(a) The sign owner or property owner shall be responsible for sign maintenance and repair.
(b) If any sign reaches a state of disrepair or is deemed unsafe by the chief building official, and is not properly renovated, it shall be condemned and an order issued for immediate removal at the expense of the sign owner or property owner.
(c) By order of the City Manager, or designee, a sign, sign face or changeable copy with a commercial message shall be removed by the sign owner or property owner when the use to which the commercial message is related is abandoned or discontinued for ninety (90) days or longer, or the City shall cause such sign, sign face or changeable copy to be removed.
(d) A sign that is nonconforming by reason of existing sign area shall be removed, or modified or replaced with a conforming sign by the sign owner or property owner prior to a change in commercial use or occupancy which will result in:
(1) A voluntary change to commercial letters, numbers, characters, symbols, logos or colors on any sign face in combination with a change in sign shape or area; or,
(2) Or any change to its supporting structure.
(e) When any sign is installed, erected, constructed or maintained in violation of any of the terms of this Zoning Ordinance the City Manager, or designee, shall notify the sign owner or property owner in writing thereof to alter such sign so as to comply with this Zoning Ordinance.
(f) No permit for any building, structure or use shall be issued until any abandoned, discontinued, or condemned sign is removed from the property, or modified or replaced by a sign which conforms to the applicable requirements of this Chapter and other applicable requirements of the Germantown Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 17-46. Passed 2-5-18.)