Alameda Municipal Code § 6-3 Advertising Structures and Signs

As used in this section:

Advertising structure shall mean any structure, object or device erected, maintained or used for advertising purposes, and not within a building, and shall include all outdoor advertising matter attached to any building, structure or object other than vehicles transported on the public streets.

Billboard shall mean an advertising structure with a solid or nearly solid advertising surface supported wholly or in part on the ground, and not extending over public property.

Electrical Department shall mean the City Department of Public Utilities, or the Bureau of Electricity of the Department, and such term shall be deemed to include such other Electrical Department as may be hereafter created within the Department of Administration.

Electric sign shall mean a sign whereon letters, figures or designs are formed or outlined by electric incandescent lamps, luminous tubes or other electric illuminant, or formed by transparent or translucent medium which is illuminated from such lamps, tubes, or other electric illuminant contained within the signs. Signs which are illuminated by electric lights which are not attached to the sign or which are not an essential element of the sign proper, and signs which are lighted by floodlights or projectors, are not classified as electric signs within the meaning of this subsection.

Face of building shall mean the general outer surface of the walls of a building facing a street and located on the street line. Where the outer surface of the walls is not on the street line the projection of a sign from the face of a building shall be measured from the street line.

Roof sign shall mean any sign supported on or over the roof of a building and not extending over public property.

Sign shall mean any advertising structure not a billboard within the definition given for billboard above.

Street sign shall mean a sign any portion of which is located over public property.

Superintendent of the Electrical Department shall mean the Manager or Assistant Manager, or the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Public Utilities, or of the Bureau of Electricity, or of such Electrical Department of the City.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-211—12-2110)

a. No advertising structure shall be permitted contrary to the provisions of any zoning or setback ordinance or ordinances of the City; provided, however, that an advertising structure may be permitted on, attached to, or in conjunction with, a non-conforming use building as defined in the Alameda Municipal Code or in any such zoning or setback ordinance of the City, if such advertising structure advertises solely a business conducted on such property.

b. No billboard or part thereof except off premises directional signs, as defined in Section 30-6.2.b shall be located on or above any public property, nor shall any billboard be located on any private property without the lawful consent of the owner, holder, lessee, agent or trustee thereof. No sign or part thereof, except off-premises directional signs, street signs and portable freestanding signs allowed in Section 30-6.7.u., shall be located over or on public property.

c. Lights used for illuminating advertising structures not herein classified as electric signs may extend over the street for a distance not to exceed four (4') feet beyond the property line, provided such lights are installed with a vertical clearance of at least ten (10') feet above the sidewalk.

d. It shall be unlawful for any person hereafter to erect, place, alter or maintain in front of or attached to any building, any street sign projecting beyond the property line or over or on any sidewalk or public thoroughfare except such as is embraced within one (1) of the classifications set forth in Section 6-3.7, inclusive, or Section 30-6.7.u., and subject to the conditions stated therein for such respective classification; provided, however, that this subsection shall not, nor shall any provision of this section render unlawful the maintenance of any advertising structure erected and maintained under a lawful permit prior to the adoption of this Code; provided, further, that horizontal signs projecting more than eight (8′) feet from the face of the building and legally erected prior to the adoption of this Code shall be swung back against the face of the building between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. next ensuing.

e. It shall be unlawful for any person hereafter to erect, place or maintain upon any building any roof sign except as provided for in subsection 6-3.8,a.-f inclusive, and subject to the conditions stated therein.

f. It shall be unlawful for any person hereafter to erect, place or maintain upon any premises any billboard except as provided for in subsection 6-3.9, and subject to the conditions stated therein.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-221—12-225; Ord. No. 2362 N.S.)

