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CITY OF LAKELAND
Application for Sign Permit
P
ermit No. _______________ Date of Application ______________________
Name of Applicant __________________________________________________________________________________
A
ddress ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Daytime Telephone Number ___________________ Fax Number ______________________
E-m
ail ______________________________________
Zoning Classification _____________
Name of Sign Company (Installer) ___________________________________________________________
Name of Project Manager or Contact Person ___________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number __________________________ Fax Number ______________________
E-mail _____________________________________
Location of Sign _____________________________________________
Type of Illumination (Check one): None Internal or External
Both Internal and External
T
ype of Sign(s) (Check all that apply):
Building Marker Sign Menu Board Wall Sign, Residential/
Changeable Copy Sign Model Home Institutional
Construction Sign Principal Ground Sign Yard Sale Sign
Directory Sign Public Event Banner Gasoline Trade Sign
Flag or Flag Pole Real Estate (except single family) Opening Sign
Identification Sign Subdivision Entry Sign Suspended Sign
Incidental Sign Temporary Sign Shopping Center Sign
Interstate Monument Dates: From _________ to __________
Institutional, Temporary Wall Sign, Nonresidential Sign
In general, the Municipal Planning / Design Review Commission meets the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in
the Board Chambers in City Hall located at 10001 U.S. Highway 70. The submission deadline normally is 30 days prior
to the next regular scheduled meeting by 4:00 p.m. Eight (8) copies of all required materials, in addition to the required
application fee shall be submitted to the City by the application deadline. Contact the City at 901-867-2717 to confirm
deadline and meeting dates and times.
_____________________________________ ____________________
Applicants Signature Date
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PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE WITH CITY STAFF
The applicant or its designated design professional shall conduct a pre-application conference with City staff a minimum
of fifteen (15) days in advance of submitting a sign permit application and related documents for review and approval by
the City.
SIGN PERMIT REQUIRED
All permanent signs permitted by the Sign Ordinance shall require a permit. No sign shall be placed, constructed, erected,
altered or relocated on a site without a permit. No permit shall be issued for a permanent sign requiring a sign permit until
the application has received the approval of the Lakeland Design Review Commission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
An application for a sign permit may be filed only by the owner of the property on which the sign is to be erected, or by
an agent, lessee, or contract purchaser specifically authorized by the owner to file such application. The applicant shall
submit a completed application and all required plan information. The City shall determine whether the application is
complete. If the City determines the application is incomplete, then it shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies and
shall take no further steps to process the application until the applicant remedies the deficiency(ies). All required fees
shall be paid with the submittal of the sign permit application. Failure to pay required fees will result in the immediate
rejection of the application by the City.
SIGN PLAN REQUIREMENTS
A Sign Plan is required for all residential subdivisions, multifamily and townhouse developments, planned developments,
non-residential subdivisions, non-residential developments, and all multi-building or multi-occupant non-residential
developments before any signs for such development may be erected on the property. Temporary signs shall not require
the review and approval of the Design Review Commission but, will require issuance of a Sign Permit prior to
installation.
The Sign Plan shall consist of five (5) distinct design elements that shall govern all signs within the development:
location, materials, size, color and illumination. The Sign Plan shall include details, specifications, dimensions, and plans
showing the proposed location of a sign and how such location conforms to the requirements of the Sign Ordinance.
Material samples proposed for use on a sign shall be included with submittal of plan documents. A full-color rendered
site plan and elevation drawing shall be included with the submittal of plan documents. The Sign Plan shall also show the
computations of the maximum sign area permitted for the site.
A Sign Plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the Design Review Commission. Prior to consideration of a
Sign Plan by the Design Review Commission, the applicant shall meet with City staff to review the sign plan and related
documents relative to provisions of the Sign Ordinance. The Design Review Commission shall review the Sign Plan
initially during a Study Session meeting and then formally during their regular scheduled meeting held the second
Tuesday of each month.
The Design Review Commission, in the review of the Sign Plan, shall apply the following criteria in its review:
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1. The Sign Plan provides that signs of a similar type and function within the development will have a consistent
color scheme, architectural style, and material construction; and
2. The Sign Plan provides for signs that meet the size limitations, location requirements, and other applicable
requirements of the Sign Ordinance.
EFFECTIVE PERIOD OF SIGN PERMIT
A sign permit shall lapse automatically if the business license for the premises lapses, is revoked or not renewed. A sign
permit shall also lapse if the business is discontinued for a period of 90 days or more. The Sign Permit shall become null
and void if work or construction has not commenced within 6 months of the date of issuance of the Sign Permit or if work
is suspended or abandoned for 120 or more consecutive days following the beginning of construction.
REMOVAL OF SIGNS UPON DISCONTINUANCE OF USE
Whenever the use of a building or premises by a specific business or other establishment is discontinued by the owner or
occupant for a period of 90 days, the sign permits for all signs pertaining to that business or establishment that were
installed by the occupant or owner shall be deemed to have lapsed, and the signs shall be removed at the expense of the
occupant and/or owner, as well as all signs and related structural elements which do not conform to the Sign Ordinance.
SIGN PLAN SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
The sign plan shall conform, at a minimum, to the following requirements:
For Office Use Only
1. An application for a sign permit may be filed only by the owner of the property on which the sign is to be
erected, or by an agent, lessee, or contract purchaser specifically authorized by the owner to file such
application. Where an agent, lessee, or contract purchaser files the application, the agent, lessee, or contract
purchaser shall provide the City with written documentation that the owner of the property has authorized the
filing of the application.
2. An application for a sign permit shall be filed with the City of Lakeland on a form prescribed by the City,
along with the fee for such application as contained in Appendix “A” of the City Code of Lakeland,
Tennessee.
3. Each application for a sign permit shall contain information required on the application form, and such other
information regarding the proposed sign as the City and/or Design Review Commission may deem necessary
in order to determine whether the proposed sign(s) complies with the applicable requirements of this
Ordinance and other applicable ordinances of the City.
4. The City shall determine whether the application is complete. If the City determines that the application is not
complete, then it shall notify the applicant of any deficiencies and shall take no further steps to process the
application until the applicant remedies the deficiencies.
5. The permit fee for each sign allowed under the requirements of this Ordinance shall be as prescribed in
Appendix “A” of the City Code of Lakeland, Tennessee.
6. A Sign Plan is required for all residential subdivisions, multifamily and townhome developments, planned unit
developments, non-residential subdivisions, non-residential developments, and all multi-building or multi-
occupant non-residential developments before any signs for such development may be erected on the property.
All owners, tenants, subtenants and purchasers of individual units within the development shall comply with
the Sign Plan approved by the City of Lakeland.
7. The Sign Plan shall consist of five distinct design elements that shall govern all signs within the development:
location, materials, size, color and illumination. The Sign Plan shall include details, specifications,
dimensions, and plans showing the proposed locations of sign and how such locations conform to the
requirements of this Ordinance. Material samples proposed for use on sign shall be included with submittal of
plan documents. A full-color rendered site plan and elevation drawing shall be included with the submittal of
plan documents. The Sign Plan shall also show the computations of the maximum total sign area permitted for
the site.