Sign permits.
A. Permits required.
Except for those signs identified under this section and/or those preexisting signs identified under
§ 500-47C, all signs shall require a sign permit to be issued in accordance with the provisions of these regulations prior to erecting and maintaining such sign in the Town.
B. Responsible officer.
The Director of Planning, head of the Building Department, or similar officer or designee is responsible for the issuance of all sign permits which comply with the provisions of these regulations and with the Building and Electrical Codes of the Town of Chili and the State of New York.
C. Sign site plan approval.
The Director of Planning, head of the Building Department, or similar officer or designee shall refer all applications for commercial speech sign permits that involve more than two signs per building or site to the Town of Chili Planning Board for sign site plan approval. The Planning Board shall have the authority to approve all sign site plans in accordance with the procedures established in
Article V: Site Plan Approval of this chapter.
D. Signs not requiring a permit.
The following types of signs shall be permitted in any district without the issuance of a permit:
(1) Except as elsewhere provided for herein, signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing property numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises.
(2) Signs regulating the use of a property, such as "no hunting," "no fishing," etc., of no more than two square feet.
(3) Signs directing and guiding traffic for service and parking on private property, not to exceed three square feet in area and height of not more than 42 inches measured from the ground level to the top of the sign. Not more than two such signs shall be permitted at a driveway entrance. Signs required under the American with Disabilities Act shall comply with ADA guidelines.
(4) A temporary sign announcing special public or institutional events sponsored by a religious or community service organization may be erected for a period not exceeding 90 days prior to the event. Such signs must be removed within seven days after the end of the event.
(5) Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into masonry surfaces or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel, or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies, religious or nonprofit organizations; not exceeding six square feet.
(6) A single flag or insignia of any government.
(7) Legal notices, identification, informational or directional signs erected or required by governmental agencies.
(8) Private-owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales and auctions, not exceeding four square feet. Signs shall be erected no sooner than 72 hours prior to the sale and removed within 24 hours after such sale. In no case shall the total sale period exceed 10 consecutive days.
(9) Signs at gasoline stations that are integral graphics or attached price signs on pumps and other sign as mandated by regulatory agencies.
(10) A temporary commercial pennant or banner, advertising a special event, not to exceed 32 square feet in area and not to exceed two per location, may be erected for a period not to exceed 60 days and for no more than two such periods in any calendar year.
(11) A nonilluminated temporary sign, not exceeding 32 square feet in area, announcing the erection of a building, the architect, the builder or contractor, may be erected for a period of 60 days, plus the time of the construction period.
(12) Real estate signs, advertising the sale, lease or rental of improved premises or unimproved land upon which the sign is located shall be allowed, one for each frontage. The area of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet. In the case of residential property, the height of the sign shall not exceed seven feet; in the case of nonresidential property, the height of the sign shall not exceed 12 feet above grade. The sign may have printing on both sides.
(13) One temporary freestanding open-for-inspection sign shall be permitted only during those hours when such property is actually available for public inspection and only if located upon the premises. Additional freestanding open-for-inspection signs shall be permitted at intersections of those streets directly leading to the property only during those hours in which the property is actually available for inspection. Such signs shall not be attached to any highway sign, utility pole or placed so as to cause a traffic hazard.
(14) A sign not exceeding 32 square feet in area for each church, educational institution, or professional center, and not exceeding 20 feet in height measured from the ground to the top of the sign.
(15) Political signs not to exceed a total of 24 square feet. Such signs may be erected up to 48 days prior to the first day in which ballots are accepted by the Board of Elections for any election and must be removed no later than seven days after the election.
(16) Noncommercial message signs expressing the opinion or philosophy of the owner or occupant of the property regarding religious, social, or economic causes, not to exceed a total of 16 square feet.
(17) Street address identification numbers in compliance with
§ 500-50C and
Chapter 195: Buildings, Numbering of.
E. Sign permit expiration.
A sign permit issued by the Director of Planning, head of the Building Department, or similar officer or designee for the erection of a sign shall be valid until such time as the sign is removed, replaced or altered. If work is not commenced within 90 days or if said sign is not erected within that one-year time period, said sign permit shall become void and the owner shall apply for a new sign permit which shall be subject to these regulations and the payment of a new sign permit fee.
Sign permit applications.
A. All applications for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms prescribed and provided by the Director of Planning, head of the Building Department, or similar officer or designee and shall contain the following information:
(1) Name, address and telephone number of the owner.
(2) The location of any building or structure upon which the sign is to be erected.
(3) A detailed drawing or print to a scale not exceeding one inch equals one foot showing the construction details of the sign, the lettering and/or pictorial matter and the position of lighting or other extraneous devices; and a location plan drawn to a scale not exceeding one inch equals 20 feet showing the position of the sign on any building or structure, including building elevation, any private or public street or highway adjacent to the site.
(4) The zoning district in which the sign is to be placed and reference cited to the sign requirements as contained in this chapter.
(5) Identification of all other signs on said land and notation whether those other signs are conforming, nonconforming, or legally nonconforming.
(6) Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected.
(7) The applicant's signature attesting to the accuracy of the application.
B. The Director of Planning, head of the Building Department, or similar officer or designee's review of all sign permits shall be based upon the completed application form, any accompanying photos, drawings and a site inspection.
C. Upon receipt of a completed sign permit application, the Director of Planning, head of the Building Department, or similar officer or designee shall:
(1) Review the design, size and location of the proposed sign to determine whether the proposed sign is in violation of any of the regulations or restrictions set forth in this chapter.
(2) Grant or deny the application within 30 days of receipt of a complete application.
Sign fees.
All fees associated with these regulations shall be established and maintained by the Town Board and made part of the Town's Fee Schedule, which is on file in the Town Clerk's office. The Town Board, by resolution, may waive the fee for a sign permit for nonprofit organizations.
See
§ 500-50: Sign standards. for more information.
