For the purpose of this article, the term sign shall be deemed to mean a presentation or representation by words, letter figures, designs, pictures or colors, publicly displayed so as to give notice relative to a person, a business, an article of merchandise or a service.

(Code 1968, 3-901)

(a)   It shall be unlawful to erect any sign, ground sign or billboard in the city without first obtaining a permit to do so.

(b)   No permit will be required for painting of signs on wall surfaces, the repainting of any present sign, ground sign or billboard that is not structurally changed, or signs containing not over 10 square feet in area that do not project over public space and are securely hung.

(c)   When requested by the building inspector, a plan shall be submitted showing details of construction, methods of fastening and any other information which the building inspector deems necessary.

(Code 1968, 3-902)

(a)   No sign shall obstruct a fire escape or be fastened in any manner to a fire escape, nor shall it obstruct any window or means of exit.

(b)   No sign shall be fastened to or placed on a parapet wall but shall be set back from such wall, on the roof, a distance of at least three feet.

(c)   Unless otherwise specifically provided by ordinance, signs overhanging sidewalks shall have a clearance of 10 feet. Signs overhanging a public driveway shall have a clearance of 18 feet; provided, that signs of four square feet or under area may be hung with a clearance of eight feet over the sidewalks; provided further, that they do not project over 18 inches over public space.

(d)   Unless otherwise specifically provided by ordinance, no sign placed at a right or other angle to the wall of the building shall project or extend more than nine feet from the building wall nor closer to the curb line than two feet.

(e)   All projections are to be measured from the face of the wall of the building to the point of extreme projection.

(f)   Unless otherwise specifically provided by ordinance, signs erected over a canopy, marquee or balcony, resting thereon and securely attached thereto, may extend the full width of such structure if not over 75 feet in area.

(Code 1968, 3- 904)

Any person owning or maintaining signs overhanging any street, sidewalk or public way of the city or who shall have a permit issued by the city to hang, erect or maintain any sign in any such place, public liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 for the death or injury of one person; in the amount of $300,000 for the death or injury of two or more persons; and in the amount of $25,000 for the loss, destruction or injury of any personal property in those cases where the principal may be liable.

(Code 1968, 3-1007; Code 1990)

(a)   No sign projecting over public space shall have greater weight than 1,500 pounds.

(b)   All signs shall be constructed and hung to withstand a horizontal wind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot.

(c)   All faces of enclosed metal signs shall be constructed of 24 gauge or heavier coated metal sheets. These faces shall be rigidly braced by channel stiffeners, at least one lineal foot per each two square feet of sign face area. Channels shall be constructed of 24 gauge or heavier metal and be at least two inches wide with one-half inch flanges, and be fastened to sign faces by spot welding and occasional rivets, in such manner that no separation of channels from faces might occur.

(d)   The filler or box portion of the sign body shall be constructed of 22 gauge or heavier metal-coated sheets, and shall be securely fastened to faces by flanging edges and welding or riveting or both, to sign faces in such a manner that no separation may occur.

(e)   Sign bodies having an exposed aggregate area of greater than 15 square feet shall have a structural frame within the box and such frames shall be composed of mild steel angle not lighter than one and one-half inches by one and one-half inches by one-eighth inch. Projecting irons from buildings through signs to farthest point from building shall not be lighter than two inches by two inches by three-sixteenth inch and have a minimum of 71 square inches transverse sectional area.

(f)   All projecting signs shall have a minimum of five galvanized messenger cable guys, and top supporting guy or guys shall be no lighter than one-fourth inch, unless the building inspector shall rule otherwise in the case of very small light weight signs. Fastenings for such guys on the body of the sign shall be rigidly bolted to the structural frame within the sign, not simply to the sheet metal housing same. When signs exceed 100 pounds in weight or where angle of support is less than 45 degrees, at least one supporting guy shall be fastened to the building by means of one-half inch or heavier bolts entirely through the building wall below the roof line with a sufficient steel plate on inside of the wall to prevent any undue strain on the wall. In lieu of a through-bolt, a structural frame may be placed on the roof of the building. Such roof frames must be securely fastened to the structural members of the roof and must not exert any pressure against the wall.

(g)   Transformers in signs shall be securely fastened to the sign body.

(h)   Signs weighing under 100 pounds may be hung with lag screws and metal expansion plugs.

(i)    All fittings, turnbuckles, chain, cable and wire used in hanging signs shall be galvanized.

(j)    Signs shall be guyed top and bottom. Intermediate guys shall be placed on the longer signs as required by the building inspector.

(Code 1968, 3-906)

Electrical connections to signs and electrical circuits serving signs shall be made under electrical permits and must be installed in compliance with the provisions of the electrical code of the city.

(Code 1968, 3-907)

(a)   Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, cloth or muslin signs may be erected, used and displayed for advertising. Such signs shall be fastened to a substantially built wood frame of at least one by two inches sound material and securely attached to the building or structure. Such signs shall be placed flat against the building and not project over public space over six inches.

(b)   Such signs shall not remain up over 30 days from the date of hanging.

(c)   No more than three such signs shall be allowed to be hung on any building in any calendar year.

(d)   Nothing in this section shall prohibit the display of flags or emblems on the fronts of buildings or structures while festivals, conventions or celebrations are being held.

(e)   No sign, flag, emblem or banner of any sort shall be suspended across any street in the city without written permission from the city clerk.

(f)   No cloth or banner sign shall cover any window or opening above the first floor.

(Code 1968, 3-908)

(a)   Billboards and ground signs shall be constructed to meet the following conditions:

(1)   They shall not obstruct the free use of the streets, alleys or sidewalks.

(2)   They shall be able to stand a pressure of at least 30 pounds per square foot of wind or snow load.

(3)   They shall not exceed 1,000 square feet in area.

(4)   They shall not obstruct the view of railroad crossings or street crossings.

(5)   They shall be not less than three feet above the level of the ground on which they are located.

(b)   The name of the person owning or controlling each billboard or signboard shall be placed and maintained on such billboard or signboard so as to be easily read.

(c)   The provisions of this article shall apply to billboards hereafter built, rebuilt, reconstructed or now in use.

(Code 1968, 3-909)

No sign of combustible construction other than cloth or banner signs shall be erected in fire zones.

(Code 1968, 3-910)

(a)   Any person occupying any lot or premises with a billboard, ground sign or other advertising device shall be subject to the same duties and responsibilities as the owner of the lot on which the structure is located with respect to keeping the same clean, sanitary, in offensive and free and clear of all weeds and noxious substances in the vicinity of such structure.

(b)   All signs shall at all times be kept in good repair and in a safe condition for the public by the owner.

(Code 1968, 3-911)

Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in any sum not exceeding $100.00 or be imprisoned not to exceed 30 days, or be both so fined and imprisoned, and each day that any person shall continue to violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall be considered a separate offense.

(Code 1968, 3-912)