1969-023AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON,
TEXAS, DEFINING SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS PRESCRIBING RULES AND REG-
ULATIONS FOR ERECTION AND INSTALLATION OF SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS
AND PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, HEREBY ORDAINS
PART I
That Article 17, Subsections I, J and K, of Ordinance No
69-01, being the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Denton, is hereby
a~nended and supplanted by deleting said subsections I, J and K,
And substituting therefor the following subsections which shall
hereafter read as follows
I DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this Article, the terms and
definitions when used, shall have the following meaning
i Sign Any device or surface on which letters, illustra-
tions,designs, figures or any symbol are painted, printed,
~tamped, raised or in any manner outlined and used for ad-
vertising purposes
2 Billboard Any flat surface covered with wood, plastic
or metal erected on framework on open space, or attached to
costs, building, or any other structure and used for the
display of bills, signs, posters, arid other advertising mat-
ters, posted, tacked or painted thereon
3 Banner Signs Any sign made of canvas, or wmth similar
materials, with or without frame work
4 Electric Signs Any sign, the letters or designs of which
are outlined by electric lamos 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 vmsible the
letters or designs 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 according to the Electrical Code
5 Ground Signs Any advertising device or flat surface cov-
ered with wood or metal, erected on a framework on vacant
property or other ope~ space, uoon which letters or designs
are painted or permanently attached Ground signs shall con-
form in every way to the requirements for billboards
6 Open Signs Any sign constructed of open metal work or
wire mesh secured to angle iron or other frame work, and
the letters or designs fastened thereon
7 Sky Signs Any sign or billboard supported or attached
wholly or in part over or above any wall, buildmng or struc-
ture Sky signs shall be constructed entirely of metal
cluding the suooorts and braces for same, and no sky sign shall
project beyond the building line
J PERMITS REQUIRED No sign board, billboard or electric sign
on any building or on the ground, such as hereafter described in
this Article, except as otherwise provided for herein, shall be
erected or reconstructed within the City Limits of Denton, Texas,
unless a permit shall have been first secured from the office of
the Building Inspector All applications for permits for such
signs, billboards, or electrical signs shall be accompanied by
such drawings or descriptions as are necessary to fully advise the
person issuing the permit as to the location, construction, weight,
materials and manner of securing such proposed sign, billboard
or electric sign If these drawings and descriptions conform to
the regulations in this ordinance, then the Building Inspector
shall issue the permit to erect the sign upon payment of the re-
quired fee Before permission is granted for the erection of an
lectric sign, an additional permit shall be obtained in accord-
ance with the Electrical Ordinance
K PERMITS NOT REQUIRED Permits shall not be necessary for
temporary signs or billboards to be placed on buildings or vacant
space, advertising the sale or renting of such building or prop-
erty upon which they are placed, when such signs or billboards do
not exl~eed (6) six square feet in area
L FEES, BONDS AND INSURANCE REQUIRED
I Fees Required A permit fee of Two and no/100 ($2 00) Dollars
shall be charged for each sign or billboard
2 Bond Required Every person, firm, or corporation con-
structing, erecting or engaged in the repairing of any sign,
billboard, or sign board in the City shall file with the
Building Inspector a bond in the sum of One Thousand and no/100
($1,000 00) Dollars conditioned that such person, firm or cor-
poration will faithfully adhere to and abide by any and all
ordinances regulating the construction, erection,repair or
maintenance of signs in the City Said bonds shall be approved
by the City Attorney, and shall be renewed on or before the
1st day of January of each year
~ Insurance Required Every oerson, firm or corporation con-
structing, erecting, or engaged in the repairing of any sign,
billboard or sign board in the City shall at the time of filing
his or its bond as herein required, f~le with the City Build-
ing Inspector a General Public Liability and Products Liability
Insurance Policy indemnifying and saving harmless the City of
Denton against any claim for loss or damage that may result
to any person or property due to the negligent construction,
wiring or hanging of any sign by the assured, provided that
the maximum amount of recovery on such policy shall be not less
than the following, to-wit For bodily injury to any one per-
son ,or the death of any one person in any one accident, $10,000 00,
for bodily injury to two or more persons or the death of two
or more persons in any one accident, $20,000 00, for the injury
or destruction of property in any one accident, $5,000 00 All
policies of insurance thereon shall contain a provision for
the continuing liability thereon up to the full amount thereof
notwithstanding any previous recovery thereunder
M INSPECTION AND ^CCEPTANCF Within twenty-four (24) hours after
the erection of a sign, billboard or electric sign~ the Building
Inspector shall be notified and if, uoon ~nsoection, he finds ~t
not to be erected according to the regulations of th~s ordinance,
he shall notify the person responsible for the work
N STREET SIGNS AND TRAFFIC SIGNS EXCEPTED Nothing herein con-
tained shall be construed as prohibiting the City of Denton or
the State of Texas from constructing and maintaining street signs,
traffic signs, or any public signs or devices
0 CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC SIGNS All electric signs shall be
so wired as to conform to the Electrical Code of the City, and
the National Electric Code All electric signs within the Fire
Limits shall have a structural frame work of iron, steel or other
metal substance of non-inflammable material, except that a wood
moulding or border, not exceeding two (2) inches in width, shall
be permitted on any electric signs other than neon signs, provided
however, that such border or moulding be secured to the body or
frame of the sign by clamps, straps or bolts
P CONSTRUCTION OF SIGNS
i All signs shall be constructed and supported to withstand a
