Any violation of §§ 153.21 through 153.25 shall subject the offender to a civil penalty in an amount equal to the minimum fine prescribed by § 153.99 of this subchapter. Such civil penalty may be recovered by the city in a civil action in the nature of a debt if the offender does not pay the penalty within 20 days after the offender has been cited for the subchapter violation. In addition, the offender shall also pay the cost for the city to remove any illegal sign and for any damages to city owned property caused by any illegal sign. The civil penalty may be used as an alternative to or in conjunction with the criminal penalties authorized in § 153.99 of this subchapter. The city is authorized to withhold the issuance of a sign permit where the owner or applicant has failed to pay or appeal any civil penalty assessed.
(Ord. 97-02, passed 3-24-97; Am. Ord. 21-02, passed 2-23-21)