The purpose of this Article is to promote traffic safety and the aesthetics of the visual environment of Ventura County through the regulation of all signs within the unincorporated areas, except in public rights-of-way. Regulations contained herein are the least burdensome regulations to carry out the above stated purpose.

For areas located within the Old Town Saticoy boundary as delineated in the Saticoy Area Plan (Figure 1.1.2), refer to the Old Town Saticoy Development Code, Article 19, for additional sign regulations.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85; Ord. No. 4479, § 7, 9-22-2015)

Advertising Sign—A sign which calls attention to products, goods or services for sale or hire, or which otherwise contains a commercial message.

Attached Sign—Any sign posted, painted on, or constructed or otherwise attached to the wall, facade, canopy, marquee, or other architectural part of a building.

Canopy Sign—Any sign attached to or constructed in or on a canopy or marquee.

Directional Sign—Any sign which serves solely to designate entrances or exits, or the location or direction of any on-site area.

Double-faced Sign—A sign structure with messages on both sides of a sign board or panel; or a sign with two faces that are attached to each other on one side and form an angle of not more than 30 degrees; or a sign structure with two attached parallel faces not more than 18 inches apart, with a message on each face.

(Add Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

Freestanding Sign—Any sign which is anchored directly to the ground or supported from the ground, or is attached to a freestanding wall or fence.

(Am. Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

Identification Sign—An on-site sign which indicates the premises, occupants, address, neighborhood or entrance location to the premises.

Noncommercial Message—A display or statement on a sign which calls attention to something other than products, goods, or services for sale or hire, including personal political statements, unrelated to pending elections. Such messages are permitted on any type of sign provided that all the standards of this Article are followed. "Noncommercial Message" signs shall be regulated in the same manner as "Identification" signs.

(Am. Ord. 4054—2/1/94)

Off-site Sign—A sign which displays commercial or noncommercial messages related to property, goods, services, or ideas not found on, or related to, the property on which the sign is located.

On-site Sign—A sign located on the same site as the occupant, business, trade or profession to which it relates.

Permanent Sign—A sign intended to be erected and maintained for a period of more than 60 days.

Political Sign—A temporary sign or handbill erected prior to, and referencing specific individuals or issues in, a pending election, excluding leased space on the face of permanent, legal, off-site advertising signs (billboards).

(Am. Ord. 4054—2/1/94)

Projecting Sign—An attached sign which projects outward perpendicularly or at an angle from a wall or building face.

Real Estate Sign—A sign which advertises the sale, rental or lease of the property on which it is maintained.

Roof Sign—Any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a building.

Sign—A communication device using words or symbols, illuminated or nonilluminated, which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise; or any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard or temporary display designed to advertise, identify or convey information.

Sign Area

a.

Area of Simultaneously Visible Faces—Where the lettered or illustrative material of a sign is placed upon a sign board or other sign structure having a continuous or essentially continuous surface or face (whether plane, curved, angulated or otherwise), the background or face area of simultaneously visible faces of such sign board or sign structure shall be the sign area. For purposes of computation, single and double faced signs are considered to have the same area; in other words, a double-faced sign having two square feet of sign copy on each face is considered to have two square feet of sign area. The Planning Director may require landscaping or other screening at the open end of a double-faced sign whose faces are not parallel.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85; Am. Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

b.

Framed Area—Where the lettered or illustrative material of a sign is not placed as described in subsection a. above, but is framed either mechanically or visually by the design or layout of the sign itself, then the area so framed shall be the sign area.

c.

Geometric Unframed Figure—Where the lettered or illustrative material is not placed or framed in the manner described in subsection a. or b. above, but is composed either vertically, horizontally, diagonally or otherwise, essentially in the form of a rectangle, triangle or similar geometric figure, the area of the geometric figure within which such material could be enclosed shall be the sign area; except that when the space between the elements comprising the sign exceeds 1½ times the average size of the elements themselves, the area of the elements may be measured separately as provided in subsection d. below.

d.

Area of Abutting Rectangles—Where the lettered or illustrative material is not placed, framed or composed as described in subsection a., b. or c. above, the total area of the abutting rectangles or other simple geometric shapes within which the individual words, letters, illustrations or other elements comprising the sign could be enclosed shall be the sign area.

e.

Clocks and Thermometers—Time and temperature devices without advertising copy will not be included in determining the sign area.

Tract Sign—An off-site sign relating to the original sale of property other than that on which the sign is constructed.

Window Sign—A sign or combination of signs painted on, attached to, or designed or placed so as to be read principally through the windows from outside the structure.

To ensure compliance with the regulations contained in this Chapter, a Zoning Clearance is required for each nonexempted sign to be erected or maintained, except as required elsewhere in this Chapter. Plot plans and elevation drawings shall be submitted with all Zoning Clearance applications for signs. Only signs on one property may be applied for on one application.

(Am. Ord. 4144—7/22/97)

Except as otherwise specified in this Article and subject to regulations locating signs with reference to street intersections, freeways, scenic highways and primary roads, the following signs shall be exempt from the requirements of this Article:

a.

Governmental signs providing general information to the public, and for control of traffic or similar regulatory purposes, including street signs, danger signs and warnings at railroad crossings;

b.

Memorial tablets or signs, including those indicating names of buildings and dates of construction, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building, or when constructed of bronze or similar noncombustible material;

c.

Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, with a total surface area not exceeding ten square feet on any lot; or street address numbers with a total surface area not exceeding two square feet;

d.

Signs which are not visible beyond either the boundaries of the lot on which they are located, or from any public right-of-way, or from any parking area, or circulation area open to the general public;

e.

Flags or seals of the United States of America or the State of California, or emblems of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, when such emblems do not exceed four square feet in area and, if freestanding, five feet in height, and such flags or emblems are not used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device;

f.

Parking area or other private traffic directional signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area per sign. Each lot is permitted one such sign per entrance to the lot or premises, to direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic on the same property;

g.

Signs placed by a public utility, conveying information on the location of facilities in the furtherance of service or safety;

h.

Freestanding on-site real estate signs 12 square feet or less in area, having a maximum panel length or height of eight feet (excluding real estate tract signs);

i.

Temporary construction signs, provided that:

(1)

Only one sign is erected per construction site;

(2)

The sign does not exceed six square feet in open space, agricultural and R-zones, or twenty-four (24) square feet in all other zones;

(3)

The sign is used only to indicate the name of the construction project and the names and locations (state and city or community only) of the contractors, architects, engineers, landscape designers, project or leasing agent, and/or financing company;

(4)

The sign is displayed during construction only; and

(5)

The sign does not exceed six feet in height if freestanding;

j.

On-site real estate "for sale" or "for lease" signs pertaining to the property displayed within a window, subject to Section 8110-6.13. Only one such sign is allowed on each street frontage of the property;

k.

Temporary "open house" signs. Only one such sign is allowed on each street frontage of the property on which the open house is being held. Such sign may be single- or double-faced and is limited to a maximum of three square feet in area and four feet in height. Such signs shall contain only the address of the property where the open house is being held and the name of the real estate agent or party holding the open house. Such signs shall be erected and removed on the same day the open house is held and shall not be fastened or attached in any way to a building facade or architectural element;

l.

Signs or banners announcing the opening of a new business which, in the aggregate, do not exceed ten square feet or 25 percent of the window area, whichever is greater. Such signs may be erected for a maximum of 60 days during the opening of the new business;

m.

Other signs, including political and "no trespassing" signs, having noncommercial messages and not exceeding two square feet in area on any lot;

n.

Individual window signs not exceeding ten square feet in area that are consistent with the provisions of Sec. 8110-6.13.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85; Am. Ord. 3810—5/5/87; Am. Ord. 4123—9/17/96)

(Ord. No. 4407, § 7, 10-20-2009)

The following signs and sign types are prohibited:

a.

Sandwich-board, A-frame and portable freestanding signs;

b.

Bench signs, except at bus stops designated on a valid bus schedule;

c.

Signs which flash, scintillate, move or rotate, except for clocks and time and temperature signs;

d.

Banners, pennants, flags (except as permitted by Section 8110-3e; no other flags are permitted);

e.

Captive balloons or signs which change color or appear to change color or where the intensity of light changes or appears to change, except on a temporary basis in accordance with Section 8110-6.11;

f.

