Ord 915 7/18/1927 attached bookletJ
ORDINANCE N O . �'�
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE CONSTRUCTION AND
1LAINTENANCE OF SIGNS OVER THE STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND
ALLEYS, AND ON TOP OF TAT , AND AT OTHER PLACES
IN THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR A
PENALTY: REPEALING ORDINANCES NOS A'349, 419 and ,
AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF cRDINANCES IN CONFLICT
WITH SAME.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS:
SECTION 1: It shall be unlawful for any person,
firm or corporation, or association of persons, to erect
or suspend on, across or above the sidewalks, streets
or alleys, within the corporate limits of the city of
Wichita rails as now, or as may hereafter be defined,
any kind or character of sign which projects f fom the
building line for a distance greater than six inches,
other than temporary cloth signs as hereinafter specified,
or an illuminating electrical sign', except, however, en-
closed revolving signs when projected from the building
line for a distance not greater than twelve inches.
SECTION : Cloth signs suspended over the street
shall be not less than twenty feet above the street at the
lowest point, and not less than eight feet above any
trolley wire, and shall be suspended by ropes. No metal
shall be used in the construction of the sign or in the
apparatus supporting same. These cloth signs shall not
be allowed to hang more than two weeks, and may be used
only for purpose of advertising celebrations, expositions,
oarnitrals, fairs, excursions, or uoteties or clubs, publics
entertainments, or other matters of public character, and
shall not be used to advertise.a private business or mat-
ters of a private character.
$EQTION3: Illuminating electrical signs shall be
built, wired, and erected only in accordance with the fol-
lowing requirements:
(a) All frame work and covering of siga.s shall
be constructed of metal. wood br soft material shall not
be permitted in places where cracking, shrinking, or
decay will affect the permanency, stability, or water-
proof qualities of the sign.
(b) The sign must be constructed so that the
metal covering will make the sign thoroughly water -proof.
(a) The cappings of letters, or that part of
sign directly covering sockets and wiring, shall be of
glass or metal so constructed that sleet, snow or rain
Cannot enter.
(d) The sign must be rung or suspended from the
building and shall not be supported by poles erected in
the sidewalks or streets.
(e) The signs must be substantially bracketed to
the building with at least two brackets. The brackets
must be of steel and each one of sufficient cross section
to withstand Four times the stress developed at the sea --
tion of maximum unit stress.
(f) In addition to the braokets, there must be
at least one supporting cable attached to the suspended
end of the sign, in the same vertical plane of the sign,
and making an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the
vertical axis through the end attached to the sign. There
must also be at least two diagonal cables attached to the
suspended end of the sign.
Each diagonal cable shall be at least 1-3/4 times
the length of the sign. These diagonal cables shall be
attached to the wall at points which are approximately
the same distance above and out from the sign. If the
sign is greater than 2 feet in depth there must be at
least two additional cables for lateral bracing, not
-2-
smaller than J inch in diameter. If considered necessary
for depths less than two feet, the lateral bracing shall
be used. In cases where the above described method of
suspension is not practical, the City Engineer may grant
special permission to erect signs in a safe and substan-
tial manner which will meet with his approval.
(g) The supporting cables or brackets for the
signs must not be attached to or supported from wood
plugs, approved togles or expansion bolts must be used,
or the rods to which the support is attached must be passed
through the w411 and fastened on the rear side in a sub-
stantial manner to a plate or anchor.
(h) Each and every support for all signs must
have a tensile strength at least four times greater than
that required for the weight of the sign.
(i) All wiring must be done in accordance with
the rules and requirements of the NStiona,l Electric Ood.e.
(j) Branch wires of like polarities inside the
sign may be bunched or made into a cable thoroughly taped
and then painted, provided that there are no splices or
joints. Exposed wiring shall be placed in approved conduit.
(k) Iffires must be supported every 12 inches, where
opposite polarities of circuits are less than one and one-
half inches apart.
(1) The wires must be supported on porcelain knobs
or cleats which separate thew at least one-half inch from
the nearest circuit.
(m) The wires must be spliced or joined in an
approved manner and Faust be covered with an insulating
tape to original thickness of insulation.
SOCKETS AND RECEPTACLES.
(a) Must be weatherproof, but where substantially
protected fromthe weather may be openclip pattern so placed
that clips shall have a, clearance from wood or metal not
-3-
lees than one-half inch.
(a) Clips must be substantially soldered to the
wire and then thoroughly painted with an approved insu-
lating paint.
(p) Supporting screens within sockets must be
such length and size *hd so placed that they will retain
an air space under live clip as intended in design.
