Honolulu City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 7

SIGN REGULATIONS

§ 21-7.10 Sign regulations - Purpose and intent.

The council finds and declares:

(a) That the people of the city have a primary interest in controlling the erection, location, and maintenance of outdoor signs in a manner designed to protect the public health, safety, and morals, and to promote the public welfare;

(b) That the rapid economic development of the city has resulted in a great increase in the number of businesses with a marked increase in the number and size of signs advertising such business activities;

(c) That the increased number and size of such signs, coupled with the increased use of motor vehicles, make it imperative that the public streets and highways be kept free from signs, which distract motorists’ attention from driving and which detract from traffic safety signs promoting traffic safety;

(d) That the indiscriminate erection, location, illumination, coloring, and size of outdoor signs constitute a significant contributing factor in increasing the number of traffic accidents on the public streets and highways by detracting from the visibility of official traffic lights and signals, and by tending to distract and divert the attention of drivers away from the flow of traffic movement;

(e) That in addition, thereto, the construction, erection, and maintenance of large outdoor signs suspended from, or placed on top of buildings, walls, or other structures, constitute a direct danger to pedestrian traffic below such signs, especially during periods when winds of high velocity are prevalent;

(f) That the size and location of such outdoor signs may, if uncontrolled, constitute an obstacle to effective firefighting techniques;

(g) That the natural beauty of the landscape, view, and attractive surroundings of the Hawaiian Islands, including the city, constitutes an attraction for tourists and visitors;

(h) That a major source of income and revenue of the people of the city is derived from the tourist trade;

(i) That the indiscriminate erection and maintenance of large signs seriously detract from the enjoyment and pleasure of the natural scenic beauty of the city which, in turn, injuriously affect the tourist trade and thereby the economic well-being of the city; and

(j) That it is necessary for the promotion and preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of the city that the erection, construction, location, and maintenance of signs be regulated and controlled.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.10) (Added by Ord. 99-12)

§ 21-7.20 Definitions and general sign standards.

This section applies to signs in all zoning districts and zoning precincts. Specific sign standards for the zoning districts and zoning precincts are found in § 21-7.40.

Unless specifically prohibited, all signs except ground signs may project into required yards. All signs except ground signs and garden signs may project into the public right-of-way; provided that the horizontal clearance between the sign and the street line shall not be less than 2 feet; and provided that the lower edge of the sign shall have a vertical clearance of at least 8 feet.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

Address Signs. Signs indicating a street address.

Standard: Not to exceed 1 square foot in area.

Building Frontage. That portion of the principal building of an establishment which faces a street. If the principal buildings are arranged on the lot in such a manner as to face a parking area, walkway, or open space accessible to the general public, then the area facing the parking area, walkway, or open space may be considered the building frontage for an establishment; provided that the establishment has an entryway on that frontage. Signs may be placed facing the street or the parking area, walkway, or open space in any combination, but shall not exceed two signs.

Business Signs. Signs that direct attention to a profession, business, commodity, service, entertainment, or activity conducted, sold, or offered on the premises where the sign is located.

Directional Signs. Signs indicating entrances and exits, including those for parking lots and garages.

Standard: No more than one sign per entrance or exit; provided that if the sign includes the name, emblem, or address of an establishment on the premises where the directional sign is located, the identification portion of the sign shall not exceed 1 square foot in sign area.

Directory Sign. A sign identifying the location of occupants of a building or group of buildings which are divided into rooms or suites used as separate offices, studios, or shops.

Flags. Weather flags and official flags of government jurisdictions, including flags which are emblems of on-premises business firms and enterprises, religious, charitable, public, and nonprofit organizations.

Standard: Not to exceed 50 square feet each in area and five in number per street frontage per zoning lot.

Flashing Sign. A sign designed to attract attention by the inclusion of a flashing, changing, revolving, or flickering light source or a change of light intensity; and, also includes any sign involving electronically generated or controlled images, such as an electronic programmable message sign, digital sign, plasma or LED sign, or video or holographic display.

Garden Sign. A freestanding sign or a sign attached to the face of a freestanding wall.

