3.19.17 Non Conforming Signs

All on-premise or appurtenant signs which have been made non-conforming by the adoption of provisions contained within this code shall be subject to the following regulations: 1. Any sign or portion thereof declared unsafe by a proper public authority must be restored to a safe condition or removed within thirty (30) days of mailing or otherwise given notice of the unsafe condition. 2. A non-conforming sign shall not be reconstructed, raised, moved, placed, extended, or enlarged unless said sign is changed so as to conform to all provisions of this Code. Alterations shall also mean that changing of the text or message that the sign is conveying from a use of the premise to another use of the premise and the changing of the ownership of the sign when that ownership necessitates a change in the text or message of the sign. Alterations shall not be interpreted to include changing the text or copy on off-premise advertising signs, theater signs, outdoor billboards or other similar signs which are designed to accommodate changeable copy. 3. Non-conforming signs which have been allowed to deteriorate or which have been damaged by fire, explosion, or act of God, to the extent of more than sixty (60) percent of its assessed value shall, if repaired, be repaired or rebuilt in conformity with the regulations of this Code or shall be removed. All off-premise signs which are made non-conforming uses by the provisions of this Code shall be subject to the following: a) Any sign or portion thereof found or declared unsafe in a manner provided by law must be restored to a safe condition within thirty (30) days after the owner is given notice of the unsafe condition. Any sign not repaired as required and permitted by this section is unlawfully maintained and subject to the provisions of this section. b) All off-premise signs and their supporting structures shall be kept in good appearance and condition with normal maintenance and repair (example: painting), but it shall be unlawful to reconstruct, raise, move, place, extend, or enlarge such signs or the structure supporting such signs. Any sign altered contrary to the provisions of this subsection is unlawfully maintained and subject to the provisions of this section. c) A non-conforming off-premise sign or sign structure that ceases to be used for sign purposes for a period of one year shall be deemed abandoned on the ground that the non-conforming use has been abandoned, the non-conforming use has substantially changed, or such other grounds as may be appropriate. Any sign or sign structure which is abandoned or in an unreasonable state of repair is unlawfully maintained and subject to immediate revocation of its permit and removal pursuant to the provisions of this Code.