A. Authority To Continue: Any lawful sign located within the City at the effective date hereof which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, may continue provided, the sign remains in conformance with the provisions of this section.
B. Conditions Of Lawful Status: For the purposes of this chapter, legal nonconforming status shall be conferred only on signs authorized by a sign permit or variance of a preceding ordinance, Code, or law; or if no sign permit was required under the applicable preceding laws, the sign was otherwise in compliance with the requirements of the preceding ordinance, Code, or law. (Ord. Z-24-05, 8-29-2005)
C. Loss Of Lawful Status: Legal nonconforming status shall terminate if a sign is structurally altered such that its nonconforming aspects increase; or the sign is relocated, replaced, or moved in any way; or the sign is damaged and the cost of repair is fifty percent (50%) of its replacement value; or where an application for development review is filed for the property on which the sign is located. Upon the happening of any of the aforementioned events, the sign shall be immediately brought into compliance with this chapter in conjunction with a new sign permit or the sign shall be removed. For the purpose of this subsection the changing of copy shall not be considered the replacement of an existing legal nonconforming sign. Legal nonconforming status shall not terminate for a billboard sign that is required to be removed by a governmental agency for the purpose of roadway construction; provided, however, that the relocated billboard sign shall be constructed no later than one year after the removal of the original billboard sign, shall be located within five hundred feet (500') of the location of the original billboard sign, and shall conform to all of the standards and requirements for billboards set forth in subsection 12-11-6B of this chapter, but shall not be subject to the limitation on the number of billboards permitted. (Ord. Z-15-15, 5-4-2015)
D. Ordinary Maintenance And Repair: Nothing in this section shall relieve the owner or beneficial user of a legal nonconforming sign, or the owner of the property on which the legal nonconforming sign is located from the provisions of this chapter regarding safety, maintenance, and repair. Normal maintenance, including repainting, cleaning, or routine repair of a legal nonconforming sign shall not be deemed to be a condition which triggers a loss of lawful status described above, unless such maintenance increases, in fact, the nonconforming aspects of the sign. (Ord. Z-24-05, 8-29-2005)