§ 3-4. Off premise signs prohibited; exceptions.

(a)

Off premise signs are not to be allowed within the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city. "Off premise sign" means a sign displaying advertising copy that pertains to a business, person, organization, activity, event, place, service, or product not principally located or primarily manufactured or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.

(b)

All nonconforming off premise signs that are in existence as of the effective date of this section shall be allowed to remain in place until such sign, or a substantial part of it, is blown down or otherwise destroyed or dismantled for any purpose other than maintenance operations or for changing the letters, symbols, or other matter on the sign. A sign is considered to be destroyed if the cost of repairing the sign is more than sixty (60) percent of the cost of erecting a new sign of the same type at the same location.

(c)

The following signs are exempt from the provisions of this section:

(1)

Governmental signs. Signs erected by federal, state, or local governmental bodies.

(2)

Political signs. Signs promoting a political candidate who is running for election, or an election issue that is up for election, in a called election which is to be held within ninety (90) days. Such signs shall be removed within seven (7) days after the election.

(d)

Any person or persons violating any provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per day per violation.

(Ord. No. 1863, 6-3-96)

Cross reference

Zoning, App. A, § 43.