(A) To insure that signs are erected and maintained in a safe and aesthetic manner, it shall be unlawful for any sign designed to be visible from any
or highway within the jurisdiction of the Town of Swansboro to be erected or maintained by any
, other than by a sign contractor properly licensed under North Carolina State Statutes or by a designated representative of such licensed contractor, except that this requirement shall be interpreted to exclude those
who construct and erect a
when said sign is used at said
’s place of business and to exclude licensed general contractors erecting signs as part of a permitted construction or renovation project; provided, however, in all cases, all erection must be properly permitted and inspected for compliance with the applicable codes of the State of North Carolina and the Town of Swansboro and with other parts of this subchapter.
(B) The following maintenance requirements must be observed for all signs visible from any
or highway within the jurisdiction of this subchapter.
(1) No sign shall have more than 20% of its surface area covered with disfigured, cracked, ripped, or peeling paint or plastic or
material for a period of more than 30 successive days.
(2) No sign shall be allowed to stand with bent or broken sign facing, broken supports, loose appendages or struts or be allowed to stand more than 15 degrees away from the perpendicular for a period of more than 30 successive days.
(3) No sign shall be allowed to have weeds, vines, landscaping, or other
growing upon it and obscuring its view from the
or highway from which it is to be viewed for a period of more than 30 successive days.
(4) No neon or internally illuminated sign may be allowed to stand with only partial illumination for a period of more than 30 successive days.
(5) If a sign or sign is damaged such that more than 50% of the value is lost, with such
made by the
, any repair or replacement must be done in conformance with this section.
(C) The
may inspect all signs for compliance with these maintenance requirements.
(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005)