Signs lawfully existing as of October 8, 2013, which do not
conform to the provisions of this section, and signs which are accessory
to a nonconforming use, shall be deemed to be nonconforming signs.
Nonconforming signs may be changed, altered, repaired, restored,
replaced, relocated or expanded only as provided in this article.
Nonconforming signs shall be subject to the regulations and restrictions
as set forth in § 72-59, except that:
A. Nonconforming signs may be changed, altered, repaired, restored,
replaced, relocated or expanded only so long as the signs are not
structurally altered or the surface area of the sign is not increased.
B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the City, after
making a reasonable attempt to notify the owner, from ordering the
removal of a nonconforming sign that has been abandoned. For purposes
of this section, a sign shall be considered abandoned if the use or
business for which the sign was erected has not been in operation
for a period of at least two years. Following the expiration of the
two-year period, an abandoned nonconforming sign shall be removed
by the owner of the property on which the sign is located, if notified
by the locality to do so. If, following such two-year period, the
locality has made a reasonable attempt to notify the property owner,
the locality through its own agents or employees may enter the property
upon which the sign is located and remove any such sign whenever the
owner has refused to do so. The cost of such removal shall be chargeable
to the owner of the property, and the owner shall reimburse the City
for such cost. Nothing herein shall prevent the City from applying
to a court for an order requiring the removal of an abandoned nonconforming
sign by the owner, by means of injunction or other appropriate remedy.
No nonconforming sign shall be moved on the same lot, and no
nonconforming sign shall be moved to any other lot which is not properly
zoned to permit such sign or on which such sign would be or remain
noncompliant with the zoning regulations prescribed for the district
in which such lot is located.