Dana Point Municipal Code Ch. 8.04 Uniform Sign Code

There is adopted by the City Council of the City of Dana Point, for the purpose of prescribing regulations for the installation of signs, that certain Code known as the Uniform Sign Code, 1997 Edition, published by the International Conference of Building Officials save and except such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended, and which Code not less than one copy has been made and is now filed in the Office of the Clerk of the City Council; and the same is adopted and incorporated by reference as fully as if set forth at length herein.

(Added by Ord. 02-12, 9/24/02)

Section 103.4 of the Uniform Sign Code is amended to read as follows:

103.4 Violations and Penalties. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish, equip, use, occupy, or maintain any building or structure, or cause or permit the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this Code.

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this Code is committed, continued, or permitted; and upon conviction of any such violation such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Added by Ord. 02-12, 9/24/02)

Section 304 of the Uniform Sign Code is amended to read as follows:

Section 304—FEES

304.1 Permit fees. A fee as established by resolution of the City Council shall be paid for each permit at time of issuance.

304.2 Plan Check fees. A plan-checking fee shall be paid to the Director at the time of submitting plans and specifications for checking. Said plan-checking fee shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

304.3 Investigation fee. An investigation fee as established by resolution of the City Council may be charged by the Director whenever any work for which a permit is required by this Code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit. This fee shall be paid and the investigation shall be made prior to the issuance of any permit for said work. An investigation fee may be charged for any investigation of a sign, work reports, certification or any other related work requested by an owner or authorized agent of such owner.

304.4 Reinspections. A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or when corrections called for are not made.

This subsection is not to be interpreted as requiring fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to comply with the requirements of this Code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspection before the job is ready for such inspection or reinspection.

Reinspection fees may be assessed when the permit card is not properly posted on the work site, the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested, or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of the Director.

To obtain a reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee as established by resolution of the City Council.

In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.

304.5 Double Fees. Failure to obtain a sign permit prior to the erection of a sign shall require the payment of a double fee; however, payment of the double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with other provisions of this article, nor from liability to penalties prescribed herein.

(Added by Ord. 02-12, 9/24/02)

Section 306 of the Uniform Sign Code is amended to read as follows:

Section 306—INSPECTIONS

306.1 General. Signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official.

Footing inspections may be required by the building official for signs having footings.

Signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the Electrical Code, and the electrical components used shall bear the label of an approved agency.

The building official may order the removal of a sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 305.

Signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the building official.

Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this Code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.

It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the building official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

306.2 Inspection Record Card. Work requiring a permit shall not be commenced until the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder shall have posted or otherwise made available an inspection record card such as to allow the building official to conveniently make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This card shall be maintained available by the permit holder until final approval has been granted by the building official.

306.3 Inspection Requests. It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by a permit to notify the building official that such work is ready for inspection. The building official may require that every request for inspection be filed at least one working day before such inspection is desired. Such request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the building official.

It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspections required by this Code to provide access to and means for inspection of such work.

306.4 Approval Required. Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official. The building official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate that portion of the construction is satisfactory as completed, or shall notify the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder wherein the same fails to comply with this Code. Any portions which do not comply shall be corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the building official.

There shall be a final inspection and approval of all signs when completed and ready for use.

(Added by Ord. 02-12, 9/24/02)

Section 307 is added to the Uniform Sign Code to read as follows:

Section 307—UNSAFE AND UNLAWFUL SIGNS

307.1 Inspection. The Director shall inspect at such time as he deems necessary each sign regulated by this article for the purpose of ascertaining whether the sign is secure or insecure and whether it is in need of removal or repair.

If the Director shall find that any sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has been constructed, erected or maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, it shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal in accordance with the procedure specified in Section 102 of the California Building Code, as amended by the City of Dana Point.

307.2 Summary Removal. The Director may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.

(Added by Ord. 02-12, 9/24/02)