Section 20.56.300 Sign Permits.
A. Requirement. Sign permits are required for all signs except:
1. Exempt signs.
2. As specifically provided in this chapter provided that such signs comply with all of the standards, limitations and requirements in the section regulating them; including, but not limited to:
i. Residential signs
ii. Special Monument Signs per §20.56.170.D
iii. Two day signs per §20.56.210.A
iv. Election Period signs per §20.56.230.
3. Changes in copy of signs for which a valid permit exists so long as nothing else is changed in the sign.
If a sign permit is required, the permit must be obtained from the Department before construction or installation is started. If a building permit is required under Chapter 15.08 (“Sign Code”) of this code, it will be included as a part of the sign permit.
B. General provisions applicable to all permits.
1. Application and fees. Applicants shall use forms and provide information as required by the department, and shall submit fees in the amounts provided by resolution or ordinance, and shall submit the fees at the times required by the department. Fees are nonrefundable, even if a sign permit is denied.
2. Application Date. The application date is the date that the department receives at its counter an application on the form provided by the department. An application which contains blanks where information is required to be filled in, or which does not include all the attachments required, or is not accompanied by any fees which must be submitted with the application may be rejected at the counter and is not deemed “received.” Otherwise, the application is deemed received.
3. Incomplete applications. Applications which do not contain all the information necessary, in the opinion of the administrator, to determine compliance with this Chapter shall be denied. If convenient to department personnel, an applicant may be contacted to bring in additional information and the application may be held pending receipt of information, but if the information is not received by the action deadline, the application is deemed denied. If an application is denied for being incomplete, fees will not be refunded.
4. Processing. The application will be simultaneously processed by the Building Official, who shall determine compliance with the requirements of Title 15 of Sparks Municipal Code, and the administrator, who shall determine compliance with this chapter and any other applicable provision.
5. Standards. The Building official shall make his decision based on compliance with the requirements of Chapter 15.08 of this Code. The administrator shall make his decision based on compliance with this chapter and with any other applicable chapter of the Sparks Municipal Code. A denial of a permit must be based on a determination that, if approved, the sign described in the permit would violate an identifiable standard in Sparks Municipal Code.
6. Conditional approvals. Conditions related to the application and enforcement of this Chapter may be imposed as a part of an approval of a permit. If any condition is not satisfied when due, it shall be treated as a violation of the permit.
7. Effect of denial; judicial relief. In addition to any rights available to an aggrieved applicant under NRS 278.0233 and 278.0235, if an application is denied, the applicant may file or cause to be filed in the district court a petition for judicial examination of the validity of the denial as provided by NRS 34.185.
8 Effect of approval of permit. Approval of a permit means that the sign described in the permit may be built subject to the terms and conditions stated in the permit, provided that the sign is constructed and continuously maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter even if the application describes a sign which does not comply with the provisions of this chapter.
C. Sign permits
1. Action deadline; failure to reject by deadline waives permit requirements. For sign permits (except temporary sign permits), the “action deadline” is close of business on the thirtieth calendar day (starting with the first business day following the application date) following the application date. If the “action deadline” falls on a weekend or holiday, it is extended to close of business on the first business day following the weekend or holiday. By the action deadline, both the Building Official and the administrator shall either approve or deny the application. The application is deemed denied if either the Building Official or the administrator denies it even if the other approves it. If the application is neither approved or denied by the action deadline, the applicant shall have a right to construct the sign in accordance with the provisions of this Title and Title 15 of the Sparks Municipal Code except for the requirement of a permit.
2. Notice of denial. If an application is denied, a written notice shall be prepared and mailed or hand delivered to the applicant, first class mail, at the address indicated on the application, within five working days following the denial. The written notice of denial shall include the reason for the denial. If the denial is for an incomplete application, the notice shall specify what information needs to be submitted if the application is resubmitted. The deadline for filing for any judicial relief does not commence until this written notice is mailed or hand delivered to the applicant.
D. Temporary sign permits.
1. Expedited permit process; Action deadline. The administrator shall establish an expedited application and approval process for temporary signs, including a simplified application form which could be approved or disapproved over the counter (i) under ordinary circumstances, (ii) if every blank is correctly and completely filled in and (iii) no outside approval or inspection is required. The “action deadline” is noon of the fifth business day following (and not counting) the application date. If the application is neither approved or denied by the action deadline, the applicant shall have a right to display the sign for the period specified in the application and in accordance with the provisions of this Title and Title 15 of the Sparks Municipal Code except for the requirement of a permit. If an approval of another official is required (such as approval of the airport authority for signs using searchlights), the permit may be approved subject to the condition that the applicant obtain such approval, and the permit shall not be valid until that condition is met.
2. Notification. Notification of approval or disapproval shall be in person, or by telephone, e-mail, fax or other expeditious form of communication.
E. Suspension and revocation of sign permits. Any permit issued in error, or in reliance on an application which contains false, misleading, or incomplete information that was material to the administrator’s decision may be suspended and revoked by the administrator. The applicant shall be given the notice required by subsection 5 of this section and shall have the right to judicial review as provided in subsection 6 of this section as if the suspension or revocation were a denial of an application.
F. Violation of permit. It is unlawful to build or alter a sign in such a way that it does not strictly conform to the permit or any condition in the permit, the application for the permit, or the standards and requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 2417, Amended, 11/10/2008, Prior Text; Ord. 2120, Add, 01/14/2002)