(a) A "nonconforming sign" shall be construed as a sign which does not conform with one or more provisions of the present Codified Ordinances or any future amendments thereto. Normal maintenance by way of painting, cleaning and minor repair is permitted for the life of the nonconforming period allowed.
(b) All nonconforming signs shall be removed completely forthwith unless a permit, as hereinafter provided, is secured in which case such signs shall be completely removed upon expiration of the permit. After written notification has been given to the property owner that a sign on his property is illegal, the owner of an illegal sign would have six months from date of notification to swing the direction of any sign overhanging any public right of way so that it would not be overhanging any longer in the public right of way.
If the situation where the sign overhangs a public right of way has been corrected by causing the direction of the sign to be changed away from the public right of way, then such sign can qualify as nonconforming. As to all other illegal signs which cannot be corrected, as herein provided, no permit should be granted for such signs that project into or over the public right of way. Such signs must be completely removed within a period of eight months after the passage of this chapter.
(c) Permits issued for nonconforming signs shall expire ten years following 120 days, after March 1, 1979. Permits issued after the passage of this chapter for signs that have become nonconforming due to changes in zoning laws or widening of streets or highways shall expire ten years after issuance. Signs being used at the time of the passage of this chapter that have a changing message such as time, temperature or as a commercial billboard with space rented out for advertising purposes may continue the same use for the life of the nonconforming sign permit.
No permit shall be issued except by written application and a diagram showing the size and the location on the property of the sign. The City shall keep a file of permits and application diagrams.
There shall be no charge for nonconforming sign permits.
(Ord. 1979-062. Passed 2-27-79.)