Section 28-501.4. Civil penalties

Any person who places or maintains a sign
  on a building or premises without an appropriate permit in violation  of
  this  article  shall  be  liable  for  a  civil  penalty of, for a first
  violation, not more than fifteen thousand dollars and, for a  second  or
  subsequent  violation,  not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. Each
  day's continuance shall be a separate and distinct violation. Such civil
  penalties may be recovered in an action  in  any  court  of  appropriate
  jurisdiction  or in a proceeding before the environmental control board.
  Such board shall have the power to impose the civil  penalties  provided
  for  in  this  article.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of section six
  hundred sixty-six of the charter, a notice of violation  issued  by  the
  department  pursuant  to  this  section 28-501.4 shall not be subject to
  review by the board of standards and appeals.