§ 6-260. Legal, nonconforming signs.

Billboard signs are not allowed within the corporate city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city. Every sign lawfully in existence on the date of passage of this section may have minor repairs and maintenance done without applying for a permit hereunder, but no such sign or sign facing shall be altered from its original shape or size. A damaged nonconforming sign shall not be repaired, maintained or replaced if the repairs, maintenance, or replacement costs exceed 51 percent of the cost of installing a new sign of the same type in the same location and shall be removed.

(a)

Relocation of legal, nonconforming signs.

(1)

A legal, nonconforming sign cannot be moved from its original location unless a permit is issued pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(2)

Any sign that is currently a legal, nonconforming sign may be relocated on the same lot if the sign is required to be removed through the eminent domain process. Such relocated sign shall be placed, insofar as possible, in compliance with all the provisions of this article.

(b)

Registration of legal, nonconforming signs.

(1)

Responsibility of owner. In order for a sign to be registered as a legal, nonconforming sign, it is the responsibility of the owner of said sign to produce documentation as follows:

(2)

Application. To register an existing billboard, an application shall be made to the chief building official, on a form provided for that purpose, documenting that the sign was in existence prior to the adoption of the current sign ordinance and therefore has established its legal, nonconforming status. The application shall be accompanied with the payment of an applicable fee and any other information reasonably required by the chief building official. In addition, once the legal, nonconforming status has been granted, the owner of said sign must continue to reregister said sign on an annual basis.

(3)

Issuance of registration tag. After review by the chief building official, if it is determined that the billboard has established a legal, nonconforming status, a registration tag shall be issued to the owner. The owner of the billboard shall attach the tag in a conspicuous place on said billboard.

(4)

Permit required. Any existing, legal, nonconforming sign must obtain a permit for any change to the message, display or content on the face of the sign.

(5)

Registration termination. The chief building official shall terminate any registration tag for a legal, nonconforming billboard sign when it is removed from the premises for any reason or it has been damaged or destroyed so as to lose its legal, nonconforming status.

(c)

Legal nonconforming feather signs. All legal nonconforming feather signs will be allowed to continue until December 31, 2017. All legal nonconforming feather signs must be removed by December 31, 2017.

(Ord. No. 2011-1896, § 2, 4-5-2011; Ord. No. 2017-2268 , § 3, 7-18-2017)