(a) Permanent Signs. All permanent signs and sign structures shall be maintained in a safe and attractive condition, in accordance with the following regulations.
(1) Permanent signs and sign structures which no longer serve the purpose for which they were intended or which have been abandoned or are not maintained in accordance with the Building Code, Zoning Code and other applicable regulations of the City shall be removed by the last permit holder, by the building owner or by the City at the expense of such individual.
(2) Whenever the removal or maintenance of any permanent sign or sign structure has been ordered by the Building Commissioner, and the person who was ordered to remove the permanent sign or sign structure fails to remove or maintain the sign within forty-eight hours after receiving such notice, the Building Commissioner may remove or cause to be removed or maintained such sign at the expense of the person who erected such sign or on whose premises it was erected, affixed or attached. Each such person shall be individually and separately liable for the expenses incurred in the removal of such sign.
(b) Temporary Signs. All temporary signs and sign structures shall be maintained in a safe and attractive condition in accordance with the following regulations.
(1) Temporary signs shall include those signs defined in Section 1196.03 and any other sign intended for use for a limited period of time.
(2) Temporary signs in violation of this chapter shall be removed immediately, without notification to the owner. Such signs shall be taken to the City garage for storage. A notice shall be sent to the permit holder or, if no permit has been issued, to the address on the sign or for which the sign is posted. The owners or permit holders shall have five business days to reclaim the sign(s). Before the sign(s) are returned, the owner or permit holder shall pay any expenses associated with the removal and notification process.
(3) In addition to the costs mentioned in division (b) hereof, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(Ord. 153-22. Passed 9-18-23.)