(Ord. No. 3082 N.S., § 3, 11-19-2013)

a. No advertising structure shall be hereafter erected, placed upon or in front of or attached to any building, structure or premises without a Building Permit therefor from the Building Inspector. Application for such permit shall be made to the Building Inspector by the owner or lessee of the property on which the proposed advertising structure is to be located, or by the agent employed to erect such structure for such owner or lessee. The application shall be on a form supplied by, and in such detail as may be required by the Building Inspector, and shall be accompanied by duplicate scale or dimensional drawings of the proposed advertising structure which shall show fully the location, dimensions and construction thereof, together with such other information as may be required. When the proposed advertising structure is to be attached to a building or other independent structure, the drawings shall show the position of the sign on the supporting structure, and the character of the structural members to which such attachment is made.

b. The requirements of paragraph a. shall not apply to temporary signs as specified in subsection 6-3.6g. nor to lighting fixture signs as specified in subsection 6-3.7k, nor to advertising structures which do not project over public property and which do not contain more than thirty (30) square feet of advertising area, and which are used solely to advertise for sale or for lease the premises on which located.

c. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector upon the filing of application and exhibits as provided in paragraph a. of this subsection, to examine such drawings and other data, and, if necessary, the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the advertising structure, and if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in accordance with all legal requirements, the Building Permit Inspector shall, upon payment of the fees provided in this paragraph, issue a Building Permit for the erection of same. A fee for each advertising structure permit shall be paid to the Building Inspector as follows:

ADVERTISING STRUCTURE PERMIT FEES

a. Where plans and other pertinent information are required in accordance with paragraph a., a plan checking fee, in addition to the fee fixed herein, shall be paid to the Building Inspector, as follows:

ADVERTISING STRUCTURES PLAN CHECKING FEES

During the erection of the advertising structure, and upon the completion, thereof, the Building Inspector shall cause the same to be inspected. Provided, that if the person by whom the proposed advertising structure is to be erected or installed shall have failed, neglected or refused to correct, within ten (10) days after notification by the Building Inspector, or within such further reasonable length of time as may have been prescribed by him/her, any defect, error or deficiency in any advertising structure theretofore installed or erected by such person, then such failure, neglect or refusal shall be deemed sufficient cause for the Building Inspector to, and shall authorize him/her to, refuse to issue any further permit for the erection or installation of any advertising structure by such person until such defects, errors or deficiencies shall have been corrected and inspected and found to conform in all particulars with the provisions of this chapter and of all ordinances, rules and regulations thereto pertaining.

(Ord. No. 535 2-231—2-233; Ord. No. 1439 N.S.)

a. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this section permitting the erection or maintenance of street signs on or over sidewalks or public thoroughfares, are mere licenses revocable at any time by the City Council.

b. Any person maintaining an advertising structure in the City in violation of any of the provisions of this section shall, upon notice from the Building Inspector, cause such advertising structure to be altered and maintained in such manner as will render it in compliance therewith. In case of failure to comply with such notification, the advertising structure shall be deemed a public nuisance, and the Building Inspector is authorized to cause the removal of the same without prejudice to the penalties herein imposed for violation of the provisions of this section.

c. If the use of an electric sign is discontinued for a period of fifteen (15) days it shall be removed within a period of fifteen (15) days thereafter by the person in control of the building supporting such sign. In the event such sign is a roof sign, the entire supporting sign structure shall also be removed.

d. Before any advertising structure is erected which is intended to be used in connection with electricity, a permit shall be secured from the Building Inspector, as provided in subsection 6-3.4, and this permit, together with all necessary data regarding the proposed electrical construction, shall be submitted to the Electrical Department. If the proposed advertising structure is found to be in accordance with the provisions of this Code and all rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto and the provisions herein regarding electrical construction and illumination, the Electrical Department shall, upon payment of a fee of one dollar and fifty ($1.50) cents, issue a permit for the erection thereof. No advertising structure intended to be used in connection with electricity shall be erected unless the permits therefor have been secured from both the Building Inspector and the Electrical Department.

The installation and maintenance of all electrical wiring and other electrical equipment used in connection with any advertising structure shall be subject to and shall comply with all applicable provisions and requirements contained in Section 5-16 of this Code, and shall comply with all the rules and regulations made in pursuance of the provisions of Section 5-16 and with all applicable safety orders of the Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California. Every electric sign shall bear the inspection label of the Underwriters' Laboratories, except that the Superintendent of the Electrical Department may, for good cause, waive this requirement if the design of the sign is such that complete inspection of the interior construction thereof may readily be made.

