(A) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, replace, enlarge or relocate any sign within the city without first obtaining a permit to do so from the Building Official, except as may be hereinafter provided.
(B) 
Multiple-tenant and multiple-building lot-coordinated signage; compatibility of design. All signs applied for under the provisions within this code are subject to the approval by the Development Services Department. The following criteria shall be considered:
(1) 
Compatibility with surrounding signage as related to location, height, size, setback, etc.
(2) 
Compatibility with aesthetics as related to color scheme, shapes, design, materials, etc.
(3) 
Relationship to proposed or existing landscaping.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
A permit shall not be required for the following signs; provided, however, such signs shall otherwise comply with all other applicable provisions of this code.
(A) 
One temporary banner not exceeding eight square feet in area shall be allowed for the period of time the suite or building on which such sign is located is available for sale, rental or lease, but in no event for longer than 180 days per calendar year.
(B) 
Nameplates, memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones not exceeding two square feet in area when cut or carved into the masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure.
(C) 
Permanent onsite signs limited to the following:
(1) 
One sign at a drive-through lane entrance, maximum three feet in height and four square feet in area, located behind the required front building setback;
(2) 
One sign at a drive-through lane exit, maximum three feet in height and four square feet in area, located behind the required front building setback.
(D) 
Multitenant buildings shall be allowed one sign which complies with the following:
(1) 
Maximum area shall be 20 square feet;
(2) 
Maximum height shall be five feet;
(3) 
Sign shall be set back in accordance with the required setbacks of the zoning district;
(4) 
Each tenant panel shall be the same size and color, and shall be a maximum of four inches tall;
(5) 
Each tenant panel shall have the same size, color, and typeface of font;
(6) 
Each tenant shall be limited to one panel; and
(7) 
Sign construction shall be of decorative metal or some similar durable material.
(E) 
Legal notices or warning signs posted in compliance with state or federal law including criminal trespass warning signs, open carry signs, and disabled parking signs.
(F) 
Designated parking space signs which are no larger than 12 inches by 18 inches with a maximum overall height of seven feet.
(G) 
Temporary signs warning of a particularly dangerous or hazardous condition containing only sufficient information to warn of such danger or condition.
(H) 
Scoreboards, golf course tee signs, and athletic field identification signs.
(I) 
Athletic field fencing signs facing into an athletic field that are intended to be visible only from inside the field or spectator area for the field or stadium, and are no taller than the fence or wall upon which the sign is located.
(J) 
Signs fabricated into windscreens for tennis courts on City of Carrollton park facilities only for identification purposes.
(K) 
Sculptures when installed in compliance with the comprehensive zoning ordinance and construction codes.
(L) 
The changing of messages or copy on signs designed and intended to be changed on a regular basis provided the sign is not altered. Examples of these type signs are theater marquees, electronic reader boards, menus, fuel prices, billboards, directories and the like.
(M) 
The removal and replacement of interchangeable panels for signs designed and approved for this specific purpose.
(N) 
Window signs/painted window signs: with a maximum size not exceeding 25 percent of the total window area for any linear wall segment; and limited to one- or two-story retail buildings or the ground floor of a mixed-use building with retail at the ground floor. Blinking signs are prohibited.
(O) 
Gasoline/service station informational signage. Signs located beneath a canopy are exempt. Governmentally mandated signage and signage contained within the individual pumps are also exempt. In addition, ten square feet of signage is permitted per side under the canopy per set of gasoline product dispensers. Signage located beneath the canopy which is not intended to be read from the public right-of-way is exempt. Letters less than three inches in height shall not be counted as part of the sign allowance.
(P) 
Incidental signs as defined in section 151.05, limited to one per building entrance.
(Q) 
Banners in conjunction with an approved special event permit as provided in section 151.39.
(R) 
Stake signs as provided in section 151.50.
(S) 
Political signs as provided in section 151.51.
(T) 
Portable and vehicle signs as provided in section 151.52.
(U) 
Flags and flagpoles as provided in section 151.53.
(V) 
Sandwich board signs as provided in section 151.54.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
The following signs and activities are prohibited.
(A) 
Signs not expressly allowed pursuant to this chapter are prohibited.
(B) 
Signs erected in a manner that may cause confusion, or obstruct the view or interpretation of any official traffic sign, signal or device.
(C) 
Window signs, including painted window signs, except as expressly allowed in this chapter.
(D) 
Any sign containing or displaying any obscene material.
(E) 
Commercial billboards as defined in section 151.05 are prohibited.
(F) 
Off-premises signs are prohibited except as otherwise allowed by Carrollton City Code, section 92.32.
(G) 
Signs or material placed on or suspended from buildings, poles, sidewalks, vehicles and the like.
(H) 
Placing or suspending from any building, light pole, utility pole, structure, sidewalk, parkway, driveway or parking area, any goods, wares, merchandise or other advertising or displaying of such items other than a sign, as defined, regulated and permitted by this code.
(I) 
The attachment, suspension or hanging of cloth, paper, banner, flag, device or other similar matter to or on any sign, building, vehicle or structure, when the same shall create litter or a public nuisance.
(J) 
Attaching any sign, paper or other material, or painting, stenciling, writing or similar or otherwise marking on any sidewalk, curb, gutter, street, service poles, utility poles or boxes, public property, fence or structure except as otherwise expressly allowed by ordinance.
(K) 
Certain illuminated signs prohibited.
(1) 
No sign, whether required to be permitted or not, shall be illuminated to such an intensity or in such a manner, as to cause a glare of brightness to a degree that it constitutes a hazard or nuisance to traffic. Moving, flashing, blinking, intermittent lighted, changing color, beacons, revolving or similarly constructed signs shall not be allowed except for time and temperature on an otherwise permitted sign. See section 151.30(I), section 151.31(I), and section 151.32(I) for electronic message signs.