Standard: Not to exceed 6 square feet in sign area; may be indirectly illuminated. A freestanding garden sign shall not exceed 30 inches in height; when attached to a wall, it may not project more than 6 inches from the face of the wall or exceed 6 feet in height above finished grade.

Ground Signs. Freestanding, self-supported structures erected or supported from the ground containing one or more faces for sign or display purposes. A ground sign includes a pole sign.

Standard: Not to exceed a height of 16 feet above finished grade.

Hanging Signs. Signs that hang down from and are supported by or attached to the underside of a canopy, awning, or marquee.

Standard: When extending over walkways, no less than 7.5 feet of clearance between the lower edge of the sign and the ground level below.

Identification Signs. Signs that depict the name or address of a building, project or establishment on the premises where the sign is located as a means of identifying the building, project, or establishment.

Illuminated Signs. Signs that are designed to give forth artificial light from an artificial source. Such signs may be directly or indirectly illuminated and shall include interior lighted signs.

(1) Directly Illuminated Sign. A sign with its light source as an integral part of the sign, including interior lighting and backlighting.

(2) Indirectly Illuminated Signs. Signs illuminated with a light directed primarily toward such sign and so shielded that no direct rays from the light are visible elsewhere than on the lot where the illumination occurs.

(3) Nonilluminated Signs. Signs that do not give forth artificial light from an artificial source.

Marquee. A canopy or covered structure projecting from and supported by a building.

Marquee Fascia Signs. Signs attached to or painted on the face of a marquee and not projecting above or beneath the marquee face.

Moving Signs. Signs designed to attract attention by physical movement of all or parts of the sign, including rotation, motion, or the perception of motion.

(1) Rotating Signs. Moving signs or portions of such signs which physically revolve about an axis.

Standard: Not to exceed 10 revolutions per minute.

(2) Wind Sign. Any moving sign or display fastened in such a manner to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind or breeze.

Standard: Not to exceed 16 square feet in area or 16 feet in height including but not limited to flags, banners, balloons, streamers, and rotating devices.

Plaques. Commemorative plaques placed by historical agencies recognized by the city or the State of Hawaii.

Portable Signs. Signs that have no permanent attachment to a building or the ground, including but not limited to A-frame signs, pole attachments, searchlights, stands, and business signs not related to window displays.

Standard: Not to exceed 16 square feet in sign area or 16 feet in height above ground level.

Projecting Signs. Signs with the faces generally perpendicular to, and which are affixed or attached to, and supported solely by, an exterior building wall and which extend beyond the building wall more than 15 inches but not greater than 5 feet.

Standard: Not to exceed 6 feet in height above the roof level of a one-story building or 4 feet in height above the roof level of the second story of a building over one story in height.

Public Signs. Signs of a public or noncommercial nature, which shall include public transit service signs, utility information signs, safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, and all signs erected by a public officer in the performance of a public duty.

Roof Level. The lowest point of intersection between the plane of the roof and the plane of the exterior wall.

Roof Signs. Signs erected on a vertical framework supported by or located entirely over the roof of a building.

Standard: Not to exceed a height of 5 feet above the roof level of a one-story building in the industrial districts and 3 feet above the roof level in business and business mixed-use districts. Not permitted in any district on buildings exceeding one story in height or 16 feet above ground level, whichever is the lower height.

Second Floor Establishment. For the purposes of § 21-7.40, any establishment, the operation of which is located on the second floor of a building of no more than three stories in height; provided that the establishment is accessible from the ground floor by a stairway which is not separated from the rest of the second floor by a door. No part of the operation of the establishment, except for primary access to the establishment, may be located on the ground floor of the building. For purposes of this definition, a story excludes any basement.

Sign. Any structure, billboard, marquee, awning, canopy, street clock, announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, flag, pennant, banner, balloon, illustration, or insignia used to advertise, attract, or promote the interests of any person when it is placed on any property, building, or structure in view of the general public; provided that window displays or merchandise displays shall not be considered signs.

Sign Area. The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter of regular geometric form enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any fixture of similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed, excluding poles, supports, or uprights (see Figure 21-7.1). Where a sign has two or more faces, the area shall be computed as the largest area projected on the vertical plane.