e. If the person by whom any proposed advertising structure is to be erected or installed shall have failed, neglected or refused to correct, within ten (10) days after notification by the Superintendent of the Electrical Department or within such other reasonable length of time as may have been prescribed by him/her, any defect, error, or deficiency in any advertising structure theretofore installed or erected by such person, then such failure, neglect or refusal shall be deemed sufficient cause for the Superintendent of the Electrical Department to, and shall authorize him/her to, refuse to issue any further permit for the erection or installation of any advertising structure by such person until such defects, errors or deficiencies shall have been corrected and inspected and found to conform in all particulars with the provisions of this code and of all ordinances, rules and regulations thereto pertaining.

f. No advertising structures which have become deteriorated, decayed or unsafe under Uniform Codes of the City shall be repaired unless made to conform to subsection 6-3.6n.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-241—12-245; Ord. No. 1879 N.S.)

a. All signs shall be designed, erected and maintained to withstand wind loadings from any direction as follows, the detail design to be in accordance with the provisions of the Building Laws of the City:

1. For solid surface signs, twenty (20) pounds per square foot on any one (1) face of sign.

2. For skeleton surface signs, thirty (30) pounds per square foot of the total face area of the letters or other sign surface, or ten (10) pounds per square foot on the gross area within the frame of the sign proper, whichever is the greater.

b. Metal shapes or flats used for supporting or bracing signs shall be no less than one-eighth (⅛″) inch thick and shall be galvanized or the equivalent. Where wire is used to support or brace signs, it shall be galvanized or the equivalent.

c. Glass panels or panes shall be not less than three-sixteenths ( 3/16 ″) inch in thickness; shall be continuously and securely supported by metal on all edges of each piece; shall not exceed three hundred (300) square inches in area in any one (1) piece; provided, however, that when the glass is contained entirely within the body of a sign having closed bottom and closed ends or edges and is covered with metal except for areas cut out to form letters or other characters, the glass may be not less than one-eighth (⅛″) of an inch in thickness, need not be continuously supported along all edges, and will not be subject to the above limitations as to area, but the height of any individual letter or other character formed as above described shall not exceed twenty-four (24″) inches; further provided, that glass transparencies over three hundred (300) square inches and not more than six hundred (600) square inches in any one piece will be allowed if the glass used is not less than one-quarter (¼″) inch wire plate glass.

d. Nothing in paragraph c. shall be construed to prohibit signs of so called leaded art glass construction. Such art glass signs shall be made up in panels not to exceed eighteen (18″) inches in any dimension and every such panel shall be supported in a galvanized iron or noncorrosive metal frame. Such art glass signs shall not contain any one (1) piece of glass larger in size than thirty-six (36″) square inches; one (1) dimension in length or width of every such piece of glass shall be less than four (4″) inches; and every such piece of glass shall be firmly and continuously secured and supported on both sides along all edges by noncorrosive metal.

e. All cloth signs shall have a rigid wood or metal frame, and shall extend not more than six (6″) inches from the face of a building, and shall not be permitted to hang for a period exceeding ninety (90) days. All signs projecting more than six (6″) inches from the face of a building shall be of wood or noncombustible material; provided that all signs projecting more than eighteen (18″) inches from the face of a building shall be constructed throughout of metal or of metal and glass.

f. Exception; Wood Sign. A wood sign may extend more than eighteen (18″) inches from the face of the building if the following conditions are met:

1. The sign shall have a net dimension of not less than two (2″) inches thick.

2. The sign shall not extend beyond the property line on which the building sits.

3. The sign shall not be an electric sign.

4. The sign shall not be a roof sign.

g. Temporary signs, advertisements, flags and banners may be suspended over the street upon holidays, election days and days of public parade or display, provided that the same shall be placed and secured subject to the direction of the City Manager and be removed immediately following the days for which they have been suspended. With the special permission of the City Manager, however, such temporary signs, flags and banners may be suspended in front of theatres, hotels and other places of business on days other than those above specified.

h. Every electric street sign shall be illuminated by incandescent lamps having a total rated wattage at least equal to twelve (12) watts per square foot area of the exposed face or faces of the sign, or by luminous tubing of total length at least equal to nine (9) linear inches per square foot area of such face or faces, or by other equivalent approved electric illuminant. In every electric street sign, every letter and figure shall be formed or clearly outlined by incandescent lamps, luminous tubes or other approved electric illuminant contained within the sign; provided, that minor or secondary letters or figures not exceeding four (4″) inches in height need not be so formed or outlined if the sign contains larger letters and figures which are individually so formed or outlined and which constitute the principal wording or information displayed by the sign. The illuminating elements in and on all signs shall be maintained in good order and in the full number for which the sign was designed, and failure to so maintain such illuminating elements shall constitute a discontinuance of use within the purview of subsection 6-3.5c.

