(A) Maintenance. The owner or operator of a sign and the owner of the lot on which the sign is located shall be jointly and severally liable to maintain the sign, including its illumination sources, in compliance with this subchapter and all applicable laws, in a safe, secure, neat, and orderly condition, and in good working order, at all times, and to prevent the development of any rust, corrosion, rotting, or other deterioration in the physical appearance or safety of such sign. The area around any ground sign shall be kept clean and free of all rubbish, overgrown grass, other overgrown and poorly maintained landscaping, and weeds.
(B) Removal of obsolete signs. No sign or other advertising structure shall advertise a business or product which is no longer in existence on the premises where a sign is located. Any such said sign shall be immediately taken down and removed from the subject property.
(C) General prohibitions.
(1) No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected, relocated or maintained in a manner so as to prevent free ingress to, or egress from, any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
(2) No sign or other advertising structure shall:
(a) Obstruct free and clear vision at any street intersection;
(b) Interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic sign, signal or device because of its position, shape or color;
(c) Make use of the words “STOP,” “LOOK,” “DRIVE-IN,” “DANGER,” or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(3) No sign or other advertising structure shall be permitted to constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate design, construction, repair or maintenance.
(4) No sign or other advertising structure shall be painted on or attached to a motor vehicle used primarily for the display of such sign. This section shall not prohibit the identification of a business or its products or services on those vehicle(s) owned and operated by said business, and parked or located in a manner appropriate to the normal course of business.
(5) No sign designed to be moved from place to place (free standing or on wheels), that is not otherwise permanently affixed to the ground, a building or other permanent structure shall be permitted.
(6) No signs attached to trees, fences, public utility poles, standpipes, gutter drains, or fire escapes, other than warning signs issued by government officials or public utilities, shall be permitted. Signs attached to fences shall be legal only if the sign is in regards to the identification of the fence distributor, and shall be limited to one square foot in area.
(Ord. 9-4, passed 2-25-09; Am. Ord. 19-11, passed 3-20-19)
Penalty, see § 156.999