Small Signs. Diminutive identification signs or signs advertising the days or hours of operation of an establishment (other than as may be permitted as window displays).

Standard: Not to exceed 1 square foot in sign area, with sign copy not to exceed 2 inches in height, and the cumulative area of all small signs for a single establishment shall not exceed 2 square feet.

FIGURE 21-7.1
SIGN AREA

Street Clock. Any timepiece erected on a stand on the sidewalk or on the exterior of any building or structure for the convenience of the public or placed and maintained for the purpose of advertising a place of business.

Subdivision Name Signs. Signs identifying the street entrance to a subdivision.

Standard: One nonilluminated sign, not to exceed 24 square feet in area, or two nonilluminated signs, not to exceed 24 square feet in total per exclusive entrance and restricted to the subdivision name.

Temporary Signs.

(A) Announcing Signs. Signs announcing the character of a building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended, including names of architects, engineers, contractors, developers, financiers, and others.

Standard: One sign per street frontage of a building under construction, structural alteration or repair not to exceed 16 square feet of sign area in residential districts or 32 square feet of sign area in other districts.

(B) Real Estate Signs. Signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which the sign is displayed.

Standard: One sign per street frontage, not to exceed 4 square feet in residential districts or 8 square feet in other districts.

(C) Special Event Displays. Signs erected on the premises of an establishment having a grand opening or special event. Special event signs are to advertise an opening, occasion, or particular event, and not an establishment, service, price, product, or commodity.

Standard: The special event display may include portable signs, banners, and wind signs erected on the premises of the event. Special event displays are limited to one event per six-month period, and shall not be displayed for more than seven consecutive days.

(D) Subdivision Construction Signs. Signs at the entrance to the subdivision and located on the property to be subdivided.

Standard: One sign per street entrance to the subdivision and located on the property to be subdivided, not to exceed 32 square feet in sign area. The sign may not be erected until the subdivision has been approved by the appropriate city officials and may be displayed for a period of one year from the date of erection, which date must be filed with the director within 30 days after erection. Erection date will be determined to be the same as the subdivision approval date if not filed within the 30-day period. The display period may be extended by written approval of the director for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed one year at any one time.

Wall Signs. Signs with a face generally parallel with, and affixed to an exterior wall of any building.

Standard: Not to project more than 15 inches from the building wall, not to extend above the exterior wall of the building and not to exceed a height of 20 feet or the third floor level of buildings over two stories in height, whichever is the higher height; or, the roof level of the second floor for second floor establishments in buildings of only two stories in height.

For the purposes of this definition, an exterior wall shall include a parapet wall above the exterior wall and roof facade with face slope 60 percent or greater with the horizontal plane; provided that where a wall sign is to be located on a parapet wall or facade, the parapet wall or facade shall extend entirely across the side of the building; and provided further, that no portion of a wall sign shall exceed 6 feet above the roof level. Exterior wall and parapet wall shall be as defined in Chapter 16 (Building Code), as amended.

Window Display. The showing of any announcement, illustration, insignia, or lettering relating to merchandise for sale on the premises of a ground floor establishment, within a window or other similar building wall opening.

Standard: If the window display includes an announcement, illustration, insignia, or lettering, the representations shall be limited to the inside of the glass surface of the window. Any window display shall be limited to the first floor of a building.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.20) (Added by Ord. 99-12; Am. Ords. 03-37, 09-5, 10-19)

§ 21-7.30 Prohibited signs.

It is unlawful to erect or maintain:

(a) Any sign that is not included under the types of signs permitted in this chapter;

(b) Any sign that advertises or publicizes an activity not conducted on the premises on which the sign is maintained;

(d) Any sign that by reason of its size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers, or by obstructing or detracting from the visibility of any official traffic control device, or by diverting or tending to divert the attention of drivers of moving vehicles from the traffic movement of the public streets and roads; and

(e) Flashing signs.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.30) (Added by Ord. 99-12)

§ 21-7.40 Specific district sign standards.