horizontal pressure of thirty (30) pounds for every square foot
of exposed surface All structural members, hangers, braces,
tie rods, cables, anchors and fastenings shall be of sufficient
strength to withstand all loads and stresses that may be brought
to bear upon them using a safety factor of four (4)
2 Sign Supports
a For signs less than two (2) feet in depth and/or weighing
less than twenty (20) pounds and/or having not more than
ten (10) square feet in area
l) Such signs may be attached and/or supported by
screw hooks, screw eyes, drift bolts, or expansion bolts
All supporting, anchoring, or guying cables or steel
wire shall be not less than No 8 B and S standard gauge
2) Two (2) side guys may be permitted at one anchor
point provided an uplift guy is installed in erection of
sign Other guys shall be limited to one anchor point
per guy
b For signs more than two (2) feet in depth and/or more than
twenty (20) pounds in weight
l) All sign supports, brackets, guys, turnbuckles~ bolts,
anchors, and fastenings shall be strong enough to hold
and support loads and other stresses which may come upon
them, using a safety factor of four (4)
2) Signs shall be supported and guyed with steel angles,
steel cables, or steel wire of not less than 1/8 inch
in diameter
3) Signs may be supported and guyed with ordinary wire
cable which shall be not less than 3/16 inches in diameter
4) Chain supports shall have welded links of not less
than 3/16 inches in diameter
5) Each guy shall have a separate support and anchor
point
c For all signs requiring permits
l) No cable or steel wire 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 fast-
ened 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
d Ail cable, wire, brackets, strap iron, turnbuckles,
anchors, bolts and all other supports shall be galvanized
or given two heavy coats of protective non-corrosive paint
Such signs shall be repainted by the owner as set out
above, whenever it is deemed necessary in the opinion of
the Building Inspector, for the continued protection of
guys or other structural supports against deterioration
e Where signs are bolted to supports, the bolts shall be
supplied with new lock nuts
~ f No wooden plugs shall be used in wall anchors or supports
Q ~ITS KEPT CLEAR No sign of any kind shall be attached to
the wall or be placed upon the roof of ~ny building in such a
manner as to obstruct any fire escape, ~oor, window or other pass-
age-way leading to a fire escape or to a street exit nor shall
any sign be fastened in any manner to a fire escape
R FIRE WALLS KEPT CLEAR No sign shall be erected on top of,
or adjacent to, a fire wall or coping of any building which shall
extend for more than 33 1/3 per cent of the outside perimeter of
the fire wall or coping of such building unless a special permit
shall have been received, from the Building Inspector, approving
such sign Any sign which may be erected on top of, or adjacent
to, a fire wall or coping of any building shall be so constructed
as to prevent any unusual or undue strain on such fire wall or
coping, and if the Building Inspector deems that such signs shall
cause such undue or unusual strain upon such fire wall or coping,
he shall refuse to issue to permit for the erection thereof
S SKY SIGNS Any sign erected upon or above a flat surface or roof
of any building shall have a minimum of three (3) feet of passage
way around the ends of the sign and between its lower edge and the
roof
T LOCATION AND HEIGHTS
i Cloth and Banner Signs
a No person, firm, partnership or coporation shall suspend
or project over or across any street, alley or other public
space or portion thereof, cloth signs or banners advert-
ising anything or for any purpose whatsoever
b, This Article, however, shall not prohibit the displaying
of flags or other emblems not otherwise prohibited by law,
provided the flags or emblems, when suspended over a street
or other public place are securely fastened to the support-
ing cable by one edge only, and be allowed to swing free
and further provided that permission to display flags or
emblems has been obtained from the Building Inspector The
supporting cable shall be of sufficient strength and anchored
so as to support the flags or emblems
c The Building Inspector may grant a temporary suspension
of Paragraph 1 of this Section on special occasions,
or while festivals or celecrations are being held, or
by direction of the City Council
2 Swinging Signs Every sign shall be rigidly hung so
that it will not swing or vibrate in a strong wind
3 Wooden Signs No wooden sign of more than ten (10) square
feet in area shall be attached to or fastened against the wall
of any building or hung in any other manner, inside the Fire
Limits
4 Movable Signs, Barber Poles, Etc No movable sign, bar-
ber pole, etc , shall be placed in any public place or space
BILLBOARDS AND GROUND SIGNS
i Location
a No billboard or ground sign shall be placed, kept, or
maintained along or upQn any street or sidewalk, public
parkway or other public space within the City Limits A1
signs presently existing in violation of this regulation
shall, within six months after the date of the passage of
this ordinance, be removed and the hazard and obstruction
thereby created eliminated, and the existence of same is
hereby declared to be a nuisance
b No billboard or ground sign shall be so placed as to
obstruct the lighting of any street, alley or public spac
or interfere with any public utility service
c The setback of all billboards and ground signs shall b
the same as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance of the City
of Denton, as amended, with the exception that any bill-
board or ground sign constructed of combustable materials
shall be set a minimum distance of four (4) feet from the
property line and shall not be closer than four (4) feet
to any building
2 Construction No billboard or ground sign constructed of
wood or other combustible material with the exception of tr~
utility type poles for support, treated wooden stringers of
not less than two inches by six Inches (2" X 6") in size, and
wooden mouldin~ or border not to exceed eight inches (8")
around the edge of the structure, shall be erected in the Fire
Limits The lower edge of every such billboard or ground sign
shall be not less than three feet above the ground
3 Temporary Structures Temporary structures, 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, for so long as their use does not become a
public nuisance
PASSED AND APPROVED this ~_~ day of ~ ,
1969
L-- A Nb~LSON, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
ATTEST
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM