(A) General.
(1) The Zoning Administrator or his or her designee shall order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this subchapter, by giving seven days’ notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or to the owner of the building, structure or premises on which such sign is located.
(2) Such notice shall require the owner to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance, at the owner’s expense.
(3) The Zoning Administrator or his or her designee may remove a sign immediately, without notice, and at the owner’s expense, if said sign is attached to a public utility pole, street sign or located on the public right-of-way; or if said sign is in violation of this subchapter and is advertising an event which is set to occur before the provisions of this section could normally be enforced; or if, in his or her opinion, the condition of the sign presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public.
(B) Reconstruction.
(1) A non-conforming sign which is destroyed by any means shall not be reconstructed if the Zoning Administrator determines that the cost of such reconstruction exceeds 50% of the sign’s replacement value at the time of loss, unless, after reconstruction, the sign will conform to all applicable regulations of the district in which it is located.
(2) In the event the Zoning Administrator determines the estimated cost of reconstruction is equal to or less than 50% of the sign’s replacement value at the time of loss, repairs or reconstruction shall be permitted; provided, such work begins within six months from the date the damage occurred and is completed within one year after construction begins.
(3) The Zoning Administrator may require that the reconstruction cost estimate be made by a bona fide sign contractor, and that the sign’s value at the time of loss be determined by a licensed real estate appraiser.
(4) The owner of the damaged sign shall be responsible for obtaining these estimates on behalf of the Zoning Administrator.
(Prior Code, § 20-1414) (Ord. 1479, passed 1-22-2007; Ord. 1699, passed 3-17-2014)