(A) General provisions.
(1) (a) Permanent signs which become non-conforming upon the adoption or amendment of this subchapter and those signs which were grandfathered are declared to be inconsistent with the purposes of this subchapter. Such signs will be brought into conformity by 12:00 a.m. on December 1, 2020.
(b) Signs in newly annexed areas that become non-conforming upon annexation after December 1, 2020, shall be removed, changed, altered or otherwise brought into conformity within two (2) years of the date of annexation into the town.
(2) Reconstruction. A non-conforming sign shall not be extended or enlarged except in accordance with this section.
(3) Extension or enlargement. A non-conforming sign shall not be extended or enlarged except in accordance with this section.
(4) Reconstruction after damage. A non-conforming sign shall not be rebuilt, altered, or repaired except in conformity with these regulations after sustaining damage exceeding 20% of the replacement cost of the sign at the time of the damage.
(5) Ordinary maintenance. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the ordinary maintenance and repair of a non-conforming sign or replacement of a broken part of a non-conforming sign.
(6) Change of copy. No non-conforming sign may be altered by changing copy other than reader board signs. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the ordinary change of copy on an advertising sign or a business changeable copy sign. Changing the copy (face of the sign) does require a sign permit.
(7) Abandonment of non-conforming signs. Whenever a non-conforming sign has been abandoned or the use of the property has been discontinued for a continuous period of 90 days, the non-conforming sign shall be removed.
(B) Temporary signs. All temporary signs not meeting the requirements of this subchapter must be removed or changed to comply within 30 days of the date of the adoption of this subchapter.
(C) (1) Change in business. Whenever any non-conforming sign or part thereof is altered, replaced, converted or changed due to a change in business, attraction, service, ownership or management, the entire sign shall be brought into compliance with this subchapter.
(2) Exception: commercial centers. Nothing in this section should be construed to require a shopping center sign to be brought into compliance because of changes in tenants in the ordinary course of business.
(D) Substantial repairs, remodeling or expansion. Whenever a business is repaired, altered, remodeled, or expanded to the extent exceeding 33% of the current replacement costs of the building within any period of 12 consecutive months, all signs, other than freestanding signs, shall be brought into compliance with this subchapter.
(E) Illegal signs. Signs which were erected without a sign permit are declared illegal and are not grandfathered under § 158.170. All illegal signs must be removed within 30 days after the adoption of this subchapter.
(1985 Code, § 9-130) (Am. Ord. 2019-11, passed 12-10-2019; Am. Ord. 20-22, passed 10-20-2020) Penalty, see § 158.999