A. Any sign that was lawfully in existence at the time of the effective date of this ordinance, or amendment thereto, that does not conform to the provisions herein, shall be deemed a legal nonconforming sign and may remain on a lot of record except as qualified below. No legal nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, extended, structurally altered or reconstructed in any manner, except to bring it into full compliance with these regulations. These regulations shall not prohibit the replacement of the content of a sign without the structural modification of its size, location or configuration.
B. A sign shall lose its legal nonconforming status if any of the following occurs:
1. If such sign is damaged to an amount exceeding 50 percent of the sign's replacement value not including the cost or value related to the foundation or work below grade, as determined by at least two sign companies requested to provide a quote by the City;
2. The structure of the sign is altered in any form;
3. The sign is relocated;
4. The principal use of the property (see Section 1163.10.A) is voluntarily discontinued for a period of at least six months;
5. The sign is defined as a temporary sign and has been in use for more than one year following the effective date of this ordinance; or
6. The nonconforming sign and its structure (including support and frame and panel) are determined by the Building Commissioner to be unsafe or in violation of this code and are declared a nuisance.
C. Any sign that loses its legal nonconforming status must be brought into compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any other City laws and ordinances by an application for, and issuance of, a sign permit or by complete removal.
D. Failure to bring a sign into compliance after loss of a legal nonconformity status shall cause the sign to be considered an illegal sign.
E. Minor repairs and maintenance of legal nonconforming signs shall be permitted.
(Ord. 2020-79. Passed 11-17-20.)