[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.
(9) 
Garage sale and personal items for sale signs as provided for in Chapter 34, Environment, §§ 34-120 through 34-124, of the Corunna City Code.
[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.