(a)
Any sign that was lawfully in existence at the time of the effective date of this chapter, or amendment thereto, that does not conform to the provisions herein, shall be deemed lawfully nonconforming and may remain on a lot of record except as qualified below.
(b) No lawful nonconforming sign shall be enlarged, extended, structurally altered, or reconstructed in any manner, except to bring it into full compliance with these regulations, except that these regulations shall not prohibit maintenance, minor repairs, or the replacement of the content of a sign provided there is no structural modification of its size, location or configuration.
(c) A sign shall lose its lawful nonconforming status if any of the following occurs:
(1) If such sign is damaged to an amount exceeding 50 percent of the sign's replacement value, as determined by at least 2 sign companies requested to provide a quote by the City;
(2) The structure of the sign is altered in any form;
(3) The sign is relocated;
(4) The sign is nonconforming and the principal use of the property is voluntarily discontinued for a period of at least 6 months;
(5) The sign is defined as a temporary sign and has been in use for more than one year following the effective date of this amendment; or
(6) The nonconforming sign and its structure (including support and frame and panel) are determined by the City Manager, or their designee, to be unsafe or in violation of this code and are declared a nuisance.
(d) Any sign that loses its legal nonconforming status must be brought into compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any other City laws and ordinances by an application for, and issuance of, a sign permit or by complete removal.
(e) Failure to bring a sign into compliance after loss of a legal nonconformity status shall cause the sign to be considered an unlawful sign.
(Ord. O-21-6. Passed 6-17-21.)