(a) 
Unless specifically exempted, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, substantially alter or relocate any billboard or sign without first obtaining the proper permit from the building inspector and making payment of the fee required. “Substantially alter” shall not include routine painting, posting or maintenance.
(b) 
No permit shall be required for the construction and/or repair of signs damaged or destroyed by an act of God, or by the occurrence of any other event beyond the control of the owner or occupant.
(c) 
Exceptions to the permit requirements of this article are:
(1) 
Real estate, finance and construction signs.
(2) 
Directional traffic control signs.
(3) 
Political signs.
(4) 
Governmental signs.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.020)
(a) 
Applications for permits to erect, alter, replace or relocate any commercial sign, portable sign or billboard sign shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(1) 
Application.
(A) 
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(B) 
Location of building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.
(C) 
Position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings or structures, including other signs.
(D) 
The plans and specifications including type, size, shape, color, electrical wiring, construction, type of materials, method of attachment to building or structure and foundation for freestanding signs.
(2) 
Billboards.
When applying for a billboard permit, the billboard operator shall, in addition to the foregoing, furnish the following information at the time of permit application:
(A) 
The location of the proposed sign in relation to the property lines, and any building, fence and the like, on the property;
(B) 
Building setback lines and the location of any easements on the property;
(C) 
Location and distance to the nearest billboard;
(D) 
Affidavit from the property owner authorizing erection of the sign, or an executed lease agreement;
(E) 
Street address of the sign;
(F) 
Engineer’s certification for all billboards in excess of 200 square feet.
(3) 
Repair.
Application for sign repair permits shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(A) 
Name, address, and telephone number of the sign owner.
(B) 
Name, address and telephone number of the person providing the repair service.
(C) 
Location off building, structure or lot upon which sign is located.
(D) 
Description of the repair activity to be performed.
(E) 
Such other information as the building official shall require to show full compliance with this and all other laws and ordinances of the city.
(b) 
All applications shall be submitted to the building official for approval 10 days prior to installation of a commercial sign or billboard.
(c) 
It shall be the duty of the building official, upon the filing of an application for a sign permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect or repair the sign, and if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in compliance with all the requirements of this article, the building code and all other laws and ordinances of the city, he or she shall then issue the sign permit. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six months after date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.021)