Sec. 163. Electric signs.
(1) Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to erect and
maintain an electric sign over any sidewalk, street, avenue, or
alley, shall make application for the privilege so to do, to the
City Manager, on printed forms to be furnished therefor.
(2) Upon applicant's compliance with the following requirements,
the City Manager shall issue to the applicant a construction
permit, limited to a period of construction only. The construction
and installation of all electric signs shall conform to
the rules and requirements of the National Board of Fire Underwriters
for the installation of wiring and apparatus for electric
light, heat and power and for the construction and installation
of electric signs and displays and in addition to such further requirements
as are incorporated in this section. The City Manager
shall, upon being notified of the completion of such sign,
cause an inspection of same to be made, and if such sign has been
constructed in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance
and is approved by the City Electrician, he shall then issue an
electrical permit without cost for the operation and maintenance
of such signs, until revoked, and the use of electric current previous
to the issuance of an electrical permit is prohibited. No
alteration shall be made on any sign erected or maintained under
authority of this section unless all the provisions of this section
are fully complied with and a permit issued for alteration.
(3) No permit required for the construction, erection or maintenance
of any sign shall be issued until the fee of one dollar
($1.00) has been paid.
(4) All applications shall be signed by the property owner and
permits to be issued by the City Manager shall be in writing and
there shall be two originals, one of which shall be delivered to
applicant and the other shall be kept on file in the office of the
City Manager.
(5) It shall be hereafter unlawful for any person, firm, or
corporation to erect or maintain any electric sign or signs except
as prescribed in this section, and to be permitted under this
section, an electric sign must be composed entirely of metal, excepting
the lettering or advertising designs to be illuminated,
which shall be composed of glass or other transparent or semitransparent
substance of sufficient thickness to be reasonably
safe from easy breakage; and where the electric lights illuminating
said sign are concealed, there shall be at least one electric
light for each letter or device on the said sign and not less than
ten lights in any sign. All signs must be approved by the City
Manager, and the electric lights used therein shall be not less
than 40 watts each.
(6) Circular or cylindrical signs of not less than 5 inches nor
more than 10 inches in diameter, and not greater than 5 feet, nor
less than 2½ feet in height (or length) will be permitted. A
sign of this type shall have within it at least one (1) 100 watt
light, or the equivalent in smaller lights.
(7) Miscellaneous signs: Other electric signs not provided
for in the foregoing classification shall be classified by the City
Manager. The City Manager shall have all electric signs inspected
at least twice a year to pass on public safety of same,
and is hereby authorized to order any sign down or put in proper
condition at any time it becomes a danger to public safety or fails
to meet with the requirements of this section.
(8) No sign, figure or ornament shall be permitted to project
over any sidewalk or street further than within two feet of the
curb line.
(9) Circular or cylindrical signs erected under the authority
of this section and over hanging any sidewalk, street, avenue or
alley must be placed at least 7½ feet above the sidewalk, street,
avenue or alley, and at a distance of not greater than 18 inches
from the building, or wall, measured from the extreme projection
of the sign to the nearest face of the wall or building.
(10) Other signs erected by authority of this section and over
hanging any sidewalk, street, avenue, or alley, must be placed
at least nine feet above the sidewalk, street, avenue, or alley.
(11) No sign shall be supported, anchored or braced to the
wooden beams or other framework of a building. Wooden supports
or braces will not be permitted.
(12) No sign (other than sky signs) shall be constructed or
erected having more than 50 square feet of surface and all signs
shall be designed to withstand a wind pressure of at least 30
pounds per square foot of surface.
(13) No sky sign shall be erected within the fire limits unless
constructed entirely of metal, including the supports and braces
for same, and no sky sign shall project beyond the building
line. Within the fire limits no sky sign shall be supported, anchored
or braced to the wooden beams or other framework of
a building. Sky signs shall be set back at least 8 feet from the
cornice or walls; on a street front, shall not project more than
two feet above the roof of the building and shall have a space at
least 6 feet in height between the bottom of the sign and the roof.
(14) No part of a sign, support or brace, shall be so placed
as to interfere with the ingress or egress from the windows or
doors in case of fire. Every electric sign shall be provided with
an electric switch on the outside of the building for use in case
of fire.
(15) In addition to complying to the provisions of this section
above, all signs erected and maintained under and by authority
of this section are subject to such mechanical requirements
as the City Manager may set forth or exact.
(16) If the owner of any electric sign discontinue business
at the place where the sign is located, such sign shall be taken
down, at the expense of the owner, within ten days after such
dicontinuance of business, and shall not be erected elsewhere in
the City except in conformity with the provisions of this section.
(17) No electric sign shall be used by anyone except by the
person, firm or corporation erecting the same, except with the
written consent of the City Manager.
(18) As a condition of the permission to erect, construct, or
maintain any sign covered by this section, the property owner,
the sign owner, and user of any such sign shall be and remain liable
for all damages and injuries caused by the construction,
maintenance or use of such signs, to persons or property, and
shall also indemnify and save harmless the City of Charlottesville
against all damages, it may sustain in any manner by the
reason of the construction, maintenance, or use of any sign
erected, constructed, or maintained over, on or in any street,
sidewalk, park or public place in the City. Provided that any
applicant for a permit to erect and maintain such sign where the
property owner refuses to agree to indemnify the City as above
provided may in lieu of such agreement by such owner, file an
indemnifying bond with some Surety Company authorized to do
business in this State as surety thereon in the penalty of $10,000.00
and properly conditioned for the protection of the City.
(19) Unless existing signs are specifically mentioned, the provisions
of this section shall apply only to signs hereinafter
erected or altered.
(20) Any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine
of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars for each day
the violation continues.