(2) 
No lighted sign shall be erected within 150 feet of a residential district unless the lighting is shielded from view of the residential district.
(L) 
Signs prohibited on or over public property. No portion of any sign shall be erected on or over public property, unless the same is erected by the city, or with the permission of the city, or as specified in section 151.51(B).
(M) 
Any sign erected on a vertical framework supported by and located immediately and entirely over the roof of a building is prohibited except as specified in section 151.34. Signs painted or attached on the roof of a structure are prohibited except as specified in sections 151.34 or 151.54.
(N) 
No person shall erect, maintain or permit the erection of any balloon or other floating device anchored to the ground or to any structure within the city except as specified in section 151.38.
(O) 
Certain temporary signs prohibited:
(1) 
Stake signs, except as specified in section 151.50.
(2) 
Portable signs, except as specified in section 151.52.
(3) 
Sandwich board signs except as specified in section 151.54.
(4) 
Freestanding self-supported advertising signs.
(5) 
Sail or feather signs.
(6) 
V-shaped signs.
(7) 
Skid signs.
(P) 
Signs leaning against windows. All signs visible from the exterior of a window shall be attached to the window or to the structure and shall comply with section 151.11(N).
(Q) 
Signs on residential lots are prohibited except as specified in sections 151.36, 151.50, and 151.51.
(R) 
Windows where the back side of display shelving, storage or other fixtures is located adjacent to such windows. Windows shall be obscured up to four feet from grade with an opaque window film adhered to the window such that the back side of display shelving, storage or other fixture are not visible through the window. Foil, newspaper, cardboard and other such materials placed in windows shall be prohibited.
(S) 
Awning signs are prohibited except as specified in section 151.54.
(T) 
Can/box signs are prohibited on all buildings in Carrollton.
(U) 
Pan signs are prohibited on retail buildings.
(V) 
Signs painted directly on faces of buildings are prohibited except as specified in section 151.54.
(W) 
LED or other continuous or connected series of lights:
Prohibitions: The following items shall be prohibited:
(1) 
No lighting shall be permitted to outline individual windows.
(2) 
No lighting shall be permitted to outline an individual occupancy in a multitenant building.
(3) 
No lighting shall be permitted to outline any accessory structures, signs, light poles or other appurtenances onsite.
(4) 
No lighting shall be permitted to outline any vertical features of the building separate from the roof line.
Exception: Rope or other continuous or connected series of lights utilized to outline only the roof line of any building.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
Application for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms furnished by the Building Official. Such application shall contain the location by street and number of the proposed sign structure, as well as the name and address of the owner and the sign contractor or erector. The Building Official may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information where in his opinion such information is necessary to ensure compliance with this code. Standard plans may be filed with the Building Official.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
Permit and nonrefundable application fees for each sign shall be as provided for in the city approved fee schedule (chapter 31 of the Carrollton Code of Ordinances).
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
(A) 
The Building Official shall not issue a sign permit to any person who has previously failed or refused to pay any fees or costs assessed against him under the provisions of this code, until such fees are paid.
(B) 
The Building Official shall not issue a permit for a permanent sign to any business without a valid application for a certificate of occupancy.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
The Building Official may suspend or revoke any permit issued under the provisions of this code whenever he shall determine that the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect or false information supplied, or whenever such permit be issued in violation of any of the provisions of this code or any other ordinance of this city or laws of this state or the federal governments. 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 premises upon which the sign is located.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
(A) 
Investigation.
Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said 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 or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
(A) 
All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the Building Official.
(B) 
Footing inspections may be required by the Building Official for all signs having footings.
(C) 
All signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the governing Electrical Code, and the electrical components used shall bear the label of an approved testing agency.
(D) 
All signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the Building Official.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
Any sign which the Building Official determines no longer serves a bona fide use conforming to this code or an abandoned use, shall be removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the land, buildings or structure upon which such sign is located within 15 days after written notification to do so from the Building Official. Upon failure to comply with such notice, the Building Official is hereby authorized to cause the removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the land, building or structure to which such sign is attached or upon which it is erected. Abandoned use shall be the voluntary act of the user and/or owner to discontinue a use for a period of 180 consecutive days or more.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
If the Building Official shall determine that any sign is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, he shall give written notice to the person or persons responsible for such sign. If the permittee, owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises fails to remove or repair the sign within 15 days after such notice, such sign may be removed by the Building Official at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Building Official may cause any sign that is an immediate hazard to persons to be removed summarily and without notice.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
(A) 
All signs and sign support structures, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times. The Building Official may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with this section.
(B) 
Signs posted in the right-of-way, in violation of this code, unlawfully on city property, or signs posing a traffic or other safety hazard, may be removed by the city without prior notice. All costs associated with sign removal will be paid by the sign owner.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
The Building Official may approve a temporary sign setback reduction in the following circumstance:
(A) 
The existing street right-of-way is greater than necessary to accommodate current pavement width but will be necessary to meet future roadway design requirements;
(B) 
Traffic visibility shall not be obstructed;
(C) 
The sign shall be located entirely on private property. Requests for sign placement on property owned by the city may only be considered by the City Council; and
(D) 
The property owner executes an acknowledgment that at any time and for no reason whatsoever, the Building Official may give 90 days' written notice to the property owner requiring compliance with all provisions of ordinances regulating signs and that such modifications and changes shall be at the owner's expense. At the expiration of 90 days, if the sign has not been removed, the city shall have the right to enter property, remove the sign and the appurtenances and place a lien on the property for the cost of such removal.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)
Any sign allowed under this code may contain, in lieu of any other copy, any lawful noncommercial message.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)