Whenever there is a conflict between the provisions of this code governing signs and the provisions of the zoning ordinances of the city, the provisions of the zoning ordinances shall control.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-124; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
No permit shall be issued for any sign in a district where signs are prohibited by the zoning ordinance, nor shall any permit be issued for any sign which does not conform to the zoning requirements of the area in which the sign is to be placed.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-290; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
The book entitled "National Electrical Safety Code," 1984 edition ANSI-(C2-1984) (a copy of which authenticated by the signature of the building official shall be filed with the city secretary as a public record) is hereby adopted as a part of this code as if fully copied at length in this section. The "National Electrical Safety Code" shall be used and control the clearances of signs from any telephone cable, electric cable, power line, light standard or other structure when the wiring to be used on said sign carries over six hundred (600) volts of electricity.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-298; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
All signs shall bear the name of the contractor and manufacturer, painted on, or otherwise attached to the lower margin of the sign, readily visible after the sign has been installed. All signs shall be marked with the input amperes at full load and the input voltage and with its rated frequency.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-293; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
All electrical signs and window signs shall be manufactured according to the provisions of the electrical code and shall be connected to electric current only after they have been approved by the building official at final inspection.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-294; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
No sign shall be attached in any manner to any fire escape or to the supporting members of any fire escape, nor shall it be guyed to or supported by any part of a fire escape.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-295; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
No sign shall be erected so as to affect the stability of any parapet wall.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-297 Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
No sign shall be erected so as to block, partially block or interfere in any way with a required means of exit from any building nor from any window located within a building.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-299; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
No sign shall be erected so as to interfere with any traffic signal, blinker light or warning device or be erected in such a manner as to confuse those persons governed by such signal, blinker light or warning device.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-300; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
If the building official discovers any sign which has been erected within the city, where the electrical equipment, wiring and work has deteriorated to such an extent that it is dangerous to any member of the general public, he shall notify the owner or operator of such sign who shall immediately cease use of said sign and terminate any electrical current to said sign.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-302; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
On all outdoor electric signs, all wiring and current-carrying parts, other than lampholder contacts, electric-discharge-lamp starters and starter-holder contacts shall be enclosed in metal or other material sufficiently noncombustible for the purpose. The enclosure shall have ample strength of rigidity.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-305; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
The enclosure for an outdoor sign shall, as far as practical, be raintight. Doors shall effectively exclude rain. Seams need not be soldered or otherwise treated, but shall be reasonably tight and, where practicable, shall be so formed as to shed water. Openings in tops to accommodate electrodes, bushings or tubing shall not be permitted unless made raintight. All electrical components shall be accessible without having to disassemble the sign.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-306, Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
Each component of an outdoor sign shall be provided with two (2) or more holes to permit complete drainage. A drain hole shall not be less than one-fourth (1/4) inch nor more than one- half (1/2) inch in diameter, and shall be free of burrs so that stoppage will be unlikely.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-307; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
All sheet steel and other mechanical parts of iron or steel shall be galvanized, cadmium plated or otherwise suitably protected against corrosion. Structural iron or steel parts shall be galvanized, cadmium plated, enameled, painted or provided with equivalent protection against corrosion on all surfaces, prior to assembly.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-308; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
A sign designed for permanent installation shall have provisions for the connection of a permanent wiring system.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-310; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
Circuits shall be so arranged that in no case will a load exceed that permitted in the National Electrical Safety Code.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-311; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
The high-voltage wiring of an outdoor sign shall employ gas-tube sign cable with a voltage rating of not less than the maximum secondary voltage rating of the transformer with which it is used.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-312; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
A bushing or receptacle of a recognized type shall be provided where electric-discharge tubing passes through a sheet-metal wall or partition of an outdoor sign or an indoor sign operating at a potential higher than seven thousand five hundred (7,500) volts, unless the tubing is supported so as to positively maintain a spacing of not less than one-fourth (1/4) inch between the tubing and the grounded metal where the tubing passes through the wall or partition.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-313; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
(a) 
Standard transformers designed for use in electric-discharge-tubing signs or standard ballasts designed for use with electric-discharge lamps shall be used. A transformer used in an outdoor sign shall be of the weatherproof or outdoor-use type. An open core-and-coil transformer or an open core-and-coil ballast shall not be used in other than a cord-connected sign. Rebuilt transformers are not acceptable in new sign construction.
(b) 
Transformer(s) connected to electric-discharge tubing shall never be mounted so that the connecting high-voltage wiring comes closer than one inch to any combustible material of the sign or structure upon which the sign is maintained.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-314; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
A transformer or ballast, other than a through-cord ballast, shall be secured in place in a reliable manner. A transformer or ballast shall not be mounted on a door nor hung so that the entire weight is suspended from a single sheet metal side, face or top.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-315; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
Fuseholders, panelboards, flashers, switches and similar devices, if on or within the body of the sign, shall be mounted in a separate, accessible compartment. The compartment shall be of metal not thinner than that of the sign itself, and may be formed, in part, by surfaces of the sign body. In an outdoor sign, such a compartment shall be reasonably raintight.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-316; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
In the event a sign, erected in conformity with this code, is damaged by hail, windstorm, snow or similar cause, a licensed master sign electrician may proceed to repair such damage without first securing a permit provided, however, he shall apply for the required permit on the first day of regular business of the building official following the date on which the damage occurred.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-324; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
Transformers (auxiliaries) shall not be placed in attics, unless in approved metal cabinets and shall be accessible.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-325; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
(a) 
Primary circuit for neon transformers shall not have more than one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) watts connected load for No. 12 SWG wire.
(b) 
Primary circuit for neon transformer shall not have more than two (2) neon transformers of fifteen thousand (15,000) volt sixty (60) milliampere rating connected to a twenty (20) ampere circuit.
(c) 
Primary circuit for neon transformer shall not have more than one neon transformer of fifteen thousand (15,000) volt one hundred twenty (120) milliampere rating connected to a twenty (20) ampere circuit.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-326; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)
(a) 
Other provisions of this code notwithstanding, signs commonly referred to as "packaged" signs, may be erected by any person, provided, however, that no electrical connections, repairs, alterations or rewiring of any description may be performed by any person other than a master sign electrician and provided also that any other section, chapter, paragraph or other ordinances relating to sign erection shall be complied with.
(b) 
A "packaged" sign is a sign which is completely assembled, with the exception of incandescent or gaseous discharge lamps, and signs which bear a U.L. label and that require only a plug-in connection not to exceed one circuit at one hundred twenty (120) volts. This is not to include pole mounted or exterior bracket type mounted signs. These are to be covered by the license and permit requirements of this Ordinance Number 8856.
(1983 Code, sec. 6-329; Ordinance 8856, sec. 2, adopted 12/12/1985)