§ 106.38.030. Building Permit and Master Sign Plan Requirements

A.

Building permit and/or master sign plan required. No sign shall be constructed, installed, or modified, unless a building permit and, where applicable, a master sign plan approval is first obtained in compliance with this Chapter, or the sign is allowed without sign permit by Section 106.38.035 (Exemptions from Sign Permit Requirements).

1.

Compliance with standards and permit required. No building permit for a sign or master sign plan shall be approved for an existing or proposed sign unless the sign is in compliance with all applicable requirements of this Chapter. After approval of a sign permit and/or sign plan, each sign shall comply with the permit and plan.

2.

Temporary signs. Temporary signs shall comply with Section 106.38.070.I (Temporary signs).

B.

Review authority. The Director shall review all building permit applications for signs and master sign plan applications and approve only those that comply with the findings required in Subsection E. (Findings for approval). The Director may also refer a building permit for a sign or master sign plan application to the Commission for review and decision, either for the individual permit, or as part of a development project that is otherwise subject to Commission review. The review authority may require conditions of approval that are deemed reasonable and necessary to achieve the purposes of this Chapter.

C.

Timing. A sign permit shall be concurrent with a building permit for the sign if a building permit is otherwise required for the sign. A stand alone sign permit may be granted if no Building Permit is required (e.g., for a frame).

D.

Master sign plan.

1.

When required. A master sign plan shall be required for the types of nonresidential projects listed below. Each sign installed or replaced within the nonresidential project shall comply with the approved master sign plan.

a.

A new nonresidential project with four or more tenants; and

b.

Major rehabilitation work on an existing nonresidential project with four or more tenants, that involves exterior remodeling, and/or the application proposes modification to 50 percent or more of the existing signs on the site within a 12-month period. For the purposes of this Chapter, major rehabilitation means adding more than 50 percent to the gross floor area of the structures, or exterior redesign of more than 50 percent of the length of any facade within the project.

c.

Nonresidential projects requesting an exception to sign regulations as specified in Section 106.62.080 (Exception to Sign Regulations).

2.

Plan content. A master sign plan shall include the information and materials required by Subsection D., and shall provide standards for the uniform style, construction, height, size, and placement of signs within the proposed project.

3.

Revisions. The Director may approve revisions to a master sign plan in compliance with Section 106.64.080 (Change to an Approved Project).

E.

Findings for approval. The approval of a sign permit or master sign plan shall require that the review authority first make all the following findings, as applicable.

1.

The proposed signs comply with the standards of this Chapter, unless an Exception to Sign Regulations is approved pursuant to 106.62.080 (Exception to Sign Regulations).

2.

That the placement of each sign on the site is appropriate for the height and area of a freestanding or projecting sign;

3.

That a wall sign or projecting sign is consistent with the architectural design of the structure;

4.

No sign unreasonably impairs the visibility of existing signs on adjacent properties;

5.

The placement and size of the sign will not impair pedestrian or vehicular safety;

6.

The design, height, location, and size of the signs are visually complementary and compatible with the scale, and architectural style of the primary structures on the site, and structures on adjacent properties on the same street;

7.

The proposed signs are in substantial conformance with the design criteria in Subsection 106.38.050.G (Design criteria for signs); and

8.

The proposed signs are of a color, height, letter type, location, material, shape, size, and style that is appropriate for the use of the premises, enhancing to the premises, and harmonious with the surrounding neighborhood.

F.

Expiration and extension of sign permit.

1.

An approved sign permit shall expire 12 months from the date of approval unless the sign has been installed, or a different expiration date is stipulated at the time of approval. Before the expiration of a sign permit, the applicant may apply to the Director for an extension of an additional 12 months from the original date of expiration. In response to an extension request, the review authority may make minor modifications, or deny further extensions.

2.

The expiration date of the sign permit shall be automatically extended to concur with the expiration date of the companion Building Permit or other applicable permits.

G.

Appeal. The applicant may appeal the denial of a sign permit or master sign plan application in compliance with Chapter 106.72 (Appeals).

(Ord. No. 2012-001, § 1(Exh. A), 1-26-2012)