It shall be the duty of the director of public works to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to refuse to issue any building permit for any sign which would violate any of the provisions hereof, and such director of public works or any deputy or inspector working under his direction, by and with the consent of the director of public works, is hereby authorized and instructed to arrest, prosecute or bring any proceedings in a proper court in the name of the city against any person violating any of the terms of this chapter. In case any sign is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, moved, converted or maintained, or any sign is used in violation of this chapter, such director of public works is hereby authorized and directed to institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful erection, maintenance, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion or use, to restrain, correct or abate such violation, and to prevent any illegal act.

(Code 1964, § 19.680)