§ 18.13. Enforcement and inspection

13.1. This appendix shall be administered and enforced by the administrator of the building and safety engineering division, or his/her designee. The director of the department of public works and services shall be authorized to administer and enforce sign provisions which involve the public right-of-way or public easements.

13.2. All signs, signboards, projecting signs, roof signs, and marquees, for which a permit has been issued shall be inspected by the building and safety engineering division and if found to have been well constructed, supported, braced and painted in accordance with approved plans submitted and in accordance with the provisions of this appendix, then a certificate of inspection shall be issued, upon request, without charge to the owner or erector.

13.3. In cases where fastenings, anchorages, etc., are to be installed and bricked in or enclosed in such manner that the inspector cannot easily remove material to see anchorage, or fastenings and materials used, the sign erector who has secured the permit for such erection must advise the building and safety engineering division when such will be installed and stop further construction or erection of sign until such concealed anchorages are seen or approved by the building inspector.

13.4. Should any new sign erection of any kind be found unsafe, insecure, improperly constructed or not in accordance with approved plans or the requirements of this appendix, the sign erector shall be required to make any such erection safe, secure and according to requirements of this appendix or entirely remove the sign within 48 hours from the time of notification, in writing, to that effect by the building and safety engineering division.

13.5. All the several classes of signs shall be inspected by the building and safety engineering division once a year as to their safety, and if found to be well supported, painted to prevent corrosion, and so secured to the building as to safely support the weight of the sign as well as resist the required wind pressure, a certificate of such inspection shall be issued upon request. If, upon such inspection, a sign of any class be found unsafe, insecure, corroded or subject to corrosion so that the sign may become unsafe, or insecure before the expiration of the ensuing year, then the owner shall be required to make the sign safe and secure by causing such necessary repairs, additions, paint, etc., within ten days from the time of notification in writing to that effect from the building and safety engineering division and if such notice is not complied with, within the time specified, the administrator of the building and safety engineering division, or his/her designee, shall cause same to be removed. The cost for the removal of such sign shall be assessed against the property owner in accordance with sections 2-81 and 2-82 of the Code. It shall also be the duty of the administrator of the building and safety engineering division, or his/her designee, to order the removal of unsafe signs for which a permit and license is not required herein, and the maintenance of such a sign in an unsafe condition after receipt of notice to remove or repair the same shall be a violation of this appendix.

13.6. The director of the department of public works and services, in the event of violations, shall cause the removal of any unauthorized signs from the public right-of-way.

(Ord. No. 2169, § 1, 2-11-04)