Installation and temporary permits.
Columbus City Codes § 3381.03
in effect3381.03 - Installation and temporary permits.
A. Installation Permit. An installation permit shall be required for the installation or refacing of the types of permanent graphics, including signs, listed in this section:
1. A nonilluminated, permanent, on-premises exterior sign with an aggregate graphic area larger than (10) square feet.
2. An illuminated, permanent, on-premises exterior sign, regardless of size.
3. A permanent neon graphic or neon outline lighting, exterior or interior, regardless of size.
4. A permanent on-premises ground sign, projecting sign, or wall sign, regardless of size, any part of which encroaches upon any public right-of-way more than six inches.
5. Installation of an off-premises sign, including a billboard, regardless of size.
6. Refacing of an off-premises sign other than a billboard.
B. Temporary Permit. A temporary permit shall be required for the installation of any temporary, on-premises exterior sign when required by C.C. 3376.10 or C.C. 3377.27.
C. Installation Requirements. No person shall install a graphic without first meeting the following requirements:
1. Obtain a certificate of zoning clearance, except as exempted by this Graphics Code.
2. Furnish scale drawings and specifications of the graphic, including any of the following which is appropriate: Dimensions; anchorage or foundation data; pole or structural attachment data; pole size and standard chart or engineering data from which the pole size and foundation was calculated.
3. Obtain an installation permit.
D. Ground Inspection. The erector of a graphic shall allow the director to make a pre-installation inspection.
E. Permit Issuance. An installation permit or a temporary permit for a graphic shall be issued only to the following:
1. A person, firm or corporation properly licensed. In the event that the holder of such license is a business concern, only the person named on the face of the license or another bona fide, full-time employee of said concern who is authorized by the concern at the time of mailing its application for a license or renewal, may sign the application for a permit on behalf of said business concern.
2. A residential owner-occupant, provided that all work shall be done with the owner-occupant's own hands on the premises of a residence which is occupied or is to be occupied by no one except the residential owner-occupant's own family.
F. License Required. It is unlawful for any person to undertake or perform the work of a general or limited sign erector or to represent or advertise themselves, either publicly or privately, as being ready, willing or able to contract or perform such work, within the corporate limits of the city without having first procured a license duly issued by the city.
The work of a general or limited sign erector includes, but is not limited to, the erection, maintenance, and removal of any permanent, illuminated exterior sign, permanent neon graphic or neon outline lighting, exterior or interior, any graphic on an exterior illuminated awning; permanent, nonilluminated exterior sign more than ten square feet in area; and a temporary exterior sign when a permit is required.;ol0; G.\Installation of Electrical Graphics. In installing any permanent electrical graphic regulated by this Graphics Code, including a sign, the sign erector shall be permitted to make the necessary electrical connections from an existing approved junction box located no more than six feet from the graphic location.
H. Work From or Over the Public Right-of-Way. A street occupancy permit shall be obtained when a public street, shared-use path or sidewalk is to be used during installation.
I. Installation, Maintenance and Removal by Owner. A property owner who is not a general or limited sign erector may remove or cause to be removed a graphic which meets all of the following requirements:
1. Is located no closer to any lot line than twice its greatest dimension;
2. Is no more than ten square feet in area;
3. Has no electrical components; and
4. Shall not extend over, nor be lowered to, any portion of the public right-of-way.
(Ord. 2837-96 § 9 (part); Ord. 1987-2008 Attach. 1 (part); Ord. No. 1200-2017, § 41, 6-12-2017; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT33ZOCO_CH3381IM_3381.03INTEPEFetched: 10/27/2026