§ 17.48.140. Nonconforming Signs

A.

Continuation and maintenance.  

1.

A legal, nonconforming sign may becontinued, except as provided in Section D. below, or unless ordered discontinued, modified, or removed as a public nuisance in compliance with the Municipal Code.

2.

Routine maintenance and repairs may be performed on a nonconforming sign.

B.

Alteration and enlargement.  

1.

Nonconforming signs shall not be altered, enlarged, or moved unless a Sign Exception, in compliance with Section 17.48.050 (Sign Exceptions), is first obtained. Standards exceeding the minimum requirements may be required by the Zoning Administrator in the conditions of approval in order to reduce the impact that the nonconforming sign may have on the surrounding properties.

2.

Nonconforming signs shall not be altered or reconstructed so as to increase the discrepancy between existing conditions and current standards for sign area, height, or setback.

3.

The sign face of an existing wall-mounted cabinet/can sign shall be allowed to be changed if the new sign face will have an opaque background with illuminated letters, numbers, or symbols. No increase in sign area shall be allowed.

4.

A sign included in the historic sign inventory, which has been destroyed by fire or other calamity, by act of God or by public enemy to an extent greater than 50 percent, may be reconstructed in a historically accurate manner. Reconstruction shall be authorized only upon determination by the Heritage Preservation Commission or Design Commission that the sign is an accurate duplication of the historic sign, based on review of photographic or other documentary evidence.

5.

Alterations and/or enlargements for the purpose of complying with Chapter 14.06 of the Municipal Code (Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Unreinforced Masonry Buildings) are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter.

C.

Restoration of nonconforming signs.  

1.

Whenever a nonconforming sign is involuntarily destroyed by fire or other calamity, by act of God, or by public enemy to the extent of 50 percent or less, the sign may be rebuilt and resumed; provided, a Building Permit for the restoration is issued and diligently pursued. Whenever a nonconforming sign is involuntarily destroyed by fire or other calamity, by act of God, or by public enemy to an extent greater than 50 percent, or is voluntarily razed or is required by law to be razed, the sign shall not be resumed except in full conformity with the current regulations for the zoning district in which it is located.

2.

The extent of damage or destruction shall be determined by comparing the estimated cost of restoring the sign to its condition before the damage or partial destruction and the estimated cost of duplicating the sign as it existed before the damage. Estimates for this purpose shall be reviewed and approved by the Code Enforcement Administrator or the Zoning Administrator.

D.

Elimination of nonconforming signs. Nonconforming signs listed in Table 4-23, below shall be discontinued and removed from their sites, altered to conform, or altered as prescribed to decrease the degree of nonconformity within the specified time after they become nonconforming. Additional time for abatement of the nonconformity may be granted through approval of a Variance, in compliance with Section 17.61.080.

TABLE 4-23 - REMOVAL OF NONCONFORMING SIGNS
TYPE OF SIGN TO BE REMOVED	REQUIRED DATE OF REMOVAL
A nonconforming on premises sign in a OS, PD, or PS zoning district	4/1/76
A nonconforming sign painted on a wall or affixed to or within a window	4/1/77
Removal or alteration of a sign having nonconforming lighting or movement	4/1/78
A nonconforming roof, projecting, or freestanding sign	4/1/81
Signs resulting in a nonconformity with maximum sign area or total number of signs per frontage	4/1/81

 

(Ord. 7160 § 43, 2009)