All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
(a) The owner of a sign shall maintain the sign in a condition fit for the intended use and has a continuing obligation to comply with all requirements of this chapter.
(b) Each sign shall contain the name, address and telephone number of a firm or person responsible for erecting the sign. Such information shall be placed on the frame or other supports and large enough to be read by a person standing on the ground, sidewalk or parking lot nearest the sign.
(c) If the sign is deemed by the Zoning Administrator to be unsafe, insecure, a menace to the public, or has been constructed, erected or maintained in violation of this Planning and Zoning Code, the owner of the sign shall be immediately notified, in writing, and shall, within 48 hours of such notification, correct such unsafe condition or remove the sign. If the correction has not been made within the 48 hours, the sign may be removed or altered by the City to comply with these regulations at the expense of the owner of the sign or occupant of the property upon which the sign is located, and the City shall be permitted to collect the cost of such removal or alteration so incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 770.12(b) of this chapter.
(d) Whenever any sign, either conforming or nonconforming to these regulations, is required to be removed for the purpose of repair, refurbishing, or repainting, the same may be done with a no cost permit if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) There shall be no alteration or remodeling to the structure or the mounting of the sign itself.
(2) There shall be no increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its mounting structure.
(3) The sign shall be accessory to a legally permitted, conditional or nonconforming use.
(e) The Zoning Administrator may order any sign to be painted or refurbished at least once each year, if needed, to keep the sign in a neat and safe condition. All supports, guys, braces and anchors for such signs shall be maintained in a safe condition, and it shall be unlawful for the owners or person having charge of such sign not to remove the same after receiving notice from the Zoning Administrator.
(f) Any sign now or hereafter existing that no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business or service located on the premises shall be removed by the owner, agent or person having beneficial use of the building, structure or premises upon which such sign is located within ten days after written notification from the Zoning Administrator. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Zoning Administrator is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, at the expense of and cost assessed to the owner or occupant of the property upon which the sign is located.
(g) Any sign removed for any of the above reasons, shall have the building or structure returned to its original condition if the replacement sign does not cover the outline of the previous sign, prior mounting locations, electrical outlets, or any other unsightliness from view.
(Ord. 15-01. Passed 9-22-03; Ord. 01-23. Passed 5-22-23.)