posted
Hello to all! I sure would like some feedback on a few things that our new code officer has decided to implement in our town. I have a customer who will be doing the sign installation themselves as my hubby is not able to at this time and I sent them to city hall to get the sign permit applied and paid for. The new code officer informed them that any post must be sunk 42" and he has to inspect and measure the hole before any post can be installed. I was floored by this and called Tom (the code guy) to ask where in the sign ordinance did he find this because my copy sure doesn't have that. We have never sunk 4" x 4" posts below 3', larger posts yes we will sink deeper. He stated that the posts would heave up. I told him to show me one of my signs that have done that as in 24 years we've never had that issue. Grrrr. Not a great way to get on his good side. So....stating that the depth must be 42" and the holes inspected is that an unusual request or do other towns/cities have this ordinance? Thanks! Carol
-------------------- Carol Kaufmann Watseka Sign 1801 N State Rt 1 Watseka, IL 60970 Posts: 33 | From: Watseka, IL | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6716 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yes Carol, they do.....and some are much worse than that. Hole inspections, wind load ratings, material data specs, etc.....all stupid big-brother overreaches, that are basically another way for "entities" to make more money. Inspections + permits = money in their pockets.
A good many years ago, up in a Cincinnati suburb with goofy laws like this, we had a sign to install that "had to be done by..." a certain date. That involved one of our employees and I going out and digging the holes in mid-20's weather, snow flurries, and then having to call an inspector to measure the holes, before we could set the poles. After waiting for about 3 hours, we called the office, and were told "Oh, well he didn't think anyone would be doing this type of work today, so.....". So we had to go back out again, the next day. Wasted time, for nothing!!!
posted
depending where you are geographically......the depth of posts should be below that areas FROST LEVEL. IN PA... all water lines need to be 36" deep to stay below the frost level. i lived in caribou, maine, built metal buildings and all footers, waters lines had to be below 7 FOOT!!!!!! here in florida, in sarasota if you dug 24" you had water, here in pensacola 24" is good to support post but water lines are 6-8" underground.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dale, didn't you know that only their time is important?
In Upper Michigan our water lines are 6 feet down and we had quite a few freeze ups 2 years ago. We even had some mains freeze. It was a year of record cold with very little snow.
Code here is 42 inches for poles but I always go 4 feet or even deeper if there is going to be a lot of wind load. An inspector that demands to measure the depth for a simple small sign is just trying to justify his job, or power has gone to his head.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Not a problem here...but then, this is a small town in Texas. In 24 years, I have only permitted two signs. I have the customer take care of that.
Several years ago the city wanted a sign installed for the city library, but everything they wanted was against the sign ordinance. I told them the situation and they said it would be OK to proceed - not to worry about the permit, they would take care of that. When the sign was installed I got a call from the city telling me that I had to remove it because it violated the building code. I referred them to the librarian and never heard another word. Small towns can be really nice.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Watseka is just a small town of 5300 but I have not come across this anywhere we have installed in Illinois. Even larger towns like Danville did not have this in their ordinance. Hey Diaz family your my neighbor how does it work in your town?
-------------------- Carol Kaufmann Watseka Sign 1801 N State Rt 1 Watseka, IL 60970 Posts: 33 | From: Watseka, IL | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
You're right, Dave; that's the attitude I got.
And Raymond, thankfully, I don't have to deal with that crap here either. 15 years, and I've never had an issue. It was good meeting you in person, up in Cincinnati.....finally.
I had another issue years ago, in a neighboring town to Cincinnati, where the zoning inspector got all uppity with me, told me they didn't allow just any "rum-dum's" in town, and told me they wouldn't give me a permit to do a job, until I got a sign erector's license. I had to give all kinds of info, furnish references, and was going to have to take a test, and pay $150.00 fee.
Fortunately, the references I gave them were: General Electric (built displays), the largest builder in Cincinnati, and one of the biggest electrical contractors....good strong customers.
Next time I went to his office, it was like I was his long-lost brother; shook my hand, called me by my first name, and handed me my license. I said, "What about the test?" He said "Don't worry about it; your references were fine. Just pay the fee and here's your license."
So again, it's all about the money. I came to find out later, that the mayor of the town's brother owned the largest sign company in town, and they were trying to limit competition from "outsiders." Ain't that wonderful?
posted
Dale, you think that's tough, I deal with it state wide. In Michigan you have to have a Sign Installers license for anything electric. Before they will even allow you to take the test you have to have 4,000 hours (2 years) apprenticeship installing electric signs. This was again a money thing. A large electrical sign company paid off some politicians to write a bill to keep small companies from installing electric signs. Like you said, it's all about the money.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic