Redlands Municipal Code Art. IX Sign Code Enforcement and Administration

A. Abatement Of Nonpermitted Signs: Any sign erected without permits or without compliance with all provisions of this chapter, as amended, and in effect at the time of its construction, erection or use, shall immediately be removed from the site by the owner, without compensation.

B. Amortization Of Nonconforming Signs: All signs rendered nonconforming by the provisions of this chapter, or any other provision of this code, as amended, shall be removed twenty (20) years after the date of becoming nonconforming.

C. Abatement Of Nonconforming Signs Enumerated: Any sign made nonconforming by the provisions of this chapter, as amended, shall immediately be removed from the site, without compensation, under any of the criteria as follows:

1. Any sign whose use has ceased, or the structure upon which the sign is located has been abandoned by its owner for ninety (90) consecutive days.

2. Any sign which has been more than fifty percent (50%) destroyed or damaged (other than destruction of the facial copy).

• 3. Any sign whose owner remodels the sign, except for the change of copy.
• 4. Any sign whose owner relocates the sign.
• 5. Any sign which is or may become a danger to the public or is unsafe.

6. Any sign which constitutes a traffic hazard (not created by the relocation of any street or highway or by any other act of the city).

7. Any sign where there is a change in type of business that the sign advertises. For example, if the sign is for a florist and a shoe store moves into the space, the sign must be brought into compliance.

8. Any sign where there is a change in the name of the person licensed to operate the business.

D. Nonconforming Signs For Automobile Dealerships: Existing automobile dealership legal, nonconforming signs may continue as long as the automobile dealership continues operation of the same parcel. A legal, nonconforming sign may be modified as follows, subject to the area and height of the sign remaining equal to or less than the existing sign:

1. The sign may be remodeled including, but not limited to, change of copy, sign face design, and structural improvements.

2. The sign may be relocated within the boundaries of the parcel in which the dealership is located.

3. Any modification or relocation of a nonconforming sign shall be subject to review and approval by the planning commission. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

A. No citation will be issued until the director has issued a notice of violation to the owner, agent or person having a beneficial interest in the building or the premises on which a prohibited sign or any other sign which violates any provision of this chapter is located. The person having a beneficial interest in the sign shall remove or alter the sign to comply with the provisions of this chapter within seventy two (72) hours of the date of the notice. The notice shall also state that if the sign is not removed or brought into compliance within seventy two (72) hours of the date of the notice the director may cause it to be removed.

B. If the director causes the sign to be removed, the sign must be retained for fifteen (15) days, during which the owner, agent or person having a beneficial interest may protest the action and reclaim the sign. At the expiration of fifteen (15) days, any unclaimed sign shall be deemed abandoned and may be discarded.

C. The cost of removal, alteration and/or storage of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this chapter shall be paid by a permittee, sign owner, agent or person having a beneficial interest in the sign. The cost of removal and storage shall be determined by resolution of the city council. The cost of removal and storage or alteration shall become a debt owing the city for the collection of which the city may maintain a civil action in its name.

D. The director may summarily and without notice cause the removal of any sign which is an immediate safety threat to person or property. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

In cases where the strict application of the provisions of this chapter would deprive a property of privileges commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same zone, a variance may be requested in accordance with chapter 18.196 of this code. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

A. Except for normal repair and maintenance, and any modification required for national electrical code compliance, no nonconforming sign shall be expanded, structurally or electronically altered (not including a change in sign face or sign copy), moved or relocated unless the sign is brought into compliance with all provisions of this chapter. Nonconforming signs shall be permitted to remain until such time as any of the events listed in subsection B of this section occurs. At such time, the sign must be removed or brought into conformance with this chapter.

B. A nonconforming sign shall lose its status as a nonconforming sign if any of the following occurs:

1. The sign is relocated or replaced;

2. The structure, height or size of the sign is altered in any way except toward compliance with this chapter. Face changes and normal maintenance are allowed;

3. The sign structure is damaged or destroyed by more than fifty percent (50%) of its value at the time of damage or destruction.

C. The city shall comply with California Business and Professions Code section 5490 et seq., in connection with the enforcement and removal of off premises advertising displays and signs. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

A. It is illegal to use, occupy or maintain property in violation of this chapter.

B. Violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor, but may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or an infraction in the discretion of the city attorney.

C. Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a separate offense for each day, or portion thereof, during which the violation continues.

D. Violation of this chapter which threatens to be continuing in nature is a public nuisance which may be abated or enjoined in accordance with law. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

An applicant who has been denied a permit under this chapter for a sign that is not a prohibited sign may seek immediate judicial review of the denial or within ten (10) days of the denial may request in writing to the city clerk or the city attorney that the city commence a judicial action to review the permit denied. If so requested, the city will commence an action within ten (10) days of the written request if the request is to judicially review matters that are protected by the first amendment. The burden of proof shall be on the city where required by law and shall otherwise be upon the applicant. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)