§ 15.16. Removal of nonconforming signs.

Signs existing on the date of enactment of this chapter and not conforming to its provisions, but which were erected and constructed in compliance with previous ordinance provisions, may be continued in use for a period of two years, and shall thereafter be brought into compliance with this chapter or removed. Temporary signs regulated by subsection 15.7.h. and existence on the date of enactment of this chapter shall be removed within three months from the date of enactment.

Subject to the remaining restrictions of this section, nonconforming signs that were otherwise lawful on the effective date of this article, may be continued.

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 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, it may not thereafter be repaired, reconstructed, or replaced except in conformity with all the provisions of this chapter, and the remnants of the former sign structure shall be cleared from the land. For purposes of this section, a nonconforming sign is "destroyed" if damaged to an extent that the cost of repairing the sign to its former stature or replacing it with an equivalent sign equals or exceeds the value of the sign so damaged.

d.

The message of a nonconforming sign may be changed so long as this does not create any new nonconformities (for example, by creating an off-premises sign under circumstances where such a sign would not be allowed).

e.

Subject to the other provisions of this section, nonconforming signs may be repaired and renovated so long as the cost of such work does not exceed within any 12-month period 50 percent of the value of such sign.

f.

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 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.

g.

A nonconforming sign shall be brought into conforming status when there is a change of use of the property, or change in property ownership.