It is the responsibility of the code enforcement officer to interpret, administer and enforce the requirements of this article.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(2), adopted 2/9/06)
No person shall erect, alter or display any sign nor shall any person allow the erection, alteration or display of any sign upon any property within the city owned or controlled by him without first obtaining a permit to do so from the city, except as hereinafter provided. No sign permit shall be released until after the building permit for the principal building on the site has been issued, except as hereinafter provided.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(3), adopted 2/9/06)
Application for a permit shall be made as required by this article and the following information shall be submitted as separate documents:
(1) 
An application form shall be completed.
(2) 
A general plan that illustrates:
(A) 
Location of the building, structure, or tract to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.
(B) 
Position of the sign in relation to rights-of-way, easements, buildings, structures, existing signs, etc.
(3) 
Sign drawing that illustrates height, length, width, and all other dimensions associated with the sign.
(4) 
A letter from the owner of the property stating that the applicant has permission to erect such signs.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(4), adopted 2/9/06)
(a) 
All fees for sign permits shall be in accordance with the current fee schedule adopted by the city council.
(b) 
An annual renewal fee for applicable temporary signs shall be determined in accordance with the current fee schedule adopted by the city council.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(5), adopted 2/9/06)
(a) 
Generally.
Notwithstanding anything in this article to the contrary, the erection of a sign or signs may be approved pursuant to this section under a conditional sign permit approved by the city council. The purpose of this section is to allow for a specialized review of signs which may not be appropriate generally without certain restrictions, but which, if controlled as to the number, size, height, color, location, lighting, or relation to adjacent properties, would promote the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Conditional permitting of signs shall not be based upon the content of the sign, but is intended to allow for the evaluation of the physical impact of the proposed sign on adjacent properties and to ensure adequate mitigation of potentially unfavorable factors, such as the number, size, height, color, location, lighting, and other potentially unfavorable impacts.
(b) 
Application.
An application for a conditional sign permit shall be submitted to the code enforcement officer and shall include all documents as required by section 4.06.033 of this article. Additionally, the applicant shall submit construction plans drawn by a registered professional engineer or architect in the state and also provide renderings of the particular sign types, facades, materials, compositions, dimensions, lighting, and colors.
(c) 
Fee.
Fees for conditional sign permits shall be determined in accordance with the current fee schedule adopted by the city council.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(6), adopted 2/9/06)
(a) 
The code enforcement officer may suspend or revoke any permit issued under the provisions of this article whenever it is determined that the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect or false information supplied, or whenever such permit is issued in violation of any of the provisions of this article or any other ordinance of this city or laws of this state or the federal government. Such suspension or revocation shall be effective when communicated in writing to the person to whom the permit is issued, the owner of the sign, or the owner of the site upon which the sign is located. Upon such revocation, all construction related to the revoked permit shall cease.
(b) 
A person may appeal the revocation of the sign permit to the city council by filing an appeal in accordance with this article. The city council shall affirm, reverse, or modify the suspension or revocation and such decision shall be final. Upon final determination that the permit is properly revoked, any portion of the sign in place as a result of the permit shall be removed within 10 days by the owner of the sign or the owner of the site on which the sign is located. Failure to remove the sign shall be deemed a violation of this article.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(7), adopted 2/9/06)
The code enforcement officer shall periodically inspect each sign regulated by this article for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same is obsolete and whether it is in need of removal or repair.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(8), adopted 2/9/06)
If the work authorized by a permit issued under this article has not been commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(9), adopted 2/9/06)
(a) 
Investigation.
Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this article has been commenced or completed without first obtaining a permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
(b) 
Fee.
An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required by this article.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(10), adopted 2/9/06)
(a) 
Obsolete signs.
