27:5-15. Violations of act; notice; removal

11. a. Any sign or other object used for the display of outdoor advertising which is not authorized by a valid permit or specifically exempted from the requirement for a permit, or in violation of the provisions of this act, is declared unlawful. No person shall use, erect or maintain any sign or other object for the display of outdoor advertising after the expiration of this license and in the case of any sign, after the expiration of the permit for that sign.

b. Written notice to remove the sign shall be given by the commissioner to the following persons at their last known address: the person holding the permit therefor and, if none, or if the address of the person to whom the permit was issued is not known, the owner of the real property on which the sign is located and the owner of the sign, any of whom shall be required to remove the sign within 30 days of receipt of the notice.

c. Upon failure to comply with the terms of the notice, the sign may be removed by order of the commissioner, unless a hearing has been requested by the person to whom notice has been given, or other legal action has been commenced which restrains this removal.

d. If the commissioner cannot ascertain the owner of the property or the owner of the sign for which a permit has not been issued, the commissioner may remove the sign 30 days after posting notice on the sign. Thereafter, the commissioner may enter upon private property without liability in order to remove the sign and may recover, from the owner or the person who unlawfully erected the sign, the cost of its removal or the amount of $500, whichever is greater.

e. The commissioner may institute any appropriate action or proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of a sign if the sign is not brought into compliance within the 30 days following written notification pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

L.1991,c.413,s.11.