(a) Nonconforming Signs.
(1) Nonconforming Sign Criteria. Signs existing as of the effective date of this Article which do not conform to the provisions of this Article are nonconforming signs and shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. Nonconforming signs may be maintained. No nonconforming on-premises sign shall be altered or moved to a new location without being brought into compliance with the requirements of this Article. [Refer to Subsection (b) below.] Compliance is the responsibility of the property owner.
(2) New Signs Not Permitted. Business signs on the premises of a nonconforming use or building may be continued per this Section, but new signs for such uses shall not be allowed, nor shall expand in number, area, height, or illumination. New signs, not to exceed the maximum allowable aggregate sign area, may be erected only upon the complete removal of all other signs existing at the time of adoption of this Article.
(3) Removal Upon Business Termination. Nonconforming signs shall be removed when the principal structure located on the premises undergoes a change of use, or shall be removed per Section 13-1-15l(a). Closing businesses must remove their signs within thirty (30) days of closing.
(4) Change in Sign User. Whenever there is a change in the sign user (excluding off- premises signs) or owner of the property on which the sign is located, the new sign user or new property owner shall forthwith notify the Zoning Administrator of the change. No new sign permit is required unless there is modification of the sign face or sign structure.
(b) Alteration of Signs.
(1) Alteration Defined. For the purpose of this Article, alteration of a sign is considered to be any change to the exterior appearance of any part of the sign, its frame, its supporting structure, or its lighting including: changing the message (except for marquee or off-premises advertising signs), symbols, color, material, height or location.
(2) Maintenance Exception. Altering a sign does not include maintaining the existing appearance of the sign; replacing the sign face or the supporting structure with identical materials, colors, and messages; changing the message of a marquee sign; or changing the face of an off-premises advertising sign.
(c) Loss of Legal Nonconforming Status.
(1) In addition to the standards in Subsections (a) and (b) above, a sign may also lose its nonconforming status if one (1) or more of the following occurs:
a. If said sign is damaged by fire, flood, explosion, earthquake, vandalism, war, riot or Act of God; or structurally altered in any way, except for normal maintenance and repair; the sign may be reconstructed and used as before if it is reconstructed within three (3) months after such calamity, unless the damage to the sign is fifty percent (50%) or more of its replacement value, in which case, the constructed sign shall comply with the provisions of this Article.
b. The sign is relocated;
c. The sign fails to conform to the Village requirements regarding maintenance and repair, abandonment or dangerous or defective signs;
(2) On the date of occurrence of any of the above, the sign shall be immediately brought in compliance with this Article with a new permit secured therefor or shall be removed.
(d) Legal Nonconforming Sign Maintenance and Repair. Nothing in this Article shall relieve the owner or use of a legal nonconforming sign or the owner of the property in which the sign is located from the provisions of this Article regarding safety, maintenance and repair of signs. However, legal nonconforming signs shall not be reinstalled, reconstructed or have their useful life extended.