i. No sign other than electric signs and fixed horizontal double face nonelectric signs provided for in subsection 6-3.7f. shall project more than eighteen (18) inches from the face of a building, and no sign other than a double face vertical sign or a double face horizontal sign shall extend above the eaves or parapet of the building to which it is attached.

j. No double or triple face electric signs shall be more than four (4) feet thick between sign faces.

k. No sign which projects more than ten (10) inches from the face of a building shall be less than eight (8) feet above the sidewalk; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to barber pole signs or to sidewalk clocks legally erected. No sign shall project beyond the face of the curb below.

l. No sign shall be attached to any fire escape, standpipe, or window, nor shall any sign extend across or in front of any window or other exterior opening in any building above the first story thereof in such a way as to obstruct the ingress or egress from such building; nor shall any sign extend across any mezzanine floor in such a manner as to leave less than two (2) feet of window or glass front exposed.

m. All signs hereafter erected in the City shall bear the date of erection or the building permit number clearly painted thereon in characters one (1) inch in height, provided, however, that electric signs may have attached thereto an approved metal tag in lieu of the painted characters.

n. No advertising structure shall exceed fifty (50) square feet in area.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-251—12-2512; Ord. No. 1858 N.S.; Ord. No. 1958 N.S.)

a. The classification of street signs and the special conditions pertaining to each classification shall be as set out in paragraphs b. to o.

b. Flat or curved signs, whether plain or electric. The face of any such sign shall be parallel to the face of the building, and the sign shall be fastened directly thereto. Such signs shall project not more than ten (10″) inches from the face of the building unless the sign is eight (8′) feet or more above the sidewalk, in which case they may project not to exceed eighteen (18″) inches.

c. Drum signs, which shall be attached to the pilasters or entrances of buildings. Such signs shall project not more than eight (8″) inches from the face of the building unless the sign is eight (8′) feet or more above the sidewalk, in which case they may project not to exceed eighteen (18″) inches. Provided, an electric drum sign ten (10′) feet or more above the sidewalk may project not more than four (4′) feet.

d. "V" signs, which shall be attached at their ends to the face of the building. Such signs shall have a maximum height of four (4′) feet, and shall project from the face of the building not more than eight (8″) inches unless the sign is eight (8′) feet or more above the sidewalk, in which case they may project not to exceed eighteen (18″) inches. Provided, an electric "V" sign ten (10′) feet or more above the sidewalk may project not more than four (4′) feet.

e. Barber pole and similar type signs, which shall be free from any separate signs attached thereto. Such signs shall project not more than fourteen (14″) inches from the face of the building, and the lowest point thereof shall be at least six (6′) feet six (6″) inches above the sidewalk. The design of barber pole signs shall meet the approval of the Building Inspector, shall contain no advertising, numbering or lettering, and shall be erected only with the consent of the owner of the building.

f. Fixed horizontal double face nonelectric signs. Such signs shall have a maximum height of four (4′) feet and they shall not project more than three (3′) feet six (6″) inches from the face of the building, nor have the lowest point of such sign or support or less than ten (10′) feet above the sidewalk. Such signs, if they project more than eighteen (18″) inches from the face of the building, shall be constructed entirely of not less than twenty-six (26) U.S. gauge galvanized sheet metal, and consist of two (2) separate sheets of metal riveted or bolted to a common edging completely surrounding the sign faces, and the sign faces shall be not less than four (4″) inches apart to insure required rigidity.

g. Fixed horizontal double or triple face electric signs. Such signs shall have a maximum height not to exceed five (5′) feet, nor shall they project more than six (6′) feet from the face of the building, nor have the lowest point of sign or support less than ten (10′) feet above the sidewalk.

