The intent of these signage regulations is to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare by providing comprehensive time, place and manner restrictions on signage, which shall include controls on size, height, quantity, location, spacing, shape, scale, proportions, lighting, motion, design and appearance. More specifically, the provisions of this article are intended to accomplish the following:
A. 
Protect and enhance community appearance.
B. 
Encourage commercial signs and graphics to be designed so as to be functional and compatible with the aesthetic appearance of the building they are located on and the surrounding neighborhoods.
C. 
Reduce the frequency and magnitude of hazards to motorists and pedestrians caused by sign obstructions and distractions.
D. 
Preserve and create more attractive business and residential environments.
E. 
Conserve the value of buildings and properties and preserve existing neighborhood character.
A. 
Upon the adoption of this article, all nonconforming signs shall cease and desist at the time when there is any one or more of the following:
(1) 
A change in ownership.
(2) 
A change in use.
(3) 
Failure to maintain signs.
(4) 
Destruction or damage of said sign to the extent of 51% of its replacement cost as of the time of the destruction or damage.
(5) 
Creation of a hazard or disturbance to the health, safety and welfare of the general public as determined by the Zoning Officer.
B. 
For the purpose of these regulations, the term "sign" does not include:
(1) 
Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, including state or federal historic markers, or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation.
(2) 
Repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure, unless a structural change is made or if the repair is in violation of the sign regulations.
(3) 
Memorial tablets or signs and locally designated historic markers not exceeding two square feet in area.
(4) 
Flags, emblems or insignias of the United States, the United Nations or similar organizations of which this nation is a member.
(5) 
Signs for the direction or convenience of the public, including signs which identify rest rooms or locations of public telephones or traffic control devices; however, the total area shall not exceed four square feet.
Signs are important components of the streetscape. However, signs do more than communicate information. By the quality of their design, they can either contribute to or diminish the character or appearance of structures as a whole. They can serve as attractive accents, or they can clutter and detract from the street's character. The purpose of these general requirements is to promote the visual cohesiveness of the streetscape by encouraging signs to be harmonious with the architecture of each building and the character of the surrounding area.
A. 
No sign shall be permitted in any zoning district except in compliance with the provisions of these regulations.
B. 
No sign shall be erected, altered, moved or used without first obtaining a sign permit where required, and signs shall be used only for a permitted use, conditionally permitted use or for a nonconforming use which may lawfully continue in accordance with the terms of these regulations.
C. 
The Planning Board as part of site plan review, or the Zoning Officer in reviewing sign permits not subject to such review, shall consider the compatibility of the sign's location, color(s), lettering, size and overall design with on-site and adjacent architecture and community character.
D. 
If any sign consists of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, balloons, searchlights and other similar moving, fluttering or revolving, flashing, smoke-generating or visual signal generation or animated devices that create an adverse impact on safe traffic movements or strings of lights used for the purpose of advertising, illumination or attracting attention, the Zoning Officer will have the authority to have the offending sign or part thereof removed.
E. 
Pictorial designs, logos and trademarks shall be permitted, provided that they are incorporated in and made a part of a permitted sign face, and the area thereof is included in calculating the total permitted sign face area allowed under these regulations.
F. 
No application for approval of signs or for a sign permit shall be processed or permitted unless permission is granted from the property owner.
G. 
No sign shall project across or over a property line or lease lien, or be in a public right-of-way except in areas where hanging signs are permitted.
H. 
All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the State of New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. Signs shall be constructed to withstand wind loads appropriate to design and installation, constructed of durable material, and securely anchored as determined by the Zoning Officer or City Engineer.
I. 
Maintenance of all signs. All signs and all components thereof, including supports, braces and anchors, shall be kept in a good state of repair.
J. 
Every principal building or structure shall have street identification numbers subject to the provision in the applicable Cohoes Building Numbering Law.
K. 
Billboards, as defined in Article I of this chapter, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
L. 
Signs containing luminous material, sequin-studded letters or lettering with fluorescent paint are prohibited. Illuminated signs may be permitted in certain districts and with certain restrictions as set forth in this article.
M. 
No sign shall be erected or allowed to exist so as to constitute a traffic hazard. No sign or other advertising structure as regulated by any of the provisions of this section shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or makes use of words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
N. 
No sign shall contain any obscene wording or depiction.
O. 
No sign or sign support shall be placed upon the roof of any building, except those signs of a landmark, historic or other unique nature.
Off-premises signs are not permitted except as follows. Signs permitted within this section may also be on-premises.
A. 
Signs necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic, street name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings and other official signs which are similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental body.
B. 
Temporary signs directing persons to temporary exhibits, shows or events may be erected subject to the requirements in § 285-95C.
C. 
Political signs.
[Amended 5-14-2019 by Ord. No. 2-2019]
(1) 
No political sign may be placed on public property or in the public right-of-way.
(2) 
No political sign may be placed within 10 feet of the lot line.
(3) 
No political sign may be placed that blocks the sight angle at any traffic intersection
(4) 
Political signs shall be permitted off-premises, provided that permission is granted by the owner of the property and subject to the requirements in §§ 285-5 and 285-95F.
The following signs are permitted in any appropriate district without a permit:
A. 
A nameplate, which shall not exceed two square feet in area on each side and must be attached to the building in some manner.
B. 
Signs denoting the name and address of the occupants of the premises, which signs shall not exceed two square feet in area on each side.
C. 
Temporary commercial signs shall not exceed six square feet in area, provided that such sign is erected or displayed not less than five feet from the property line. There shall not be more than one such sign per lot, except that on a corner lot two signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted. Such signs shall not be posted more than four weeks prior to the event and no longer than one week after the event.
D. 
Signs customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs or societies, which signs or bulletin boards shall not exceed 16 square feet in area and shall be located on the premises of such institution, provided that such signs or bulletin boards are erected or displayed not closer than 10 feet to any property line. There shall not be more than one bulletin board per lot, except that on a corner lot two signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted.
E. 
Signs announcing no trespassing, signs indicating the private nature of the road, driveway or premises, and signs controlling the fishing or hunting on the premises, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
F. 
Political signs.
[Amended 5-14-2019 by Ord. No. 2-2019]
(1) 
Political signs shall not exceed 16 square feet and shall not extend more than six feet above grade.
(2) 
Political signs may not be displayed more than 45 days before the election, referendum or political event to which they pertain and must be removed within seven days after the election, referendum, or political event involved.
G. 
Window signs are permitted in all districts, provided that the following standards are complied with:
(1) 
See-through lettered window signs may not cover more than 80% of the total window area.
(2) 
An opaque sign may not cover more than 20% of the total window area.
(3) 
In case of a door, a window sign may not cover more than 10% of the window space in which it is located.
H. 
One temporary A-frame sign is permitted, which said sign shall not exceed six square feet on each side and shall not exceed four feet above the natural grade on which the sign is located. Such signs are subject to the requirements provided in this section. No such sign shall be located in the street right-of-way. Permanent A-frame signs are prohibited.
I. 
On premises where construction, renovation, or repair is in progress, one sign up to six square feet in surface area in a residential district or 32 square feet in surface area in commercial, mixed-use, or industrial districts, listing the contractor, owner, architect or engineer or a description of the project.
J. 
Any temporary noncommercial sign, set back at least five feet from the property line and no more than four square feet in surface area, that complies with other general regulations contained in this article.
K. 
At gasoline stations:
(1) 
Integral graphics or attached price signs on gasoline pumps.
(2) 
Two auxiliary signs per station, each not exceeding two square feet in area.
(3) 
One portable sign per station, not exceeding 12 square feet in area and four feet in height.
The following signs are permitted in residential districts:
A. 
Home occupation sign. One home occupation sign shall be permitted for an approved home occupation. Such sign shall be no larger than two square feet in sign area; shall not be closer than 10 feet to any property line; and, if a freestanding sign, shall not exceed four feet in height above the natural grade on which the sign is located. A sign permit is not required.
B. 
Neighborhood identification sign. One identification sign not to exceed 16 square feet in area, indicating only the name and street address of the project, shall be permitted for each project. Such sign shall not be closer than 10 feet to any property line and shall not project more than six feet in height above the natural grade on which the sign is located. In the case of a wall sign, such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area. Identification signs shall be subject to the criteria and standards of this article and site plan review by the Planning Board.
The following signs are permitted in commercial, industrial and mixed-use districts:
A. 
Business identification signs.
(1) 
Wall signs.
(a) 
One wall sign not to exceed two square feet for each linear foot of width of the front of the wall of the building, or portion of the building occupied by the business, or a maximum of 100 square feet, whichever is less.
(b) 
For multiple-story buildings, wall signs shall only be permitted on the ground floor.
(c) 
Where a building has frontage on more than one street or public highway, one wall sign is permitted for each street frontage.
(2) 
Building directory sign for a multiple-use structure. One building directory sign indicating the name of the occupants of the building and the building number in order to direct persons to their proper destination once they are on site shall be permitted. Signs are to be no larger than 16 square feet in area on each side, including the nameplates of all the tenants or uses, and shall project not more than six feet in height above the natural grade on which the sign is located. The proposed sign's construction shall complement the architectural style and materials of the building it will serve. The proposed sign shall be subject to Planning Board review through the site plan approval process and shall require a sign permit. In determining the design, location and hours of illumination, the Board shall be guided by other pertinent sections of these regulations.
(3) 
Freestanding signs. One freestanding business identification sign per property may be erected, subject to the following conditions:
(a) 
No freestanding sign shall be located less than 15 feet from the front property line or less than five feet from the side property line.
(b) 
If for any reason the property line is changed at some future date, any freestanding sign made nonconforming thereby must be relocated within 90 days to conform to the minimum setback requirements herein.
(c) 
No freestanding sign shall be more than 20 feet in height above finished grade. Such height shall be measured vertically from the established average grade directly below the sign or entry level of the building or structure, whichever is lower, to the elevation of the highest point of the sign, including supporting structures.
(d) 
No freestanding sign shall be less than 14 feet above any adjacent parking or road surface or nine feet above any adjacent pedestrianway. Such height shall be measured vertically from the established average grade directly below the sign or entry level of the building or structure, whichever is lower, to the elevation of the bottom edge or surface of the stand-alone sign, including supporting structures.
(e) 
No freestanding sign shall extend over or into the public right-of-way, nor shall it overhang the property lines.
(f) 
The maximum total sign area that shall be permitted under this subsection shall not exceed 100 square feet.
B. 
One hanging sign, provided that:
(1) 
Such sign shall not exceed six square feet in area and shall not project more than two feet from the wall or surface to which it is mounted.
(2) 
Such sign shall be at least eight feet to the bottom of the sign above the ground level immediately below and shall not in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(3) 
There shall be no more than one hanging sign for each business or public entrance.
(4) 
The supporting structure shall not be included in calculation of the sign area.
C. 
Signs for direction, provided that such signs do not exceed two square feet in area. Such signs may indicate the entrance and exit to the property and location of parking. Such signs shall not project more than four feet in height above the natural grade on which the sign is located and shall be no closer than five feet to any property line.
D. 
Temporary advertising or promotional banners.
(1) 
Only one such sign shall be displayed by any business at one time.
(2) 
The size of any such banner shall count toward the total square footage of business identification signs allowed by § 285-97A(1).
(3) 
No sign permit shall be required.
E. 
Illuminated signs shall comply with the regulations set forth in Subsection B(11) and (12) of § 285-98, except with respect to review by the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board where a sign is not located in the Historic Overlay District.
A. 
Awnings and/or canopy signs. Awnings and/or canopy signs are movable or fixed ornamental roof-like structures extended from the face of a structure and constructed of durable materials, including fabrics, which may contain their own illumination and may display lettering or other business insignia.
(1) 
No part of any awning or canopy shall:
(a) 
Project more than three feet from the structure face to which it is attached.
(b) 
Extend above the height allowed for structures in the respective zoning districts.
(c) 
Extend into any setback areas.
(d) 
Be lower than eight feet above the ground elevation of the wall face of the structure to which it is attached.
(2) 
A permit is required for the placement of awnings and/or canopy signs. Prior to the issuance of a sign permit, the applicant shall furnish to the Zoning Officer plans and specifications for the proposed installation. The application may be referred to the Planning Board prior to a sign permit being issued to consider the appropriate relationship between the size, design and shape of the awning and/or canopy sign and of the structure to which it will be attached, as well as the placement of the awning and/or canopies on the structure.
B. 
Historic Overlay District.
(1) 
Applications for signs to be submitted to the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board. All applications for permits to display signs within the Historic Overlay District of the City shall be submitted to the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board for approval before a permit may be issued in conformity with Article VI, § 285-44.
