[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Beacon 1-17-1972 as Art. II of Ch. 3 of the 1972 Code of Ordinances; amended in its entirety 2-19-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
General penalty — See Ch. 1, Art. I.
Signs — See § 223-15.
For the purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The enforcing officer of building inspection, including this chapter, in the City.
CITY CLERK
The officer in charge of receiving all moneys being received by the City.
GROUND SIGNBOARD
Any sign erected, constructed or maintained for the purpose of displaying outdoor advertising by means of posters, pictures or pictorial reading matter, when such sign is supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any part of any building.
WALL SIGNBOARD
Any painted sign or poster or any surface or place that may be affixed to the front, side or rear walls of any building.
A. 
No ground sign or wall signboard erected or constructed shall be rebuilt or relocated, without being so rebuilt or relocated as to be brought within compliance with this chapter.
B. 
Every ground signboard or wall signboard hereafter erected or constructed shall be plainly marked with the name of the firm, partnership, corporation or individual erecting such sign.
C. 
All electrically illuminated advertising signs with exposed tubes and/or terminals erected or maintained shall be so erected or maintained in such a manner that the exposed tubing and/or terminals will be at least nine feet above the established grade except where exposed tubing and/or terminals are properly protected in an approved manner.
A. 
No ground signboards constructed entirely of wood material shall be at any point over 15 feet above the ground and/or street level, but when the facing of a ground signboard is constructed entirely of sheet metal, except that the supports, braces, battens, ornamental wood molding, platform and decorative latticework are of wood material, such ground signboard may be erected to a height of not exceeding 25 feet above the ground and/or street level. Lighting reflectors may project six feet beyond the face of the sign.
B. 
Every ground sign shall have an open space of not less than three feet between the lower edge of such sign and the ground and/or street level, which space may be filled in with platform and decorative latticework of light wooden construction. Every ground sign shall be stoutly constructed and anchored in a secure and substantial manner.
C. 
Any person, partnership, firm or corporation occupying any vacant lot or premises by means of a ground signboard shall be subject to the duties and responsibilities as the owner of the lot and premises with respect to keeping the same clean, sanitary, inoffensive and free and clear of all obnoxious substances and unsightly conditions on the ground in the vicinity of such ground signboard or such premises for which it may be responsible.
D. 
No ground signboard shall be required to be set back from the property line farther than the building line as established.
Wall signs must be safely and securely attached to the wall of a building by means of iron or metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws of not less than 5/8 inch in diameter. No wooden blocks or anchorage with wood in connection or nails shall be considered for proper anchorage.
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to reinspect at least once annually every ground sign and wall sign for which a permit is required by this chapter.
A. 
In case any sign or advertising display shall be installed, erected, maintained or constructed in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the Building Inspector shall notify by registered mail the owner or lessee thereof to alter such sign so as to comply with this chapter and to secure the necessary permit therefor or to remove the sign.
B. 
Should any sign or advertising display be or become insecure or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, the owner or agent thereof or the person maintaining the same shall, upon written notice from the Building Inspector, forthwith in case of immediate danger, and in any case within 10 days from the notice thereof, secure the same in a manner approved by the Building Inspector in conformity with the provisions of this chapter or cause the same to be removed.
C. 
If such order is not complied with within 10 days, the Building Inspector may remove such sign at the expense of the owner of the buildings or the lessee thereof.
A. 
No person, partnership, firm or corporation or individual shall erect, attach or maintain or cause to be erected, attached or maintained within the corporate limits of the City any ground signboard or wall sign as described in this chapter upon any plot of ground, to any building or structure until after such person, partnership, firm, corporation or individual shall file with the City Clerk a certificate of insurance indicating that such person, partnership, firm, corporation or individual carries liability insurance upon such sign in the amounts of $5,000/$10,000 for bodily injury.
B. 
The certificate of insurance shall contain a notation that such policy of insurance shall not be canceled unless 10 days' written notice shall first have been given to the City.
C. 
In the event that such policy shall be canceled after notice to the City, then such person, partnership, firm, corporation or individual shall file with the City Clerk a good and sufficient surety bond in the penal sum of $5,000, the condition of such bond to be that such person, partnership, firm, corporation or individual so erecting, attaching or maintaining such ground signboard or wall sign or causing the erection, attachment or maintenance of such ground signboard or wall sign within the limits of the City shall faithfully comply with all the provisions of this chapter and further shall keep the City and all officials and/or agents harmless from all dangers, liabilities, losses or judgments that may be claimed against the City by reason of negligent erection, the negligent attachment or the negligent maintenance of any such ground signboard or wall sign. Such bond shall be executed by a recognized and responsible surety company authorized to do business in Dutchess County, New York, as surety thereon and shall be a continuing bond until canceled. Employees of any person, partnership, firm, corporation or individual so bonded under this section shall not be required to give bond.
No ground signboard or wall signboard shall hereafter be erected, constructed or maintained by any person, firm, partnership or corporation, except as provided in this chapter, until a permit to erect, construct or maintain the same has been obtained from the Building Inspector and the required fee has been paid to the City Clerk.
No permit required by this chapter shall be issued until after an application has been filed with the Building Inspector, showing the plans and/or specifications if required, including the dimensions, materials and details of construction of the proposed sign, nor until after all the provisions of this chapter relating to such structure shall have been complied with, nor until the Building Inspector has approved such application, nor until after the prescribed fee for such permit has been paid.
A. 
The fees for the permit required by this chapter shall be as set forth in the City of Beacon Fee Schedule.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The fee schedule is on file in the City offices.
B. 
No permit fees shall be required for real estate signs advertising real estate for sale or for rent when such sign does not exceed 25 square feet in area.