86-024 ORD PROVIDING CODE OF ORDINANCES BE AMENDED BY REVISING CHAPTER 26 1/2 OF SAID CODE
ORDINANCE N0. 86-024
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS,
PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF PARIS, BE
AMENDEB BY REVISING CHAPTER 262 OF SAID CODE; PROVIDING FOR
THE REGULATION OF SIGNS WITHIN THE CITY OF PARIS; PROVIDING
FOR A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $200.00; REPEALING ALL
ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF QRDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND
PROVIDING FOR A.N EFFECTIVE DATE OF AUGUST l, 1986.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY UF
PARIS:
Section 1. That Chapter 262 of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas, be amended so
that such shall read as follows:
"Chapter 262 - SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS
ARTICLE I. In General
Sec. 26 2-1. Def initions
For the purposes of this chapter, the
following words arid phrases shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed:
Alcoholic bevera e si ns. Any sign
advertising alcoholic everages must not exceed 4
square feet.
Banner signs. Any sign made of canvas or
other cloth with or without framework.
Billboard. Any flat surface covered with
wood or metal erected on framework on open space,
or attached to posts, buildings, or other
structures and used for the display of bills,
posters and other advertising matters posted,
tacked or painted thereon.
Blinking si ns. Any sign that has
intermittent o and on lights of any color.
Dilapidated si...&ns. Signs that do not meet
the standards described in this ordinance.
Electric si n. Any sign, the letters or
designs o w ich are outlined by electric lamps or
tubes on which the letters or designs are painted,
placed, or raised, and illuminated by interior or
exterior lamps so placed as to make visible the
letters or design on the sign. Billboards and
ground signs which are illuminated as above shall
be classified as electric signs and shall meet the
requirements for wiring and electrical inspections
as for electrical signs.
Ground signs. Signs that are built so that
there are no open spaces between the ground and
the sign.
Historically significant signs. The Historic
Landmark Preservation Commission, the committee
charged with protecting historical districts, may
nominate signs located in such districts as
historically significant signs.
,
Nuisance si n. Any sign or billboard which
annoys an isturbs one in possession of his
property, rendering its ordinary use or occupation
physically uncomfortable to him.
Open signs. Any sign constructed of open
metal work or wire mesh secured to angle iron or
other framework, and the letters or designs
fastened thereon.
Pole sign. Signs that must have at least 8
feet of clearance from the ground to the bottom of
the frame of the sign.
Real Estate sign. Any sign advertising
property -or sale, lease or rent of temporary
construction.
Sign. Any device or surface on which
letters, illustrations, designs, figures or any
symbols are painted, printed, stamped, raised or
in any manner outlined and used for advertising
purposes.
Sk si n. Any sign or billboard supported or
attache w olly or in part over or above any wall,
building or structure. Sky signs shall be
constructed entirely of inetal, including the
supports and braces for same, and no sky sign
shall project beyond the building line.
Te_m_parary sign. Shall include all torpedo
signs, a-frame signs, real estate signs and
political signs as herein defined.
Tor edo si n. Signs that are of the portable
type that can e moved from location to location,
usually exhibiting flashing lights or changeable
messages.
Sec. 262-2. Weight af signs.
No sign that projects over public space shall
have a greater weight than 1500 pounds.
Sec. 262-3. Construction of electric signs.
All electric signs must comply with section
11-93 of Code of Ordinances, City of Paris. All
electric signs, within the fire limits, shall have
a structural framework of iron, steel or other
metal substance of equal strength and the body and
other parts of such sign shall be of
noninflammable material throughout. No threaded
pipe or threaded pipe fittings will be permittPd
zn any framework or standards for signs. The sign
shall be of such strength as may be approved by
the City Inspector with advice of City Engineer.
Sec. 262-4. Sign supports.
All sign supports, brackets, guys, turn-
buckles, bolts, anchors and fastenings shall be
figured strong enough to safely hold and support
all loads arid other stresses which may come upon
them.
Signs shall be supported and guyed with steel
angles, chains, standard cables, or wire.
Guys shall be on the property upon which the
sign is located or shall be covered by an agree-
ment with the property owner upon which it is
located.
Chain supports shall have welded links of not
less than 3/16 inch diameter.
No cable shall be tied or twisted around any
anchor or other support, but shall be joined into
a loop with an eyelet inserted and the loose end
fastened to the standing part of the cable with
approved clips, clamps, or standard cable splice.
A turnbuckle shall be inserted in every cable or
wire hanger or guy to keep them taut.
