(A) Signs lawfully existing on the effective date of this chapter or prior ordinances, which do not conform to the provisions of this chapter, and signs which are accessory to a nonconforming use shall be deemed to be nonconforming signs and may remain except as qualified below. The burden of establishing nonconforming status of signs and of the physical characteristics/location of such signs shall be that of the owner of the property. Upon notice from the Zoning Administrator, a property owner shall submit verification that sign(s) were lawfully existing at time of erection. Failure to provide such verification shall be cause for order to remove sign(s) or bring sign(s) into compliance with the current ordinance.
(B) No nonconforming sign shall be enlarged nor shall any feature of a nonconforming sign, such as illumination, be increased.
(C) (1) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent keeping in good repair a nonconforming sign.
(2) Nonconforming signs shall not be extended or structurally reconstructed or altered in any manner, except a sign face may be changed so long as the new face is equal to or reduced in height and/or sign area.
(D) No nonconforming sign shall be moved for any distance on the same lot or to any other lot unless such change in location will make the sign conform in all respects to the provisions of this subchapter.
(E) (1) A nonconforming sign that is destroyed or damaged by any casualty to an extent not exceeding 50% of its area may be restored within two years after such destruction or damage but shall not be enlarged in any manner.
(2) If such sign is so destroyed or damaged to an extent exceeding 50%, it shall not be reconstructed but may be replaced with a sign that is in full accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(F) A nonconforming sign which is changed to becoming conforming or is replaced by a conforming sign shall no longer be deemed nonconforming, and thereafter such sign shall be in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(G) A nonconforming sign structure shall be subject to the provisions of § 157.212. In addition, a nonconforming sign structure shall be removed if the use to which it is accessory has not been in operation for a period of two years or more. Such sign structure shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the property. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign structure, the Zoning Administrator or designee shall give the owner 15 days' written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with this
notice, the Zoning Administrator or designee may enter the property upon which the sign is located and remove any such sign or may initiate such action as may be necessary to gain compliance with this provision. The cost of such removal shall be chargeable to the owner of the property.
(1998 Code, § 66-368) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017; Ord. 2020-06, passed 11-4-2020) Penalty, see § 10.99