(2) 
Form of application to display signs; accompanying drawings. Application for a permit to display signs in the Historic Overlay District of the City shall be made to the Zoning Officer. Such an application shall also be accompanied by sketches and drawings in triplicate showing details of construction and foundation when required by the building code of the City and shall delineate the size, shape, design, coloring, lighting and position in relation to the building from or upon which it shall be displayed.
(3) 
Permit required for signs in certain area; exceptions. No sign shall be displayed unless a permit therefor shall first have been applied for to the Zoning Officer and issued in accordance with Article VI, § 285-44.
(4) 
Signs must conform to character of section. In addition to the prohibitions contained in this section, approval of the display of a sign in the Historic Overlay District of the City shall be granted by the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board only when such signs and plans relate to the appearance, color, size, position, method of attachment, texture of materials and design; conform to the quaint and distinctive character of the district or do not injuriously affect it or impair the value to the community of those buildings having architectural or historical worth.
(5) 
General prohibition of miscellaneous signs. The display of signs of a miscellaneous character visible from the public streets, highways and alleys within the Historic Overlay District of the City, except as otherwise provided in this section, and according to the rules and regulations herein provided for, is prohibited.
(6) 
Signs no longer complying as to advertisements to be taken down. At the time of an approval for a sign permit, any sign displayed which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted upon the premises shall, upon notification by the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board or its agent (who is hereby specifically authorized to so proceed), be taken down or removed within seven days after such notification, and failure to so comply on the part of the owner, occupant, agent or person having the beneficial use of any building or premises upon which such sign may be found shall subject such person to the penalty provided in § 285-28. In such cases where the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board deems appropriate, a sign may be removed in a manner approved by the Board. The Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board may allow the retention of signs which are an original part of the architectural fabric of the structure, such as a date or name of the building [without reduction in the number of signs or square footage of signs under § 285-98B(10) and (11)].
(7) 
No signs to be displayed in certain places. No sign shall be placed upon a balcony, porch, canopy, shed, roof, parapets (or similar appurtenance), door or window, or placed in any manner whatsoever so as to disfigure or conceal any architectural feature or detail of any building. Signs shall be prohibited which are attached to or painted upon a fence, tree, standpipe, fire escape, utility pole or similar appurtenance. No sign shall be erected at any street intersection in a manner which will obstruct free vision or at any place where the position, shape or color of the sign may interfere or be confused with any traffic sign or signal or which makes use of the words "stop," "danger" or any other word, phrase or symbol which may mislead traffic. No sign or sign structure other than official street, traffic or highway markers shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way. Signs painted on buildings are prohibited.
(8) 
Number of signs. No more than one wall sign and hanging sign shall be permitted for each store, shop or bona fide place of business, and the sum of the areas for all signs shall not exceed the maximum stipulated in § 285-98B(10). For buildings with more than one facade adjoining a public right-of-way, each store, shop or bona fide place of business shall be allowed signage in accordance with the applicable sections herein for each facade on which there is public entry to said place of business.
(9) 
Surface area of signs. The surface of any sign shall be in direct proportion to the amount of front footage of each ownership and shall be as follows:
(a) 
Unless stipulated elsewhere in this chapter, the maximum allowable size of the combined total of all signs shall not exceed an area based on 72 square inches of sign area per linear foot of frontage occupied, but not exceeding 60 square feet for any sign parallel to and flat against the facade of a building or 15 square feet for any other sign.
(b) 
In no case shall the area of a single-faced sign attached parallel to and flat against the facade of a building be less than two square feet, unless by special permission of the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board.
(c) 
In no case shall the area of a double-faced sign, projecting from the facade of a building, or a freestanding sign be less than two square feet, unless by special permission of the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board.
(d) 
In cases where there is occupancy of a building above the first floor by a separate and bona fide business or businesses different from the first floor occupant, one additional sign is permitted. Such a sign must be located at the point of street level public access to the second floor business. The surface area of such a sign will be no larger than five square feet per business, but not to exceed 15 square feet in total area. This sign shall not be counted in the square footage calculation for the signage entitlement for said building.
(e) 
Surface area. The surface area of any sign is the entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of lettering, representations, emblems or other figures, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed. Structural members bearing no sign copy shall be included. Only one side of a projecting double-faced sign shall be included in calculating surface area.
(10) 
Sign mounting.
(a) 
Signs shall project from the wall of a building no more than four feet from the building line and shall not be nearer than four feet to the curbline of the street. Also, hanging signs shall not be erected nearer to the adjacent property line than twice the number of feet that the sign projects from the building.
(b) 
Hanging signs should be located above the primary entrance to the structure. Examples are on file in the City of Cohoes Department of Economic and Community Development.
(c) 
Wall signs shall be incorporated into the facade at the first floor level, designed to communicate to pedestrians. No sign shall be located higher than 15 feet above the sidewalk level, except where a building is being rehabilitated and the original sign was designed to be higher than 15 feet; said sign may be reproduced upon permission of the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board.
(d) 
Signs flush to the facade shall not project out from the facade greater than six inches.
(e) 
Double-faced signs shall not have a distance between parallel faces greater than 18 inches.
(11) 
Illuminated signs; general. In the case of illuminated signs, all light sources shall be a steady light (indications of time or temperature that change lighting patterns are excluded) and:
(a) 
Shall be concealed behind standard opal glass or other substance of equal or smaller light transmission factor;
(b) 
Shall be concealed by hoods; or
(c) 
Shall be concealed by any method of indirect lighting approved by the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board.
(12) 
Regulations for illuminated signs. To avoid concentration of illumination, signs may have no more than 50 candelas per square foot of sign. Also, the method of illumination must evenly distribute the light over the surface of the sign.
(13) 
Off-street parking facility signs. Off-street parking facilities for the use of clients, patrons or purchases of goods, merchandise or services of the building to which the parking is accessory may be identified by the following sign(s). Such signs are not deducted from the calculated entitlement area for signs. At each point of ingress and egress, two directional signs indicating entrance and exit. Each sign shall have no more than five square feet and may identify the building (or its principal occupant) to which the parking is accessory.
(14) 
Canopy signs. Canopy signs displaying the name of a shop, store or bona fide business are permitted upon approval of a sign permit. The area of the sign shall not be deducted from calculated entitlement area for signs. The signs must be an integral part of the canopy in that any letters or insignia must be flat and parallel to the surface of the canopy and not project from the canopy surface. The allowable area for a canopy sign shall be 15 square inches for each foot of lot frontage, but in no case shall the area of the sign be more than 10% of the canopy surface area.
(15) 
Painted window signs are permitted upon approval of a sign permit. The area of the painted window sign shall not be deducted from the calculated entitlement area for signs. The allowable area for a painted window sign shall be 15 square inches for each foot of lot frontage, but in no case shall the area of the sign be more than 10% of the window surface area.
A. 
In cases where a single sign permit is required for any given property or structure, the following procedure shall be followed:
(1) 
Permit application. Application for the permit shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer upon forms prescribed by and provided by the Zoning Officer and shall contain the following information:
(a) 
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(b) 
Location of buildings, structures or land to which, or upon which, the sign is to be erected.
(c) 
A detailed drawing or blueprint showing a description of the construction details of the sign and showing the colors, lettering and/or pictorial matter composing the sign; position of lighting and other extraneous devices; and a location plan showing the position of the sign on any building or land and its positioning in relation to nearby buildings, structures or existing signs and to any private or public streets or highway.
(d) 
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or upon which the sign is to be erected in the event that the applicant is not the owner thereof.
(e) 
A copy of any required or necessary electrical permit issued for said sign or a copy of the application thereof.
(2) 
Review of permit. The Zoning Officer shall carefully consider the application for compliance with this chapter and either issue or deny a sign permit. All sign approval applications reviewed pursuant to this section are hereby classed as "Type II actions" under Part 617 of the regulations promulgated under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), having no significant environmental impact and requiring no further review under SEQRA, except where the application or sign is part of an overall site plan or sign site plan review.
(3) 
Appeals. Should an applicant choose to appeal a decision by the Zoning Officer to deny issuance of a sign permit, an application for an appeal shall be filled out and submitted along with supporting documents to the Zoning Board of Appeals for action.
B. 
Sign site plan. In cases where a single property or structure requires more than one sign permit, a sign site plan will be required. All applications for sign site plan approval are to be submitted to the Zoning Officer on forms provided. The Zoning Officer shall process all complete applications in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) 
The Zoning Officer shall refer the application, along with an application for sign site plan approval, to the City of Cohoes Planning Board for its review and approval.
