Article 7 — Sign Regulations

Sec. 702 - Definitions of land use categories.

Land use categories referred to in this Code have the following meanings. The use in this Article of the term "property" relative to a land use category includes both developed and undeveloped properties, while the term "use" means a property that is developed, occupied or otherwise in operation under the land use category.

Agricultural: A property zoned AG or RA and used primarily for the cultivation of crops, dairying or the raising of livestock, or a vacant property zoned for such purpose.

Single- and Two-Family Residential: A property zoned R-LD or R-MD and occupied primarily by one or more single-family dwellings or duplex dwellings, or a family personal care home, or a vacant property zoned for such purpose. A property zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD) with a base residential zoning classification shall meet the standards of this Code. If a PUD includes a mix of uses, the sign standards shall be described in the Overall Regulating Plan, or if no specifications are included, the Director shall determine the use that will conform with the land use definitions herein.

Multi-Family Residential: A property zoned R-HD and occupied primarily by one or more residential buildings containing three or more dwelling units, a nursing or residential care facility (other than a family personal care home), or a mobile home park, or a vacant property zoned for such purposes.

Heavy Commercial: A property zoned C-G, C-H, OI, or PSP and occupied by one or more business establishments that are primarily engaged in the sale of goods; the provision of personal, professional, business, entertainment or other commercial services; the management of a business enterprise; the provision of temporary housing to the traveling public (such as a motel); or any other allowed use; or a vacant property zoned C-G, C-H, OI or PSP. A property zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD) with a base commercial zoning classification shall meet the standards of this Code. If a PUD includes a mix of uses, the sign standards shall be described in the Overall Regulating Plan, or if no specifications are included, the Director shall determine the use that will conform with the land use definitions herein.

Industrial: A property zoned LI, LI-R, or HI and occupied by one or more business establishment that are primarily engaged in the fabrication, manufacture or production of durable or nondurable goods, or a vacant property zoned for such purpose. A property zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD) with a base industrial zoning classification, shall meet the standards of this Code. If a PUD includes a mix of uses, the sign standards shall be described in the Overall Regulating Plan, or if no specifications are included, the Director shall determine the use that will conform with the land use definitions herein.

Institutional: Any property occupied by a non-profit religious, recreational or philanthropic organization, club or institution. If a PUD includes a mix of uses, the sign standards shall be described in the Overall Regulating Plan, or if no specifications are included, the Director shall determine the use that will conform with the land use definitions herein.

Sec. 703 - Definitions related to sign regulations.

The following words and phrases have specific meanings as used and depicted in this Article:

Awning: A roof-like cover that projects from the wall of a building for the purpose of shielding a doorway, or window from the elements. Awnings are often made of fabric or flexible plastic supported by a rigid frame, and may be retracted into the face of the building.

Awning Sign: See "Building Sign."

Banner: A sign other than an official flag, made of paper, cloth, thin plastic, or similar lightweight and pliable material, and usually containing a message or logo.

Building Sign: A sign that in any manner is fastened to, projects from, or is placed or painted upon the exterior wall, window, door, or roof of a building. The term "building sign" includes but is not limited to the following:

Canopy: A permanent roof-like structure projecting from a building and open on at least one side for the purpose of shielding a pedestrian walkway from the elements, or a freestanding roof-like structure supported by columns intended to shield a vehicular driveway or service area from the elements.

Copy shall mean words and numbers.

Double-Faced Sign: A sign structure with two sign faces that are parallel (back-to-back) or that form an angle to one another, where each sign face is designed to be seen from a different direction and the two sign faces are separated from each other at their nearest point by no more than three feet.

Festoons: Strings of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pennants, streamers, pinwheels, or other devices or long narrow strips of fabric, plastic, or other pliable material designed to move in the wind.

Freestanding Sign: A sign permanently attached to the ground and that is wholly independent of any building or other structure. The term "freestanding sign" includes but is not limited to the following:

Holiday: An official day of festivity or recreation when the offices of the Douglas County government are closed for business (other than a Saturday or Sunday).

Incidental Sign: A small sign, emblem, or decal no larger than 2 square feet. Such signs are normally located on doors, windows, and gas pumps, and are generally not readily visible or legible from public rights-of-way.

Internally Illuminated Letters: See "channeled letters."

Mansard: A steeply sloped, roof-like façade architecturally similar to a building wall.

Mansard Sign: See under "Building Sign."

