Signs lawfully existing on the effective date of this chapter or prior ordinances, which do not conform to the provisions of this chapter, and signs which are accessory to a nonconforming use shall be deemed to be nonconforming signs and may remain except as qualified below. The burden of establishing nonconforming status of signs and of the physical characteristics/location of such signs shall be that of the owner of the property.
(a) No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged nor shall any feature of a nonconforming sign, such as illumination, be increased.
(b) No nonconforming sign shall be moved for any distance on the same lot or to any other lot unless such change in location will make the sign conform in all respects to the provisions of this article.
(c) A nonconforming sign that is destroyed or damaged by any casualty to an extent not exceeding fifty (50) percent of its area may be restored within six (6) months after such destruction or damage but shall not be enlarged in any manner. If such sign is so destroyed or damaged to an extent exceeding fifty (50) percent, it shall not be reconstructed but may be replaced with a sign that is in full accordance with the provisions of this article.
(d) A nonconforming sign which is changed to becoming conforming or is replaced by a conforming sign shall no longer be deemed nonconforming, and thereafter such sign shall be in accordance with the provisions of this code.
(e) A nonconforming sign structure shall be subject to removal. In addition, a nonconforming sign structure shall be removed if the use to which it is accessory has not been in operation for a period of one year or more. Such sign structure shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the property. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign structure, the zoning officer shall give the owner written notice of fifteen (15) days to remove the sign structure. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the zoning officer may enter the property upon which the sign is located and remove any such sign or initiate such action as may be necessary to gain compliance with this provision. The cost of such removal shall be chargeable to the owner of the property.
(f) Nonconforming signs shall not be extended or structurally reconstructed or altered in any manner, except a sign face may be changed so long as the new face has equal or less sign height and area as the prior sign.
(g) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent keeping a nonconforming sign in good repair. (Passed 8-28-18.)