§ 16-595. Maintenance and removal of unsafe signs.

All signs of any nature shall be maintained in a state of good repair. No sign shall be allowed to remain which becomes structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property. Upon determining that a sign is structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property, the zoning administrator/building inspector or his designated agent shall order the sign to be made safe or removed subject to the following provisions:

(1)

The owner of the sign, the occupant of the premises on which the sign or structure is located, or the persons or firm maintaining the same shall, upon written notice by registered or certified mail from the zoning administrator/building inspector or his designated agent, forthwith in the case of immediate danger and in any case within ten days, secure or repair the sign or structure in a manner approved by the zoning administrator/building inspector or his designated agent or remove it.

(2)

If such order is not complied with within ten days, the zoning administrator/building inspector or his designated agent shall remove the sign at the expense of the owner or lessee thereof. No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that any portion of its surface or its supports will interfere in any way with the free use of access to any fire escape, exit or standpipe, or so as to obstruct any window so that light or ventilation is reduced below minimum standards required by any applicable law or building code.

(3)

Whenever a sign has been abandoned, advertises an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises or is erected in violation of the provisions of this section, the zoning administrator/building inspector or his designated agent shall cause such sign to be removed or brought into compliance in accordance with the method prescribed for nonconforming signs in section 16-592.

(Ord. No. 95-008, § 15.12, 12-13-1995)