(A) Any sign erected, altered, or converted subsequent to the passage of this subchapter and in violation of any of the provisions thereof is hereby declared to be a nuisance per se.
(B) Upon discovery of a violation of this subchapter the Chief Inspector or his or her deputies shall provide written notice to the person in possession of the premises upon which the sign is erected as is reasonably available and to the owner of the premises upon which the sign is erected as shown by the records of the City Assessor. Such notice shall state the defects found upon inspection of the sign and order the sign to be brought into compliance with this subchapter or removed.
(C) The Chief Inspector or his or her representative shall also post a copy of such notice upon the violative sign or upon the premises upon which the sign is erected. Such notice shall be sufficiently weatherproof to withstand normal exposure to the elements and shall be readily visible from the nearest public thoroughfare.
(D) If the violative sign has not been removed or brought into compliance with this subchapter within 30 days from the issuance of the order specified in division (B) above, the Chief Inspector or his or her deputies shall provide notice to the person in possession of the premises upon which the violative sign is erected and to the owner of premises upon which the sign is erected to appear at a hearing before a hearing officer and to show cause why the sign should not be considered to be in violation of this subchapter. Notice shall be provided in the same manner as in divisions (B) and (C) above. The hearing shall not be less than ten days from the posting of the notice.
(E) The hearing officer shall determine whether the sign involved is in violation of this chapter based on competent evidence and testimony. Section 2-106 of Chapter 2-1 of the Michigan Building Code, as amended, shall govern the appointment of the hearing officer and the conduct of the hearing except as modified herein.
(F) If the hearing officer determines that the sign involved is in violation of this subchapter, he or she shall order the action necessary to bring the sign into compliance. Based upon competent evidence and testimony, the hearing officer shall also establish a reasonable time by which the requirements of the order shall commence and shall be completed.
(G) If the decision and order provided for in division (F) above are not complied with in the specified time, the hearing officer may cause the violative sign to be removed and destroyed. The cost of removal, destruction, and disposal of the sign may be charged against the premises in accordance with the provisions of § 33.21. The city may also rely upon the remedies specified in § 153.999.
(H) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Chief Inspector from ordering the summary removal of any sign presenting an immediate threat to the safety of the public.
(Prior Code, § 153.138) (Ord. D-1418, § 704, passed 11-22-1982, effective 1-21-1983) Penalty, see § 153.999