The exterior of the premises and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained by the owner or operator so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the objectives of this chapter and such that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property or an element leading to the progressive deterioration and downgrading of the neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values, including the following:
(a) Landscaping. Premises shall be kept landscaped and lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed and from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitutes a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property.
(b) Signs and Billboards. All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful, nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have excessively weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has excessively peeled or cracked shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. All nonoperative or broken electrical signs shall be repaired or shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith.
(c) Windows. All windows exposed to public view shall be kept clean and free of marks or foreign substances, except when necessary in the course of changing displays. No storage of materials, stock or inventory shall be permitted in window display areas or other areas ordinarily exposed to public view unless the areas are first screened from the public view by drapes, venetian blinds or other permanent rendering of the windows opaque to the public view. All screening of interiors shall be maintained in a clean and attractive manner and in good repair. All cracked or broken windows shall be replaced forthwith.
(d) Storefronts. All storefronts shall be kept in good repair, painted where required, and shall not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. If repairs to a storefront become necessary, such repairs shall be made with the same or similar materials used in the construction of the storefront in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area. Any cornice visible above a storefront shall be kept painted where required and in good repair.
(e) Signs or Advertising; Removal. Except for "for rent," "for lease," "for sale" or other similarly worded signs, any temporary sign or other paper advertising material glued or otherwise attached to a window or otherwise exposed to public view shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which it is erected or within sixty days after such erection, whichever sooner occurs.
Except during the course of repairs or alterations, not more than thirty-three and one-third percent of the square footage of any single window or single window display area shall be devoted to signs or other temporary advertising material attached to the window or otherwise exposed to public view.
(f) Awnings and Marquees. Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural members which extend over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. If awnings or marquees are not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, they shall, together with their supporting members, be removed forthwith. If awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or similar material, the cloth or plastic, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of excessive weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or holes. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
(1979 Code Sec. 16.40.080)