Portable or trailer-mounted off-site advertising or tract signs;

g.

Any sign which emits sound;

h.

Any sign erected in such a manner that any portion of the sign or its support is attached to or will interfere with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe, or will obstruct any stairway, door, ventilator or window;

i.

Projecting signs, unless suspended from a canopy in accordance with Section 8110-6.2, or attached to a service station canopy roof in accordance with Section 8110-6.9.1;

j.

Roof signs;

k.

Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe or constitutes a hazard to health or safety by reason of design, inadequate maintenance or dilapidation;

l.

Any sign erected or attached to any tree or utility pole within any public right-of-way, or any sign erected within the boundaries of the required right-of-way for any mapped road as shown on the Circulation Element of the Ventura County General Plan;

m.

Any sign erected in such a manner that it will or may reasonably be expected to interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic;

n.

The use of any item of merchandise or other commodity related to the business as a sign, except as such commodity may be permanently incorporated into a sign structure as permitted by this Article;

o.

Signs attached to the exterior surfaces of windows;

(Add Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

p.

Off-site signs, except as specifically permitted in Sections 8110-5.1 and 8110-5.6.

(Add Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

Section 8110-5.1 sets forth the standards for sign categories, except bench signs, canopy signs, cooperative display panels, illuminated signs, political signs, service station signs, symbol signs, temporary signs and window signs which are set forth in Sec. 8110-6 below. The latter section also contains more detailed standards and regulations applicable to tract signs.

(Am. Ord. 4054—2/1/94; Am. Ord. 4123—9/17/96)

Regulatory Notes:

* F = Total street frontage of lot in linear feet.

(a)

Only those real estate signs over twelve (12) square feet require Zoning Clearance.

(b)

Prohibited in open space zones; see also Section 8110-6.12.

(c)

Real estate signs may exceed twelve (12) square feet by one square foot for each ten (10) feet by which the width of the lot, or two or more contiguous lots in single ownership, exceeds seventy (70) feet, to a maximum of seventy-two (72) square feet.

(d)

Sign may be as long as the building wall to which it is attached, and may wrap around a corner, but may not project beyond a corner.

(e)

Permitted in M2 and M3 zones only; see also Section 8110-6.7.

(f)

Permitted on vacant property in CPD and M-zones only; see also Section 8110-6.12.

(g)

Large sites may have signs five hundred (500) feet apart; maximum two hundred (200) square feet of total freestanding sign area per lot. A drive-through restaurant may have an extra sixteen (16) square foot menu board; see Section 8110-6.14.

(h)

Each wall or building face is permitted one square foot of sign area per linear foot of wall length; maximum one hundred twenty (120) square feet, regardless of the number of signs.

(i)

Sign may not extend above the eaves of a gable roof, nor more than two feet above the face of the canopy or a parapet wall to which it is attached.

(j)

For three hundred seventy-five (375) square-foot signs, the length may be increased to thirty-six (36) feet.

(k)

Prohibited in SRP Overlay Zone; see also Section 8109-4.1.4(b).

(l)

Agricultural sales facilities may have additional signs in accordance with Section 8107-6.1.6.

(m)

Assembly Uses may have up to twenty (20) square feet of attached sign regardless of lot width.

(n)

Assembly Uses may have up to twenty-five (25) square feet of freestanding sign regardless of lot width.

(o)

Principal structures related to agriculture, except shade/mist structures, over twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in size, may have one square foot of sign area per two linear feet of wall length, regardless of the number of signs. The Planning Director may approve additional sign area, to a maximum total of one hundred twenty (120) square feet per qualified building, as part of a complete sign program for the site. Such sign program may be approved as a modification to an existing permit, such as a Conditional Use Permit or Planned Development Permit. If no such permit exists for the site, the applicant shall submit the sign program as part of a Planned Development Permit.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85; Am. Ord. 3810—5/5/87; Am. Ord. 4054—2/1/94; Am. Ord. 4123—9/17/96; Am. Ord. 4215—10/24/00; Am. Ord. 4216—10/24/00; Am. Ord. 4317—3/15/05; Am. Ord. 4390—9/9/08; Ord. No. 4411, § 5, 3-2-2010)

a.

On-site freestanding signs three feet or less in height may be located within a setback adjacent to a street.

b.

A sign attached to an existing wall or fence is exempt from the setback requirements, provided that the sign does not project beyond any edge of such wall or fence.

(Am. Ord. 3749—10/29/85; Am. Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

Every sign as permitted by this Article shall be maintained in good condition. The Planning Director may require any improperly maintained sign, temporary or permanent, to be repaired or removed upon the failure of the owner(s) to repair or remedy a condition of any sign declared by the Department of Building and Safety to be unsafe, or declared by the Planning Director to be improperly maintained, within 30 days from the receipt by the owner(s) of a written notice to that effect.

(Am. Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

(Add Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

Where the average grade of the lot on which a sign is placed is at or above the adjacent street grade, the sign shall be measured from the grade level adjacent to the sign. Where the average grade of the lot is below the adjacent street grade, the sign height shall be measured from the adjacent street grade.

(Add Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

If a lot has no street frontage, the easement providing for access to the lot shall be considered part of said lot for purposes of sign placement.

(Add Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

Bench signs are permitted at bus stops designated on a valid bus schedule. The copy area of such signs shall be a maximum of four square feet in open space, agricultural and residential zones, and eight square feet in commercial and industrial zones. No bench sign shall extend beyond the edges of the bench backrest.

Canopy signs may extend to within one foot of the edge of a canopy from which the sign is suspended. Signs painted on or affixed to canopies shall be considered part of the total allowable area of attached signs for that building. Signs suspended under canopies which project over private walks or drives open to the public shall be limited to an area of eight square feet per sign.

Time and temperature devices shall have a maximum area of 24 square feet.

Such structures are allowed subject to conditions stated in a CUP or PD Permit in all commercial zones, and may include enclosed display of products sold or bulletin-type advertising stands which may or may not serve other functional purposes, such as kiosks, covers for inclement weather and the like, or they may serve as an additional structural element visually to enhance pedestrian ways or landscaped or parking areas.

a.

Location—Such structures shall not be located in any required setbacks.

b.

Area—The area of pedestrian sign display structures shall be in accordance with Sec. 8110-5.1 (matrix), and may be allowed in addition to sign area otherwise permitted for the lot.

c.

Lighting—Illumination of pedestrian sign display structures such as kiosks may be by indirect or diffused light only.

Signs in open space, agricultural and residential zones may have indirect or diffused illumination. Illuminated signs in nonresidential zones shall not exceed the brightness of a diffused light panel having cool white fluorescent 800 milliampere lights spaced at least ten inches on center. Sign illumination shall not result in glare being directed toward surrounding properties.

Any sign erected on the back of an existing freestanding sign must have the same exterior dimensions as the existing sign.

Such signs are permitted only with the granting of a Planning Director Conditional Use Permit in accordance with Article 11, and are subject to the following regulations and standards in addition to those listed in Sec. 8110-5.1:

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

a.

The number of lanes shall be measured on the side of the road from which the sign is designed to be read.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

a.

Sign structures shall be of the most modern design and aesthetically attractive type feasible.

b.

The number of light fixtures shall be kept to a minimum and integrated into the design of the structure.

c.

On developed sites, landscaping shall be used to enhance the appearance of the sign, and to the extent possible, to allow the sign to blend with the remainder of the site.

d.

The use of planter boxes to improve the appearance of the sign base, and trees to mask the unused side of a single-faced sign, are encouraged.

e.

Sign poles and other non-copy elements shall be made to blend visually with the color(s) and texture(s) of the background, including any buildings.

The purpose of this Section is to prevent damage to Public property, protect the integrity of the electoral process and prevent the erosion of aesthetic quality and historic values within the County. It is specifically recognized that if temporary political signs on private property are not removed after the election is held, the deteriorating signs and accumulating debris become a blight, defacing the landscape. It is therefore an intent of this Article to make provision for the erection and removal of such signs after the election which they publicized has been held.

No temporary political sign face shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area. The aggregate area of all temporary signs placed or maintained on any lot in one ownership shall not exceed ninety-six (96) square feet.

