Fiscal Note
The proposed ordinance amendment updates the application fee for a sign permit to $25. The 2025 Adopted Operating Budget included the increased application fee revenues in General Fund Revenues. No additional City appropriation required.
Title
Amending section 31.041 of the Madison General Ordinances, Sign Permits and Fees, to create a new application fee and deadlines for processing sign permit application.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance establishes a new $25 application fee for all sign permits which was included in the 2025 adopted operating budget. This fee will defray some administrative costs of processing a sign permit application and is in addition to the permit fee, which is only charged if the permit is approved. This ordinance also establishes a 60-day deadline for zoning staff to approve, deny, or request additional information to process a sign permit application, clarifies the existing procedure to appeal a sign permit denial, and makes wording adjustments for readability.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Section 31.041 entitled “Sign Permits and Fees” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
“31.041 SIGN PERMITS AND FEES.
(1) Permit Required.
(a) Signs may be erected, moved, enlarged, or reconstructed within the City of Madison as allowed in this Ordinance only when a permit therefor shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator or designee, except when specifically exempt from permit under Sec. 31.044 or elsewhere in this Ordinance.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, repair, alter, relocate, maintain, or change copy, except for signs designed for changeable copy, within the City of Madison any sign as defined in this ordinance Ordinance without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Administrator and making payment of the fee(s) required by this ordinan...
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