Except for the Chinatown special district and as otherwise provided, signs shall be permitted as:

(a) P-2 preservation district. Only one sign, not exceeding 12 square feet in area, shall be permitted on any zoning lot in connection with any use. Only indirectly illuminated or nonilluminated signs shall be permitted. No sign shall be mounted closer than 10 feet to the property line fronting a street or be higher than 8 feet above finished grade;

(b) Agriculture districts. The sign standards applicable to the P-2 preservation district shall apply to all agricultural districts;

(c) Country and residential districts. Only one sign or bulletin board per street front per zoning lot for a permitted nondwelling use shall be permitted, which shall not exceed 24 square feet in area. No such sign shall be directly illuminated, located in any required yard or erected to exceed a height of 8 feet above finished grade, except that signs for nondwelling uses can be located up to the front yard setback line required for dwelling use;

(d) Apartment and apartment mixed-use districts. In connection with any use permitted other than single-unit, two-unit, or duplex-unit dwelling use, only one wall or marquee fascia identification or directory sign, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 12 square feet in area, will be permitted for each street front having a principal pedestrian or vehicular entrance to the building.

If all buildings on the street frontage of the zoning lot are set back a minimum of 50 feet from the property line on their entry sides, one ground identification or directory sign, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 8 square feet in area, will also be permitted for each such entry side. The ground sign may not be located in any required yard. Instead of these signs, one garden sign may be permitted;

(e) Resort district.

(1) In connection with any use permitted other than one- and two-family dwellings, only one wall or marquee fascia sign, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 12 square feet in area, shall be permitted for each ground floor establishment with building frontage.

One nonilluminated ground sign for identification or directory purposes, not exceeding 8 square feet in area and not exceeding 6 feet in height, shall also be permitted for each street front having a principal pedestrian or vehicular entrance. If the above ground sign is not used and all buildings on the street frontage of the zoning lot are set back a minimum of 50 feet from the property line, one ground identification or directory sign, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 12 square feet in area, shall also be permitted on each side of the building where a principal pedestrian or vehicular entrance is situated. Instead of the above ground signs, one garden sign may be permitted; and

(2) This subsection shall not apply to the Waikiki special district, which shall be governed by subsection (l);

(f) B-1 neighborhood business district.

(1) One wall sign on the building frontage side for each ground floor establishment is permitted. The sign shall not be directly illuminated. The maximum sign area per establishment for each building side on which the sign is permitted shall not exceed 1 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage nor exceed 100 square feet in sign area. No illuminated signs shall be so placed or erected as to be visible in any portion of an adjoining residential lot after 10:00 p.m.;

(2) One garden sign per zoning lot instead of the signs permitted above;

(3) One wall or ground sign per building frontage, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 12 square feet in area, may be erected for building identification or directory purposes as part of the total sign area permitted on the building side on which it is located. When used, this ground sign shall not be illuminated and shall not exceed 6 feet in height; and

(4) For each second floor establishment with building frontage, one wall identification sign may be permitted. The maximum sign area shall be 6 square feet and the sign shall not be illuminated;

(g) B-2 community business and BMX-3 community business mixed-use districts.

(1) Two business signs on the building frontages for each ground floor establishment. The signs may be illuminated and of the following types: hanging, marquee fascia, projecting, or wall signs;

(2) The maximum sign area per establishment for each building side on which signs are permitted shall not exceed 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage; provided that no such sign area shall exceed 250 square feet in area nor shall the total sign area exceed 15 percent of the wall area on which it is displayed or attached;

(3) One ground sign, not directly illuminated, per zoning lot for identification or directory purposes may be erected as part of the total sign area permitted on the building side on which it is located; provided that:

(A) A maximum 24-square-foot sign is permitted if all buildings on the street frontage of the zoning lot are set back greater than 50 feet from the front property line;

(B) The ground sign shall be counted as one of the two permissible business signs against all ground floor establishments within the zoning lot on which it is located; and

(4) One garden sign per zoning lot; provided that such sign shall be counted as one of the signs permitted in subdivision (1);

(5) One wall, ground, or projecting sign per building frontage, which may be illuminated but not exceed 12 square feet in area, may be erected for building identification or directory purpose as part of the total sign area permitted on the building side on which it is located; provided that the sign shall be counted as one of the signs permitted in subdivision (1) for each establishment. When used, this ground sign shall not be directly illuminated and shall not exceed 6 feet in height; and