(Am. Ord. 4216—10/24/00)

In order to keep track of the placement of temporary political signs to assure removal subsequent to an election, such signs shall be registered with the Planning Department by the candidate or his or her registered agent, or, when a ballot proposition is involved, by an authorized agent of the group or organization sponsoring the signs, prior to the distribution of such signs for the attachment or installation on any property. Registration of political signs shall be on forms available in the Planning Department and shall be accompanied by an agreement signed by the candidate or his or her authorized agent, or when a ballot proposition is involved, by an authorized agent of the group or organization sponsoring the signs, that within ten calendar days after the election all political signs shall be removed, and a certified statement by the registrant that consent will be obtained from each owner of the property on which a sign is to be posted.

Political signs may not be affixed, installed, or erected within 100 feet of a polling place or historic site, nor within the right of way of any highway, nor within 660 feet of the edge of a "Scenic Highway" or landscaped freeway, nor in any location where the sign will impair sight distance or create a hazard to traffic or pedestrians, nor on any telephone pole, lamppost, tree, wall, fence, bridge, bench, hydrant, curbstone, sidewalk or other structure in or upon any public right-of-way, nor upon any other public property.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85; Am. Ord. 4216—10/24/00)

Temporary political signs shall not be posted sooner than 90 days prior to a scheduled election administered by the County Elections Department. Said signs shall be removed within 10 days after the election.

(Add Ord. 4216—10/24/00)

Except for signs remaining posted after the post-election deadline, any political sign not posted in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to be a public nuisance and shall be subject to removal by the candidate, property owner, or, when a ballot proposition is involved, the authorized agent of the group or organization sponsoring the sign or, upon their failure to do so after reasonable attempt at notice by the County, by County officers or zoning inspectors. Any political sign which is not removed within the specified period following an election shall be subject to summary removal and confiscation by the County.

(Am. Ord. 3730 - 5/7/85; Am. Ord. 4216—10/24/00)

On-site service station signs are permitted in accordance with the following regulations:

Attached signs are permitted as follows:

a.

Maximum permitted area in square feet is three times the square root of the area (in square feet) of the wall or canopy face. Maximum 200 square feet for all attached signs, except that when wall area exceeds 5,000 square feet, the sign area may be increased by ten square feet for each additional 500 square feet of wall area over 5,000, to a maximum of 300 square feet.

(Am. Ord. 3749—10/29/85)

b.

Maximum height—16 feet, provided that the sign does not extend above the eaves of a gable roof nor more than two feet above the face of the canopy or parapet wall to which it is attached.

c.

Brand name insignia, emblems or medallions may be attached to the building frontage of the service station. Symbol background area may be 14 square feet maximum per symbol, maximum ten feet horizontally and maximum eight feet vertically.

Freestanding signs are permitted as follows:

a.

Maximum area in square feet is the lesser of 120 or 0.8F-40, where F is the lot frontage in linear feet.

b.

Maximum height is 25 feet or 1.8 times the square root of the lot frontage, whichever is less.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

The maximum total area for all signs on a service station site is 300 square feet.

There is no limit on the number of signs on a service station site, except that poster boards are limited to two; see Sec. 8110-6.9.5, below.

Two poster boards mounted on permanently anchored footings may be installed in locations which do not obstruct safe visibility from vehicles. Each poster board may have a maximum area of 15 square feet and a maximum height of six feet.

An identification sign may be mounted on a pole projecting through the roof of a pump island canopy, and a suspended sign may be attached to hang below the canopy.

One symbol sign in the form of a graphic presentation of goods or services sold or rendered on the premises or a traditional emblem associated with a trade, which emblem or symbol bears no written message or trademark, shall be permitted on each building frontage of the enterprise provided that it is affixed to the building, canopy or wall which is part of the building frontage and does not project over any publicly maintained right-of-way nor more than two feet above the canopy or wall. No such symbol sign if attached to the building shall exceed 64 square feet in area, and no such symbol sign if hanging from a canopy or facia shall exceed two square feet in area. Such signs shall be included in the total area of signs allowed on the lot where they are located.

Temporary signs are permitted as follows:

The Planning Director may authorize temporary banners, pennants, flags or captive balloons for a period of up to 30 days in any 90-day period for the purpose of advertising a grand opening or other special event.

