A. Dangerous, Illegal Signs:
1. If the building official shall find that any sign or other advertising structure regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or constitutes a danger to the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, the building official shall give written notice to the permittee thereof.
2. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards required by this article and indicated by the building official within ten (10) days after such notice, such sign or billboard or advertising may be removed or altered to comply with said standards by the building official at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located.
3. The building official shall refuse to issue a permit to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The building official may cause any sign or other advertising structure or billboard which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice. All costs incurred in removing such signs or other advertising structure or billboard shall be paid by the permittee, or in case no permit has been issued, by the owner of said sign or structure or the owner of the premises upon which said sign or structure is located.
B. Obsolete Signs: Any sign or billboard now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold, shall be taken down and removed by the property owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the property or building upon which the sign or billboard may be found within ten (10) days after written notification from the building official. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the building official may cause the removal of such sign or billboard, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the property or structure to which the sign is attached.
C. Removal Due To Inadequate Maintenance: Any sign which no longer is adequately maintained in a safe, secure, and attractive manner shall be removed by the property owner. Peeling paint on the sign structure or the sign face itself, fading colors on the sign face, broken plastic on the sign, and burned out lights shall be evidence of signs which are not maintained in an attractive manner.
D. Removal Due To Discontinuance: Whenever a use is discontinued for a period of more than twelve (12) consecutive months, signs associated with that use shall conform to the following requirements:
1. Wall signs (individual letters): Shall be removed;
2. Wall signs (cabinet): A blank face shall be inserted in the cabinet;
3. Freestanding signs: The sign area shall be totally covered. (Ord. 1337, 5-22-2017)