Why Have A Code If It Isn't Enforced?

The chapter in the City Code regarding signs is quite extensive, and so it should be.  Signs, when unregulated, tend to create clutter, aesthetic issues and other banes of modern urban life.  One issue dealt with in the Code targets signs that are no longer valid -- that is, when a business moves out, but they leave a sign, or signs, behind.  Section 17 of Chapter 244 stipulates that when a business is no longer around, the sign(s) associated with that business must be removed within 5 days.  Easy enough, right?

What happens when a business fails to remove their sign(s) after 5 days?  Well, Section 13 puts things in the hands of the city to resolve the issue.  Ten days after notification by the Building Inspector of a sign in breach of the code... "the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign...and any expense shall be paid by the owner of the building."   

The American Glory restaurant on Warren Street closed its doors in November, the sign on the door reading CLOSED FOR THE WINTER.  It was obvious then that the closure was permanent, and, sure enough, the owner recently announced that it was closing the business for good.  How long will it take the American Glory owner to remove the awning and any other signs they have?  How long will it take Code Enforcement to send the restaurant owner a "notification" that they are required to remove the awning and any other signs?  It's possible that Craig Haigh has this in the works already, but if the signs for the long-gone beer store on Green Street are any indication, nothing is likely in the works.

I'm thinking that The Beer Store in the Green Street Plaza closed no less than 2 years ago.  I recently counted at least 4 signs for the business still up, including the free-standing sign that has been ready to fall over for years and was once actually legible.  The banner on the wall of the liquor store, facing Green Street, is also nearly completely faded.  In short, the signs are a disgrace, the exact issue that our City Code and our Code Enforcement Office are supposed to prevent and deal with.  Would this be allowed on Warren Street for months and years?  Maybe we will find out soon.