conceal
any portion of such work until it has been inspected and approved
by the building inspector. The building inspector shall cause an inspection
of the property for which a permit for a new sign(s) or for modification
of an existing sign(s) is issued during the sixth month or at such
earlier date as the owner may request. If the construction is not
substantially complete at the time of a six month inspection, the
permit shall lapse and become void. If the construction is complete,
the building inspector shall issue a certificate of completion of
the owner and the erector.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
The following signs are exempted from permit requirements but
must be in conformance with all other requirements of this chapter.
(1)
Signs used by a governmental agency and a franchised
public utility company if the sign of the utility company is for public
safety purposes.
(2)
Construction signs. One construction sign six square
feet or less in size provided they do not exceed four feet in height
or one sign allowed with a maximum display area of 15 square feet
and a maximum height of five feet for lots of record exceeding 100
lineal feet of frontage or one sign with a maximum display area of
32 square feet and a maximum height of six feet allowed for lots of
record exceeding 250 feet of footage. One sign maximum per each lot
of record frontage. All construction signs must be set back a minimal
of five feet from the street right-of-way. Construction signs must
be removed from the site no later than 30 days after completion of
the project and may be requested for removal by the administrator
sooner than the above 30 days if the project is not being completed
in a timely fashion as deemed by the building inspector.
(3)
Holiday or special events decorations.
(4)
Nameplates of two square feet or less.
(5)
Election signs under the following conditions:
a.
RA (residential) and RO (residential office) zoned
lots of record: Each sign must not exceed six square feet in display
area and 3 1/2 feet in height.
b.
RM (multi-family), C-1, and C-2 (commercial) zoned
lots of record: Signs must not exceed six square feet in display area
and 3 1/2 feet in height with the following exception: One additional
sign allowed with a maximum display area of 15 square feet and a maximum
height of five feet for lots of record exceeding 100 lineal feet of
frontage.
c.
C-3 (commercial) and I (industrial): C-3 (commercial)
and I (industrial) must not exceed six square feet in display area
and 3 1/2 feet in height with the following exception: One additional
sign with a maximum display area of 32 square feet and a maximum height
of six feet allowed for lots of record exceeding 250 feet of frontage.
No political sign is allowed to be displayed for a period in
excess of 30 days prior to the day of election or vote and must be
removed within seven days after the election for which they are erected.
Election signs may not be placed no closer than a minimum of 100 feet
from a polling place.
(6)
Signs advertising the premises for rent, sale, or lease,
under the following conditions:
a.
RA (residential) and RO (residential office) zoned
lots of record: One sign allowed not to exceed six square feet in
display area and 3 1/2 feet in height for lots of record with
less than 100 feet of frontage. Additional identical signs allowed
for each whole increment of 100 feet of lineal frontage exceeding
the initial 100 feet. Maximum amount of signs allowed is four.
b.
RM (multi-family), C-1, and C-2 (commercial) zoned
lots of record: One sign allowed not to exceed six square feet in
display area and 3 1/2 feet in height for lots of record with
less than 100 feet of frontage with one additional identical sign
allowed for each whole increment of 100 feet of lineal frontage exceeding
the initial 100 feet. One additional sign allowed with a maximum display
area of 15 square feet and a maximum height of five feet for lots
of record exceeding 100 lineal feet of frontage. Maximum amount of
signs allowed is four.
c.
C-3 (commercial) and I (industrial) zoned lots of record:
One sign allowed not to exceed six square feet in display area and
3 1/2 feet in height for lots of record with less than 100 feet
of frontage with one additional identical sign allowed for each whole
increment of 100 feet of lineal frontage exceeding the initial 100
feet. One additional sign allowed with a maximum display area of 15
square feet and a maximum height of five feet for lots of record exceeding
100 lineal feet of frontage or one additional sign allowed with a
maximum display area of 32 square feet and a maximum height of six
feet allowed for lots of record exceeding 250 feet of footage. Maximum
amount of signs allowed is four.
d.
Real estate sign. A real estate sign not to exceed six square feet in area for the purposes of direction only may be located on private property with an owner's permission not more than three consecutive days within a one month time frame. The sign height shall not exceed 48 inches. Signs located on a corner and or intersection must conform to the regulations for corner clearance as described in § 58-21(2).
(7)
Interior building signs which are not designed for
visibility of the public as in the case of a window sign.
(8)
Directional signs less than six square feet provided
they meet any specific requirements listed elsewhere within this ordinance.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this
chapter:
(1)
Any sign of a governmental unit required by a valid
and applicable federal, state, or local law regulation, or ordinance.
(2)
Any sign of a governmental unit on a recreation/conservation
zoned lot of record but must have approval from the City Manager.
(3)
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message subject to regulations listed in this chapter under § 58-24 as it pertains to festoon signs, balloons, and inflated objects within the appropriate zoning district.
(4)
Works of art of a noncommercial nature.
(5)
Flags of any country, state, unit of local government,
institution, organization, educational or ornamental and not causing
a vision obstruction at intersections, projecting into the City right-of-way,
or flown at the top of a pole provided they do not exceed 25 feet
in height. Any flag not meeting these conditions shall be subject
to regulation as such.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
All signs shall be designed and constructed in conformity to the provisions for materials, loads, stresses, and safety of the latest adopted edition of the Uniform Sign Code (Article I of this chapter). Nothing contained in the Uniform Sign Code shall be construed to permit any sign prohibited by the Corunna Sign Ordinance or to reduce any standard established by said ordinance.
Every sign in the City, including those signs for which permits
are required, or exempt signs for which no permits are required, shall
be maintained in good structural condition at all times. All signs,
including exempt signs, shall be kept neatly painted, including metal
parts and supports. The administrator shall, from time to time, inspect
and have the authority to order the painting, repair, alteration or
removal of signs which become dilapidated or abandoned, or which constitute
a physical hazard to public safety.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
In the event a sign is abandoned for a period of time in excess
of six months, the sign owner shall immediately remove any sign identifying
the abandoned use or purpose announced thereby. Upon failure of a
sign owner to comply with this section, the building inspector shall
issue a written notice to the sign owner, which notice shall state
that such sign shall be removed with 14 days. If the sign owner fails
to comply with such written notice to remove, the building inspector
is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense
incidental to such removal shall be charged to the owner of the property
upon which the sign is located and shall constitute a lien upon the
property. For the purpose of this section, the word "remove" shall
mean:
(1)
The sign face, along with posts, columns, or supports
of freestanding signs, shall be taken down and removed from the property.
(2)
The sign face and supporting structures of "projecting",
"roof", or "wall" signs shall be taken down and removed from the property.
(3)
The sign face of "painted wall signs" shall be removed
by painting over the wall sign in such a manner as to completely cover
up and hide from sight the sign in question. This provision shall
not apply to signs 50 years old or older that are historical landmarks
of the City's past and are attached to a building that is maintained
and preserved as an architectural landmark provided they are properly
maintained. The historic criteria adopted by the Planning Commission
and or the Corunna Historical Commission shall serve to distinguish
these signs.
[Amended 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance
with the requirements of this chapter, shall be forfeited to the public
and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies of the
City Code, the City shall have the right to recover from the owner
or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal
of such sign.
