[Adopted as Secs. 32-22 through 32-32 of the 1963 City Code (Ch. 222, Art. IV, of the 1980 Code)]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 213, Signs.
A. 
No sign, signboard, advertising device, clock, marquee, shade or awning, flag, article of merchandise or other like structure, device or thing encroaching on or projecting into or over any public way in the City shall hereafter be erected or maintained except on the authority of a written permit granted by the City Council, which permit shall be revocable at any time.
B. 
No stepping stones, hitching posts, racks for bicycles, gasoline supply stations or apparatus, and no goods, wares or merchandise while being received in original packages or while being packed for delivery after actual sale thereof shall be erected, constructed or placed on any public way in the City except on the authority of a written permit granted by the City Council, such permit to be revocable at any time and to prescribe such reasonable restrictions and regulations as to such erection, construction or placing, and also as to the size and location of such goods, wares or merchandise as the City Council shall determine and direct.
C. 
No political banners shall be erected or maintained across a street or way.
A. 
Every application for a permit to erect, construct, maintain or place on or over any public way in the City any sign, signboard, advertising device, clock, marquee, shade or awning, flag, article of merchandise, stepping stone, hitching post, bicycle rack, gasoline supply station or apparatus, goods, wares or other merchandise or other structure, device or thing shall be in writing and shall state in detail:
(1) 
The street location desired.
(2) 
The character of the object for which the permit is sought.
(3) 
The material of which it is to be constructed or of which it is to consist.
(4) 
Its required location and height above the sidewalk or way and the distance it will project over the same.
(5) 
What other portion, if any, of the sidewalk or way is desired to be used and at what times, in the case of the temporary deposit of goods, wares or merchandise.
(6) 
The proposed manner of supporting or attaching to a building any erection or structure, and the dimensions and weight thereof.
B. 
Every application for a permit to erect or construct an illuminated sign shall also state how it is to be illuminated, the number of candle power per square foot of sign surface it is proposed to use and the number of hours per day it will be illuminated.
C. 
The fee for such permit shall be $50.
[Added 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76]
A. 
No permit to erect, construct or maintain an illuminated sign projecting over a public way shall be granted by the City Council, unless the application therefor shall have been approved in writing by the Inspector of Buildings, the Inspector of Wires and, when necessary, the Chief of the Fire Department.
B. 
Every such permit shall be upon the following terms:
(1) 
No part of any illuminated sign shall project over a public way more than 40 inches, except that upon the written approval of the Chief of the Fire Department any such sign may project not more than eight feet over such way and in no event beyond the width of the sidewalk.
(2) 
The lowest part of any such sign shall be not less than eight feet above the sidewalk.
(3) 
There shall be not less than eight-candle-power illumination for each square foot of sign surface.
(4) 
It shall be illuminated continuously and not intermittently from one hour after sunset until 11:00 p.m.
(5) 
A plan, drawn to scale and showing type of construction, size, material and method of attaching to the building, shall accompany every application for permit.
C. 
The fee for such permit shall be $75.
[Added 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76]
A. 
Unless otherwise provided by contract, no permit to erect, construct or maintain an illuminated sign projecting over a public way shall be granted unless, before the erection or construction thereof, the owner or applicant shall file with the City Clerk a bond in the sum of $5,000 or, if such sign so projects more than 40 inches, in the sum of $10,000 approved as to form by the City Solicitor and with a surety company or two or more individual sureties satisfactory to the City Council.
[Amended 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76]
B. 
Such bond shall be conditioned to hold harmless and indemnify the City for all losses, costs, suits or damages to which the City may be liable by reason of the erection and maintenance of such sign and for all suits and claims and damages to which the City may be liable arising from any injury which may be sustained by any person by reason of the position, existence, erection or maintenance of such sign.
C. 
The City Council may at any time require the filing of a bond of a similar nature and for a like purpose in case of an application to erect, construct or maintain on or over any public way any other sign, signboard, advertising device, clock, marquee, shade or awning or other structure, device or thing except street lighting poles, appurtenances, etc., placed or maintained under a contract, such bond to be similarly approved as to form and for such amount and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the City Council.
D. 
In place of any indemnity bond called for under §§ 222-19 through 222-26, an owner or applicant for a permit thereunder may deposit with the City Clerk a public liability insurance policy, or a certificate thereof, approved as to form by the City Solicitor and issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the commonwealth, insuring the City for not less than $10,000 against all claims, loss, costs, damage to persons or property and expense arising out of the erection and maintenance of such sign.
[Amended 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76]
No permit granted as the result of an application in connection with which a bond is required in § 222-22 or with which a bond may otherwise be required shall be deemed to be in force and effect until such bond has been filed and approved.
Every sign, signboard, advertising device, clock, marquee, shade or awning, flag, article of merchandise or other like structure, device or thing mentioned in § 222-19A and authorized by permit as described in that section to be erected or maintained shall be safely and securely fastened and so located and constructed as in no way to endanger or incommode travelers and when attached to a building shall be connected therewith in such manner as the Inspector of Buildings shall require and shall further conform to all directions and conditions imposed by the City Council or the Inspector of Buildings.
No sign, signboard, clock, order box, slate, inscription or other advertising device shall be affixed to any pole or post, tree, treeguard or other object within the limits of any public way within the City except on the authority of a written permit or contract from the City Council.
No shade or awning shall be so erected on or attached to or maintained on or before any building in such manner that any part thereof projects over any public way, unless the same be constructed with a metal frame covered with canvas or other like material. It shall be safely and securely supported wholly from the building in such manner as not to endanger or incommode travelers and shall be approved by the Inspector of Buildings, the lowest part of such shade or awning shall be at least eight feet above the surface of the way.
No person shall erect or construct or cause to be erected or constructed any fence, wall, building or other structure or erection adjoining any street, public way or ground within the City without first having ascertained the bounds of the same, including the line and grade of the street, by application to the City Engineer.
No person shall erect, construct, set up or maintain or cause to be erected, set up, constructed or maintained any fence, wall, portico, porch, platform, bay window, doorstep or other projection extending into any street, public way or ground within the City except as otherwise provided in this Code.
No person shall allow any gate or door belonging to premises owned or occupied by him or under his control and adjoining any street or public way or ground to swing on, over or into the street or public way or ground.