B. Regulatory Interpretations. The requirements of this chapter shall not be interpreted to nullify any easements, covenants, or other private agreements that provide for more restrictive sign regulations than are required by this chapter.
C. Enforcement. The Community Development Director is authorized and directed to enforce the requirements of this chapter. Whenever the application of this chapter is uncertain due to ambiguity of its requirements, the issue shall be referred to the Community Development Director for an interpretation and such interpretation shall be made by the Community Development Director within ten (10) business days according to the requirements of Chapter 17.06 (Interpretation). Any decision made by the Community Development Director may be appealed to the Planning Commission in accordance with Section 17.10.070 (Appeals).
D. Message Neutrality. It is the city's policy and intent to regulate both commercial and noncommercial signs in a viewpoint-neutral and/or content-neutral manner. The message of the sign shall not be reviewed except to the minimum extent necessary to identify the type of sign.
E. Message Substitution. Subject to the property owner's consent, a noncommercial message of any type may be substituted in whole or in part for the message displayed on any sign for which the sign structure or mounting device is authorized pursuant to this code, without consideration of message content. Such substitution of message may be made without any additional approval or permitting. The purpose of this requirement is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message. In addition, any on-site commercial message may be substituted, in whole or in part, for any other on-site commercial message, provided that the sign structure or mounting device is authorized pursuant to this code, without consideration of message content. This requirement does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on a parcel, lot, or land; does not affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be properly permitted; does not allow a change in the physical structure of a sign or its mounting device; and does not allow for the substitution of an off-site commercial message in the place of an on-site commercial or noncommercial message.
F. On-Site/Off-Site Distinction. Within this chapter, the distinction between on-site and off-site signs applies only to commercial messages.
G. General Prohibition. Permanent signs not expressly permitted by this chapter are prohibited. (Ord. 2010-02 § 1 (part), 2010)