(A) Discontinued Sign
A discontinued sign related to a use or business that ceases to exist or operate for a continuous period of 90 days shall be considered nonconforming and shall not be reused for sign purposes unless and until it is in full conformity with the provisions of this chapter, subject to issuance of a new sign permit.
(B) Routine Repairs and Maintenance
Repairs and maintenance of nonconforming signs, such as repainting and electrical repairs, shall be permitted, provided that repainting shall not include a change of copy or color, and provided further that no repairs shall be permitted where the cost of the repairs exceeds $1,000.00 or 50 percent of the replacement cost of the sign.
(C) Change of Copy
No change of copy shall be permitted without bringing the sign into full conformance with Chapter 9, whichever is applicable, and with the applicable Master Sign Plan or Uniform Sign Plan, except as provided below:
(1) Sign panels or sign blades in existing non-conforming cabinet signs may be replaced, and copy may be changed on non-conforming changeable copy signs, provided that:
(a) the sign was constructed or installed in conformance with standards applicable at the time of construction or installation;
(b) for illuminated cabinet signs, the background of the sign panel is opaque; and
(D) Other Sign Permits on Premises
For single-occupant properties, the issuance of a sign permit for a new or replacement sign shall be subject to the condition that all nonconforming signs on that property shall be removed or brought into conformance as part of the work of installing the new or replacement sign. For multi-occupant properties, the issuance of a sign permit for a new or replacement sign for any individual occupant shall be subject to the condition that all nonconforming signs for that occupant shall be removed or brought into conformance as part of the work of installing the new or replacement sign. This section shall not apply to the issuance of a permit for a temporary sign.
(E) Required Removal
Where an amendment to a previously approved development plan is proposed, approval of such plan shall be contingent upon removal of all nonconforming signs on the site. For example, if an existing retail establishment proposes a building addition or parking expansion, then any nonconforming signs on the property must be brought into compliance as a condition of approval of the amended development plan.
PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION | |
• | If a hotel were the sole occupant of a
property
, then replacement of a wall sign would mean that a nonconforming ground sign would also have to be replaced. |
• | If a shopping center replaced a nonconforming ground sign, then all nonconforming
ground signs
would need to be replaced, provided such
ground signs
were not located on a separate parcel. |
• | If a video store within a shopping center replaced a wall sign, then no other tenants within the shopping center would have to replace their nonconforming signs. |
• | If an insurance office within a multi-tenant office building replaced its wall sign, then no other tenant within the office building would have to replace its nonconforming signs. |
(Ord. No. 2009-LDO-3, 5-14-09; Ord. No. 2011-LDO-04, 11-17-11; Ord. No. 12-LDO-01, 2-23-12; Ord. No. 2016-LDO-02, 12-8-16; Ord. No. 2021-LDO-01, 6-24-21)