No Zoning Clearance for a temporary sign promoting an event shall be issued unless and until the applicant therefor has signed an agreement that the sign involved will be removed within seven days after the expiration of the 30-day temporary period. Said agreement shall authorize County agents to remove expired signs and shall be accompanied by a cash deposit of $100.00, which deposit may be used to defray the costs of sign removal in the event the permit holder defaults upon the agreement as aforesaid. Appropriate refunds to the applicant(s) shall be made upon written report to the Planning Director that sign removal has been satisfactorily accomplished.

Such signs are permitted on agriculturally zoned property, on vacant residentially or industrially zoned property, and on vacant property zoned C-P-D, only after a final tract map has been recorded, for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance of the Zoning Clearance for such sign or until all lots have been sold, whichever is the first to occur. No tract shall have more than four off-site signs advertising its existence. Such signs may be located adjacent to routes traveled to reach the tract advertised unless such route has been adopted as a freeway or County Scenic Highway on the Ventura County Scenic Highways Element of the General Plan, or is a State-designated Scenic Highway, or if the proposed sign location is within a "Scenic Corridor" adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

Tract signs located within the County shall advertise only tracts located within the County or within cities located therein, or may exhibit noncommercial messages for a period of 18 months.

No lot shall have thereon both a tract advertising sign and an on-site identification sign, and no tract sign shall be placed within 500 feet of any other tract sign.

(Am. Ord. 3730—5/7/85)

Window signs shall not exceed 25 percent of a given window's area. That portion of the total window signage area that exceeds ten square feet on any individual business shall be counted toward the attached sign area permitted for that business. Signs attached to the exterior surfaces of windows are prohibited.

(Am. Ord. 3730 - 5/7/85; Am. Ord. 4216—10/24/00)(See also Sec. 8110-3(n))

A drive-in or drive-through restaurant is permitted one menu board not exceeding 16 square feet in area, which shall not be counted toward the sign area or permitted number of signs otherwise allowed for the lot or premises.

(Add Ord. 3810—5/5/87)

Signs pertaining to enterprises or occupants that are no longer using a property shall be removed from the premises within 60 days after the associated enterprise or occupant has vacated the premises. Other signs of a temporary nature shall be removed within ten days following the event or other purpose served by the sign in the first instance. Any such sign not removed within the required period shall constitute a nuisance and shall be subject to summary abatement pursuant to Section 38773 of the California Government Code, and the expense of such abatement shall be a lien against the property on which the sign was maintained and a personal obligation against the property owner. Said property owner shall first be served with a notice to abate the nuisance and shall be given the opportunity for a hearing before the Planning Director.

In cases where the area of signs existing as a valid nonconforming use on a property exceed the total allowable area for permitted signs, no additional signs shall be permitted on the property. If the size or configuration of a lot or building is changed by the subdivision of the property or by alterations, identification signs and outdoor advertising signs on the resulting properties shall be required to conform to the sign regulations applicable to the newly created lot or lots at the time such change becomes effective.

A nonconforming sign may be repaired, provided that it has not been damaged in excess of 60 percent of its value. Such damaged nonconforming sign may not be expanded, reconstructed or relocated without being made to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Article.

All signs rendered nonconforming by the provisions of this Article shall be altered, removed or otherwise made to comply with the provisions of this Article within the following time periods, which shall run from either the effective date of this Article or such later date as the use is made nonconforming:

Provided, however, that the following time periods shall apply to signs legally erected, pursuant to a valid sign permit issued within the two years immediately preceding the effective date of this Article:

Nonconforming signs shall either be made to conform with the provisions of this Article or be abated within the applicable period of time. In the event they are not, the Planning Director shall order the same to be abated by the owner of the property or by any other person known to be responsible for the maintenance of the sign.

Unless some other mode of abatement is approved by the Planning Director in writing, abatement of nonconforming signs shall be accomplished in the following manner:

a.

Signs Painted on Structures—By removal of the paint constituting the sign or by permanently painting it in such a way that the sign shall not thereafter be or become visible;

b.

Other Signs—By removal of the sign, including its dependent structures and supports; or pursuant to a sign permit duly issued allowing modification, alteration or replacement thereof in conformity with the provisions of this Article.