(2) 
All sign site plan approval applications to be heard by the Planning Board are hereby classified as "unlisted actions" under Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations. All applications for sign site plan approval must be accompanied by a completed short-form environmental assessment for unlisted actions.
(3) 
Upon a referral from the Zoning Officer of a complete application, the Planning Board shall, within 60 days, approve, modify or deny any application for a sign site plan. Any modification or denial of a sign site plan shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the reason for such modification or denial.
(4) 
The Planning Board may modify a sign site plan application, provided that such modification does not result in the need for any variances from these regulations. All sign site plan modifications must directly relate to the statements of purpose and intent set forth in this chapter.
(5) 
The Planning Board's action on a sign site plan application shall be the basis for the Zoning Officer to approve or deny a sign permit, which action is declared ministerial in nature.
(6) 
The Zoning Officer may authorize a subsequent modification to an approved sign site plan, provided that there is no change to either the number, location or total area of signs.
(7) 
Issuance of sign permit. Once an application has been approved, the Zoning Officer shall issue a sign permit. Said permit shall be valid for a period of 120 days from the date of issuance. The permit may be extended one time, for a period of 60 days, upon approval of the Zoning Officer and upon payment of an additional fee, prior to the expiration of the initial one-hundred-twenty-day period. Subject to Subsection B(8) of this section, if a certificate of sign compliance is not issued within the one-hundred-twenty-day period or, if applicable, the renewal period for the sign permit, said sign permit shall expire.
(8) 
Certificate of sign compliance. Within seven business days after the placement of the approved sign, the applicant shall provide a photograph of the sign to the Zoning Officer. Upon presentation of the evidence of erection of the sign in compliance with this chapter and a sign permit, the Zoning Officer shall issue a certificate of sign compliance.
C. 
Fees.
(1) 
The fees to be paid to the City of Cohoes for the erection of each sign and for each of the conforming signs now erected are listed on the schedule in the Appendix of this Code, Chapter A290, Fees.
(2) 
The Zoning Officer or other designated local official shall issue a permit number for each sign, which shall be permanently attached to or displayed on each sign, billboard or structure so that it may readily be ascertained that a permit has been issued for each use.
A. 
Permit required. It shall be unlawful to erect a sign as set forth in this article, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Zoning Officer, except as specifically provided that a permit is not required.
B. 
Expiration and renewal; fee. If the sign authorized under any such permit has not been substantially completed within six months from the date of issuance thereof, such permit shall become null and void but may be renewed for an additional six-month period within 30 days from the expiration thereof, for good cause shown and upon payment of an additional fee of $50.
C. 
Obsolete signs. Any sign existing on or after the effective date of this chapter which no longer advertises an existing business conducted or product sold on the premises upon which such sign is located shall be removed.
D. 
Lack of compliance with sign permit. Should the Zoning Officer find that any sign regulated herein is not in compliance with the sign permit, is not used or is abandoned, unsafe or unsecure or is a menace to the public, he shall give written notice, by certified and regular mail, to the applicant, if applicable, the named owner of the sign, and the named owner of the land upon which it is located. The parties responsible shall remove or repair the sign or correct the cited deficiencies within 30 days from the date of the notice. If the sign is not removed or repaired within the time period, same shall be a violation of this article subject to the penalties contained herein, and the Zoning Officer shall revoke any permit issued for such sign and may cause the removal or repair of the sign and shall assess all costs incurred for such service against the owner of the sign. Unpaid costs shall be assessed as a lien against the property and collected in the same way as other liens and taxes once re-levied to the tax roll.
E. 
Signs causing immediate peril. The Zoning Officer may cause any sign or decoration which is a source of immediate peril to persons or property to be removed immediately and without notice. Any costs assessed shall only be after notice to the owners of the sign and property and an opportunity to be heard. No officer or employee or agent of the City of Cohoes shall be liable for any claim or damages with respect to the authorized removal or repair of any sign under this article.
F. 
Revocation of permit. The Zoning Officer may revoke any permit and effect the removal of any sign erected thereunder if he or she shall determine that the application or sign contains any material misstatement of fact or is otherwise false or misleading.
G. 
Penalties for offenses. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine which shall not exceed $250 or to imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or both. Each day that such violation continues after an initial notice of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
H. 
Severability. If any decision, subsection, sentence, phrase or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed separate and distinct, and such holding shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions thereof.