§ 895-19. Annual Outdoor Advertising Sign Permit Renewal.

By December 31 of every other year beginning in 2002, every person displaying an outdoor advertising sign must apply to the director of buildings and inspections for renewal of every outdoor advertising permit for each outdoor advertising sign being displayed. Renewal may be based on an owner's certification of compliance filed with the director in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section or inspection by the director in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(a)

A person displaying an outdoor advertising sign may file with the director a verified certification that each sign displayed by the person is being displayed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The certification must be made on a form prescribed by the director and filed with the director by December 31. The certification must be based on inspection of each sign by the applicant made within 30 days of the certification. The person displaying an outdoor advertising sign must keep on file and make available for inspection on demand by the director a written record of each inspection made. The fee for renewal of an outdoor advertising sign permit based on an owner's certification of compliance is $20.00 for each sign face.

(b)

A person displaying an outdoor advertising sign may apply to the director for inspection of the sign. Application must be made on a form prescribed by the director and timely filed. The director has the duty to inspect each sign and determine if it is being displayed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The fee for renewal of an outdoor advertising sign permit based on inspection by the director is $40.00 for each sign face.

(c)

In the event a person displaying an outdoor advertising sign fails to apply for renewal and either file a certification pursuant to paragraph (a) or apply to the director for inspection pursuant to paragraph (b) in a timely manner, the director has the duty to inspect each sign and determine if it is being displayed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The fee for renewal of an outdoor advertising sign permit based on inspection by the director made pursuant to this paragraph is $50.00 for each sign face. If the person displaying an outdoor advertising sign fails to pay the inspection fee and correct any violations within the time provided by the director that person is subject to penalty as provided in § 895-99.

(d)

If the director finds that a person has falsely certified that signs displayed by the person are being displayed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the director has the duty to reject the certification, require the applicant to file for renewal pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section and disqualify that person from renewing permits based on filing an owner's certification of compliance. A person so disqualified will remain disqualified for five years unless reinstated pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section.

(e)

A person disqualified pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section may request a hearing before the director to present evidence that the certification was correct or that the false statements were inadvertent or the result of careless error. If the director finds that the certification was correct or that the false statements were inadvertent or the result of careless error, the director has the duty to issue permits based on the owner's certification as it may be amended to correct any misstatement and to remove the disqualification; provided, however, on a second finding within a five-year period that an owner has filed a false certification, whether through inadvertence, careless error or otherwise, the director has the duty to reject the certification, require the applicant to file for renewal pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section and disqualify that person from renewing permits based on filing an owner's certification of compliance for five years.

(C.M.C. 895-19; ordained by Ord. No. 65-1989, eff. Mar. 25, 1989; a. Ord. No. 384-1991, eff. Oct. 18, 1991; a. Ord. No. 115-1993, eff. Mar. 24, 1993; a. Ord. No. 21-1996, eff. Feb. 23, 1996; a. Ord. No. 186-1996, eff. June 12, 1996; a. Ord. No. 247-2002, eff. July 25, 2002; Emer. Ord. No. 163-2018, § 5, eff. July 1, 2018; a. Emer. Ord. No. 323-2018, § 2, eff. Oct. 10, 2018)