(q) Must be weatherproof, and when exposed to the
weather shall have no outside contacts; and when pitched
above a horizontal position shall be placed in chamber
to prevent snow or rain from entering.
SWITCHES, CUTOUTS, COMTATING DEVICES, ET0.
(r) Must comply with the rules and requirements
of National Electric Code; also City Electrical Ordinance.
(a) If placed within the sign must be enclosed
within a slate or metal cabinet.
(t) Commutating devices must be mechanical and
so arranged that they will operate standard switches;
drums used in connection with such mechanism must not be
in electrical connection with any part of the circuit.
(u) Flashes or commutating devices must be counted
on slate or marble base in a fire resisting cabinet.
L A M P S
(V) Lamps must be provided with rubber rings or
equivolent device, between socket opening and lamp to pre --
vent moisture, rain, etc., from entering socket.
(w) All fittings and materials must be in accord -
ante with the rules and requirements of the National Electric
Code and its supplement, and subject to the approval of the
City Engineer and the City Electrician of the City of Wichita
F'al is .
(a) All electrical signs authorized to be con -
strutted shall be built and constructed under the terms and
provisions of this ordinance.
is
$EOT �., No illuminating electrical sign shall
project from the building line nearer than four feet to
the curb line. No illuminating electrical sign shall ex-
tend downward nearer than nine feet to the sidewalk,
ground or pavement.
SEOTION 5. Any sign now erected, or that may here-
after be erected, not conforming with terms and provisions
of this ordinance shall upon written notice from the City
Engineer and City Electrician, be taken down and removed
or else be changed to conform with the terms and provisions
of this ordinance.
SECTION 6: ,All manufacturered signs which are to
be hung over streets, sidewalks or alleys, shall carry the
National Boadd. of Fire Underwriters label, and no manu-
factured sign which does not carry such label shall be
erected or hung over the sidewalks, streets or alleys in
the City of Wichita lis, Texas.
BECTIQIR Where signs and billboards are illu-
min.a.ted by electricity,, no one circuit shall carry more
than twelve stationary lights or a load greater than fifteen
amperes where outline or chaser lights are used upon such
signs and. billboards. No one circuit shall carry both
stationary and flasher lights. Each motor driven flasher
shall be upon a. separate circuit.
SE s It shal he eafter be unlawful to erect
or maintain anuli sign billb and or cher trueure
RTM °,Y e
for advertising pu4csa18 a pun the oris or on tieroo
Q. any building in the
i y of ichiG, if such sign,
4
billberd or structurefo dvertising "urpose is greater
than two feet in hei , nor dial? an�r.° wisXows or",, ors be
obstructed or .the Boe ings the ot,, r any fi e escap in-
terfered with by'vny sign, billboard cid,-;,other Ad.vertisihfig
structu a provided, however, thrt it shall be permissible
-5-
T
STRU"TuR5.
07 UILDIINIGS AYE
(a) It shill hereafter be unlawfl'ul to erect Or
maintain any sign, billboard or other stricture for adver-
tising purposes upon -tho co,_nice any building in the
City of !Yi(yhjt,% V�xas, nor shall any windows or
"� cle - I . , 1. -
-'ooTs be obstructed. or tiv, O'Y�,ei-lings 'eeOf 0Z MY -Eize
escape, interfered It�i by any si4x, billboard or other
advert,isintg, structare.
(b) ,jiggs upo_,j rcyoi's o__1 , ouildixiga Laid other
structures shall be of steel construotixq throughout,
and shall be substoantially built,, braced, and attbehed
to suh building and structure so as to rithstaad a
Tind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot with a factor
of safety Of 4. t 0 1.
(0) All such signs, billboards and bulletins
on *hp_ roofs of buildings and other structures must be
set back 7 feet from fire wall and the bottom of such
ei M,, billboard or bulletin shall be at least 7 feet
above the roof so as t!, allow free access thereto.
(d) No solid sip shall be erected upon the
riDof of any building or other structure, the top of which
sibm is more tiv-�n 20 feet above the roof,
(e) Before a permit will be issued for the
erectiar, of such signs, billboards or bulletin on the
roofs of buildings and, other structures, the person
*akin g application for a permit shall furnish to the
City z)jgineer and Building Inspector proper and. te'mf-
ficient eviclence that the building or structure is so
built and constructed that it will maintain and support
such sigio billboard or bulletin, and the building or
structure upxi, -:�hich same is to be erected will with-
stand all strains �d stresses by reaso-la of the weight
of the sigm and the wind -,pressure on and. a,_iPainst same.
