Subject to the remaining restrictions of this section, nonconforming signs that were otherwise lawful on the effective date of this article may be continued, provided they conform to the following provisions:
(a) No person may engage in any activity that causes an increase in the extent of nonconformity of a nonconforming sign. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no nonconforming sign may be enlarged or altered in such a manner as to aggravate the nonconforming condition. Nor may illumination be added to any nonconforming sign.
(b) A nonconforming sign may not be moved or replaced except to bring the sign into complete conformity with this article.
(c) If a nonconforming sign is destroyed by natural causes, it may not thereafter be repaired, reconstructed, or replaced except in conformity with all the provisions of this article, and the remnants of the former sign structure shall be cleared from the land within thirty (30) days of destruction. For purposes of this section, a nonconforming sign is "destroyed" if it is damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the sign to its former stature or replacing it with an equivalent sign equals or exceeds the value (tax value if listed for tax purposes) of the sign so damaged.
(d) The message of a nonconforming sign may be changed so long as this does not create any new nonconformity (for example, by creating an off-premise sign under circumstances where such a sign would not be allowed).
(e) If a nonconforming sign other than a billboard advertises a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted, that sign shall be considered abandoned and shall be removed within thirty (30) days after such abandonment by the sign owner, owner of the property where the sign is located or other party having control over such sign.
(f) If a nonconforming billboard remains blank for a continuous period of one hundred eighty (180) days, that billboard shall be deemed abandoned and shall, within thirty (30) days after such abandonment, be removed by the sign owner, owner of the property where the sign is located, or other person having control over such sign. For purposes of this section, a sign is "blank" if:
(1) It advertises a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted; or
(2) The message displayed becomes illegible in whole or substantial part; or
(3) The advertising copy paid for by a party other than the sign owner or promoting an interest other than the rental of the sign has been removed. (Ord. of 1/10/05; Ord. of 12/6/10; Ord. of 6/28/21)