Any sign, lawfully established prior to the effective date of this chapter, as amended from time to time, that no longer meets the requirements of this chapter shall be deemed a legal nonconforming sign. For the purposes of this subchapter, a sign shall include the sign face and any supports, poles, frames, or other associated lighting, electrical, mechanical, and structural features. The continuation and modification of nonconforming signs shall be consistent with the following requirements:
(A) Increases in nonconformity. No legal nonconforming sign shall be enlarged or altered in terms of face area, height, or any other aspect that increases its nonconformity. For the purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter, a change in the sign faces message or content shall not be considered to increase the signs nonconformity.
(B) Intentional alterations. Any legal nonconforming sign that is intentionally altered, moved for any distance, or replaced shall comply with the regulations of the district in which it is located, and the discontinued legal nonconforming features may not be resumed.
(C) Accidental alterations. Legal nonconforming signs that are required to be altered or removed due to government action or damage resulting from fire, flood, other natural disaster, or a criminal act may be restored to their legal nonconforming condition. Such signs, if rebuilt or restored, shall be in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, or shall be identical in scale and all other aspects to that which was altered or removed.
(D) Sign faces and messages. The sign faces and/or message on a legal nonconforming sign may be altered, replaced, repainted, and repaired provided that the nonconformity of the sign is not increased, and that a static display is not converted to an electronic message board. Otherwise, nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring a sign to be brought into compliance with this chapter if it is changed only to the extent that the face area is changed, but not increased in size or altered in shape or made to be an electronic message board.
(E) Temporary signs. Any signs in existence at the time this chapter becomes effective that were previously permitted as temporary signs may only remain in use consistent with the requirements of this chapter. Any temporary signs that are no longer permitted shall be removed within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter. Any nonconforming temporary signs shall be considered to be in violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 154.225 through 154.228, Enforcement and Penalties.
(Ord. 121410, passed 1-11-2011)