A.
Sign violations.
1.
General. No sign shall hereafter be erected, placed, altered or moved unless in conformity with this Code. All signs located within Collier County shall comply with the following requirements:
a.
The issuance of a sign permit pursuant to the requirements of this Code shall not permit the construction or maintenance of a sign or structure in violation of an existing county, state or federal law or regulation.
b.
All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspections by the County Administrator or his designee. The County Administrator, or his designee, is hereby authorized to enter upon any property or premises to ascertain whether the provisions of this Code are being adhered to. Such entrance shall be made during business hours, unless an emergency exists. The County Administrator, or his designee, may order the removal of any sign that is not in compliance with the provisions of this Code, is improperly maintained, or which would constitute a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare.
c.
The County Manager or his designee, or his designee shall be charged with interpretation and enforcement of this Code.
2.
Enforcement procedures. Whenever, by the provisions of this Code, the performance of an act is required or the performance of an act is prohibited, a failure to comply with such provisions shall constitute a violation of this Code.
a.
The owner, tenant, and/or occupant of any land or structure, or part thereof, and an architect, builder, contractor agent, or other person who knowingly participates in, assists, directs, creates or maintains any situation that is contrary to the requirements of this Code may be held responsible for the violation and be subject to the penalties and remedies provided herein.
b.
Where any sign or part thereof violates this Code, the compliance service manager or his designee, may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate a violation of this Code, as provided by law, including prosecution before the Collier County Code Enforcement Board against the owner, agent, lessee, or other persons maintaining the sign, or owner, or lessee of the land where the sign is located.
c.
If a sign is in such condition as to be in danger of falling, or is a menace to the safety of persons or property, or found to be an immediate and serious danger to the public because of its unsafe condition, the provisions of section 2301.6 of the Standard Building Code, as adopted by Collier County shall govern.
d.
Code enforcement shall immediately remove all violative signs located in or upon public rights-of-way or public property.
e.
Penalties. If any person, firm or corporation, whether public or private, or other entity fails or refuses to obey or comply with or violates any of the provisions of this Code, such person, firm, corporation, or other entity, upon conviction of such offense, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment not to exceed 60 days in the county jail, or both, in the discretion of the court. Each violation or noncompliance shall be considered a separate and distinct offense. Further, each day of continued violation or noncompliance shall be considered as a separate offense.
Nothing herein contained shall prevent or restrict the county from taking such other lawful action in any court of competent jurisdiction as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation or noncompliance. Such other lawful actions shall include, but shall not be limited to, an equitable action for injunctive relief or an action at law for damages.
Further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the county from prosecuting any violation of this Code by means of a code enforcement board established pursuant to the subsidiary of F.S. ch. 162.
10.07.01 - Responsibility for Enforcement [Reserved]
10.07.02 - Complaints and Investigations [Reserved]
10.07.02 - Complaints and Investigations [Reserved]
10.01.01 [10.07.03] Notification of Violation [Reserved]