All cable, wire, brackets, strap iron,
turnbuckles, anchors, bolts, and all other
supports shall be galvanized or given two heavy
coats of protective noncorrosive paint.
Sec. 26Z-5. Exits to be kept clear.
No sign of any kind shall be attached to the
wall or be placed upon the roof of any building in
such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape,
door, window, or other passageway leading to a
fire escape or to a street exit, nor shall the
sign be fastened in any manner to a fire escape.
Sec. 262-6. Fire walls to be kept clear.
No sign shall be erected upon the fire wall
or coping of any building, nor shall it be
anchored to such wall but shall be attached to and
supported by other structural parts of the
building.
Sec. 262-7. Sky signs.
Any sign erected upon or above the roof of
any building shall have a maximum height to be
determined by the city inspector.
Sky signs are banned except by special use
permit. Existing sky signs in the downtown area
are allowed to remain, but no new sky signs will
be allowed to be erected in the downtown area.
When erected on flat roofs, there shall be
maintained a 3 foot passageway around the ends of
the sign and between its lower edge and the roof.
Sec. 262-8. Location and heights.
No sign projecting over a sidewalk or other
public space shall be so hung that the lowest
point will be less than 8 feet above the sidewalk
or ground level under the sign, and no sign shall
extend any closer than 2 feet of the curb line.
No sign shall project over any street right
of way with the exception of the downtown area
where the same is necessary.
No sign attached to the wall of any building
or structure or supported by a support on the
building line and extending outward therefrom
shall project over a sidewalk or public space more
than 7 2 feet.
Al1 signs must be supported from a support on
private property. No supports or obstruction will
be permitted on sidewalk or public space. Al1
signs in alleys prohibited where signs project
over public space.
No sign erected above the second story of any
building or multiple dwelling, shall extend beyond
the walls of the building more than 2 feet, or be
so spaced as to obstruct any window or means of
exit above the second floor of the building.
No sign shall be larger than 12'x25' inside
the Loop, which is a standard size billboard.
No sign shall be larger than 10'x40' adjacent
to Loop 286 or adjacent to any Farm to Market,
Texas or United States highway outside of Loop
286.
No billboard will be permitted to be
constructed within 500 feet of another billboard.
No billboard will be allowed inside Loop 286
except in areas zoned Light Industrial, Heavy
Industrial and Planned Development. They will be
permitted in Commercial and General Retail areas
with a specific use permit only.
No billboard will be allowed outside Loop 286
except adjacent to Farm to Market, Texas and
United States highways.
Sec. 262-9. Prohibited signs.
(a) Cloth and banner si ns. No person,
partnership, irm or corporation s all suspend or
project over or across any street, alley or other
public space or portion thereof, cloth signs or
banners advertising anything or for any purpose
whatsoever.
This chapter, however, shall not prohibit the
displaying of flags and other emblems not other-
wise prohibited by law, provided the flag or
emblem, when suspended over a street, or public
space, are securely fastened to the supporting
cable by one edge only, and be allowed to swing
free and further provided that permission to
display the flags or emblems has been obtained
from the city inspector. The supporting cable
shall be of sufficient strength and anchored so as
to meet the approval of the city inspector.
The city inspector may grant a temporary
suspension of the second paragraph of this section
at such times as they may deem expedient on
special occasions, or while festivals, or cele-
brations are being held.
(b) Blinkin signs. Every blinking sign
which can e a istraction to motorists or is a
disturbance or nuisance to the occupants of
adjoining property is prohibited.
(c) Dilapidated si ns. Signs which display
a message or copy t at has become faded, torn or
advertises a business which is no longer in
operation. The awner of the sign shall have 30
days in which to remove or repair such signs.
(d) Ground signs. The size of ground signs
shall be limited to one square foot per front foot
of property upon which the same is placed.
However, under no circumstances shall such sign
exceed 300 feet. No ground sign shall be erected
within 20 feet of any residence.
(e) Hazardous s--i&-ns. No sign which
constitutes a azar to vehicular traffic shall be
placed in the City of Paris.
(f) Historicall si nificant si ns. The
Historic Lan mar Preservation Commission, the
committee charged with protecting historical
districts, may nominate signs located in such
districts as historically significant signs. The
City Council shall hold a public hearing and make
final determination as to the historical
significance of such nominated sign, and if such
sign is found to be historically significant then
the prohibition herein shall not regulate such
sign. However, such sign may only be maintained
and shall not be enlarged, diminished or
significantly changed, and in the event of such
notification of change, it shall lose the
protection as a historically significant sign.
