Opinion ID: 1505912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Department of Licenses, Investigations, and Inspections

Text: On May 23, 1980, petitioner applied to DLII for a permit to place a neon Marriott sign on the penthouse of his hotel at 22nd and M Streets, N.W. DLII issued the permit a month later on June 20. By August 9, the sign had been placed on the hotel and was fully operational. After DLII received a letter from DHCD pointing out that DHCD's Engineering Review Section had not approved petitioner's permit application because the sign exceeded height regulations (specifically Article 14, § 1405.2 of the Building Code), DLII wrote petitioner on August 29, 1980, that his permit was revoked as erroneously issued. The letter directed petitioner to surrender the permit immediately. It further stated that petitioner could appeal the revocation to the Board of Appeals and Review but that a BAR appeal would not stay the revocation order. On September 3, 1980, petitioner's attorneys notified DLII that they were investigating the legality of the revocation order and would not surrender the permit immediately. Three weeks later, on September 24, 1980, petitioner's attorneys sent DLII a letter setting forth in considerable detail their position that DLII had no legal basis for revoking the permit. The letter concluded by saying we consider the matter closed. Petitioner did not return the permit or file a notice of appeal with the BAR.