Marquee: A permanent roof-like structure or canopy of rigid materials supported by and extending from the façade of a building.

Marquee Sign: See under "Building Sign."

Minimum front setback: The minimum distance required by the zoning on a property between an adjoining street and the façade of a principal building on the property.

Monument Sign: See "Ground Sign" under "Freestanding Sign."

Multi-Faced Sign: A single sign structure consisting of two sign faces (see "double-faced sign") or three or more sign faces that are separated from each other at their nearest point by no more than three feet.

Sign faces on a single sign structure that are separated by more than three feet are treated as separate signs.

Pennant: Any lightweight plastic, fabric or similar material designed to move in the wind; pennants are often suspended from a rope, wire, or string in series. The term "pennant" shall not include a "banner"

or an "official or personal flag" as regulated in this Article.

Planned Center: A single office, commercial, or industrial property or contiguous properties, planned, developed and managed as a unit for occupancy by two or more principal businesses that are separately owned and have no corporate relationship, such as a shopping center or office complex.

Principal Freestanding Sign: The main, predominant or largest freestanding sign or signs on a property.

Project Entrance Sign: A permanent freestanding sign located at a discernible entrance into a multi-family development, or into a development containing multiple lots, such as but not limited to a particular residential or commercial subdivision, business center, office park or industrial park.

Projecting Sign: See under "Building Sign."

Roof Sign: See under "Building Sign."

Sign: Any structure, display, vehicle, or device that is used to advertise, identify, direct, or attract attention to a business, institution, organization, person, idea, product, service, event, or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, design characteristics, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, movement, or illumination.

Sign Face: That portion of the surface of a sign structure where words, letters, figures, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, or other design elements are or may be located in order to convey the message, idea, or intent for which the sign has been erected or placed. The sign face may be composed of two or more modules on the same surface that are separated or surrounded by open space or by portions of a sign structure not intended to contain any advertising message or idea and are purely structural or decorative in nature.

Sign Module: Each portion or unit of a sign face that is clearly and physically separable from other such units by virtue of the expression of a complete thought, message, logo, or idea.

Sign Structure: All elements of a freestanding sign, including the sign face, background, or decorative elements related to the presentation or support of the sign's message, and the structural supports.

Temporary Event: An activity having a specific duration or the end of which is related to a specific action, usually lasting for only a few days or months at a time. Temporary events include but are not limited to such activities as:

carnivals and seasonal sales events;

Tenant: A natural person, business or other entity that occupies land or buildings by ownership, under a lease, or through payment of rent; an occupant, inhabitant, or dweller of a place.

Under-canopy sign: See under "Building Sign."

Vehicular Sign: Any sign placed, mounted, painted on or affixed to a motor vehicle, freight, flatbed or storage trailer or other conveyance when same are placed or parked in such a manner as to be viewed or intended to be viewed from the public right(s)-of-way except that this definition shall not apply when:

Wall Sign: See under "Building Sign."

Window Sign: See under "Building Sign."

Sec. 704 - Exemptions.

The regulations and requirements of this Article apply to all signs that are or are intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way or adjacent property, or that are intended to be viewed from outdoor areas of public property, except as otherwise exempt under this Section.

704 (a) Exemptions; general.

The following are exempt from all restrictions and regulations imposed by this Article:

704 (b) Exemptions.

Each of the following types of signs is allowed on any property and are exempt from the restrictions imposed by this Article:

Property addresses (including multi-family building or unit numbers) are not signs when displayed on a building or mailbox, provided that such property address consists of lettering no larger than 8 inches in height on a building or 3 inches on a mailbox.

Holiday decorations and displays erected on a seasonal basis that are not intended to be permanent in nature.

Small signs and postings as defined in this Article of no more than 2 square feet, provided that the aggregate of all such signs on a property may not exceed 16 square feet unless a larger aggregate area is required by law or government regulation.

Sec. 705 - Prohibited signs.

705 (a) Animated and flashing signs.

705 (b) Attached and painted signs.

Signs that are painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, utility poles, or rocks or other natural features, are not allowed.

705 (c) Banners.

Banners are not allowed except as provided for temporary signage under Sec. 710 of this Article.

705 (d) Dilapidated signs.

Signs that are dilapidated or in such condition as to create a hazard, nuisance or to be unsafe or fail to comply with any provision of the building code of the County are not allowed.

705 (e) Reserved.

705 (f) Display of nudity.

Signs displaying nudity, as defined by the State of Georgia at O.C.G.A. 32-6-75 (b) (1), are not allowed.

