[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.]
For the purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall
apply:
The enforcing officer of building inspection, including this
chapter, in the City.
The officer in charge of receiving all moneys being received
by the City.
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.
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.
Any violation of this chapter, upon conviction thereof, may be punished as prescribed in § 1-3.
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.