(f) The roof of such building or stricture
shall be able to staved the weight jnd stresses of any
such sign, billboard or bulletin in addition to loading
U 'A
prescribed by the building code off the City Of I'Xichita
Valls, and with as factor of Safety Of 3 to
SIL LOPRDS.
ISEOTI_-I �9: Vie "C,
Md U1 deviaes, of
4-� -ou o.
similas u,
(b) Al? sac,a billb3ards,,31; - "R 3 c a 3
J.
exacted -,-'ithinr th-� fire -lim
its, shan be fig 5 OrOOf -
(c) 'Such -billbOP-,rd,3 'MJ -ftevices constrict,,,,d
q steel strin,,ers
ers bolted 0
tice --zt bottom-
suc-1, structure &�,v� " Lr ,'t
sha— 't).3 ;`-
I- ;ofu-rt,3-3,y., this secti �n.
(d) Billboat*ds er;oteO outside of tkie- fire
litaits shal" I)- so ere-c-taCS. soul. .1e.ced. SO is 1104-
CoqtjtUte bF
, z ards.
(e) All billbo-,rds shy,, 1 be so erected so
u c t V i c v i e o 117 t r a d scull ar t to obsti-
not be placed beyond t -le established building line
Oil any strez3t.
(f) All sucA billboards shell be so erected
and constructed to carry te -y�Ind load of 30 poun'J.8 Per
it '�i -11 0 OtOr o, safety of 4 to 1.
sq U
panre fo� -71' - f
Such billbo�,,.rds -.n6 devices shall not be
ter n, -ermit has beeril obtained as oro -
erected until al
vj�,,.ed -aer-in, anra the --,Pze f, --e shall bz, %z -foil
(h) billIbo�.rds nd devices are
-cm-ply -nith
illuminated by Olc,,CtTicishall, 'tY, they 1 1.
the provisions of o
this rdilla'.11ce, and wirin!-r -must
�'
m:rs reiuirents
be done in Pecordarice w i,,-uh ulp;.
I" o the Nati,'
of the City of 1711ichit�, ;,-,alls, T-xas-
to er and maiitain skeleton signs upon the,,,00rnice of,
or on the V"004, of any building in -5�e 014- '* of Wichita
J
Falls when truct6d according to rhquirements of the
city b-ailding ordiVnee.
The word "Sign" as used in tIL-Lis"", Ordi-
nance shall also include billboards and all devibes of a
similar nature �'Iksed for advertising purposes,.,
All such b4lIboards and -devices erected within
the fire limits ahal� be constructed of fireproof materials.
Where such bilb;',oards are erected outside the fire
limits, they shall be so r-wected, and placed as not t6,,,.con-
stitut,o fire hazards, and s6',gs to not abstract the vie*
of traffic, and in erecting same they shall not be pla,ced
beyond tAe established building 1-bq,e on any street.
Such billboards and devices 44all not be erected
until -after a pe?m-it has been obtained t*
provided herein,
and the a ap e t6 e shall be paid as for tithe fk,, a i gn a.
billboards and d e v i ce e are A,1luminated
A4
by ele-otpicity, they shall comply'with the proviApns of
this *inance, 2:P -d all wiring, must be done in aocoAance
wi;ro the rules and requirements of the National Electric
Code.
GENERAL PIROVISIO-M
SECTION 10: No sign shall be erected within the
City of Wichita. Falls which in anyvwy conflicts with public
safety or convenience.
ExceptinE; as above indicated, the matter of Oon-
struction, erection end maintenance of signs or banners
and other matters relating thereto, shall be in accordance
with the general and special provisions of this ordinance.
The term sign or banner applies to transparencies,
electric devices, streamers secured at each end, and other
means of attracting public attention or conveying infor-
I.
matin by general devices, as above mentionedo
Streamers attached to flag poles with one end
free and which violates none of the conditions of this
ordinance shall not be regarded as a sign in the senses
indicated by this ordinance.
Signs in the sense herein designated, requiring
permits, do not include these which are painted directly
upon the structural parts of any building or structural
work, such as structural metal, good or brick walls forming
part of the structure or other essential part of the build—
ings or work, 'but does apply to signs painted upon any
structure erected for sign purposes.
6igns of the type known as "shingles", containing
not over four square feet, not more than J inch in thick—
ness and placed not more than ten feet above the first
floor or the sidewalk line, may be erected without permit.
i
However, the building inspector shall have authority to order
their removal. if in any way they violate any of the special
or general conditions of this ordinance. -
Cardboard signs for window or interior display
shall not require permits unless they be so disposed or
arranged as to violate conditions of this ordinance.
