Berkeley Municipal Code Ch. 20.44 Maintenance of Signs

All signs shall be maintained so as to comply with the following standards:

A. Graffiti on a sign shall be removed within ten (10) days of notice of its placement on such sign.

B. The display upon any sign area of a sign shall be maintained in good condition, without rips, tears, and similar damage.

C. All parts, portions, units and materials composing a sign, together with the frame, background, surface, support or enclosure therefor shall be maintained in a safe condition, painted, and adequately protected from weathering with all braces, bolts and structural parts and supporting frames and fastenings reasonably free from deterioration, rot, rust, and loosening so that they do not create a hazard to persons or property or constitute an attractive nuisance.

D. Any sign or sign structure that is sagging, leaning, fallen, decayed, broken, deteriorated, or in another dilapidated condition shall be promptly repaired, to the satisfaction of the City, or removed. (Ord. 7120-NS § 14 (part), 2009)

Abandoned signs shall be removed in compliance with the following requirements:

A. Off-Premises. An off-premises sign that has carried no message for more than twelve (12) months or which no longer identifies a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product, or activity, date or time of past event, and/or for which no legal owner can be found shall be removed.

B. On-Premises. An on-premises sign that identifies a business, lessor, or owner whose use of the premises has ceased for a period of not less than ninety (90) days shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located. (Ord. 7120-NS § 14 (part), 2009)

Temporary signs shall be removed forty-five (45) days after they are placed, erected or installed, or fifteen (15) days after the conclusion of the event to which they refer, whichever is later. In no case shall a temporary sign remain in place for more than ninety (90) days absent a showing that the event to which it refers is continuing. (Ord. 7120-NS § 14 (part), 2009)

Following inspection of the sign, the City Manager or their designee shall provide written notification of the violation to the property owner, last known owner, manager, or employee of the business or sign owner for off-premises signs as applicable. Notice to sign owners of off-premises signs shall be certified by mail.

A. After fifteen (15) days have elapsed from the notice of violation, the City Manager may issue an order to abate if the violation has not been corrected. Abatement proceedings shall be set forth in Chapter 1.24.

B. The property owner or business owner will be responsible for the expense of any required repair, alteration, painting, or removal, as set forth in Chapter 1.24. (Ord. 7120-NS § 14 (part), 2009)