§ 74-5. Enforcement and penalties.

(a)

All signs shall be maintained in good condition so as to present a neat and orderly appearance. The city may, after due notice, issue a citation to any permittee, or to the person owning such sign if the sign does not require a permit, for any sign which shows gross neglect or becomes dilapidated. Such due notice shall be in writing, shall specify the sign and its location, and shall state that the sign has not been properly maintained. The city shall give permittee ten days to rectify the condition of the sign or to remove the dilapidated sign before issuing a citation for violation of this article.

(b)

Any lawfully existing sign which is not maintained, which has been abandoned for 180 calendar days or longer, or which no longer advertises a bona fide business or product, shall be taken down or removed by the owner, agent, or person having beneficial use of the building, structure, or land upon which such sign is located. The removal of such sign shall be undertaken and completed within 30 calendar days after written notification from the city building inspector is forwarded to the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the use of the building, structure, or land upon which such sign is located requesting removal of such sign. The failure to remove such sign within such time period shall be a violation of this article and shall subject the offender to punishment for violation thereof as provided in section 1-8 of the City Code.

(c)

The city may issue a citation to any person who violates any provision of this article and, upon conviction or a plea of guilty, the municipal court shall be authorized to punish such offender as provided in section 1-8 of this Code.

(Code 1986, § 5-189.1; Ord. No. O-05-08-19, 8-18-2005; Ord. No. O-10-06-20, 6-24-2010)