705 (g) Festoons.

Strings of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pennants, streamers, pinwheels, or other devices or long narrow strips of fabric, plastic, or other pliable material designed to move in the wind, are not allowed except as provided for temporary signage under Sec. 710 of this Article.

705 (h) Inflatable signs.

A sign that is intended to be expanded by air or other gas for its proper display or support is not allowed except as provided for temporary signage under Sec. 710 of this Article.

705 (i) Obscene signs.

Obscene signs, as defined by the State of Georgia at O.C.G.A. 16-12-80 (b), are not allowed.

705 (j) Obstructions.

No sign shall obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or opening usable for fire prevention or suppression, or prevent free passage from one part of a roof to any other part thereof. No sign shall extend above a parapet wall, be affixed to a fire escape, or interfere with any opening required for ventilation.

705 (k) Portable signs.

A sign designed to be transported or easily relocated and not attached to the ground, such as but not limited to the following, is not allowed (except as provided for temporary signage under Sec. 710 of this Article):

705 (l) Vehicular signs.

Any sign that meets the definition of a "vehicular sign" contained in this Article is prohibited.

705 (m) Private signs placed on public property.

Any sign posted or extending into or erected on utility poles, governmental signs, public rights-of-way or any other public property is not allowed, except those placed by agencies of the federal, state, or local government.

705 (n) Roof signs.

Roof signs, including signs painted or adhered on roofs, are not allowed. This prohibition does not apply to the fascia portion of a mansard roof, or to the face of a parapet wall, provided that the sign must not extend above the top of the mansard roof or parapet wall.

705 (o) Signs advertising illegal activity.

Signs that advertise an activity illegal under Georgia or federal law are not allowed.

705 (p) Signs imitating public warning or traffic devices.

Any sign that displays intermittent lights resembling the flashing lights customarily used in traffic signals or in police, fire, ambulance, or rescue vehicles, and any sign that uses the words "stop," "danger," or other message or content in a manner that might mislead or confuse a driver, is not allowed. Any sign that uses the words, slogans, dimensional shape or size, or colors of governmental traffic signs is not allowed. No red, green, or yellow illuminated sign shall be permitted within 300 feet of any traffic light.

705 (q) Sound or smoke emitting signs.

A sign that emits or utilizes in any manner any sound capable of being detected on any traveled road or highway by a person with normal hearing, or a sign that emits smoke, vapor or odors, is not allowed.

705 (r) Reserved.

705 (s) Wetlands.

No sign shall be located within any wetlands, as defined in the codes, ordinances and regulations of Douglas County.

Sec. 706 - General requirements applying to all signs.

706 (a) Conformance to Building Codes.

706 (b) Conformance to state law.

The following applies to any sign located or to be located within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. or State-numbered highway (or any other road designated as a "primary highway" by the State of Georgia and approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation), or located or to be located beyond 660 feet of such highway but visible and intended to be read from such highway:

32-6-70 et seq .

706 (c) Sign maintenance.

706 (d) Minimum sign setback.

706 (e) Visibility clearance area.

Any portion of a sign located within 20 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of streets, or within 20 feet of the intersection of the edge of a driveway and the right-of-way line of a street, shall be no more than 30 inches (2½ feet) in height, nor shall such sign otherwise obstruct visibility or pose a threat to traffic safety. Notwithstanding, sign installation locations must also meet setback requirements of Article 4 and clear zone distance criteria based on Article 10 of this Code.

706 (f) Principal freestanding signs; distance between.

Each principal freestanding sign having an area of 75 square feet or less shall be located at least 50 feet from any other principal freestanding sign on the same side of the street. The Development Services Director may reduce this distance if it cannot be met due to the location of existing signs on separate but adjoining lots. Such reduction shall be the minimum required in order to maintain the greatest separation possible from such existing signs.

Each principal freestanding sign having an area of between 75 and 300 square feet shall be located at least 100 feet from any other principal freestanding sign on the same side of the street. The Development Services Director may reduce this distance if it cannot be met due to the location of existing signs on separate but adjoining lots. Such reduction shall be the minimum required in order to maintain the greatest separation possible from such existing signs.

Each principal freestanding sign having an area greater than 300 square feet shall be located at least 1,000 feet from any other principal freestanding sign having an area greater than 300 square feet (except between billboards on opposite sides of I-20—see Sec. 709 (b)(2)b), and at least 100 feet from any other principal freestanding sign on the same side of the street.

