(A) General. Signs that are erected and are in place prior to the adoption of this subchapter and which do not conform to the provisions of this subchapter are declared non-conforming signs. A sign that is erected and that is in place and which conforms to the provisions of the sign subchapter at the time it is erected, but which does not conform to an amendment of this subchapter enacted subsequent to the erection of said sign is declared a non-conforming sign. Any sign erected after the passage of this subchapter must meet all the criteria within this subchapter including all amendments thereto.
(B) Time frame. Within the time frame for removal of non-conforming signs set out in this section, such signs:
(1) Shall not be changed or replaced with another non-conforming sign or copy;
(2) Shall not be expanded or relocated;
(3) Shall not be re-established after damage or destruction in excess of 60% of the value at the time of damage or destruction; and
(4) Shall not be modified in any way which increases their degree of non-conformity.
(C) Removal of non-conforming signs.
(1) All signs not conforming to all sections of this subchapter on the date of the enactment of this subchapter shall be removed, changed, or altered to conform to this subchapter within three years of the original enactment of this subchapter.
(2) All signs which are conforming at the time this subchapter is enacted, and which are made non-conforming as a result of an amendment to this subchapter, shall be removed, changed, or altered to conform to this subchapter within three years of the date said amendment was enacted.
(3) All signs which are located on property brought into the town pursuant to the voluntary annexation procedure set forth in G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 4A, Part 2, and which are non-conforming, shall be removed, changed, or altered to conform to this subchapter within three years from the effective date of the annexation, unless otherwise specified as terms of the annexation.
(1989 Code, Title V, Ch. 51, Art. XIX, § 1913) (Ord. passed 10-12-1982; Ord. passed 12-6-1983; Ord. passed 10-8-1996; Ord. passed 10-13-2009; Ord. 2016-03, passed 2-9-2016
; Ord. 2019-02, passed 2-11-2019)