(a) General. Any violation of this Chapter shall be considered to be an infraction, except in the case of an off-site outdoor advertising display which shall be considered to be a misdemeanor. Any violation of this Chapter or of any condition or requirement adopted pursuant hereto may be restrained, corrected, or abated, as the case may be, by injunction or other appropriate proceeding pursuant to State law and the City's Municipal Code including but not limited to administrative citations. A violation of this Chapter shall also be considered a violation of the Zoning Chapter of the City. The remedies shall include the following:
(1) Issuing a stop work order for any and all work on any signs on the same lot.
(2) Seeking an injunction or other order of restrain or abatement that requires the removal of the sign(s) or the correction of violation.
(3) Seeking in court the imposition of any penalties that can be imposed by such court under the Municipal Code.
(4) Seeking in court the imposition of any penalties that can be imposed by such court the Municipal Code, or laws of the State of California.
(5) In the case of a sign that poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety (see unsafe signs), immediate removal by the City may be authorized by the Director of Building and Safety. Cost of such removal shall be assessed to the owner of the property.
(6) The City shall have such other remedies as are and as may from time to time be provided for or allowed by State law for the violation of its Chapters.
(b) Right of Entry. When necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this Chapter, or when the City has reasonable cause to believe that there exists any sign or any condition which makes such sign unsafe, the City, upon adherence with applicable law, may enter the premises or building upon which such sign is located.
(c) Violations. Any of the following shall be a violation of this Chapter and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties of this Chapter, of the Municipal Code, and of State law:
(1) To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the zone in which the sign is located.
(2) To install, create, erect, or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit.
(3) To fail to remove any sign that is installed created, erected, or maintained in violation of this Chapter or with respect to a legal nonconforming sign if the sign amortization period has lapsed.
(4) To continue an identified violation. Each day an identified violation exists shall be considered a separate violation regarding enforcement of this Chapter.
(d) Separate Violations. Each sign installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this section.
(e) Responsibility. As used in this section, "person(s) deemed responsible" shall mean any or all of the following:
(1) The person or entity who owns the real property upon which the sign exists.
(2) The occupant of any premises upon which the sign exists.
(3) The owner of the sign.
(4) The person who, or entity which, erects, places, or alters the sign.
(f) Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the City Planner to enforce the provisions of this Chapter pertaining to all signs and sign structures. No permit of any type shall be issued by any department or office of the City in conflict with the provisions of this Chapter. Such permit where issued in conflict with this Chapter is declared null and void.
(Ord. 221, passed 7-6-2022)