The Clearwater Code Enforcement Board on Aug. 27 ordered the removal of a billboard at 23611 US Highway 19 North, finding the sign a prohibited off‑premise billboard and enforcing terms of a voluntary annexation agreement recorded in 2022.
Assistant City Attorney Jared Simpson told the board the annexation agreement — a recorded, negotiated contract between the property owner and the city during voluntary annexation — treated billboards on the parcel as nonconforming and provided a sunset date of Jan. 1, 2025, after which the sign would no longer be allowed. The agreement also recognizes the city’s right to seek remedies, including abatement, if the property owner fails to comply.
City inspector Stephen Berger described the sign’s physical condition and showed photos the city says document rot, rust and structural deterioration after storms; the structure had been stabilized at one point without the required permits, Berger said. Public works staff warned the sign’s structural condition posed safety concerns and noted the asset’s long life span — city staff referenced guidance that typical billboard life expectancy is about 20 years.
Property owner Gilbert Janelli acknowledged the violation and told the board he has a lease arrangement with an out‑of‑town billboard company and that prospective development and existing vendor contracts complicated immediate removal. Janelli asked the board for additional time to allow advertising contracts to expire and for a smoother transition as he negotiates a sale or redevelopment of the land.
City staff and the board acknowledged those practical concerns but pointed to the recorded annexation deadline and the city’s authority under that agreement. After discussion the board voted to enter an order requiring removal by Sept. 27, 2025, and approved a civil fine of $250 per day per violation for each day the sign remains after that date. The board noted the city retains other legal remedies under the annexation agreement and could pursue abatement if necessary.
The board’s order: finding of violation; compliance (removal of sign and structure) by Sept. 27, 2025; daily fine of $250 per violation for continued noncompliance; lien and foreclosure remedies available if costs are unpaid three months after a lien is recorded. City attorneys said they would continue to coordinate with the property owner about the schedule and legal options.