(a) Any sign that was lawfully in existence at the time of the effective date of this code, 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 in this subsection. No legal nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, extended, structurally altered, or reconstructed in any manner except as allowed for in this section. The nonconforming structure regulations in Chapter 1125: Nonconformities shall not apply.
(b) Legal nonconforming signs shall be maintained in good condition pursuant to Section 1121.12 and may continue until such sign is required to be removed as set forth in this chapter.
(c) A nonconforming sign shall immediately lose its nonconforming designation and must be brought into compliance with these regulations or be removed if:
(1) The sign is structurally altered or replaced, not including the changing of a sign face when the sign is specifically designed for changeable sign faces or when a message is changed on a changeable copy sign or electronic message center;
(2) The nonconforming sign is no longer an on-premise sign for a period of more than ninety (90) consecutive days;
(3) The sign is relocated, except for signs that are required to be moved because of public right-of-way improvements;
(4) The sign is a legally nonconforming temporary sign that is still in place more than one calendar year from the effective date of this code;
(5) The sign is damaged to an extent of greater than fifty percent (50%) of the estimated replacement value;
(6) The sign is not repaired within sixty (60) days after it is damaged or such sooner period as may be required if the damage presents an immediate hazard; or
(7) The sign creates a hazard to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(d) Nothing in this section shall relieve the owner or user of a nonconforming sign or the owner of the property on which the nonconforming sign is located from compliance with the provisions of these regulations regarding safety, maintenance, and repair of signs, provided; however, that any repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance or repair of the sign or sign structure shall not modify the sign structure in any way. All nonconforming signs shall be maintained properly.
(Ord. 2879. Passed 10-23-23.)