(A) Any sign legally existing at the time of the passage of this subchapter that does not conform to the provisions of this subchapter shall be considered a legal nonconforming sign and may be continued through repair, replacement, restoration, maintenance or improvement but not including expansion. EXPANSION shall be defined as any structural alteration, change or addition that is made outside of the original sign structure, sign area, or design.
(B) Nothing in this section shall prevent the return of a sign structure that has been declared unsafe by the city’s Building Inspector to a safe condition.
(C) When any legal nonconforming sign is discontinued for a period of more than one year or is changed to a conforming sign, any future sign shall be in conformity with the provisions of this subchapter. Any legal nonconforming sign shall be removed and shall not be repaired, replaced, or rebuilt if it is damaged by fire or similar peril to the extent of greater than 50% of its market value at the time of destruction and no sign permit or building permit has been applied for within 180 days of the date of destruction. The city’s Building Inspector shall be responsible for making the determination of whether a nonconforming sign has been destroyed greater than 50% at the time of destruction. In making the determination the Building Inspector shall consider the market value of the entire sign at the time prior to the destruction and the replacement value of the existing sign. In the event that a building permit or sign permit is applied for within 180 days of the date of destruction, the city may impose reasonable conditions upon the building permit in order to mitigate any newly created impact on adjacent properties.
(Ord. 188, passed 4-11-13)