Distance measurements are to be made horizontally in all directions from the nearest edge of the sign structure.

706 (g) Projecting signs.

706 (h) Ground clearance under signs.

706 (i) Illuminated signs.

No sign illumination device shall resemble an official traffic control or warning sign, nor shall it hide from view or distract from any traffic or street sign or signal.

Illumination devices shall be placed, filtered, and shielded so direct rays will not be cast into the eyes of drivers or pedestrians.

Sign illumination shall not cast light directly upon adjacent properties or roadways. No illuminated signs are allowed within 100 feet of any residential zoning district or property occupied by a dwelling.

No sign may have exposed electrical wires.

Strings of bulbs are not permitted, except as part of a holiday celebration.

No sign shall be illuminated between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. except for those hours during which the premises on which the sign is located is open for business or employees are on the premises.

706(j) Setbacks.

Freestanding signs shall be set back at least 3 feet from a street right-of-way line and 12 feet from the back of a street curb, whichever results in the greater setback, and shall be no closer than 10 feet from any side or rear property line.

706(k) Minimum Standards.

Sign structure shall conform to the minimum design and construction standards of any overlay zone adopted as a part of this Code.

Sec. 707 - Measurement of sign area and height.

707 (a) Computation of sign area.

In order to determine compliance with the maximum allowable sign areas permitted under this Article, the following shall establish how sign areas are measured.

Measurements shall be made as a flat plane rectangle projected on the sign.

For any sign on which any of the words, letters, figures, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, or other design elements are routinely changed or are intended to be changed from time to time, the sign face area shall include the entire area within which any words, letters, figures, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, or other design elements may be placed, together with any frame or material, texture, or color forming an integral part of the sign face or used to differentiate the sign face from the structure upon which it is placed. Both changeable and fixed elements of signs with changeable copy signs are counted toward a single sign face area.

For project entrance signs or other signs that are imposed, mounted or painted on a wall or other decorative structure, the sign structure area shall be computed as that portion of such wall or other decorative structure that is discernibly devoted to the support of the sign or, by its design or architectural treatment, intended to provide a background or frame for the sign.

Any open space contained within the limits of the rectangle delimiting the sign face, sign module, or sign structure shall be included in the computation of the area of such sign face, sign module, or sign structure.

707 (b) Multi-faced signs.

For double-faced signs, when the sign face surfaces are parallel (back-to-back), or where the smallest angle formed between the two faces is 60 degrees or less, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area on the largest side. For double-faced signs where the interior angle formed by the faces is more than 60 degrees, the area of the sign shall be the total area of all sides.

For sign structures having only three faces and the interior angle formed between all of the faces is 60 degrees, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area on the largest side. For all other multi-faced signs with three or more sides, the area of the sign shall be the largest total of all faces that are joined by an interior angle of more than 60 degrees that can be viewed from any one direction.

707 (c) Measurement of sign height and distance.

The height of a sign shall be equal to the vertical distance from the average grade at the base of the sign, or from the crown of the roadway of the nearest street within 100 feet of any portion of the sign, to the highest point of any portion of the sign, whichever results in the greater sign height. Any earthen berms and elevated foundations supporting signs, signposts or other sign supports shall be included in the height of the sign.

Note: Where a freestanding sign is mounted along a roadway that has a significantly higher grade level as compared to the grade level directly below the freestanding sign, then the Development Services Director may authorize the height to be measured from the roadway grade level to the top of the freestanding sign or sign structure.

Minimum distances required hereunder shall be measured along the shortest straight line from the nearest point on a sign structure to the nearest point on a property line, sign structure, building or structure to which the minimum distance requirement applies.

Sec. 708 - Permanent signs allowed, by land use category.

The following Table 7.1 and Table 7.2 present the maximum number, size, height, and other restrictions

that the tenant faces.

tenants 2 square feet 2 square feet 8 square feet 20% of the area of the wall facing a street 20% of the area of the wall facing a street Maximum sign face area for each sign Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable See 708 (d)(2), up to a maximum of 225 square feet per sign See 708 (d)(2), up to a maximum of 225 square feet per sign Additional Under-Canopy Sign or Projecting Sign Not Allowed Not Allowed Not Allowed 1 per tenant, up to 6 square feet in area 1 per tenant, up to 6 square feet in area Illumination Internal or External Internal or External Signs on a free-standing canopy:

Max. number of all canopy signs Not Allowed Not Allowed Not Allowed 1 per canopy face 1 per canopy face Maximum sign face area 20% of the area of each canopy face 20% of the area of each canopy face Maximum sign face area of largest sign 15 square feet 15 square feet Illumination Internal Only Internal Only 3 Additional wall signage is allowed for each tenant (up to a maximum of three signs per street-facing wall) when the tenant meets one or more of the following conditions: a) the tenant occupies more than 50,000 square feet of floor area (add one sign); b) the tenant occupies more than 100,000 square feet of floor area (add one additional sign).

