1. Only lawful signs existing at the time of passage of this Chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of the Chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs and once removed shall be replaced only with conforming signs; however, lawful, nonconforming signs may be repainted or repaired provided such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign. Any sign or billboard destroyed, damaged, or dismantled for any reason whatsoever may only be rebuilt on its previous location in strict conformity with the regulations of the district in which it is located. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a nonconforming sign or billboard may be converted by the owner of such nonconforming sign or billboard to an EMS, including the structural reinforcement thereof for purposes of supporting said EMS, provided that the converted EMS shall not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign or billboard, shall not be relocated, and shall otherwise meet all of the requirements for an EMS including, but not limited to, the distance requirements set forth in § 27-711.4. [Ord. 475]
2. Every lawful sign, billboard and other outdoor advertising media erected in the Township prior to the adoption of this Chapter, may continue to be maintained in spite of their lack of conformity with all of the provisions of this Chapter, for a period of 7 years after the adoption hereof, after which the owner of every such sign, at his own expense, shall cause the same to be brought into strict conformity with all the requirements of this Chapter, or shall remove the same. The work of bringing such sign into conformity with such requirements shall constitute either repair, alteration or relocation and therefore, shall require the owner of such sign, to obtain a permit. Provided, the Zoning Hearing Board may permit the owner of the sign to continue to maintain such sign without conforming to the require ments of this Chapter where to require cessation of use would in the opinion of the Zoning Hearing Board, impair the property rights of any person to such an extent as to be an unconstitutional taking of property.
3. Every unlawful sign must conform to the provisions of Part 12. All signs erected prior to the adoption of this Chapter which do not have a Zoning Permit but do conform to the provisions of this Part, shall be required to apply for a Zoning Permit within 60 days of the official adoption of this Chapter.
(Ord. 45, Z-003, 5/12/76; as amended by Ord. 475, 7/18/2007, § 3)