A. Any sign that has been abandoned or installed illegally is hereby declared to be a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Bakersfield. Any sign which is partially or wholly obstructed by the growth of dry vegetation or weeds, or by the presence of debris or litter, also presents a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Bakersfield.

B. It shall be the duty of the owner and occupant to make immediate repair to any sign deemed by the building director to be imminently dangerous or perilous to the public safety. A sign maintained in violation of this section constitutes a public nuisance. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to nullify the requirements and remedies as to maintenance established by the Uniform Sign Code or this chapter. Upon a written notice from the building director of a sign deemed unsafe and dangerous to public safety, necessary repairs shall be made immediately. Otherwise, upon a written notice from the building director, the necessary maintenance, alterations or repairs as required by this chapter pursuant to Section 17.60.060 A,9 shall be made within ten days after the date of such notice. In the event the owner, or person in lawful possession fails to maintain, alter or repair in accordance with such notices, in addition to any other penalty or remedy provided for in this chapter, such sign may be abated by the building director in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

C. Any signs which are not removed within the required period specified within this chapter, shall constitute a public nuisance and shall be subject to summary abatement at the expense of the owner and the person in lawful possession of such sign, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 38773-38773.7 of the Government Code; the expenses of abatement of such nuisances are a lien against the property on which they are maintained and a personal obligation against the property owner. Said property owner or person in lawful possession shall first be served with a ten day notice to abate the nuisance by removing the sign and shall be given the opportunity to explain to the building director why such sign has not been removed. If, after such opportunity to explain, the building director orders the removal of the sign, the agents of the city shall have authority to enter upon the private property to remove the sign constituting the nuisance. The provisions of this subsection may be utilized separately from, as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, any other remedy provided in this chapter or otherwise provided by law.

D. In the event any person erects, installs, alters, relocates or maintains any sign after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, which sign is in violation of any provision of this chapter, and the same is not removed after notice as specified in subsection C of this section, the same is a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement at the expense of the person creating, causing, committing or maintaining it, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 38773-38773.7 of the Government Code.

E. The building director may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this chapter, whenever the permit is issued in error on the basis of incorrect information supplied by the applicant which results in there being a violation of any ordinance, regulations, or any provisions of this chapter.

F. With exception to those signs deemed nonconforming and subject to Section 17.60.100, the owner or person in lawful possession of any sign which is not operational or not used for a period of ninety days, or which was used to advertise or identify that which has been moved or discontinued for a period of ninety days, shall cover or remove all display copy from such sign immediately upon the expiration of such period. If said display copy is removed, any bulbs or other mechanical equipment that becomes exposed shall be covered or removed. If said display copy is not covered or removed within thirty days after notice by the building director, the city may cause said display copy to be removed or covered and the cost shall become a lien against the property on which the sign is located. Extensions for thirty day periods may be granted by the building director. The provisions of this subsection may be utilized separately from, as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, any other remedy provided in this chapter or otherwise provided by law.

G. All signs, except nonconforming signs pursuant to Section 17.60.100, which do not conform with the provisions of this chapter, are public nuisances and shall be removed at the owner’s sole expense within sixty days after the effective date of this chapter. If said sign is not removed within said period, the city may cause said sign to be removed and the cost shall become a lien on the property on which the sign is located. Extensions for thirty day periods may be granted by the building director. The provisions of this subsection may be utilized separately from, as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, any other remedy provided in this code or otherwise provided by law. (Ord. 3586 § 2, 1994)