(6) For each second floor establishment with building frontage, one wall identification sign may be permitted. The maximum sign area shall be 6 square feet and the sign shall not be illuminated;

(h) BMX-4 central business mixed-use district. The sign standards applicable to the B-2 community business and BMX-3 community business mixed-use districts shall apply, except for the following:

(1) Business signs. The maximum sign area per establishment for each building side on which signs are permitted shall not exceed 2 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage;

(2) No projecting signs are permitted; and

(3) For each second floor establishment with building frontage, one wall identification sign may be permitted. The maximum sign area shall be 6 square feet and the sign shall not be illuminated;

(i) Industrial and industrial-commercial mixed-use districts.

(1) Two business signs on the building frontage for each ground floor establishment. The signs may be illuminated or moving and of the following types: hanging, marquee fascia, projecting, roof, or wall signs;

(2) The maximum sign area per establishment for each building side on which signs are permitted shall not exceed 2 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage; provided that no sign area shall exceed 250 square feet nor shall the total sign area exceed 15 percent of the wall on which displayed;

(A) A maximum 32-square-foot sign is permitted if all buildings on the street frontage of the zoning lot are set back greater than 50 feet from the front property line;

(B) The ground sign shall be counted as one of the two permissible business signs against all ground floor establishments within the zoning lot on which it is located; and

(4) One garden sign per zoning lot; provided that such sign shall be counted as one of the signs permitted in subdivision (1);

(5) One wall, ground, or projecting sign per building frontage, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 12 square feet in area for the ground sign or otherwise 24 square feet in area, may be erected for building identification or directory purposes as part of the total sign area permitted on the building side where it is located; provided that the sign shall be counted as one of the signs permitted in subdivision (1) for each establishment. When used, this ground sign shall not be directly illuminated and shall not exceed 6 feet in height; and

(6) For each second floor establishment with building frontage, one wall identification sign may be permitted. The maximum sign area shall be 6 square feet and the sign shall not be illuminated;

(j) Planned development-housing. Not more than one sign, with sign area not exceeding 24 square feet, shall be permitted at any principal entrance to the project;

(k) Plan review uses. Signage for plan review uses shall be determined during the review of the request for the plan review use permit;

(l) Waikiki district. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the following signs may be permitted for each ground floor establishment with building frontage; provided that the signs shall not be directly illuminated, and may be wall, marquee fascia, or hanging signs:

(1) Apartment precinct and apartment mixed-use subprecinct.

(A) In connection with any principal use permitted, other than one-family and two-family dwellings, only one identification sign per building frontage, not exceeding 12 square feet in area;

(B) If all buildings on the street frontage of the zoning lot are set back a minimum of 50 feet from the property line on their entry sides, one ground identification or directory sign, not directly illuminated and not exceeding 8 square feet in area, shall also be permitted for each entry side. These ground signs shall not be located in any required yard. In lieu of one of the above signs, one garden sign may be permitted; and

(i) One directory sign per zoning lot, not exceeding 12 square feet in area, which may be a ground sign not exceeding 6 feet in height, a wall sign or a garden sign; and

(ii) One building identification sign per building frontage, not exceeding 4 square feet in area;

(2) Resort mixed-use precinct.

(A) In connection with any principal use permitted, other than one-family and two-family dwellings, only one business sign, per building frontage, with a maximum area of 1 square foot per one linear foot of the building frontage or 36 square feet, whichever is less; and

(B) In addition to the sign referred to in paragraph (A), one building directory or identification sign per building frontage may be erected, not exceeding 12 square feet in area, which may be a ground sign not exceeding 6 feet in height, a wall sign or a garden sign;

(3) A permitted outdoor vending cart, kiosk, or similar vending structure, when visible from a street, sidewalk, or public space, may be permitted the following:

(A) One business identification sign not exceeding 3 square feet in area; and

(B) One price sign, not exceeding 2 square feet in area, to advertise the cost of goods and services provided by the establishment.

