17.110.050 Permit required.
A. Permits. Except as provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate, or alter any sign without first filing with the community development department an application in writing and obtaining a sign permit. A separate permit shall be required for a sign or signs for each business entity, and a separate permit shall be required for each group of signs on a single supporting structure. In addition, based on the type of sign, structural and electrical permits are required for signs through the building department. When a sign permit has been issued by the community development director or designee, it shall be unlawful to move, change, modify, alter, or otherwise deviate from the terms or conditions of said permit without prior approval of the community development director or designee.
B. Application for Permit. The application for a sign permit shall be made by the owner or tenant of the property on which the sign is to be located, or his authorized agent, or a licensed sign contractor. The application is available on a form provided in the community development department.
C. Fees for Sign Permit. Sign permit fees shall be as established from time to time by resolution of the city council.
D. Completion Date. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within 180 days after the permit was issued, said permit shall expire and become null and void, and there shall be no refund of any fee required by this chapter.
E. Permission of Property Owner. No person shall erect, construct or maintain any sign upon any property or building without the written consent of the owner or person entitled to possession of the property or building, if any, or their authorized representatives.
F. Illegal Signs. No person shall erect or maintain or permit to be erected or maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him any sign which does not comply with the provisions of this title.
G. Sign Permit Not Required. The following do not require a sign permit:
1. The changing of the text or copy of permitted signs.
2. The electrical, painting, or cleaning maintenance or repair of a permitted sign in accordance with the permit.
3. Interior signs.
4. Real estate signs no larger than six square feet.
5. Political signs no larger than 32 square feet. All political signs shall be on private property and not closer than 10 feet to a driveway.
6. Window signs.
7. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and dates of building erection when cut into the surface of the facade of the building.
8. Official notices posted by public officers or public employees in the performance of their duties.
9. Public necessity signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies indicating danger and aids to service or safety.
10. The flags, emblems, or insignias of any nation or political subdivision.
11. Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historical agencies; provided, that no such symbol, plaque, or identification emblem shall exceed 10 square feet in area.
12. House numbers and name plates not exceeding two square feet in area for each residential building.
13. Trespassing signs in all zones.
14. Subdivision development signs as set forth in this title.
15. These exceptions are not to be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance regulating the same.
H. Appeal. Should a sign application be denied that decision may be appealed to the appeal authority, Chapter 17.00 WPCC. [Ord. 08-17-2021B § 2 (Exh. A)].