Except as otherwise provided herein, the owner of any zone lot or other premises on which exists a sign that does not conform with the requirements of this chapter or for which there is no current and valid sign permit shall be obligated to remove such sign or, in the case of a nonconforming sign, to bring into conformity with the requirements of this chapter.
1. Signs Existing on Effective Date. For any sign existing in the City on August 10, 1995, an application for a sign permit must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator before January 1, 1996. For any sign on property annexed at a later date, applications for sign permits shall be submitted within six months after the effective date of the annexation or within such period as may be established in an annexation agreement between the City and the landowner. Signs that are subject of applications received after the applicable date set forth in this section shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this chapter and shall not be entitled to the protection of subsection 2 of this section. Applications for permits for existing signs submitted before January 1, 1996, shall be exempt from the initial fees adopted under authority of this chapter, but not from renewal and subsequent fees.
2. Nonconforming Existing Signs, Permits and Terms. A sign that would be permitted under this chapter only with a sign permit, but which was in existence on August 10, 1995, or on a later date when the property is annexed to the City, and which was constructed in accordance with the ordinances and other applicable laws in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design or construction is not in conformity with the requirements of this chapter, shall be issued a Nonconforming Sign Permit if an application in accordance with subsection 1 of this section is filed in a timely manner. Such permit shall allow the sign(s) subject to such permit, which were made nonconforming by the adoption of this chapter, to remain in place and be maintained for a period ending no later than January 1, 1997, provided that no action is taken which increases the degree or extent of the nonconformity. Such signs are also subject to the provisions of subsection 3 of this section. A change in the information on the face of an existing nonconforming sign is allowed. However, any nonconforming sign shall either be eliminated or made to conform with the requirements of this chapter when any proposed change, repair or maintenance would constitute an expense of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the lesser of the original value or replacement value of the sign.
3. Lapse of Nonconforming Sign Permit. A Nonconforming Sign Permit shall lapse and become void under the same circumstances as those under which any other sign permit may lapse and become void.
4. Sign Removal Required. A sign that was constructed, painted, installed or maintained in conformance with a permit under this chapter, but for which the permit has lapsed or not been renewed or for which the time allowed for the continuance of nonconforming signs has expired, shall be forthwith removed without notice or action from the City.