A. Regulation, Containment, And Elimination: In order to minimize confusion and unfair competitive disadvantage to those businesses that are required to satisfy the standards of this chapter, the city shall apply firm regulation of existing nonconforming signs with a view to their eventual elimination. This goal shall be achieved by strictly enforcing limits on change, expansion, alteration, abandonment, and restoration. Excluding normal maintenance and repair, a nonconforming sign shall not be moved, altered (excluding face changes) or enlarged unless it is brought into complete compliance with this chapter. The following alterations are exempt from this provision:
1. Face changes in nonconforming multi-tenant signs; and
2. Copy changes in nonconforming permanent signs that were originally approved by the City with a changeable copy feature.
B. Abandonment: Any sign that is abandoned shall be removed or brought into compliance by the property owner in accordance with section 11-15-4 of this chapter. If removal does not occur, Clearfield City may have the entire nonconforming sign (both face and structure) removed. The person responsible for any such abandoned sign shall be liable for the cost incurred in the removal thereof, and the City is authorized to effect the collection of said cost. An abandoned sign may not regain any legal nonconforming status later, even if the original business reoccupies the property. (Ord. 2009-45, 11-24-2009)