(g) Movable si ns barber oles, etc. No
movable signs, ar er po es, etc., s a e p aced
on any public space.
(h) Nuisance signs. No sign shall be placed
in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance as
that term is defined herein.
(i) Pole signs. The size of pole signs
shall be limited to one square foot per front foot
of property upon which the same is placed.
However, under no circumstances shall such sign
exceed 300 feet. No pole sign shall be erected
within 20 feet of any residence.
(j) Political signs. No political sign,
other than billboards, will be permitted more than
sixty days before an election nor more than ten
days after an election. No political sign will be
permitted upon public property. No political sign
will be permitted upon private property without
permission from the owner of such private property
first being obtained. No political sign of a size
larger than 576 square inches shall be permitted
without a sign permit.
(k) Real Estate si ns. No person,
partnership or irm s a p ace or allow a real
estate sign bearing its name to be placed upon the
street right of way at any time. A real estate
sign no larger than 2' 9" x 2' 6" and of a height
not to exceed 4' shall not be placed upon the
property of another unless such real estate firm
has in its possession written permission from said
owner. Real estate signs larger than 2' 9" x 2'
6" and 4' in height shall not be pZaced or
permitted to be placed upon the property of
another unless such property is listed by the real
estate firm whose name is depicted upon said sign.
Upon the termination of written permission or a
listing agreement, the real estate firm shall have
ten days in which to remove its sign. Thereafter,
such firm would be in violation of this chapter.
(1) Swin in si ns. Every sign shall be
rigidly hung so t at it will not swing or vibrate
in a strong wind.
(m) Tem orar si ns. Unless otherwise
specifical y regulated herein, a temporary sign
shall not exceed a height of 3 feet. An exception
would be temporary signs informing the public of
the contractors and sub-contractors of
construction sites where they will be allowed with
a limitation on size to a maximum of 4' x 8',
other than names on equipment which is excepted.
(n) Tarpedo signs. Signs that are of the
portable type that can be moved from location to
location, usually exhibiting flashing lights or
changeable messages. No torpedo sign shall be
permitted in the City of Paris on or after January
1, 1987. All torpedo signs must be covered by a
valid sign permit which will expire on December
31, 1986.
(o) Wooden si ns. No wooden signs shall be
attached to or astened flat against the wall of
any building, or hung in any other manner, inside
the fire limits.
Sec. 262-10. Billboards and ground
signs-Location.
No billboard or ground sign shall be erected
in or project over any street or alley right of
way, or public space.
No billboard or ground sign shall be erected
within 20 feet of any residence or be so placed as
to obstruct the lighting of any street, alley or
public space, or interfere with any public utility
service.
No billboard or ground sign shall be closer
than 6 feet to any building, nor to the side of
any lot, nor closer than 15 feet to any curb line;
furthermore, in all cases where the front line of
any building within 50 feet of the billboard is
more than 15 feet from the curb line, then the
billboard shall not be nearer to the curb line
than the front line of the building is from the
curb line.
This section shall not apply where adjoining
lots are used for business purposes, nor where
2/3rds of the buildings within 300 feet of the
location on the same side of the street and within
the same block are used for business purposes;
provided that there are three or more buildings
within the prescribed area used for business
purposes.
Sec. 262-11. Same-Construction.
No billboard or ground sign constructed of
wood or other combustible material shall be
erected in the fire limits nor within 50 feet of
any frame building, nor within 25 feet of any
building having unprotected openings in the wall
on the side nearest the billboard, provided,
however, that posts arid braces supporting a ground
sign, and the skeleton frame of a billboard not
exceeding 15 feet in height above the curb level,
may be wood; and there may also be a wood
mouldings or border, not over 8 inches wide around
the edge of such structure. The lower edge of
every such billboard shall be not less than 3 feet
above the ground, and the space between the lower
edge of the billboard and the ground shall be left
open or may be closed with lattice work which
leaves at least 50% of the space open.
Sec. 262-12. Temporary structures used for
advertising.
Temporary structures, trailers, fences, and
barricades placed around excavations or used
during building operations, whether on public or
private property, may be used for advertising
purposes during the necessary maintenance of the
barricades, so long as their use does not become a
public nuisance.
Sec. 262-13. Inspection.
Immediately after the erection of a
signboard, billboard or electric sign, the
building inspector shall be notified that the sign
is ready for inspection.
Sec. 262-14. Inspection by city inspector.
