A. 
Findings and declaration. It is found that there exist and may in the future exist, within the City of Corning, premises, buildings, structures, or parts thereof for which advertising is desired.
B. 
Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to promote and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare by establishing minimum standards governing existing and proposed signs of all types. It is intended to create a more attractive economic and business climate and enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community. It is further intended to reduce sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over the public right-of-way.
C. 
Intent. These regulations are intended to promote attractive signs which clearly present the visual message in a manner that is compatible with their surroundings. The appearance, character and quality of a community are affected by the location, size, construction and graphic design of its signs. Therefore, such signs should convey their message clearly and simply to enhance their surroundings.
D. 
Title. These regulations shall be known and may be cited as the "Sign Code of the City of Corning."
E. 
Applicability. These regulations shall apply to all premises, buildings, structures, and parts thereof erected in the City of Corning. Existing premises, buildings, structures, and parts thereof that do not comply with these regulations shall be altered or repaired to comply with these regulations, unless a valid permit was issued for such sign, or such sign complies with the preexisting nonconforming sign exception outlined in § 180-23 of this chapter. These regulations shall not apply to any signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in connection with any governmental function; however, the City of Coming will consider and urge other governmental agencies to consider these regulations in their design and installation of signage.
[Amended 10-1-2018]
F. 
Photographic records. Within two years after the effective date of this chapter, the City of Corning shall conduct inspections of all properties containing signage and create a photographic record of all such signage. This photographic record shall be used as a basis for current and future compliance hereafter.
G. 
Prevalence of more restrictive. Where the provisions of these regulations conflict with or impose a different requirement than any other laws, rules, regulations, codes, or ordinances or amendments made thereof, the provision which establishes the stricter standard shall govern.
H. 
Severability. If a term, part, provision, section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of these regulations shall be held unconstitutional, invalid, or ineffective; in whole or in part, for any reason, such determination shall not be deemed to affect the remaining portions of these regulations, which shall continue in full force and effect.
A. 
General. The Code Enforcement Officer, or his/her designee, shall enforce all the provisions of these regulations. The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to render interpretations of these regulations and set policies and procedures in order to clarify the application of the provisions of these regulations. Such policies and procedures shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided for in this chapter.
B. 
Inability to act. In the absence of the Code Enforcement Officer to act for any reason, he/she shall have the power to designate a person or persons to act on his/her behalf and to exercise all of the duties conferred upon him/her by these regulations.
C. 
Personal nonliability. No official or employee of the City of Corning shall, while acting pursuant to the provisions of these regulations, be personally liable for any damage that may occur to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of the official duties, provided that such actions are performed in good faith and without gross negligence.
D. 
Authority to issue tickets. The Code Enforcement Officer, or his/her designee, shall have the power, right and authority to issue, or cause to be issued, appearance tickets for any violation of this chapter.
A. 
Unsafe and unlawful signs. It is hereby unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to construct, place, install, change, maintain, alter or use signs contrary to any provision of this code, or of any condition of approval.
(1) 
Any sign. The Code Enforcement Officer may declare any sign unlawful by reasons of inadequate maintenance, improper placement, dilapidation, abandonment, or if erected without a permit or is in violation of any other provision of this Code or any other state or federal law.
B. 
Prohibition on public property. Except as modified by this chapter, or as approved by the Director of Public Safety, no person shall paint, mark or write on, post, attach, or otherwise affix, any sign to or upon any public property, including, but not limited to, any public building, sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, curbstone, fence, wall, public playground equipment and/or facilities, street lamp post, hydrant, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard, railroad trestle, pole for electric light or power or telephone or telegraph (or other communication service) or trolley wire (or wire appurtenance thereof) or upon any fixture of the fire alarm or police telegraph system or upon any lighting system, public bridge, drinking fountain, street sign or traffic sign.
C. 
Removal of signs on public property. Any sign found posted, or otherwise affixed, upon any public property or in any public right-of-way, or found to create a traffic hazard in violation of § 180-11A may be removed summarily by employees of the City, or designee. The person responsible for any such illegal posting shall be liable for the cost incurred in the removal thereof and the City Manager, or designee, is authorized to effect the collection of said cost.
D. 
Storage. Any sign summarily removed shall be stored for at least 10 days at the City's corporation yard. Said responsible party, or authorized representative, will be responsible for the actual cost(s) of sign removal prior to retrieval of the removed signs.
E. 
Cost. The cost(s) for removal shall be deemed a civil debt due and owing the City which may be collected by the appropriate legal means, including, but not limited to, the right of the City to seek restitution for a criminal violation of this chapter, which may be prosecuted, at the discretion of the City, either as a misdemeanor or infraction.
F. 
Enforcement remedies. If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any sign or other advertising structure regulated herein is unsafe, unlawful, or a menace to the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of these regulations, or installed without a permit or preexisting nonconforming sign permit, the Code Enforcement Officer shall do either of the following:
[Amended 10-1-2018]
(1) 
Issue a violation notice to the last known owner of record of the land upon which it is located, who shall remove or repair the sign within the time specified in the notice; or
(2) 
Serve an appearance ticket charging the responsible party with a violation in the Corning City Court for each and every day on which the violation continues to exist after the date of issuance of such ticket.
G. 
Failure to comply. If the owner fails to comply with a violation notice within the time specified in the notice, the Code Enforcement Officer shall take such legal action as he/she deems necessary, including but not limited to:
(1) 
Revoking the permit as defined in Article III, if any; and/or
(2) 
Correcting the violation in a manner the Code Enforcement Officer deems necessary through the use of City staff or under contract with third parties and charging the responsible party for the cost of the remedial work. The City may add to such cost a figure equal to 25% of the cost of work performed to pay for administrative overhead in processing the violation. All costs may be added to the property tax bill for the property if the bill for remediation is not paid within 30 days of mailing; and/or
(3) 
Charging the responsible party with a violation in the Corning City Court for each and every day on which the violation continues to exist after the date specified for remedial action.
H. 
Penalties for offenses. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be penalized by a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment, per day, for each offense.