Division 26. Sign Ordinance.

Section 26.17. Enforcing official.

The City Manager shall be the enforcing official of this division. The enforcing official is charged with the duty of administering this division and securing compliance therewith. Further, the enforcing official shall make such inspection as may be necessary to ensure compliance with this division and shall initiate appropriate action, if any, to enforce the provisions of this division.

Section 26.18 Failure to comply.

If the City Manager finds that any sign has been erected, altered or maintained in violation of this division, the city shall notify the owner of record of the property upon which such sign is located by either certified mail or by hand delivery that such violation exists. The owner shall cause the violation to be remedied or shall file an appeal of the violation within three working days after receipt of the notice. Where it is determined that such illegal sign poses an imminent threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public, the city may cause the immediate removal of the sign by its own action. Cost of such removal shall be paid by the property owner. In addition to removal, the city shall be entitled to proceed with alternative legal or equitable remedies, including injunctive relief.

Section 26.19. Violations and penalties.

(a) The acts enumerated in this section shall be a violation of this division and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this division, by other city codes, and by state law. Such remedies may be pursued simultaneously.

(b) It shall be a violation to:

(1) Install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any approved plan or permit governing such sign or the site on which the sign is located.

(2) Install, create, erect or maintain any sign requiring a permit without having first obtained such permit.

(3) Fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this division or for which the sign permit has lapsed.

(4) Install, erect, place, or maintain any sign contrary to the provisions of this division, including any sign or sign structure not allowed within the applicable zoning district.

(5) Continue any such violation.

(c) Each sign installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this division shall be considered a separate violation, and each day of a continued violation shall be considered a separate violation.

(d) Any violation of this division or any condition or requirement adopted pursuant to this division may be restrained, corrected, or abated, as the case may be, by injunction or other appropriate proceedings pursuant to law. The remedies of the city shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) Issuing a stop work order for any and all work on any signs on the same site.

(2) Seeking an injunction or other order of restraint or abatement that requires the removal of the sign or the correction of the violation.

(3) For a sign which poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, taking such measures as are available to the city under the applicable provisions of this division for such circumstances.

(e) A person in violation of this division shall be subject to prosecution and, upon conviction, shall be punished as set forth in Section 1-14 of Chapter 1, St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances.