Apparently, in the rush to change the company's name from Twitter, Musk clean forgot to apply for planning permission -- or maybe he thought only poor people have to do that sort of thing.
The installation, which formed part of efforts by Musk to rebrand Twitter as X, appeared on top of the building on Friday, just a few days after the company officially unveiled the new X logo to replace Twitter’s iconic blue bird.
More than 24 residents from across the street also complained that the light emitted by the sign was far too bright and complained to the council.
Workers moved in on Monday it’s not clear if X Corp is seeking a permit for the sign so that it can reinstall it at a later date.
A spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection Patrick Hannan said: "The property owner will be assessed fees for the unpermitted installation of the illuminated structure. The fees will be for building permits for the installation and removal of the structure, and to cover the cost of the Department of Building Inspection and the Planning Department’s investigation.”
X Corp owner Musk tweeted a drone video showing the X sign on Friday, just after it went up. Shot at night, the sign can be seen flashing brightly on the roof of the company’s headquarters.
This isn’t the first run-in that the company formerly known as Twitter has had with the San Francisco authorities. When Musk acquired Twitter in October last year, local officials investigated the business over suspected building code violations, including that some rooms there had been turned into “hotel rooms” so employees could rest as they worked longer shifts.