San Francisco City Files Complaint Against X (Formerly Twitter) for Unauthorized Sign
San Francisco, CNN — The city of San Francisco has filed a complaint against X, the company formerly known as Twitter, for erecting a new flashing “X” sign on top of their headquarters without a permit. The city claims to have visited the building on two occasions since Friday regarding the violation.
According to the complaint, a notice of violation (NOV) was issued for carrying out work without the necessary permit for the new sign that now adorns the social media platform’s headquarters. Owner Elon Musk recently rebranded Twitter and its iconic bird logo as X, and he tweeted a video of the building with the new flashing “X” logo on Saturday, stating, “Our HQ in San Francisco tonight.”
The complaint stated, “NOV issued for work without permit. Site visited by MH and spoke with Tweeter (sic) representatives and Building maintenance engineer representatives. I explained BID’s complaint investigation process and requested access to roof area. Tweeter (sic) representative declined to provide access but did explain that the structure is a temporary lighted sign for an event. I explained to all representatives that the NOV requires the structure to be removed with a building permit or legalized.”
The city’s Department of Building Inspection emphasized that a permit is required to ensure the historic nature of the building is maintained and to guarantee the safety of any new additions to the sign. Patrick Hannan, a spokesperson for the department, stated that approval is necessary for any new letters or symbols added to a sign.
In a recent attempt to access the roof, the complainants were once again denied entry. The city’s complaint also highlighted that fees, including permit and investigation fees, can be incurred as a result of the notice of violation. However, it remains uncertain what specific penalties X may face for their unauthorized sign.
CNN has reached out to both the City of San Francisco and X for comments on the matter.