The city inspector shall have access to and
the right to inspect any and all signs and
billboards, whether installed prior or subsequent
to this article, and if he should find any sign or
billboard to be in an unsafe condition he shall
immediately call it to the attention of the owner
or other person in charge thereof. Upon receipt
of such notice from the city inspector, the owner
or person in charge shall have 10 days thereafter
to correct such unsafe condition and upon failure
to correct the defect or defects called to his
attention by the city inspector he will be subject
to the penal provision of this Code.
Sec. 262-15. Identification marking required.
All signs shall bear the name of the
contractor and date of erection painted on or
otherwise attached to the lower margin of the
sign.
Sec. 262-16. Sign contractor's license.
No person shall install, erect, or maintain
any sign, nor contract for such service, until
such person has applied to the building inspector
for a license to install, erect, and maintain
signs, and until such license has been approved
and issued. The fee for such license shall be
$25.00 per year payable on the first day of July
of each year and an additional fee of $10.00 per
year for each renewal thereof.
The license of any sign contractor may be
cancelled by the city council, upon the
recommendation of the building inspector, when
such contractor persistently violates the
requirements of this chapter. Conviction, whether
appealed or not of 3 such violations over a period
of 2 calendar years shall constitute evidence of
persistent violation. Any license thus cancelled
shall not be renewed for such contractor or anyone
operating his shop until all such violations have
been corrected. Upon correction of the
violations, the contractor's license may be
renewed upon furnishing the bond required by
section 26 2-17 .
Sec. 262-17. Sign contractor's bond and liability
irisurance.
No license for the installation, erection and maintenance of signs shall be issued to any person
nor shall any person install, erect, or maintain
any sign or medium of display or advertising,
electric or otherwise, until such person has filed
with the city clerk, a surety bond in the sum of
$1,000.00. Such bond shall be approved by the
building official and city attorney and shall be
conditioned for the installation and erection of
signs in accordance with the provisions of this
Code, ordinances of the city and the laws of the
state, and shall provide for the indemnification
of the city for any and all damages or liability
which may accrue against it by reason of faulty
installation, erection, demolition, repair,
removal or defects in, or collapse of, any sign
for a period of one year after erecrion and for
such period of time that such sign is maintained
or serviced by or under the direction of the maker
of such bond.Such bond shall further provide for
the indemnification of any person, who shall,
while upon public property or in any public place,
incur damage for which the principal named in the
bond is legally liable. When any sign
contractor's license has been cancelled as
provided by section 262-16, such license shall not
be renewed until the contractor furnishes an
additional bond in the amount of $1,000.00,
guaranteeing compliance with the provisions of
this chapter, which bond shall be for a period of
two years following renewal of the license. In
addition to the above bond, each contractor shall
carry public liabiZity insurance in a company to
be approved the city attorney with minimum limits
as follows: $100,000.00 each person, $300,000.00
each accident or occasion for bodily injury and
$100,000.00 for property damage arising out of any
one accident or occasion.
Sec. 262-18. Design.
Al1 signs shall be designed and constructed
in accordance with Section 2302.1 of the Standard
Building Code, 1984 edition, and all amendments
thereto, which is hereby specifically adopted.
Sec. 262-19. Chapter to regulate sign and
billboard
matters.
Sections 2301 through 2304 of the Standard
Building Code, 1984 edition, and all amendments
thereto, relating to signs and outdoor displays
are, in all things, repealed and all matters
pertaining to signs and billboards shall be
governed and regulated by Chapter 262 of the Code
of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas.
Sec. 262-20. Erection of sign by owner.
Any person may erect his own signs with his
regular employees wh.ich advertise his own business
or profession or product manufactured or sold by
him without the necessity of a license or bond,
but all other provisions of the Code shall be
complied with. The person erecting the sign shall
keep it in a good operating condition and shall
remove it at his expense when requested by the
city.
Sec. 262-21. Removal of Nonconforming Signs.
(a) Signs erected prior to July l, 1986, and
do not conform to the requirements of ths chapter,
are illegal signs under this and prior sign
control ordinances if a permit was required for
its erection.
(b) All signs legally erected pursuant to a
valid permit or legally maintained prior to July
l, 1986, which do not conform to the provisions of
this section shall be removed or relocated so as
to conform with the requirements of this section
within five (5) years.
(c) Where a sign in a former "Zoning
District" has been made nonconforming because of
the change of that zone, then that sign must be
brought into conformity immediately or removed.
(d) No nonconforming sign shall be repaired
or renovated at a cost in excess of 35% of the
replacement cost of the total sign structure,
unless said sign is brought into conformity with
this section. No nonconforming sign shall be
repaired or renovated where the effect of such
repair or renovation shall be to enlarge or
increase the structure of the nonconforming sign.
