105 IAC 7-4-20 - Zoned commercial or industrial area; unzoned commercial or industrial area
Authority: IC 8-23-2-6; IC 8-23-20-25
Affected: IC 8-23-20
Sec. 20.
(a) A sign
may be located only in a zoned commercial or industrial area, or in an unzoned
commercial or industrial area, only if there is a qualifying commercial or
industrial activity on the real estate in such area that also would be the
location of the sign.
(b) The
department shall deny any application for a sign permit, if the zoning action
for the real estate upon which the sign will be located is the result of spot
zoning or strip zoning.
(c) Zoning
action that has the effect of allowing signs on the affected real estate may
not be recognized by the department as a zoned commercial or industrial area
for purposes of this rule. Factors to be considered by the department when
making its independent determination of whether the real estate is in a zoned
commercial or industrial area suitable for allowing signs and whether spot
zoning or strip zoning occurred with respect to the particular sign include:
(1) whether or not this action is part of or
consistent with part of a comprehensive zoning plan;
(2) the reason behind any rezoning of a
parcel, which must be taken for reasons other than allowing signs or outdoor
advertising;
(3) the person or
entity who requested the zoning action;
(4) the zoning of nearby areas;
(5) the actual land use of nearby
areas;
(6) the existence of plans
for commercial and industrial development on the real estate;
(7) the availability of utilities (such as
water, electricity, and sewage) on the real estate; and
(8) the existence of access roads or
dedicated access to the real estate.
(d) Factors to be considered by the
department when making its independent determination of whether there is a
qualifying commercial or industrial activity on the real estate upon which the
sign will be located in an unzoned commercial or industrial area include the
following:
(1) The activity maintaining all
necessary business licenses as required by state or local law or
ordinances.
(2) If the activity is
performed by a corporation or a limited liability company, the entity
maintaining all necessary registration to remain in good standing with the
Indiana secretary of state.
(3) The
activity having direct vehicular access from a public road that is normal and
customary for ingress and egress by the public to the activity, as well as
adequate parking to accommodate public access.
(4) Any building or other permanent structure
used for the activity shall:
(A) not be
principally used as a residence;
(B) include customary facilities such as
running water, functioning electrical connections, and adequate
heating;
(C) be located on the same
side of the control route as the sign; and
(D) have a permanent foundation that is built
or modified for the activity, and any mobile structure being so used shall:
(i) not be a self-propelled
vehicle;
(ii) remove all wheels,
axles, and springs; and
(iii) be
permanently secured on piers, pad, or foundation.
(5) The activity not being, in
whole or in substantial part, any of the following:
(A) Signs or other outdoor advertising
structures.
(B) Agricultural,
forestry, ranching, grazing, farming, and related activities, including produce
stands and other seasonal stands.
(C) Transient or temporary activities,
including weekend or seasonal flea markets.
(D) Railroad tracks, minor sidings, cell
towers, or other utility facilities.
(E) Visible from the main-traveled
way.
(F) Highways, roads, or
streets.
(6) The actual
land use of nearby areas, as well as whether there is other commercial or
industrial activity in nearby areas.
(e) All applications for a sign permit and
all supporting documentation from the property owner must provide express
authorization in one (1) of the following:
(1)
The original signature of the property owner or its authorized representative
on the accompanying affidavit in form and substance satisfactory to the
department, demonstrating a consent to:
(A)
the erection of the sign; and
(B)
the right of entry from time to time by employees or authorized agents of the
department on the real estate where the sign is located for purposes of
inspection or removal of the sign.
(2) In lieu of the affidavit signed by the
property owner contemplated by subdivision (1), the applicant may execute and
submit an affidavit in form and substance satisfactory to the department,
representing to the department:
(A) that the
applicant made a reasonable request to obtain the executed affidavit from the
property owner, but the applicant's request was refused;
(B) that the applicant has the legal right to
erect the sign, based upon its contractual documentation with the property
owner;
(C) that the applicant
notified the property owner of the right of entry from time to time by
employees or authorized agents of the department on the real estate where the
sign is located for purposes of inspection or removal of the sign;
and
(D) the correct name, mailing
address, and electronic mail address of the property owner.
(f) If the zoning of a
commercial or industrial area changes after a permit is issued for a sign such
that a conforming sign should become a nonconforming sign, the permittee or the
current owner of the sign shall, within ninety (90) days of receiving notice of
such zoning change, send the department a written request for a permit tag for
a nonconforming sign, together with the standard permit tag fee in section 8(a)
of this rule. Failure of the permittee or the current owner of the sign to
timely comply with this subsection may, in the discretion of the department,
result in the revocation of the permit for the sign.
Notes
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No prior version found.