These signs shall be wholly attached to the vending structure;

(4) For each second floor establishment with building frontage in the apartment mixed-use subprecinct and resort mixed-use precinct, one wall identification sign may be permitted. The maximum sign area shall be 6 square feet and the sign shall not be illuminated; and

(5) All signs shall feature English or Hawaiian as the dominant language thereon; other languages are permitted but the lettering thereof must be subordinate to the English or Hawaiian lettering.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.40) (Added by Ord. 99-12; Am. Ords. 99-63, 03-37, 09-5, 11-30, 25-2)

§ 21-7.50 Special regulations for certain uses.

When there is a direct conflict between the special standards in this section and the underlying district standards, the special standards shall apply.

(a) Vehicle sales and rental lots separated from new car dealer showrooms or service facilities.

(1) A maximum of three business signs not to exceed a total of 1 square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of street frontage or 200 square feet, whichever is the lesser area, will be permitted. Signs may be either wall, roof, marquee fascia, or projecting signs and may be illuminated.

(2) One identification ground sign not to exceed 32 square feet of the total sign area may be erected in addition to the above signs which may be illuminated and rotating but may not overhang any required yard or public right-of-way.

(b) Car wash, vehicle fueling station, heavy repair, and vehicle service.

(1) A maximum of four business signs not to exceed a total sign area of 1 square foot for each lineal foot of street frontage or 200 square feet, whichever is the lesser area will be permitted. Signs may be illuminated and be either marquee fascia, projecting, or wall signs.

(2) One identification ground sign, which can be directly illuminated and not to exceed 32 square feet of the total sign area, may be erected; provided that it does not overhang the public right-of-way. The sign may be a rotating sign. If there is more than one street frontage, two such signs may be erected; provided that they are on separate sides of the parcel and are more than 75 feet from the point of intersection of the two street frontages.

(3) Pump island information signs located at the pump islands, denoting “Full Service, Self Service,” or similar, will be permitted; provided that each sign may not exceed 3 square feet in sign area.

(4) One price sign, not exceeding 1 square foot in sign area and located on each gas pump, will be permitted.

(5) In addition to the price signs allowed under subdivision (4), one price sign may be erected for each street frontage; provided that such sign may not exceed 24 square feet in sign area and may not be placed on the identification ground sign specified in subdivision (2). The sign will be counted as one of the business signs and as part of the total signage allowed under subdivision (1), and, in addition to the types of signs permitted by subdivision (1), may be a ground sign, but may not exceed 24 square feet in sign area.

(1) Pump island information signs located at the pump islands, denoting “Full Service, Self Service,” or similar, will be permitted; provided that each sign may not exceed 3 square feet in sign area.

(2) One price sign, not exceeding 1 square foot in sign area and located on each gas pump, will be permitted.

(3) In addition to the price signs allowed under subdivision (2), one business sign, which can be a price sign and which can be a ground sign, may be erected, but not to exceed 24 square feet in area.

(d) Drive-in theaters.

(1) One ground or wall sign, not directly illuminated and not to exceed 300 square feet in sign area which may state the name of the theater, name of the current showing or future motion pictures or other performances and the names of the actors therein or other relevant information, will be permitted; provided that it may not extend into the public right-of-way.

(2) Directional signs that may be illuminated, not to exceed a combined area of 60 square feet with 6 square feet maximum per sign, may be erected.

(3) The restrictions imposed by this section do not apply to signs within the walls or other enclosed parts of the drive-in and which are not visible from outside the theater.

(e) Theaters. Four signs either hanging, marquee fascia, projecting, or wall signs, that may be illuminated, not to exceed a total sign area of 300 square feet, may be erected for each theater establishment.

(f) Commercial facilities with business establishments at different levels and outdoor parking facilities at each level comparable to that established at the ground level. Only wall signs are permitted at any level situated above the ground level. “Ground level” means the first level of a shopping center that contains outdoor parking facilities for the business establishments situated at this level.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.50) (Added by Ord. 99-12) (Am. Ord. 25-2)

§ 21-7.60 Permits and fees.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to install, construct, erect, alter, relocate, reconstruct, or cause to be installed, constructed, erected, altered, relocated, or reconstructed within the city any sign or signs without first having obtained a permit in writing from the director and making payment of the fees required by this section.

