(A) Inspections. Signs for which a permit is required will be inspected upon completion and may be inspected periodically by the Building Department representative for compliance with these regulations and with any applicable ordinances of the city.
(B) Maintenance. All signs and components thereof shall be kept in good repair and in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition.
(C) Removal.
(1) The Zoning Administrator may order the removal of any permanent sign and its supporting structural components erected or maintained in violation of these regulations. The Zoning Administrator shall give 30 days’ notice in writing, to the owner of such sign and its supporting structure requiring him or her to bring such sign into compliance within 60 days. Any sign erected of a temporary nature shall require written notice of only three days.
(2) Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Building Official or designee may remove the sign and its supporting structure. The Building Official or designee may remove a sign and its supporting structure immediately and without notice if, in his or her opinion, the condition of the sign and its supporting structure presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public. The cost of such removal by the city shall be assessed against the owner of such sign or the owner of the building, structure, or premises.
(3) Signs within a public right-of-way or on city property may be removed by the city without notice and may be disposed of.
(D) Obsolete signs.
(1) An obsolete sign and its supporting structure shall be removed by the property owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises has been discontinued for at least 90 days. Except as provided in divisions (D)(2) and (D)(3) below, such removal shall occur within 30 days after written notice from the Zoning Administrator.
(2) A sign which is in conformity with the other provisions of this chapter may remain in place if such sign is obscured by the use of a blank panel attached within the frame of the sign and shall be permitted to remain for a period not to exceed 120 days.
(3) Where a successor to an inactive business agrees, within 30 days of the date of written notice by the Zoning Administrator, to maintain the sign as provided for by these regulations, this removal requirement shall not apply, provided that the existing sign and structure conforms to all current sign requirements.
(E) Nonconforming signs.
(1) Policy. It is the policy of the city to require that all signs within the city be brought into compliance with the terms of this chapter.
(2) Valid permit required. The status afforded to signs and sign structures pursuant to this division (E) shall not be applicable to any sign or sign structure for which a sign permit was initially required but for which no sign permit was ever issued. Such sign and/or sign structures are deemed illegal and are subject to the provisions of division (C) above.
(3) Existing sign rendered nonconforming. Nonconforming signs are those signs that do not comply with the size, placement, construction, or other standards or regulations of this chapter, but were lawfully established prior to its adoption. A nonconforming sign may be continued and shall be maintained in good condition as described elsewhere in this subchapter, however, the following alterations are regulated.
(a) A nonconforming sign shall not be structurally altered or repaired so as to prolong its useful life or so as to change its shape, size, type, or design unless such change shall make the sign conforming.
(b) A nonconforming sign shall not be replaced by another nonconforming sign.
(c) A nonconforming sign shall not be expanded, relocated, or modified in any way that would increase the degree of nonconformity of such sign.
(d) A nonconforming sign shall not be reestablished after obsolescence as defined in division (D) above.
(e) A nonconforming sign must not be reestablished after damage or destruction if the estimated expense of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the appraised replacement cost as determined by the Zoning Administrator or if 50% or more of the face of the sign is damaged or destroyed.
(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 372, passed 6-8-2015) Penalty, see § 154.999