Article II. Electric Signs.
Sec. 3. Permits—Application.
Any person 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. All applications shall be signed by the property
owner. (Code 1932, § 163; Ords. June 18, 1934, Jan. 17,
1938.)
Sec. 4. Same—Construction permits.
Upon compliance with the requirements of this article by an
applicant for a permit to erect and maintain an electric sign, the
city manager shall issue to the applicant a construction permit,
limited to a period of construction only. (Id.)
Sec. 5. Same—Electrical permits for operation and
maintenance.
The city manager shall, upon being notified of the completion
of any electric sign, cause an inspection of the same to be made,
and if such sign has been constructed in accordance with the provisions
of this article and is approved by the city electrician, he
shall then issue an electrical permit without cost for the operation
and maintenance of such sign, until revoked, but the use of electric
current previous to the issuance of an electrical permit is prohibited.
(Id.)
Sec. 6. Same—Fees.
No permit required for the construction, erection or maintenance
of any sign shall be issued until the fee of one dollar has
been paid. (Id.)
As to fees for permits for installation or alteration of electrical signs
and marquises, see ch. 10, § 13 of this volume.
Sec. 7. Same—Form and number of copies.
Permits issued by the city manager shall be written in duplicate,
one copy of which shall be delivered to the applicant and the
other shall be kept on file in the office of the city manager. (Id.)
Sec. 8. Requirements for construction and installation
generally.
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 article. (Id.)
As to requirements for electrical installations generally, see ch. 10
of this volume.
Sec. 9. Requirements as to materials and specifications
generally.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain any
electric sign except as prescribed in this article, and to be permitted
under this article, an electric sign must be composed entirely
of metal, or other suitable material, excepting the lettering
or advertising designs to be illuminated, which shall be composed
of glass or other transparent or semi-transparent 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 said sign and not less than ten lights in any sign. (Id.)
Sec. 10. Alterations.
No alteration shall be made on any sign erected or maintained
under authority of this article unless all the provisions of this
article are fully complied with and a permit issued for alteration.
(Id.)
Sec. 11. Circular or cylindrical signs.
Circular or cylindrical signs of not less than five inches nor
more than ten inches in diameter, and not greater than five feet
nor less than two and one-half feet in height (or length) will be
permitted. A sign of this type shall have within it at least one
100-watt light, or the equivalent in smaller lights. (Id.)
Sec. 12. Projections over sidewalks, etc.; distance above
sidewalks, etc.; distance from building.
No sign, figure or ornament shall be permitted to project over
any sidewalk or street further than within two feet of the curb
line.
Circular or cylindrical signs erected under the authority of this
article and overhanging any sidewalk, street, avenue or alley
must be placed at least seven and one-half feet above the sidewalk,
street, avenue or alley, and at a distance of not greater than
eighteen inches from the building, or wall, measured from the
extreme projection of the sign to the nearest face of the wall or
building.
Other signs erected by authority of this article and overhanging
any sidewalk, street, avenue or alley, must be placed at least
nine feet above the sidewalk, street, avenue or alley. (Id.)
As to marquises overhanging streets, see ch. 7, § 53 of this volume.
Sec. 13. Supporting and bracing.
No sign shall be supported, anchored or braced to the wooden
beams or other wooden framework of a building. Wooden supports
or braces will not be permitted. (Id.)
Sec. 14. Wind pressure requirements.
All signs shall be designed to withstand a wind pressure of at
least thirty pounds per square foot of surface. (Id.)
Sec. 15. Sky signs.
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 eight feet from the cornice
or walls; on a street front, they shall not project more than
twenty-five feet above the roof of the building and shall have a
space at least six feet in height between the bottom of the sign
and the roof. (Id.)
Sec. 16. Electric switches on outside of building.
Every electric sign shall be provided with an electric switch
on the outside of the building for use in case of fire. (Id.)
Sec. 17. Mechanical requirements.
In addition to complying to the provisions of this article, all
signs erected and maintained under and by authority of this
article are subject to such mechanical requirements as the city
manager may set forth or exact. (Id.)
Sec. 18. Classification of signs by city manager.
Electric signs not provided for in any classification in this article
shall be classified by the city manager. (Id.)
Sec. 19. Approval by city manager.
All signs must be approved by the city manager. (Id.)
Sec. 20. Inspections; ordering signs put in proper condition.
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 article. (Id.)
Sec. 21. Removing sign upon owner's discontinuance of
business; erecting elsewhere.
If the owner of any electric sign discontinues 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 discontinuance
of business, and shall not be erected elsewhere in the city
except in conformity with the provisions of this article. (Id.)
Sec. 22. Use of sign by others than person erecting it.
No electric sign shall be used by anyone except by the person
erecting the same, except with the written consent of the city
manager. (Id.)
Sec. 23. Obstructing windows or doors.
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. (Id.)
Sec. 24. Responsibility for damage caused by construction
and maintenance; indemnifying bonds or
insurance policies.
As a condition of the permission to erect, construct or maintain
any sign covered by this chapter, 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 against all damages it may sustain in
any manner by 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 fifteen
thousand dollars and properly conditioned for the protection of
the city.
In place of any indemnity bond called for by this section, the
property owner, sign owner, or user of any such sign may deposit
with the city manager a public liability insurance policy,
approved as to form by the city attorney and issued by an insurance
company authorized to do business in this state, insuring the
city for not less than fifteen thousand dollars against all damages
to persons or property it may sustain in any manner by reason of
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.
Such bonds or insurance policies, or certificates thereof, shall
be filed in the office of the city manager. (Id.)
Sec. 25. Signs to which article applicable.
Unless existing signs are specifically mentioned, the provisions
of this article shall apply only to signs hereafter erected or altered.
(Id.)
Sec. 26. Penalty.
Any violation of this article shall be punished by a fine of not
less than five nor more than twenty dollars for each day the violation
continues. (Id.)
