106A.5 Awning, Sign, and Gate Amnesty Program.

106A.5 Awning, Sign, and Gate Amnesty Program. The Department shall implement the amnesty program outlined in this Section 106A.5 to incentivize and expedite the legalization of Awnings, Signs, and Gates as defined below, that were physically existing on and installed without a building permit, or for which the Department has no record of a building permit on file, as of August 20, 2023. All property owners that have existing Awnings, Signs, and/or Gates that were installed on or before August 20, 2023 without a building permit on file are eligible for the amnesty program, including property owners with active Notices of Violation for installing or having an Awning, Sign, or Gate without a building permit.

SCOPE OF PROGRAM: The amnesty program in this Section 106A.5 applies to Awnings, Signs, and Gate as follows:

All Awnings, as that term is defined in Section 202 of this Code;

Signs, as that term is defined in Section 202 of this Code, that are non-illuminated, under 250 pounds, and 25 square feet or less; and

Gates, including security grilles, that are located in B, S, and M occupancies, and are designed to provide security for commercial uses during nonbusiness hours. Vehicular gates, as defined by section 202 of this Code, are not eligible for the amnesty program.

106A.5.1 Certification of Existing Installation: No New Construction, Repairs, or Corrective Work. The amnesty program shall provide a streamlined process to verify that an existing Awning, Sign, or Gate complies with applicable provisions of the Building Code as well as Planning Code Section 187.3, and will result in a building permit authorizing the existing Awning, Sign, or Gate. The amnesty program shall not authorize new construction or corrective work to bring an existing Awning, Sign, or Gate into compliance. Any alterations, modifications, or construction required

to bring the Awning, Sign, or Gate into compliance with the Building Code will require a standard building permit and is not subject to the provisions of this Section 106A.5, except that the fees for any such permit required to repair or replace an Awning that the Department determined was not in compliance with the Building Code shall be waived pursuant to Section 106A.5.2.

106A.5.2 Waiving of Fees. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Building Code, the Department shall continue until July 1, 2025 to waive all fees for applications eligible for the amnesty program and for any permits required to repair or replace an Awning that the Department determined was not in compliance with the Building Code, including the application fee for plan review, permit issuance fee for inspections, and any enforcement fees, including inspection fees required under Section 107A.5 for work without a permit.

25 to waive all fees for applications eligible for the amnesty program and for any permits required to repair or replace an Awning that the Department determined was not in compliance with the Building Code, including the application fee for plan review, permit issuance fee for inspections, and any enforcement fees, including inspection fees required under Section 107A.5 for work without a permit.

106A.5.3 Streamlined Application Process. The Department shall develop a streamlined application process to facilitate and expedite review of Awning, Sign, or Gate permits during the amnesty program. The application shall require only information essential to determining whether an existing Awning, Sign, or Gate complies with the applicable Building and Planning Code provisions, including the Planning Code’s amnesty program in Planning Code Section 187.3.

106A.5.4 No Relaxation of Building Standards. The amnesty program governs the certification of existing Awnings’, Signs’, or Gates’ compliance with applicable Building Code provisions. Any Awning, Sign, or Gate that is not in compliance with the Building Code will require a separate building permit to repair, replace, or remove the Awning, Sign, or Gate.

(Added by Ord. 139-23, File No. 230447, App. 7/20/2023, Eff. 8/20/2023; Ord. 149-23, File No. 230745, App. 7/27/2023, Eff. 8/27/2023; Ord. 177-24, File No. 240474, App. 7/17/2024, Eff. 8/17/2024, Retro. 6/1/2024; Ord. 115-25, File No. 250539, App. 7/17/2025, Eff. 8/17/2025)