§ 3-7-7. Permitting procedures.
3-7-7.1. Permits required. If a sign requiring a permit under any provision of this ordinance is to be placed constructed, erected, or modified on a lot, the owner of the lot shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection, or modification of such a sign in accordance with the requirements of this section. Furthermore, the property owner shall maintain in force, at all times, a sign permit for such sign in accordance with subsection 3-7-7.4, (Permits to remain current and in force) of this section.
No sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way, except in accordance with section 3-7-14 and the permit requirements of subsection 3-7-7.2.
No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign, unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this ordinance, including those protecting existing signs, in every respect and with the master signage plan or common signage plan in effect for the property.
3-7-7.2. Application and review procedures. The following procedures shall govern the application for, and issuance of, all sign permits under this ordinance, and the submission and review of common signage plans and master signage plans.
3-7-7.2.1. Application. All applications for sign permits of any kind and for approval of a master or common signage plan shall be submitted to the county on an application form or in accordance with the application specifications established by the county.
3-7-7.2.2. Fees. Each application for a sign permit or for approval of a master or common signage plan shall be accompanied by the applicable fees, which shall be established by the county from time to time by ordinance.
3-7-7.2.3. Completeness. Within five working days of receiving an application for a sign permit or for a master or common signage plan, the county shall review it for completeness. If the county finds that it is complete, the application shall then be processed. If the application is incomplete, the county shall provide to the applicant a notice of the specific ways in which the application is deficient, with appropriate references to the applicable sections of this ordinance.
3-7-7.2.4. Action on plan. On any application for approval of a master signage plan or common signage plan, the county shall take action on one of the following dates:
(a)
Fourteen days after the submission of a complete application if the application is for signs for existing buildings; or,
(b)
On the date of final action on any related application for a building permit, site plan, or development plan for signs involving new construction.
3-7-7.2.5. Failure to act on plan. Failure by the county to take action within the time periods indicated above shall not be construed so as to relieve the applicant from compliance with all provisions of this article on or before such date, the county shall either:
(a)
Approve the proposed plan if the sign(s) as shown on the plan and the plan itself conforms in every respect with the requirements of this ordinance; or,
(b)
Reject the proposed plan if the sign(s) as shown on the plan or the plan itself fails in any way to conform to the requirements of this ordinance. In case of a rejection, the county/county shall specify in the rejection the section or sections of the ordinance with which the plan is inconsistent.
3-7-7.3. Permits to construct or modify signs. It shall be unlawful for any person to post, display, substantially change, or erect a sign in the county without first having obtained a building permit, if required by the standard building code as adopted by the county, for said sign. The applicant for a building permit shall submit application materials as specified by the building inspector, including a sketch or print drawn to scale showing pertinent information, such as wind pressure requirements and display materials, in accordance with the standard building code. Such permits shall be issued only in accordance with the following requirements and procedures.
3-7-7.3.1. Permit for new sign or for sign modification. An application for construction, creation, or installation of a new sign or for modification of an existing sign shall be accompanied by detailed drawings to show the dimension, design, structure, and location of each particular sign, to the extent that such details are not contained on a master signage plan or common signage plan then in effect for the lot. One application and permit may include multiple signs on the same lot.
3-7-7.3.2. Inspection. The county shall inspect each lot for which a permit for a new sign or for modification of an existing sign is issued on or before six months from the date of issuance of such permit. If the construction is not substantially complete within six months from the date of issuance, the permit shall lapse and become void. If the construction is complete and in full compliance with this ordinance and electrical codes, the county shall affix to the premises a permanent symbol identifying the sign(s) and the applicable permit, by number or other reference. If the construction is substantially complete, but not in full compliance with this ordinance and applicable codes, the county shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional 30 days from the date of inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by such date, the permit shall lapse and become void. If the construction is completed, the county shall affix to the premises the permanent symbol as described above.
3-7-7.4. Permits to remain current and in force. The owner of a lot containing signs requiring a permit under this ordinance shall, at all times, maintain in force a sign permit for such property. Sign permits shall be issued for individual lots, notwithstanding, that a particular lot may be included with other lots in a common signage plan.
3-7-7.4.1. Initial sign permit. The county covering the completed sign installation, construction, or modification shall issue an initial sign permit.
3-7-7.4.2. Assignment of sign permits. A current and valid sign permit shall be freely assigned or transferred to a successor as owner of the property or holder of a business license for the same premises, subject only to filing such application as the county may require and paying any applicable fee. The assignment shall be accomplished by filing and shall not require approval.
(Ord. of 4-27-2004(2), § 3)