(a) During the amortization period for a nonconforming legally in place on-premises advertising display’s continued use, a city or county may not deny, refuse to issue, or condition the issuance of a permit for modification or alteration to the display upon change of ownership of any existing business if the modification or alteration does not include a structural change in the display.

(b) Subdivision (a) of this section does not apply to any ordinance introduced or adopted prior to March 12, 1983, or adopted pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 5497, if the ordinance contains no specific amortization schedule, but instead requires conformity upon change of ownership.

(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1281, Sec. 5.)