(A) If a sign is installed without a permit, inspection or is a prohibited sign and personnel in the field determines the sign can not be easily removed, the Planning Department will notify the offender of their sign violation.
(B) Offenders will have a time period to remove the sign. If the sign is not removed within the time period they are subject to a violation fine.
(C) The Ellettsville Planning Department shall issue a written order, letter or posted notice of violation to abate, remove, or repair the issue in violation.
(D) If the issue is not addressed within seven days following the notice of violation the fine shall be daily. Any person(s), company, business or non-profit organization that violates any of the provisions of this chapter commits a Class D ordinance violation and shall be fined for each offense, with the total fine amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation.
(E) In addition to any fines, for any temporary sign installed without a permit, the violator shall be required to pay for the cost of a temporary sign permit for the period it is displayed, if the violation is not abated within seven days of the notice.
(F) Separate offenses shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. If a business, not for profit agency or public agency receives two notices of violation within one year for a Sign Code violation the sign permit shall be revoked and the signs removed from the premises by the sign permit applicant, business or property owner by order of the Ellettsville Planning Department.
(G) Maintenance, repair and removal. Any sign which becomes unsafe or is not maintained and in violation of any of the provisions of this subchapter, shall remove or cause such sign to be removed at the expense of the business, property owner and/or the user of the sign. In the case of immediate danger the Town Council and/or the Planning Department will attempt to contact the owner of the sign or property owner to have the sign removed or secured at the owner’s expense. If the sign owner or property owner can’t be contacted the sign will be removed or secured by the Town of Ellettsville and the owner of the sign or property owner will be responsible for all expenses incurred in the removal and storage of the signage.
(Ord. 10-07, passed 5-24-2010; Am. Ord. 2017- 06, passed 6-12-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99