(b) No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to the following types of signs:

(1) Subdivision construction signs;

(2) Pump island information signs, not to exceed three square feet in sign area;

(3) Gasoline price signs, not to exceed one square foot in sign area and located on a gasoline pump;

(4) Temporary signs;

(5) Public signs;

(6) Flags;

(7) Plaques;

(8) Small signs and address signs;

(9) Directional signs; and

(10) Political campaign signs.

(c) Applicants for permits shall file applications signed by the owner of the sign or the owner’s agent, on forms containing the following information:

(1) The name and address of the applicant and of the person by whom such sign is to be constructed, erected, altered, relocated, or reconstructed;

(2) An accurate description of the location or proposed location, type, and character of each sign;

(3) A plan or design of the sign showing its weight, dimensions, lighting equipment, materials, details of its attachment and hanging and its position relative to the building, property lines, and street lines;

(4) Any electrical design required and approved for the sign; and

(5) Other information pertinent to the application as may be required by the director of planning and permitting.

(d) Every applicant, before being granted a permit, shall pay to the city, for each sign regulated by this chapter, a fee that shall be as specified in Chapter 6, Article 41.

(e) Except when sign work may be commenced without a permit, the fee for a permit for work commenced without a permit shall be $100 plus the fee specified by the director.

(f) If the applicant complies with all the requirements of this chapter and all other applicable ordinances, statutes, and regulations, the director shall issue a permit.

(g) If the work on any sign authorized under a permit has not been completed within six months after the date of permit issuance, then the permit shall become void and any sign installed, constructed, erected, relocated, or altered thereafter under the permit shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

(h) The director is authorized and empowered to revoke any issued permit on failure of the holder to comply with any provision of this chapter or any other applicable statute, ordinance, or regulation.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.60) (Added by Ord. 99-12; Am. Ords. 03-37, 09-5)

§ 21-7.70 Abatement and removal.

(a) Whenever it appears to the director that any sign has been constructed, erected, or is being maintained in violation of this chapter, or after a permit has been revoked or becomes void, or that a sign is unsafe, insecure, or in such condition as to be a menace to the safety of the public, a written notice shall be issued to the owner of the sign or the tenant of the premises on which the sign is erected or maintained.

(b) This notice shall inform the person of the violation or the dangerous condition of the sign and direct the person to make such alteration or repair or do such things or acts necessary to make the sign comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(c) A reasonable time limit for this action shall be stated in the notice, which in no case shall be more than 30 days. The notice may be given by personal service, by depositing a copy in the U.S. mail in a postage prepaid wrapper addressed to the street address of the premises on which the sign is erected or maintained, or by posting a copy on the premises.

(d) On failure to comply with the notice within the time allowed, the director shall cause the sign, or such part of it as is constructed or maintained in an unsafe condition or otherwise in violation of this chapter, to be removed, altered, or repaired so as to make it a conforming sign and shall charge the expenses to the person so notified.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.70) (Added by Ord. 99-12; Am. Ord. 03-37)

§ 21-7.80 Signs for nonconforming uses.

Nonconforming uses are allowed signage not to exceed the sign regulations of the underlying zoning district for each establishment unless otherwise specified.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.80) (Added by Ord. 99-12)

§ 21-7.80-1 Nonconforming signs.

Any sign erected which complied with existing statutes, ordinances, and regulations applicable at that time shall be permitted; provided that:

(a) Nonconforming signs shall be maintained in a safe condition and shall not in any respect be dangerous to the public or to property; and

(b) Upon the alteration or relocation of any nonconforming sign or the discontinuance or removal from the premises of the activity to which such sign relates, the sign shall cease to be a nonconforming sign and shall thereafter be permitted to be maintained only upon compliance with all requirements of this chapter. All framing, poles, mountings, supports, and other appurtenances shall be removed with the sign. “Alteration” shall not be construed to mean repairs and maintenance for the purpose of keeping the sign in a clean and safe condition.

(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 7, § 21-7.80-1) (Added by Ord. 99-12)