For the purposes of this subsection, normal
maintenance shall riot be considered to be repair
or renovation.
(e) Where any legally erected sign is made
nonconforming as a result of:
(1) the adoption of any amendment to
this section; or
(2) any amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance; or
(3) the acquisition of public
right-of-way; or
(4) the redesignation of public streets
in accordance with the ordinances of the City
of Paris as amended; or
(5) the dedication of a public park; or
(6) any other legislative actiori of the
City Council of the City of Paris, the sign
shall be removed, relocated, or altered so as
to conform to the requirements of this
section or to the Zoning Ordinance within
five (5) years of the date of the above
listed action.
(f) It shall be unlawful to maintain any
sign erected without a valid permit where a permit
was required for the erection of the sign
according to the law in effect at the time the
sign was erected. It is a defense to prosecution
under this subsection if the sign is made to
comply with the provisions of this section and a
permit has been obtained.
(g) In the event that a sign becomes a
nonconforming sign, or must be removed for the
public convenience, the owner of such sign may
apply for reimbursement for 20% of the original
cost of said sign if the sign is at least 4 years
old but less than 5 years old; 40% if the sign is
3 years old but less than 4 years old; 60% if the
sign is 2 years old but less than 3 years old; 80%
if the sign is one year old but less than 2 years
old and 90% if the sign is less than one year old.
The owner desiring reimbursement must be able to
verify his original cost to the satisfaction of
the Director of Finance of the City of Paris in
arder to receive any reimbursement.
Secs. 262-22--262-25. Reserved.
ARTICLE II. PERMITS
Sec. 262-26. Required.
No signboard, billboard, or electric sign on
any building or on the ground, except as otherwise
provided for herein, shall be erected or
reconstructed within the city unless a permit
shall have been first secured from the city
inspector. No permit for the erection of any sign
shall be issued to any person other than those
licensed and bonded as provided in this chapter.
Sec. 262-27. Permits not required.
Subject to the provision of the city's zoning
ordinance, permits shall not be necessary for
temporary signboards or billboards to be placed on
buildings or vacant space, advertising the sale or
renting of such buildings or property on which
they are placed, when such signboards or
billboards do not exceed 60 square feet of area.
Sec. 262-28. Application.
All applications for permits required by the
provisions of this article shall be accompanied by
such plans, specifications, drawings or
descriptions as are necessary to fully advise the
city inspector as to the location, construction,
weight, materials, and manner of securing of such
proposed signboard, billboard or electrical sign.
Sec. 262-29. Electrical permit required.
Before any permit shall be issued under the
provisions of this chapter for an electric sign,
an Plectrical permit shall be obtained from the
city electrical inspector, and the same shall be
wired in accordance with the requirements of the
city's electrical code.
Sec. 26 2-30 . Fees.
For the erection of all signs for which a
permit is required by this section, the following
schedule of permit fees shali apply:
(1) Signs 36 square feet in area and less,
$15.00.
(2) Signs exceeding 36 square feet in area,
$25.00.
Sec. 262-31. Issuance.
If the plans, specifications, drawings and
descriptions of the work for which application for
a permit under the provisions of this article is
made to conform to the provisions of this chapter,
then the city inspection shall issue the permit
upon payment of the required fee.
Sec. 262-32. Permit to altPr, repair, enlarge,
etc.
No sign shall be altered, rebuilt, erilarged,
extended, replaced or relocated, except upon the
issuance of a permit by the building inspector,
and all work done under such permit shall be in
conformity with the requirements of this chapter.
Signs which have been erected in conformance with
this chapter and with the zoning ordinance, and
which have been damaged by windstorm or other
natural causes, may be repaired without first
securing a permit.
The changing of movable parts of signs which
are designed for changing, or the repainting of
display matter, or the repairing of damaged neon
tubing while a sign is in place shall not be
deemed to be alterations, for the purpose of this
section.
The fee for a permit under this section shall
"
be the same as prescribed by section 262-30.
Section 2. Any person violating any of the
provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of a Class "C"
Misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum
not to exceed $200.00, and each and every day's continuance
of any violation of the above enumerated section shall
constitute and be deemed a separate offense.
Section 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in
conflict herewith are hereby expressly repealed.
Section 4. This ordinance shall become effective on
August l, 1986.
Passed and adopted this 14th day of July, 1986.
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B i 11?;~.`Qe Burne t t, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mattie Cunning am, Cit Cler
APPROVED AS 0 FORM:
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T. K. Haynes, City Attorney