9655.10. - Temporary signs.

A.

Temporary window signs. Temporary non-illuminated window signs are allowed in the commercial, business park, and planned development zones and are allowed in addition to the total authorized sign area but shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total window area; shall not exceed one (1) sign per window panel; and shall not exceed fifty (50) percent of any individual window panel. The total window area shall include the square footage of the aggregate vertical glass areas of windows and entry doors in each individual storefront or tenant space that are parallel to the primary street frontage serving the property. If more than one (1) street frontage serves the property, for purposes of displaying temporary window signs the primary street frontage may be determined by the business owner. Said signs may be displayed on any window; shall be measured as defined for sign area in this article; and shall be compatible in terms of colors with the permanent signs, except fluorescent colors shall be prohibited. A sign permit is not required for these signs.

B.

Yard signs.

1.

Residential and open space zones. A maximum of two (2) yard signs per lot not exceeding six (6) square feet in area and six (6) feet in height for each sign are allowed in the residential and open space restricted zones for a period not exceeding one hundred twenty (120) days in twelve (12) consecutive months. The planning director may approve an additional one hundred twenty (120) days for the display of yard signs during the time of residential real estate marketing upon submittal of evidence of active sale, rent, or lease by the property owner. A sign permit is not required for these signs.

2.

Commercial, business park, and planned development zones, with the approval of a sign permit. During the time that valid building permits exist for new construction or remodel, up to two (2) temporary yard signs, one not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area and another not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet, are permitted on the lot per street frontage. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) feet in height and removed before notice of completion is issued for the building(s) being constructed.

C.

Charitable or community events. For a maximum thirty-day period prior to a charitable or community event occurring within the boundaries of the city and three (3) days after such event, one (1) temporary sign or banner not exceeding twenty (20) square feet may be displayed at a commercial complex in the commercial shopping center - mixed use (CS-MU) zone along each street frontage for a maximum of thirty-

three (33) days per event. In addition, such sign or banner may be displayed at the site of the event. Such signs and banners are in addition to all other signage allowed in this chapter. Such signs and banners shall not be illuminated or posted on trees, fence posts or public utility poles, or located within any public rightof-way. A sign permit is not required for these signs or banners.

D.

New tenancies.

1.

During a period of ninety (90) consecutive days from the issuance of the sign permit, the director may approve one (1) banner not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area for any pending or recent occupancies of new tenant spaces on a parcel in which the tenancy is located in the commercial, business park, and planned development land use districts. Such signs may consist of one (1) banner on the exterior wall of the building within which the subject tenancy is located. The content of the banner may be changed during the ninety-day period.

2.

In addition, during the first four (4) days of a grand opening event, captive balloons, without regard to number, may be permitted provided that such balloons do not extend beyond the lowest point of the roofline of the business, obstruct other business in the vicinity, or interfere with pedestrian or vehicle traffic. No mylar or metallic balloons are allowed.

E.

Commercial and industrial real estate marketing period.

1.

Temporary on-site signs are allowed on properties in the commercial, business park, and planned development land use districts during the period of time when such properties are for sale, lease or rent on that parcel, if the property owner obtains a sign permit pursuant to the following requirements:

a.

One (1) sign per parcel; or

b.

One (1) sign per street frontage.

c.

Ground mounted signs shall not exceed three (3) feet by three (3) feet, or a total of nine (9) square feet in area and four (4) feet in height if attached to the ground by a pole(s) or other support structure.

d.

Wall or window signs shall not exceed two (2) feet by two (2) feet, or a total of four (4) square feet in area. Each sign shall be designed and located in a manner satisfactory to the director. No sign shall be illuminated and no banners are allowed. No other temporary yard signs shall be allowed beyond those allowed by this provision.

F.

Election periods. During the period from thirty (30) days before and seven (7) days after a local, state, or national election, additional temporary signs, not exceeding six (6) square feet in sign area and six (6) feet in height, are allowed on private property in all zones. A sign permit shall not be required for a temporary sign during this period.

(Ord. No. 19-444, § 3, 10-23-2019; Ord. No. 23-472, § 12, 5-22-2024)

9655.11. - Exempt signs.

The following are exempt from the requirements of this division.

A.

Government-maintained signs. Government-maintained signs include signs erected and maintained by the City of Agoura Hills, the State of California or the County of Los Angeles and used for public safety, temporary traffic control, public works or utility construction and maintenance.

B.

Flags. Flags that meet the following criteria are exempt from the requirements of this division:

1.

A maximum vertical dimension of five (5) feet;

2.

A maximum horizontal dimension of eight (8) feet;

3.

A maximum cumulative square footage of a flag on a parcel of forty (40) feet (one (1) side);

4.

A maximum of one (1) flag pole per developed site; and

5.

A maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet in the commercial, business park, and planned development zones and a maximum height of twenty-five (25) feet in the residential and open space-restricted zones. Flag poles are subject to the issuance of a building permit.

C.

Required signs. Official notices required to be posted by law, court, or other government agency.

(Ord. No. 19-444, § 3, 10-23-2019; Ord. No. 23-472, § 13, 5-22-2024)

9655.12. - Administration and enforcement.

A.

Duty to enforce. The director shall have the duty to enforce the provisions of this part.

B.

Modifications to sign standards.

1.

The director may administratively approve up to a ten-percent increase in the size of wall signs and the size and height of monument signs. This approval shall not be subject to the requirements in sections 9676 through 9676.7.

2.

Where an applicant is faced with exceptional circumstances related to the type or location of its business or is trying to achieve a special design effect the director may approve a sign modification for an increase from eleven (11) to fifteen (15) percent in the size of wall signs and the size and height of monument signs.

3.

The applicant shall have the burden of proving that:

a.

The sign is or will not be detrimental to surrounding uses or properties or the community in general; and

b.

The approval of such modification is consistent with the purposes of the general plan and this part, the sign criteria set forth in section 9655.5.D., and the adopted sign design guidelines and/or the design guidelines in any adopted specific plans.

4.

A sign modification shall be processed pursuant to division 6 (section 9676 through 9676.7).

5.

A request for an increase in size or height of a wall or monument sign by more than fifteen (15) percent, a request for additional signs, or a request to allow the relocation of signs shall be made as an application for a variance.

C.

Special consideration for additional signs with landscape maintenance agreement. To avoid conflicts between the visibility of signs in existing shopping centers and the city's parking lot shade coverage requirements, the planning commission may approve a modification to an existing sign program or a new sign program for an existing retail center or complex to allow modifications to the size, height, number, and location of monument signs if the property owner enters into a landscape maintenance agreement with the city. The landscape maintenance agreement shall among other items, include a provision to ensure that proper tree trimming methods are utilized. All proposed signage shall meet the following criteria:

1.

The sign shall not be detrimental to surrounding uses or properties or the community in general; and

2.

The approval of such modification shall be consistent with the purposes of the general plan and this part, the sign criteria set forth in subsection 9655.5 D. and the adopted sign guidelines.

D.

Removal of unsafe signs. Any sign that presents an immediate danger to the public health or safety may be removed by the city without prior notice. Alternatively, the director may issue a notice of violation and give the permit holder, property owner, or person in possession and control of the property forty-eight (48) hours to cure the violation. In the case of an unsafe sign removed by the city, the costs of such removal and storage shall be borne by the permit holder, property owner, or person in possession and control of the property, as applicable and may be collected by the city in the same manner as it collects any other debt or obligation. No unsafe sign, which has been removed and stored by the city, shall be released until the costs of removal and storage have been paid. If an unsafe sign remains unclaimed for a period of thirty (30) days after notice of removal is sent to the permit holder, property owners, or person in possession and control of the property, it shall be deemed to be unclaimed personal property and disposed of in accordance with the law.

E.

Removal of illegal signs on public property. The director shall remove or cause to be removed any sign unlawfully placed or located on public property or in a public right-of-way. The director shall notify the owner of such sign, if such owner is known, that its sign is being held at city hall and that it will be destroyed if not claimed by the owner within ten (10) days after the date of such notice. In the event that the owner does not claim such sign within said ten-day period, the director may destroy or otherwise dispose of such sign.

F.

Violations. Violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor unless otherwise charged by the prosecuting attorney as an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in section 1200(b) of this Code.

(Ord. No. 19-444, § 3, 10-23-2019; Ord. No. 23-472, § 14, 5-22-2024)

9655.13. - Nonconforming signs.

This section recognizes that the eventual elimination of existing signs that are not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter is as important as the prohibition of new signs that would violate these regulations.

A.

Continuation of a legal nonconforming sign. A legally established sign that does not conform to the provisions of this chapter may continue to be used, except that the sign shall not be:

1.

Structurally altered to extend its useful life;

2.

Expanded, moved, or relocated;

3.

Re-established after a business has been discontinued for sixty (60) days or more; or

4.

Re-established after damage or destruction of more than fifty (50) percent of the sign value, as determined by the director.

B.

Sign copy changes. The sign copy and sign faces of a nonconforming sign may be changed upon obtaining a sign permit provided that the change does not include a structural change in the display.

C.

Correction of nonconformities required. Approval of any buildings on a site or a change in the land use on a site shall require that all nonconforming signs on the site be brought into conformity with this chapter.

D.

Within sixty (60) days after a tenant vacancy in any commercial or industrial zone, all signs and support structures related to the prior tenant shall be removed.

(Ord. No. 19-444, § 3, 10-23-2019; Ord. No. 23-472, § 15, 5-22-2024)