(A) Permit and fee required. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no sign or structure shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt, or relocated until the required fee as determined by city policy has been paid and a permit has been issued by the city.
(B) Removal of unsafe and illegal signs. The city may require the removal of any unsafe or illegal sign in the following manner:
(1) The Building Official or his or her designee shall give written notice to the owner and/or party responsible for the sign to comply with the standards required by this section in a prescribed time frame and manner.
(2) Signs on private property. Thirty days' notice in writing shall be given to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure, or premises on which such sign is located, to either comply with this section or remove the sign. The owner of the sign, building, structure, or premises shall also, upon removal of any sign, be fully responsible for repairing, replacing and returning the ground, building walls, or other mounting surface to its original condition or to a proper condition consistent with the present appearance of the area building wall or surface.
(3) Signs on public property. The city may impound signs which have been illegally installed upon public property or within public right-of-way or easement. The sign owner may retrieve the signs according to the following:
(a) Fee payment. For impounded signs, there shall be an impoundment and storage fee as shall be revised annually in the City Council Fee Schedule.
(b) Retrieval of sign. The sign shall be retrieved from a designated impound area during routine business hours and within 15 days from the date of impounding. After 15 days, the city will dispose of the sign.
(c) Liability. The city is not held liable for any damage to impounded signs.
(4) Abandoned signs. Signs located on a building or property that has been vacant or unoccupied for a period of 12 months or more, or a sign which pertains to a time, event, or purpose that no longer applies:
(a) Wall signs (individual letters) - shall be removed.
(b) Wall signs (cabinet) - a blank face shall be inserted in the cabinet.
(c) Freestanding signs - the sign area shall be totally covered.
(Ord. 2023-02, passed 5-9-23)