§ 27-609. Maintenance and removal of unsafe or illegal signs.

(a)

Whenever the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, or a designated representative determines that a sign or poster is unsafe or illegal, the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or designated representative shall (in writing) order that the sign be made safe or removed. The order shall be complied with by the person owning or using the sign or, in the case of a gateway sign, the Homeowners' Association or other entity responsible for maintenance within five (5) days after the person, Homeowners' Association, or entity receives the order. In the event of an emergency situation (when there is an immediate danger to public safety), the unsafe sign shall be made safe or removed without any delay or written order.

(b)

If the unsafe or illegal sign is not removed or maintained in accordance with the order, the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or designated representative shall have the sign removed. Removal shall be referred to the Department of Public Works and Transportation. The cost of removal shall be borne by the owner, user, Homeowners' Association, or entity responsible for the sign. For purposes of this Subtitle, all illegal signs in the County right-of-way shall be deemed an immediate danger to public safety and may be removed without any delay or written order. Any costs of removal shall be borne by the person or entity responsible for the sign.

(c)

The penalties prescribed in Section 27-265 of this Subtitle and in Section 28-111(c) of this Code may be invoked if the sign is not removed or maintained in accordance with the order.

(d)

The maintenance of an entrance feature, including gateway signs and associated landscaping, shall be the responsibility of a Homeowner's Association or any other entity or person designated in a maintenance arrangement approved by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Any entrance which has not been maintained in a safe and attractive manner may, for the purpose of this Section, be deemed by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement to be an unsafe sign.

(e)

It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to attach any illegal sign or illegal poster to any public utility pole, or to the exterior of any other public structure, posts, signs, or telephone/electrical boxes, or, with the exception of those permitted under Section 27-602, to place an illegal sign or illegal poster in the County right-of-way. Unless rebutted by competent evidence, any such sign or poster shall be presumed to be owned by and attached by the person whose business name, business address, business telephone, or trademark is contained on the face of the sign or poster.

(CB-50-1984; CB-109-1989; CB-59-1993; CB-73-2001; CB-29-2014; CB-79-2015; CB-61-2016)