A.

General requirements. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 520-101.H, no sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a sign permit.

(1)

A sign permit shall not be required for any change of copy on any sign, repainting, cleaning, repair, or other normal maintenance.

(2)

No new sign permit is required for signs that are in place as of the effective date of this chapter, and such signs may remain as legal nonconforming structures if legally established under applicable sign regulations at time of installation and are subject to section 520-110.

(3)

Any sign permit granted hereunder may not be assigned or transferred to any other sign.

(4)

The applicant may include all signs at one premises under one permit, if applied for at the same time.

B.

Application procedure. Each application for a sign permit shall be filed with the zoning administrator on a form provided by that office prior to sign installation or modification. Each complete application shall include the following:

(1)

The name and address of the permit applicant.

(2)

A site plan for the property showing, at a minimum, the location of the proposed sign; the location of all existing signs on the property; and all property lines and buildings on the property.

(3)

A diagram of the proposed sign, drawn to a recognized scale, and listing and depicting the type, height, width, total sign square footage, square footage of each sign component, method of attachment, structural support, method of illumination, and sign materials.

(4)

For wall-mounted signs, the lineal footage and square footage of the wall on which the sign is proposed.

(5)

A summary of existing signage on the property, including quantity, location, type, and area of all signs on the property both before and after the installation of the proposed sign.

(6)

Evidence that the structural design requirements of section 520-108 will be met.

(7)

Proof of payment of the sign permit fee, as established by the village board and stated in the village's fee schedule.

C.

Granting and issuance.

(1)

Upon the receipt of a complete application, in cases where the requested sign does not require an approval or recommendation from another body under this chapter, the zoning administrator shall review said application and shall, in writing, approve or deny a sign permit within ten working days of acceptance of the complete application.

(2)

Upon the receipt of a complete application, and in cases where the requested sign requires an approval or recommendation from another body under this chapter, such as a conditional use permit, the zoning administrator shall, within ten working days of the acceptance of the complete application, notify the applicant of such additional action and schedule the item on the appropriate meeting agenda(s). Following all necessary approvals, the zoning administrator shall then, in writing, approve or deny a sign permit based on the submitted application and such additional body's action within ten working days of action by the body with final approval authority.

(3)

Denial of a sign permit shall not result in total or partial reimbursement of permit fees paid.

D.

Basis for granting. In deciding whether or not to grant a sign permit, the zoning administrator shall determine whether the proposed sign is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and whether a conditional use permit or other required Village approval has or has not been granted for the sign.

E.

Enforcement and revocation.

(1)

Any sign permit may be revoked by the zoning administrator in the event that the applicant has failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the submitted sign permit application, or any conditions that may have accompanied the permit at the time of granting.

(2)

Any sign permit granted by the zoning administrator shall be null and void and automatically revoked in the event that construction, installation, or manufacture of the sign has not been commenced within 180 days from the date of the issuance of such permit.

(3)

The sign(s) subject to any revoked permits shall be removed by the licensee, sign owner, or property owner within ten working days of such revocation or shall be subject to enforcement under section 520-134.

F.

Appeals. Any person affected by a decision of the zoning administrator may petition for a hearing before the zoning board of appeals under the provisions of section 520-129.

G.

Removal of defective, dangerous, or abandoned signs.

(1)

If the zoning administrator determines that any sign is defective, dangerous, abandoned, in poor repair, or is otherwise in violation of this article, then the zoning administrator shall notify the sign permit holder or the owner of the property on which the sign is located that such violation must be corrected within ten working days of receipt of such notice on penalty of automatic revocation of any sign permit previously granted.

(2)

If the zoning administrator causes such notice to be sent and the violation is not corrected within ten working days, the zoning administrator shall revoke any sign permit for the defective or dangerous sign. Any failure to remove such sign shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement under section 520-134.

(3)

Any sign illegally placed in a public right-of-way shall be subject to removal and confiscation without notice by the zoning administrator and without any payment or return of the sign.

H.

Signs allowed without permit. The following signs are permitted without the need for a sign permit, in cases where they are beneath any size limitations provided herein. Such signs shall not count as part of the maximum permitted sign area in the zoning district in which they are located per section 520-103 or 520-106 below, unless they are above any size limitations provided herein and therefore requiring a sign permit.

(1)

Active building board signs: per temporary sign requirements of section 520-107.

(2)

Addresses: address numerals and other sign information required to identify a location by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation.

(3)

Architectural elements: integral decorative or architectural elements of buildings or works of art, so long as there are no moving parts or moving lights.

(4)

Bulletin boards: bulletin boards, not exceeding 12 square feet in sign area and eight feet in height, for institutions located on the premises of said institutions.

(5)

Business nameplates: a single nonilluminated nameplate, not exceeding four square feet, mounted on the building face.

(6)

Commemorative signs: plaques, tablets, cornerstones, or lettering inlaid into the architectural materials of a building or structure.

(7)

Farm field signs: freestanding signs located in a farm field, provided that no such sign exceeds 12 square feet in area and eight feet in height.

(8)

Flags: flags, standards, emblems, and insignia of governmental, civic, philanthropic, religious, or educational organizations.

(9)

Yard signs: per the temporary sign requirements of section 520-107.

(10)

Historical markers: commemorative plaques, memorial tablets, or emblems of historical bodies, not exceeding two square feet, placed flat against a building, monument, or other permanent surface.

(11)

Holiday decorations: temporary displays of a primarily decorative nature.

(12)

Interior signs: signs that are located on the interior of a premises and that are primarily oriented to persons within that premises.

(13)

Menu board signs: one menu board sign for a drive-in or drive-through restaurant exclusive of any two-way microphone/speaker devices. Additional menu board signs require a sign permit.

(14)

On-premises parking area signs: per the on-premises parking area sign requirements of subsection 520-103.G.

(15)

Regulatory and government information signs: signs erected by or on behalf of a duly constituted governmental body and for regulatory and other basic government informational purposes, prescribed by law and placed by governmental entities.

(16)

Required signs: signs required by state or federal statute or regulation that do not exceed 110 percent of the minimum legal size requirements.

(17)

Temporary signs: per the temporary sign requirements of section 520-107. Written approval from the zoning administrator shall be required for certain temporary signs before their installation, per that section.

(18)

Window signs: per the associated requirements in subsection 520-103.E.

(19)

Murals on private property. As long as the mural meets the requirements set forth in subsection 520-103.I(3)(a).

(Ord. No. 16-07, 6-20-2016; Ord. No. 17-05, 4-11-2017; Ord. No. 21-03, 2-23-2021)