The following signs, unless designated as legal non-conforming signs pursuant to § 155.18, are prohibited within the city:
(A) Abandoned signs. Any sign, now or hereafter, existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted on the premises or a product sold on the premises for a period of 30 days shall be deemed abandoned.
(B) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs which direct attention to a business, profession, activity, commodity, service, or entertainment other than one conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or within the portion of the building to which such sign is affixed are prohibited. The term "off-premises sign" includes any outdoor advertising sign on which space is leased or rented by the owner thereof to others for the purpose of conveying a commercial or non-commercial message. When a building has more than one business or tenant operating therein, signs designating a particular business shall be located only on that portion of the building which houses the business identified on the sign.
(C) Hazardous or dangerous signs. When the Building or Zoning Commissioner determines that a sign or its supporting structure is structurally unsafe, constituted a hazard to safety or health, is not in good repair, or can cause electrical shock, he or she shall cause such sign or its structure to be removed. At the discretion of the Commissioner, he or she may order the sign removed according to the procedures in division (F) below, or, if in his or her determination, the sign is an imminent threat to the safety of the public, he or she may cause the immediate removal of the sign with expenses charged to the owner of the property, building, or structure upon which the sign is attached.
(D) Roof signs. No signs shall be placed on a roof or extended beyond the height of the gutter line. The Board of Appeals may grant a variance for a roof sign only where the applicant demonstrates practical difficulties in utilizing a wall sign and that the variance shall be in keeping with the spirit and intent of this chapter. Removal of an illegal roof sign shall be in accordance with division (F) below, or division (C) if it constitutes a hazard.
(E) Painted wall signs. Signs painted directly on the exterior surface of a building are prohibited.
(F) Prohibited signs, as described in §§ 155.03 and 155.04, and their supports shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such a sign may be found within 60 days after written notification from the Building or Zoning Department. The notice shall warn the owner, agent, or beneficial user that failure to remove the sign as ordered may result in criminal charges and may cause the city to undertake removal of the sign at the owner's, agent's, or user's expense. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Safety-Service Director or the Building Commissioner shall cause removal of such sign, and any expenses incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the property, building, or structure upon which the sign is erected, or to which the sign is attached.
(Ord. 06-14, passed 10-3-06; Am. Ord. 08-30, passed 10-28-08)