SIGNS NOT TOO INTERFERE WITH FlUr DEPART1..1EK"�.
SECTION 11:
Permit
for
a sign or billboard
shall
not be granted Crich
in any
gray
interferes witla the
proper
and convenient protection of property by the Fire Depart—
ment. This applies not alone to the protection of the
building on which the sign is placed, bptt as well to con-
tiguous, adjacent or neighboring buildings where such
signs might be a menace or obstruction to the work of the
fire department.
SECTION 12:
Before any person shall erect or suspend. any sign,
or billboard under the provisions of this ordinance, he
shall make a written application to the City Engineer for
a nermit to do same, said application shall be made on
blanks furnished and shall be accompanied 1,oy -proper draw-
ings and specifications indicating the location, full
w6kj3ht and dimensions, and manner of fastening the sign to
the structure; said 8:,o accompanied by a
,plication shall be
statement from the City that the sign has been
inspected and approved, or that the plans and speoificEtiOns
for such sign have been inspected and approved, as the case
may .be. The application, plans and specificatioas, etc.,
shall be examined by the City Engineer and if found to com-
ply with the provisions of this ordinance, a permit to erect
the sign shall be issued.
SECTI M -.q 13: The a-onliC,"Ilt for lu-lae erection of an
li
illuminating electric -11 si,91� shall before t-iie issuance of
a permit for t,,,,.e erection of same, pa; the following
fees, to -wit:
(a) one Dollar for the inspection of the erection
of sign.
(b) An inspection fee for the electrical inspect-
ion to be paid upon the basis Of one dollar per circ',)it
for each and every electrical circuit used in illuminating
or operating said sign. Vljj�)n saio. si,-,,n is completely
erected the City Engineer end City Electrician shall be
notified for final inspection, and they shall issue clear-
ance upon final approval. or billboard
SECT I ON If for any re4sorn any sign/now main-
tained or hereafter erected or matAntained over or along
or across any sidewalk or public street or alley, or on
top of any structure, or at any place wItAila the limits of
the City of Wichita 7alls, Texas, be0012'es dangerous to life
WA.
or limb, or prove 'D
to e an o 111,3
1Qs-r,1Ot!O1` t,; proper ope—
ation of the fire department, it shall be the duty oJF, the
or the City 7,lectricianjas the case may be,
to notify the owner of said signn or hi ar_rent to re -move
said sign within a specified time, not less than ten days
from the date of said notice, and if such sign is not
14
late o.' ecf le' i-, suici w:L,-* tten notice, theY,
O:e eao�j j,I t',jejn, saa,11 be sub to a fide as HereinafterI I 'j
pxavided.
ii,
Ii-ovided furt u -�r tA',t such owner or his agent may
appear bef Ora t1ie Board olif Aldermen of the City of ''Jiohita
11'alls and'. be heard ii,
opposition
to
such order of removal,
and the aot-ion o -If tine
said B�axd
o --L-'
Aldermen shall be final,
PINILTY.
U2,'CTI,,. 15: %Jny person, firm, corporation or a-s—
ervants or employees
u _L "a�, e,Its, s
o _,u i ati in
violating an'y of -'.,he -provi,S ions of this ordinance, shall be
deemed guilty of c pis C',,".e-ne-anor and apor, conviction be fined
I -Lars,
ir L.L
. azy sail no,- 1.1-o .-Ilundrer"' ($200.00) Do
J
14 &ny sectiaci,ECTIOU 1':
s 'b Uu an
u -s atian, cl-, ce )r ph -rase of t"Cl"Lis ordin ce
is for any r -n- �o ,e uac;onztitutional, sucli decisiOn
u I V W
-ui1— d- A.. II ons
shall effect the validilu-y O'LE remaJIIJIg Porti Of
this --Tdip.aace jard Al,eriaen hereby declai:es that
it would have 1;assed lu-luis v;xdlnzu'ice alld each secti011, Sub"
Gect-ion, - oli�ulse alld oh-_1�ase thexeo-_'�' irrespective
sentencel $
of the fact -S any one or im,vie Gec_Gi,-)n6, s-ub-8001U0118,
s entence, cituse or be, Ul.ecla:ced imconst-it-ut'jiunal.
' ! 7�
SECT IC I'll 17: Ordinance Nos .4349, 418 and 444, and
all other ordinances and parts of ordinances conflicting
herewith, are hereby repealed.
MAYOR.
AT TEO T:
A
+VIIIS +-he jj 47 -
day
of JUIII_
MAYOR.
AT TEO T: