Except as provided in section 4.07.061 hereof, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, relocate, or structurally alter any sign or other advertising structure as defined in this article without first obtaining a sign permit from the city manager and paying the permit fee required by section 4.07.034. Additionally, all illuminated signs shall be subject to the provisions of the city’s electrical code and its requisite permit fees. No permit is required for change of copy or message or for repair, repainting, or maintenance that does not entail structural change.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-26)
Application for a sign permit shall be made upon a form provided by the city manager and shall contain and have attached the following information:
(1) 
The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(2) 
The location of the building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign or other advertising structure is to be attached or erected;
(3) 
The location of the sign or other advertising structure in relation to nearby buildings or structures;
(4) 
Two blueprints or drawings of the plans and specifications of the sign and a description of the proposed method of construction and attachment to the building or on the ground;
(5) 
A certification and/or calculations showing that the sign is designed to meet the wind pressure and dead load requirements of the International Building Code adopted by article 4.02 of this code and all other laws and ordinances of the city. The city manager may require such certification and calculation to be made by a registered professional engineer if the sign is in excess of seven feet in height or 100 square feet in area;
(6) 
The name of the person erecting the sign;
(7) 
The written consent of the owner of the building, structure, or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected;
(8) 
Any required electrical permit;
(9) 
Such other information as the city manager shall require to show full compliance with this and all other laws and ordinances of the city.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-27)
Upon the filing of an application for a sign permit, the city manager shall:
(1) 
Examine the plans and specifications and the premises upon which the proposed sign shall be erected; and
(2) 
Issue a permit if the proposed sign complies with the requirements of this article and all other laws and ordinances of the city. If the work authorized under a sign permit is not completed within six months after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-28)
Every applicant, prior to issuance of a permit pursuant to section 4.07.033 hereof, shall pay to the city a nonrefundable fee, in accordance with the International Building Code adopted pursuant to article 4.02 hereof and on file with the city manager, for each sign or other advertising structure regulated by this article.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-29)
Within 30 days after denial of a sign permit by the city manager, a request for variance may be filed with the city council. The city council may grant a variance and relax the terms of this article where such variance will not be contrary to the public interest and where, because of conditions peculiar to the property and not as the result of the actions of the applicant, a literal enforcement of this article would result in unnecessary and undue hardship.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-30)
The city manager may revoke any permit where there has been a violation of the provisions of this article or a misrepresentation of fact on the permit application.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-31)
(a) 
Every permitted sign or other advertising structure shall display in a conspicuous place on such sign or structure, in letters no less than one inch in height, the date of erection, the permit number, and the voltage of any electrical apparatus used.
(b) 
The top of all signs and sign structures shall have a minimum vertical clearance from any other structure of 14 feet, and shall have a clearance equal to its height from any transmission line carrying 750 volts or greater.
(Ordinance 09-668, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/09; 2007 Code, sec. 33-32)