Any sign which the code enforcement officer determines to be obsolete shall be removed by the permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located. For temporary signs, the sign must be removed as noted on the sign permit application or within three (3) days after receiving written notification to do so from the code enforcement officer. For permanent signs, the sign must be removed by the permit holder, owner of the sign, or owner of the site on which the sign is located within a reasonable time period as determined by the code enforcement officer. Upon failure to comply with such notice or to file an appeal of the decision in accordance with this article, the code enforcement officer is authorized to cause the removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located.
(b) 
Unsafe, dilapidated or deteriorated signs.
If the code enforcement officer determines that any sign is unsafe or insecure, or is dilapidated or deteriorated, he shall give written notice to remove or replace (in accordance with this article) said sign to the person or persons responsible for such sign. If the permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located fails to remove or repair the sign within ten (10) days after such notice or to file an appeal of the decision in accordance with this article, the code enforcement officer is hereby authorized to cause the removal of such sign. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the immediate removal, without notice, of any sign or portion of a sign which is determined by the code enforcement officer to be an immediate threat or danger to the public health, safety, or welfare. Any expense incident to the removal of a sign pursuant to this subsection shall be paid by the permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located. The removal of the sign or portion of the sign shall be limited to the extent necessary to eliminate the threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.
(c) 
Signs on utility poles.
Any sign that is erected, constructed or otherwise attached to a utility pole located upon any public right-of-way or utility easement may be removed by city personnel. The permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located shall be charged a sign recovery fee in accordance with the current fee schedule adopted by the city council to recover such sign from the city unless the permit holder or owner satisfactorily establishes that such sign was not placed in the right-of-way by the owner of such sign or by any authorized agent, representative, or employee of said owner. Any such sign removed by city personnel may be held for a period of seventy-two (72) hours and upon expiration of such time may be disposed. The city is not required to notify the permit holder or owner of the sign that it has been picked up or that disposal of the sign is imminent.
(d) 
Signs in right-of-way or on public property.
Any sign that is erected, constructed or otherwise located within or upon public right-of-way or on public property may be removed by city personnel and the permit holder or owner of such sign shall be charged a sign recovery fee in accordance with the current fee schedule adopted by the city council to recover such sign from the city. No such fee shall be charged if the permit holder or owner satisfactorily establishes that such sign was not placed in the right-of-way by the permit holder or owner of such sign or by any authorized agent, representative or employee of said owner. Any such sign removed by city personnel may be held for a period of seventy-two (72) hours and upon expiration of such time may be disposed. The city is not required to notify the permit holder or owner of the sign that it has been picked up or that disposal of the sign is imminent.
(e) 
Illegally erected signs.
Any temporary sign that is erected, constructed or otherwise displayed, which the code enforcement officer determines to be in direct violation of this article, may be removed by city personnel. The permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located shall be charged a sign recovery fee in accordance with the current fee schedule adopted by the city council to recover such sign from the city. Any such sign removed by city personnel may be held for a period of seventy-two (72) hours and upon expiration of such time may be disposed. The city is not required to notify the permit holder or owner of the sign that it has been picked up or that disposal of the sign is imminent. For permanent signs, the sign must be removed by the permit holder, owner of the sign, or owner of the site on which the sign is located within a reasonable time period as determined by the code enforcement officer. Upon failure to comply with such notice or to file an appeal of the decision in accordance with this article, the code enforcement officer is authorized to cause the removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the permit holder, owner of the sign or owner of the site on which the sign is located.
(f) 
Extent of sign removal.
The code enforcement officer shall determine to what extent the elements of the sign must be removed to comply with this section. This may include any of the following, but is not limited to the following:
(1) 
Sign copy.
Removal of the text or copy portion of the sign.
(2) 
Sign box.
Removal of the portion of the sign excluding the structural support of the sign.
(3) 
Entire sign.
Removal of all structural elements of the sign.
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(11), adopted 2/9/06)
The city is authorized to file a lien against any property which is not otherwise exempt to recover expenses incurred by the city for the removal of a sign or portion of a sign from the property pursuant to section 4.06.040(f).
(Ordinance 2006-03-110, sec. 1(12), adopted 2/9/06)