§ 18.42.190 — Removal of Unlawful, Unsafe, and Unauthorized Signs

A. Abandoned Signs. 1. Removal of Abandoned Signs. a. An abandoned sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located immediately upon closure of the business or the end of the event. b. A sign frame or structure that supported an abandoned sign and that conforms to all applicable regulations shall be allowed to remain in place, however, the sign’s printed content shall be removed, and a blank panel should be put in its place. However, in the event a sign frame or structure is inconsistent with the regulations of this Chapter, the sign structure and/or frame shall be either altered to comply with the regulations of this Chapter or removed by the owner or lessee of the property. c. Signs considered by the City to have iconic value or cultural significance shall be exempt from the provisions of this Subsection. d. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign, the City, following proper notice, may have the sign removed. 2. Recovery of costs. When the City is required to remove an abandoned sign, the reasonable cost of the removal and storage may be assessed against the owner of the sign(s) and/or the property owner. If not paid, the applicable costs may be imposed as a tax lien against the property. B. Dangerous and/or Defective Signs. It is unlawful for any business or residential property owner or lessee to maintain or permit to be maintained on any business or residential property any sign that is in a dangerous or defective condition. A sign shall be removed by the owner of the sign, owner or lessee of the property, or the Director, at the expense of the owner of the sign or property. Alternatively, the sign shall be repaired by the owner or lessee at the expense of the owner or lessee.