Ord 25-2009 4/7/2009 ORDINANCE NO. aS a�
Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Wichita Falls, Texas,
Amending The Code Of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning, At Various
Sections Under 6700 Sign Regulations: Sections 6745 General Provisions,
6750 Rules Of Construction, And 6760 Nonconforming Signs
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission has reviewed this proposal and
recommends approval of the amendments to Section 6700 Sign Regulations of the Zoning
Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council concurs with the Commission's recommendation to amend
Section 6700 Sign Regulations of the Zoning Ordinance; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
1. The City of Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning, Section 6745 General
Provisions, is hereby amended by adding the underlined text and deleting text denoted by
strikethrough.
6745 General Provisions
Permit required. Unless specifically exempted, a permit must be obtained from the
Building and Code Administration official for the erection and maintenance of all signs
erected or maintained within the City and in accordance with other ordinances of this
jurisdiction.
Exceptions to permit requirement. The fotlowing signs are exempt from the
requirement for a permit: directional signs, political signs, residential signs, temporary
residential signs, temporary commercial signs I and II, temporary commercial signs III
when 64 sq. ft. or less in area, wall signs that do not project beyond the face of the wall
more than 12 inches, temporary signs providing legal notice required by law of Local,
State, or Federal Government, and seasonal displays and decorations which do not
advertise a product or service. Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit,
however, shall not be construed to relieve the owner of the sign involved from
responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a safe manner and in a manner in
accordance with all the other provisions of this ordinance.
Construction documents. Before any permit is granted for the erection of a sign or
sign structure requiring such permit, construction documents shall be filed with the
Building and Code Administration official showing the dimensions, materials and
required details of construction, including loads, stresses, anchorage and any other
pertinent data. The permit application shall be accompanied by the written consent of
the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected and by
engineering calculations signed and sealed by a Texas registered professional engineer
where required by the Internationa/ Building Code.
Changes to signs. Except that which may be allowed by Section 6760, no sign shall
be structurally altered, enlarged or relocated except in conformity to the provisions
herein, no2r until a proper permit, if required, has been secured. The changing or
maintenance of movable parts or components of an approved sign that is designed for
such changes, or the changing of business names, lettering, sign faces, colors, display
and/or graphic matter, or the content of any sign shall not be deemed a structural
alteration.
Permit fees. Permit fees to erect, alter or relocate a sign shall be in accordance with
the fee schedule adopted within this jurisdiction.
Sign Maintenance. All signs allowed within the provisions of this ordinance, including
temporary signs, shall be kept in good condition and repair. Signs damaged or
deteriorated shall be repaired or removed within ten (10) days of notification by Building
and Code Administration. Failure to comply with the notification shall constitute a
violation.
2. The City of Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning, Section 6750 Rules of
Construction, is hereby amended by adding the underlined text and deleting text denoted by
strikethrough.
6750 Rules of Construction
A. The area of a sign shall be computed by drawing a line or lines around the sign in
such a way as to form not more than four (4) regular geometric figures such as a
rectangle, circle, triangle, trapezoid, or ellipse. The total of these figures shall be
the total area of the sign. Support structures and/or support structure covers
shall be included in the overall calculation of the sign area if the support
structure(s) or cover(s) at any point measured parallel to the ground, has a width
or cumulative width of 24" or more. Measurements of the support structure(s) or
cover(s) shall be taken within the same plane as the face of the sign.
B. The maximum sign area prescribed in Table 6741 shall be applied to a sign with
one (I) face. A sign constructed with more than one (I) face shall contain in the
aggregate of all faces not more than finrice the maximum area prescribed in Table
6741. The maximum interior angle between sign faces shall be ninety (90)
degrees.
C. The height of a sign shall be measured as follows:
I. Ground or pole sign within one hundred feet (100') of a street abutting the
property on which the sign is located: From the top of the curb of the
nearest street adjacent thereto, or if there is no curb, from a point six
inches (6") above the edge of the road surface, to the top of the sign
structure.
2. Ground or pole sign more than one hundred feet (100') from an adjacent
street: From the ground at the sign base to the top of the sign structure.
3. Roof sign: From the roof level at the base to the top of the sign structure.
D. An allowed portable sign shall be a reader board installed upon a trailer or skid
which has a sign area of not greater than 35 square feet per side, does not
exceed 6.5 feet in total height, does not contain more than finro sides for
advertising, and which was designed to be towed behind a vehicle. A skid-
mounted portable sign is also permitted if conforming to square footage and
other requirements herein.
A vehicle used for the purpose of off-premise advertising shall also constitute an
allowed portable sign if in conformance with height requirements herein, and
subject to other applicable provisions herein.
3. The City of Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning, Section 6760
Nonconforming Signs, is hereby amended by adding the underlined text.
6760 Nonconforming Signs
A. Class I Off-Premise Signs
1. Billboard signs nonconforming with the standards herein
addressing location and spacing shall be allowed to continue in operation
and use as long as no part of a supporting structure or sign face structure
is replaced for any reason. Should a supporting structure or sign face
structure be required to be replaced for any reason, such sign shall be
removed in its entirety. An action or event requiring the removal of a sign
shall not include routine repairs nor changing sign content or advertiser.
2. Billboard sign face structures not in conformance with square
footage standards may continue until such time that the sign face structure
is in need of replacement for any reason. Once a sign face structure is
removed or replaced, it shall be placed in compliance with standards
herein, and shall not thereafter be returned to a nonconforming status.
3. If the sign is in nonconformance with height standards herein
provided, the replacement or removal of any portion of a sign face
structure or support shall be deemed sufficient to require the sign to come
into conformance with standards herein.
B. On-Premise Signs
On-premise signs legally existing at the time of the adoption of the Zoning
Ordinance, or subsequent amendments, which are nonconforming with the
standards herein, shall be allowed to continue in operation and use. On-premise
signs that are nonconforming in terms of height, area, or setback, may be
structurally altered provided that the original support structures are used and
there is no increase in height or area, or decrease in setback. Once a support
structure is removed or replaced it shall be placed in compliance with the
standards herein and shall not thereafter be returned to a nonconforming status.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 7 day of April, 2009.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
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Affidavit of Publication
THE STATE OF TEXAS #233837
� ►+o• , COUNTY OF WICHITA
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City Of WichHs Falls.
Texas, . Amendid9
The:�ode, Of. Qrdi-
nances,: Appendix e On this 27`" day of Apri12009 A D...
Zoning, At Various
Sections Under s�oo personally appeared before me the undersigned authority
Sign Re9ulatfons: �
Secti6ns 6745 General
Provisions, 6750 Kathy Salan, Sales Assistant for the Times Publishing
Rules Of consfr��- Company of Wichita Falls, publishers of the Wichita Falls
fion, And 6780 Non-
�o�formtn9 sier+s. Times/Reco1-d News� a newspaper published at Wichita Falls in
Wichita County, Texas, and upon being duly sworn by me, on
oath states that the attached advertisement is a true and
correct copy of advertising published in One (1) issues hereof
on the following date:
April 26, 2009
Sales Assistant for Times Publishing Company of Wichita Falls
Subscribed and sworn to before me this the day and year first above written:
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