[Ord. No. 1984-53]
Every sign including but not limited to those signs for which permits or for which no permits or permit fees are required, shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural material condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for the maintenance of said sign. The Administrator shall require compliance with all standards of this Code and any other applicable laws. If the sign is not made to comply with adequate safety standards, the Administrator shall require its removal in accordance with this article.
[Ord. No. 1979-12]
Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any sign which is located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of three months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event, or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed to have been abandoned. Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change of ownership or management of such business shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of six months or more. An abandoned sign is prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the sign or the premises.
[Ord. No. 1979-12]
No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him any sign which is in a dangerous or defective condition. Any such sign shall be removed or repaired by the owner of the sign or owner of the premises.
[Ord. No. 1984-53]
It shall be illegal for any person to erect, create, paint, own, keep, display or maintain any sign which does not comply with the provisions of this Code or any other applicable laws.
A. 
The Administrator shall cause to be removed any sign known by him to be unlawfully placed on any public right-of-way or on any utility easement within the City. Any such unlawfully placed signs may be removed by the Administrator without notice to the owner thereof. The Administrator may notice the owner, if known, that their sign has been removed and they may redeem it from the Administrator within seven days and/or as provided in § 3-906 of this code.
[Ord. No. 2010-55]
B. 
The Administrator shall cause to be removed any sign believed by him to endanger the public safety. Such signs may be removed by the Administrator without notice to the owner thereof, if known, in an emergency and shall be removed by the Administrator in any case within 24 hours after the owner thereof, if known, has been notified by the Administrator.
C. 
The Administrator shall cause to be removed an abandoned sign, a sign which is materially, electrically or structurally defective, a sign for which no permit has been issued, a sign which is not permitted by Article IV or VIII hereof, or a sign which otherwise has been declared to be unlawful. The Administrator shall prepare a notice to the owner, if known, which shall describe the sign and specify the violation or lack of compliance involved and which shall state that if the sign is not removed or the violation is not corrected within 14 days, the sign shall be removed in accordance with the provisions of this article. During the time of removal, other new signs placed on the premises which are similarly in violation may be removed without advance notice.
D. 
The owner of any unlawfully placed or otherwise unlawful sign that has been removed by the Administrator may redeem such sign from the Administrator upon payment of the cost to the City of causing such sign to be removed. Such costs of removal for all such signs shall not be less than $25. Costs of any sign removal shall be recovered by the City as provided by § 3-906 of this Code.
E. 
All notices mailed by the Administrator shall be sent by certified mail except those written notices which confirm oral notices and these may be sent by regular mail as may other notices so specified. Any time periods provided in this article shall be deemed to commence on the date of the receipt of notice, whether written or oral.
F. 
In the direction of the Administrator and except as otherwise provided herein notices may also be orally provided to, mailed to or delivered to the owner of the property on which the sign is located as shown on the last equalized general real estate tax assessment roll and/or the occupant of the property, if known.
G. 
Any person having an interest in a sign or property associated therewith may appeal the determination of the Administrator ordering removal of the sign or compliance by filing a written notice of appeal with a written statement of the reasons in support of his/her position with the Sign Code Board of Review within 14 days after the date of receipt of a notice, whether written or oral, for removal of the sign.
[Ord. No. 1988-33]
Any sign removed pursuant to the provisions of this article may be disposed of in any manner deemed appropriate by the City. The cost to the City for removal of the sign shall be considered a debt owed to the City by the owner of the sign and/or the owner of the property, and may be recovered in an appropriate court action by the City or by placement of a lien upon the property as hereinafter provided. The cost of removal shall include any and all incidental expenses incurred by the City in connection with the sign's removal; costs may be recovered by the City in the manner provided.
A. 
The notice given by the Administrator shall state the remedial action required to be taken; if such action is not taken within the time limits set forth in this Code, the cost of correcting the unlawful statute of the sign may be charged against the property on which the sign is located, together with an additional 5% for inspection and incidental costs and an additional 10% penalty for the cost of collection, and collected in the same manner as real estate taxes against the property.
B. 
In the event that the owner of the premises, or person entitled to possession thereof, or the owner of the sign, shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the notice to remove, repair, rehabilitate or demolish the sign declared to be unlawful, as appropriate, the owner of the sign, the owner of the premise upon which the sign is located, and the permit entitled to possession thereof (if other than the owner of the premises), or all or any of them, may be prosecuted for violation(s) of this Code. The Administrator may remove the sign declared to be unlawful.
[Ord. No. 1984-53]
C. 
If it shall be necessary for the Administrator to remove a sign pursuant to the provisions hereof, bids shall be taken when the estimated costs of removal or demolition exceed $1,500. When completed, the Administrator shall certify to the Director of Finance the legal description of the property upon which the work was done, together with the name of the owner thereof, as shown by the tax rolls of the City of Bloomington, together with a statement of work performed, the date of performance and the cost thereof.
D. 
Upon receipt of such statement, the Director of Finance shall mail a notice to the owner of said premises as shown by the tax rolls at the address shown upon the tax rolls by certified mail, postage prepaid, notifying such of the costs thereof (as certified by the Administrator), together with 5% for the inspection and the other incidental costs in connection therewith. Such notice shall state that if said amount is not paid within 30 days following the mailing of such notice, the Director of Finance will place a lien upon said owner.
E. 
If the Finance Department shall not receive payment within a period of 30 days following the mailing of such notice, the Director of Finance will place a lien upon said property.
F. 
Each such lien against each lot or tract of land assessed, until paid, and shall have priority over all other subsequent liens except general and special taxes.
G. 
For purposes of this article, the owner of property upon which a sign is located shall be presumed to be the owner of all signs thereon, unless the contrary shall appear from facts brought to the attention of the Administrator.
H. 
Notwithstanding the provisions cited above in this article, in cases of emergency, the Administrator may cause to be repaired or removed summarily and without notice any unlawful sign which creates an immediate hazard to the public through improper construction, or which creates a hazard by obstructing view at intersections of either motorist or pedestrian or any sign which has become an immediate hazard to the public. Summary removal or repair provided for herein shall not relieve the owner of the sign or the property on which it is located from liability to the City for the costs provided for in this § 3-906.
[Ord. No. 1979-12]