(A) It is the declared purpose of this section that, in time, all privately owned signs shall either conform to the provisions of this chapter or be removed. By the passage of this chapter and its amendments, no presently illegal sign shall be deemed to have been legalized unless such sign complies with all current standards under the terms of this chapter and all other ordinances of the city. Any sign which does not conform to all provisions of this chapter and which existed on the effective date of this section shall be considered as a nonconforming sign. A nonconforming sign shall be permitted in the same manner as any other legally existing sign or proposed sign.
(B) (1) Whenever any nonconforming sign no longer advertises a bona fide business or a business which has moved away or closed, a product sold, or service rendered, such sign shall be removed within 60 days. If the nonconforming sign is a wall sign, the wall sign shall be removed or painted over with a color that resembles or matches the rest of the wall of the building.
(2) If the owner or person responsible for the sign, or if the tenant closing business, fails to remove the abandoned sign or paint over the wall sign, the owner of the premises shall be held responsible and the work shall be done within 30 days following written notice to do so by the Building Official.
(C) No nonconforming sign may be enlarged or altered in a way which would increase its nonconformity.
(D) Should any nonconforming sign be damaged by any means to an extent of more than 60% of its replacement cost at time of damage, it shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 476, passed 11-12-96) Penalty, see § 154.99