§ 134-42. Sign maintenance and removal.

(a)

Maintenance. All signs shall be kept in good repair, and unless of galvanized or noncorroding metal or treated with appropriate wood preservative, shall be thoroughly painted as often as is necessary consistent with good maintenance. All braces, bolts, clips, supporting frames and fastenings shall be free from deterioration, termite infestation, rot, or loosening. All signs shall be able to withstand safely at all times the wind pressures specified in any applicable law. In case any sign is not so maintained, the department shall give written notice to the owner or lessee thereof to so maintain the sign, or to remove the sign.

(b)

Unsafe signs. Should any sign, in the opinion of the department, become insecure or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, the departmental representative shall give written notice of the condition of the sign to the person owning, leasing, or responsible for the sign. Such person so notified shall correct the unsafe condition of the sign in a manner to be approved by the department in conformity with the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law.

(c)

Unlawful signs. In case any sign shall be installed, erected, constructed or maintained in violation of any of the terms of this chapter or other applicable law, the department shall give written notice to the owner, lessee, or person responsible for such sign ordering such owner, lessee or person to alter the sign so as to comply with the law, or to remove the sign.

(d)

Removal of signs. Any written notice to alter or to remove a sign shall be given by the department by certified mail or written notice served personally upon the owner, lessee, or person responsible for the sign, or the owner's agent. If such order is not complied with within 15 calendar days, the department shall initiate proceedings under this chapter to revoke the permit and remove the sign at the expense of the owner, lessee, or person responsible therefor.

(e)

Hazardous signs. If the department determines that any sign is causing an extraordinary and immediate hazard to safety or if the owner or person having custody of a sign cannot be determined, or if the department after diligent effort has been unable to give the notice required by the other subsections herein, and if no other provision of law authorizes the city to cause the sign to be immediately removed, then the director shall cause a notice to be affixed to the sign in a prominent place, bearing the date of its posting, which notice shall instruct the person having custody or control of the sign to remove it immediately and shall identify the department as the city agency to be contacted. The notice shall set forth the text of this subsection in full. If the sign has not been removed by 7:30 a.m. of the third calendar day after the posting of the notice, the department shall cause it to be removed and thereafter disposed of in the manner provided by section 134-122(b).

(Code 1956, § 3A-5)