708 (e) Changeable copy signs.

708 (f) Planned developments.

For signs in a planned unit development (PUD) or master planned development, each property or individual development project within the planned development shall conform to the sign regulations established as part of the zoning approval for the planned development. If no such regulations exist, each property or individual development project within a planned development shall conform to the provisions of this Article in accordance with the land use category of said property or individual development.

708 (g) Process for relaxation of signage restrictions.

The restrictions placed on signs by this Article, including the number, size, height, illumination and location on a property, may be modified under the provisions of Sec. 712.

Sec. 709 - Other permanent signs allowed.

709 (a) Miscellaneous freestanding signs.

Freestanding signs in addition to those shown on Table 7.1 are allowed as accessory uses on a property occupied by any multi-family, commercial or institutional, or industrial use if each sign complies with all of the following:

709 (b) Billboards.

No billboard shall be placed in or obstruct the view of an area of historic interest designated by the County, or within 300 feet of a building, structure or site designated as historic under state or federal regulation.

No more than one single-faced or double-faced sign can be located on a single billboard sign structure. Only one sign module is allowed on a single-faced billboard sign structure, and only two sign modules are allowed on a double-faced billboard sign structure. The two sign modules forming a double-faced billboard must be parallel (back-to-back) to one another or form an interior angle no greater than 60 degrees, and the two sign modules may be separated from each other at their nearest point by no more than three feet.

Only one sign shall be allowed to face the same direction per location. This allows back-to-back or "V" formation signs, but prohibits two signs (side by side or one above the other) facing the same direction.

The area of the sign face shall not exceed 700 square feet if located within 660 feet of the I-20 right-of-way, or 400 square feet for all other locations, not including aprons or trim.

Externally illuminated billboard shall use base mounted fluorescent or mercury vapor lights and shall be activated by photoelectrical cells. Digital lighting of billboards, including LED and other electronic forms of lighting, is permitted only as set out in this paragraph.

For billboards erected as of right within 500 feet of Interstate Highway 20, digital billboards are permitted so long as:

Certification shall be provided to the County demonstrating that the sign has been preset to automatically adjust the brightness to these levels or lower and that the sign operates within such standards.

Protrusions beyond the face of the sign, excluding aprons, are prohibited.

All portions of the billboard must be located on a property in accordance with the front, side and rear yard setback requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.

The billboard must comply with all requirements of the State of Georgia and the Georgia Outdoor Advertising Act (O.C.G.A. 32-6-70 et seq .), as well as the provisions of this Section, whichever are the most restrictive.

A request for an increase in the size or height limitation may be made under the provisions of Sec. 712.

709 (c) Reserved Sec. 710. - Additional signage.

Additional signs shall not be restricted as to the message displayed on the sign, but must comply with the following:

710 (a) Size, height and design.

710 (b) Setbacks, locations and limitations for temporary signs.

710 (c) Standards for signs not requiring building permits.

710 (d) Portable signs, inflatable signs, banners and festoons.

Portable signs, inflatable signs banners and festoons are allowed as temporary event signs on a property in the following land use categories: Heavy Commercial, Industrial and Institutional as described in this Article, subject to the following additional restrictions.

One portable or inflatable sign per developed lot or business is allowed under the following conditions and requirements:

In the event that a court should adjudge any part of this section of the ordinance a violation of the Georgia or United States Constitutions or any other provision of law, it is the specific intent of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners that this provision referencing a limitation to noncommercial speech or commercial speech that pertains to a commercial enterprise located on the property be omitted from the ordinance and the remainder of the ordinance stay in effect to regulate signs on property within the County.

Sec. 711 - Sign permits.

711 (a) Sign permits; when required.

In addition to a building permit as may be required under the Building Code, a sign permit shall be obtained from the Development Services Director prior to installation, relocation, expansion, construction or structural alteration of any sign regulated under this Article except for those signs specifically exempted under Sec. 711 (b), below.

