Chapter 18.15
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Sections:

Article I. Generally

18.15.010    Interpretation by board of zoning appeals.

18.15.020    Insurance.

Article II. Permit

18.15.030    Required.

18.15.040    Exemptions.

18.15.050    Application.

18.15.060    Fees.

18.15.070    Appeals.

Article I. Generally

18.15.010 Interpretation by board of zoning appeals.

The board of zoning appeals may interpret the provisions of this division to cover a special case if it appears that the provisions of this division do not definitely cover a situation propounded or if by the strict enforcement of this division a manifest injustice might be done. (Code 1981 § 39-4. Code 1995 § 118-36.)

    Cross References: Board of zoning appeals, Chapter 2.45 TMC.

18.15.020 Insurance.

Any person desiring to erect or hang a sign to advertise the business of such person in the city shall furnish to the city the evidence of public liability insurance as required in TMC 5.150.040, which instrument shall be subject to the approval of the city attorney, and which policy of insurance shall be kept in full force and effect for such time as such sign remains in place. (Ord. 17906 § 6, 10-15-02; Code 1981 § 39-5. Code 1995 § 118-37.)

    Cross References: City attorney, TMC 2.25.120.

Article II. Permit

18.15.030 Required.

(a) No sign subject to the provisions of this division shall hereafter be hung or erected until after a permit to hang, erect or locate such sign has been obtained from the public works director or his or her designees.

(b) No additional billboard or panel poster type signs subject to the provisions of this division shall hereafter be hung or erected and no permits for additional billboards or panel posters shall be issued by the public works director or his or her designees following the effective date of this section; provided, that this provision shall not prevent the necessary maintenance and/or repair of existing billboards or panel posters.

(c) No sign erected or constructed prior to the effective date of this section for which a permit was required for original construction shall be relocated, rebuilt or remodeled without coming into compliance with the provisions of this division and until after a permit granting permission for such relocation, rebuilding or remodeling has been obtained from the public works director or his or her designees. A permit for a new billboard or panel poster type sign shall not be issued until verification that an existing billboard or panel poster type sign has been removed. A new billboard or panel poster sign shall comply with the provisions of this division for new signs, including construction type, distance requirements and zoning.

(d) Permits issued under this division shall become null and void after a period of 90 days from the date of issuance unless work is commenced towards the completion of the structural elements of the sign. One extension of time may be granted for good cause shown by the public works director or his or her designees upon written request of the applicant. (Ord. 17906 § 7, 10-15-02; Ord. 16971 § 1, 6-25-96; Code 1981 § 39-42. Code 1995 § 118-56.)

    Cross References: Department of public works, TMC 2.25.170.

18.15.040 Exemptions.

A personal announcement sign may be erected or located for a period not to exceed 14 days without obtaining a permit and shall be considered exempt from zoning use regulations; notwithstanding the foregoing, no personal announcement sign shall be placed on city property, city right-of-way or city easements. For purposes of this exemption, a “personal announcement sign” is a sign not to exceed 24 square feet in display area and eight feet in height which depicts an individualized event, including, but not limited to, such events as anniversaries, births, weddings and birthdays, but under no circumstances including events of a commercial nature. Provided further, personal announcement signs shall not in any event be lighted. (Ord. 17906 § 8, 10-15-02; Code 1981 § 39-43. Code 1995 § 118-57.)

18.15.050 Application.

No permit shall be issued by the public works director or his or her designees until an application has been filed in the director’s office showing the plans and specifications, including stress diagrams or tabulated stresses, dimensions, materials and details of construction, together with complete details showing methods of anchoring proposed signs. (Ord. 17906 § 9, 10-15-02; Code 1981 § 39-44. Code 1995 § 118-58.)

    Cross References: Department of public works, TMC 2.25.170.

18.15.060 Fees.

Any person desiring a permit under the provisions of this division shall, at the time of receiving such permit, pay to the city the fees required as follows:

(a) Wall sign or nonfreestanding sign: $30.00.

(b) Freestanding sign: $60.00.

(c) Any advertising sign affixed to a trailer which is used solely for the transportation of the advertising sign and is not designed to carry any other load, a fee of $10.00 per year per sign. This fee will allow the sign to be placed by the owner for a period of one year from date of issue at locations which comply with sign location requirements, when prior notice of the proposed location is given to the building code enforcement division and approval given by that division. (Ord. 18292 § 16, 7-20-04; Ord. 16396 § 1(39-45), 11-26-91. Code 1995 § 118-59.)

    Cross References: Building code enforcement division, Chapter 2.50 TMC.

18.15.070 Appeals.

Any person whose application for a permit to hang, erect or locate an advertising sign has been denied by the public works director or his or her designees, or any person desiring to appeal from any decision of the public works director, planning director or their designees in the enforcement of the city sign regulations which shall specifically include a decision to remove, fine or otherwise cite an individual or business for an improperly located sign, may appeal to the board of zoning appeals by serving written notice on the public works director, planning director or their designees. Such notice shall be at once transmitted by the public works director, planning director or their designees to the chairperson of the board of zoning appeals who shall then arrange for a hearing thereon. (Ord. 17906 § 10, 10-15-02; Code 1981 § 39-3. Code 1995 § 118-60.)

    Cross References: Department of public works, TMC 2.25.170; planning department, TMC 2.25.210; board of zoning appeals, Chapter 2.45 TMC.