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Important Notice Regarding City of Houston Sign Ordinance
With the recent changes to the City of Houston Sign Ordinance, repairs to signs, be it storm related or just regular upkeep and maintenance is certain to be a potential landmine for sign owners who do not comply and understand the requirements. Permits are not needed for regular upkeep and repairs. However, permits are required when the nature of the work is either structural or a new electrical device is attached. Permits are needed if the sign is removed and reinstalled. Similarly, for any work done beyond stabilization of storm related damage, permits are needed.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
1) What exactly constitutes a repair or a refurbish?
Repairs could either be simple maintenance, i.e. replace lamps and ballasts, neon, transformers, LED units, repaint structure, replace broken or faded faces and or graphics, or it could be as complex as removing a set of channel letters off the wall, taking them back to the shop for rewiring, or removing cabinets off pylon signs, taking back to shop for repainting, new electrical, new filler panels etc.
2) Do I need permits for a repair or refurbish?
It depends on the scope of work. If the repair is regular maintenance, i.e. replace lamps and ballasts on a sign which has outages, the answer is no. But, if the scope of work involves removing a sign element off the structure, be it a wall or a ground embedded structure, the City of Houston deems that permits be obtained.
3) What happens if work is performed on a sign and permits are not obtained?
If permits were needed, and if the sign was grandfathered, i.e. does not conform to current codes, and a portion of that sign was removed without permits, the grandfather clause is revoked. That means the sign will have to be redesigned, re-engineered to conform to current codes, which are far more restrictive than what the old code allowed.
4) What about storm damaged signs?
Permits are not needed to stabilize the signs. Performing repairs to signs beyond stabilization requires permits. Previously grandfathered signs may be re-erected if they meet certain cost criteria as dictated by the City of Houston.
5) What happens if my sign is red tagged for storm damage or for other safety issues and I have not done the necessary repairs?
If a sign is red tagged and cited as being “Unsafe”, the City will give written notice to the owner or lessee to so maintain the sign or to remove the sign. Besides the obvious eyesore, a sign which has been red tagged and cited as “Unsafe” is in danger of being removed. If the sign in question is an old sign which has been grandfathered, any new sign will have to comply with the newer and more restrictive size limits.
6) Does Momentum Signs have the experience to refurbish signs?
Momentum specializes in refurbishing signs. Before any refurbishing is started, we find out whether the sign is grandfathered, is in an easement, or if there are any special circumstances which may not allow for an easy permit process. If so, based on a cost analysis, we may recommend work be performed at the job site without removal of the sign so as not to jeopardize the previous permit.
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