Any violation of Sec. 711 (a) will result in a permit fee penalty equal to two times the sign permit fee.

711 (b) Exemptions from requirement for a sign permit. 4

Replacing or altering the words, letters, figures, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, or other design elements that compose a sign's message, in whole or in part, shall not require a sign permit unless a structural change is made. This applies only to an existing business or owner. All new businesses or owners require a new permit be applied for and issued.

711 (c) Issuance of a sign permit.

For any sign requiring issuance of a sign permit under the provisions of this Article, sign review shall be required prior to installation, relocation, renovation, expansion, construction or reconstruction of the sign. The sign application, shall be submitted to the Development Services Director, or their designee. Sign applications may be submitted by the most current method required by the Director of Development Services, however, no faxed sign permit applications will be accepted.

In addition to the information required under Sec. 711 (c)(2)a, an application for a sign permit for all types of signs other than temporary signs must include the following:

An application for a planned center or for a commercial or industrial use, any of which having more than 100,000 square feet of gross floor area, must be accompanied by a master sign plan consistent with the standards of Sec. 713 (a).

In addition to the information required under Sec. 711 (c)(2)a, an application for a sign permit for a temporary sign must include the following:

Numbered decals shall be issued with permit numbers on the decal corresponding to the numbers on the approved permit application. The issued numbered decal must be affixed to the lower right hand corner of the area of the sign. The numbered decals are not transferable from one sign to another and must be placed on the sign described and permitted in the corresponding numbered permit application at all times.

A sign permit shall expire if the sign for which the permit was issued has not been substantially completed (to the extent of at least 60% completion based on the estimated cost of construction from the permit application) within six months of issuance. One 6-month extension may be approved by the Development Services Director for circumstances deemed extenuating and reasonable.

The Board of Commissioners may from time to time, establish a schedule of fees for sign permits or modify said fee schedule as necessary to include, but not necessarily be limited to, the cost of issuing permits, making inspections and other administrative matters related to this Section under the Administration and enforcement Article of this Development Code regarding schedules and fees.

These exemptions apply only to the requirement of a permit and do not relieve the owner of the sign from compliance with all other requirements of this Article for the particular sign.

Sec. 712 - Modification of sign restrictions.

712 (a) Variances.

Sec. 713 - Master sign plans.

713 (a) Master sign plan standards.

Signage for a planned center or large nonresidential development, per Sec. 711 (c)(2)b.6, and signage proposed for modification for a specific property or development project that are allowed through approval of a special exception variance, must be established on a Master Sign Plan. Standards as to type, number, size, height, or other design provisions established in addition to or in lieu of the restrictions placed on signs by this Article are to be incorporated into the master sign plan.

713 (b) Recordation of approved master sign plan.

Sec. 714 - Enforcement 714 (a) Development services director.

The Development Services Director is responsible for general administration of this Article; the receipt, review and processing of all applications for sign permits and master sign plans; and all sign variance requests filed with the County. Building inspection and code enforcement responsibilities also fall under the Department of Development Services.

714 (b) Code enforcement officer.

The provisions of this Article shall be enforced by the Code Enforcement Officers and the employees of the Development Services Department, who shall have authority to make inspections of signs and properties necessary to carry out duties in the enforcement of this Article.

714 (c) Citations.

Any violation of this Article may be tried upon a citation issued by the Code Enforcement Officer or any other authorized representative of the County pursuant to the provisions of this Article and State law.

Without limitation, businesses, organizations, builders, developers, contractors, property owners, and such other parties responsible for the violation may be cited for violation of any provisions of this Article.

714 (d) Removal of illegal signs.

The Code Enforcement Officer may order the removal of any sign in violation of this Article by written notice to the permit holder; or if there is no permit holder, then to the owner of the sign; or if the sign owner cannot be found or cannot be determined, then to the sign erector and any party that procured the erection of the sign. If a permit was issued, such notice shall operate to revoke the permit. The removal order shall be issued only after the appropriate party fails to comply within 7 days after the County gives written notice of non-compliance.

An aggrieved party may appeal the removal order within 10 days from the date that the notice was mailed. Such appeal shall be made in accordance with Article 13 of this Code. If the sign is not removed within 30 days after the order of removal (or 30 days after the date any appeal becomes final), the Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to remove or cause to be removed the sign and to collect the costs thereof as provided below.

or

714 (e) Violation and penalties.

See the Administration and Enforcement Article of this Development Code regarding violations.