Such signs shall be permanently and securely fastened to and supported by the building.

h. Swingable horizontal double face electric signs. Such signs shall have a maximum height of not to exceed five (5′) feet, nor shall they project more than eight (8′) feet from the face of the building, nor have the lowest point of sign or support less than ten (10′) feet above the sidewalk. Such signs shall be mounted in such a way as to permit their being swung back parallel with the building face (in case of emergencies, such as fire), but shall be fastened permanently with galvanized metal cables and turnbuckles in their extended position for normal usage.

i. Double face vertical electric signs, which shall be illuminated on both sides. The face of any such sign shall be set at right angles to the face of the building, except that at a corner of the building which is also a street corner, the sign may be so set that the plane of the sign bisects the angle formed by the intersecting wall faces. The limiting dimensions pertaining to such signs shall be as follows:

j. Single face vertical electric signs, which shall have a maximum width of six (6′) feet, and shall be placed either flat against a building or at an angle of forty-five (45″) degrees with the walls at a corner thereof which is also a street corner. Such signs shall be not less than ten (10′) feet above the sidewalk, nor shall any portion project above the fire wall of the building.

k. Lighting fixtures or units with transparent or translucent globes or shades on which letters or figures may be placed. Such lighting fixtures or units may be installed on the front of the building or premises; shall have vertical clearance of at least eight (8′) feet above the sidewalk; shall project not more than two and one-half (2 1/2′) feet beyond the property line; and shall be safely constructed and installed to the approval of the Superintendent of the Electric Department.

l. Signs supported upon marquises. Such signs shall be not less than ten (10′) feet above the sidewalk, and their vertical dimension shall be not more than seventy-five (75%) percent of the projection of the marquise from the face of the building.

m. All marquises shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building laws of the City. In addition to such provisions, no marquise shall be erected over a public street, or any part thereof, except upon approval of the City Manager given after consent thereto is secured from all persons leasing or owning property fronting on the side of the street where such marquise is proposed to be erected and within one hundred (100′) feet of the proposed marquise. All marquises shall be constructed of metal only, or of metal and wire glass, except flooring or decking which may be of wood covered with metal.

n. When the maximum height of a marquise or marquise sign does not exceed fourteen (14′) feet six (6″) inches above curb grade, the maximum projection of any part of the marquise or marquise sign beyond the property line shall be not more than to within twenty-eight (28″) inches of the face of the curb, and when the height of the marquise or marquise sign exceeds fourteen (14′) feet six (6″) inches above curb grade, the maximum projection of any part of the marquise or marquise sign beyond the property line shall be not more than to within thirty-two (32″) inches of the face of the curb.

o. Sidewalk Clocks. Sidewalk clocks shall be ornamental in character and construction, the design thereof to be subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Such clocks shall be placed adjacent to and away from the curb a distance to be determined by the Building Inspector and depending upon the design of the clock, shall not be less than ten (10′) feet above the sidewalk, and the clock face shall be not less than two (2′) feet nor more than three (3′) feet in diameter. No advertising, words, lettering or inscription, or anything, other than the name of the person or firm at whose expense and in front of whose premises any such clock is erected or maintained, shall be painted, fastened or otherwise exhibited on such clock, or upon the pole or stand supporting same. Failure to comply with the foregoing provisions shall be cause for revocation of the permit granted for such sidewalk clock.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-261—12-2615)

a. The extreme height of roof signs above the lowest portion of the roof of the building proper (not including any roof structure of an area of less than sixty (60%) percent of the roof on which it rests) directly beneath the sign shall not exceed sixty (60′) feet when the sign is supported on a Class A or B building, nor forty (40′) feet when supported on any other building. The face of the sign shall be set back of and not less than three (3′) feet in the clear from the inside face of the parapet wall adjacent to such end. The bottom of such signs shall be not less than five (5′) feet above the roof directly beneath, and the space between vertical supports shall be not less than six (6′) feet in the clear; not less than fifty (50%) percent of the spaces so defined shall be and remain clear of any obstruction whatever.

b. No roof sign shall hereafter be placed on any roof in such a position that any portion thereof will be closer than six (6′) feet from the outlet connection of any standpipe or fire plug, or interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, or obstruct any ventilating door or stairway.

c. All roof signs shall be constructed throughout of noncombustible materials and shall be supported on and attached to the building by a suitable frame of galvanized metal, which shall be positively anchored to the main structural members of the building. Sills, stringers, ornamental trim and footwalks may be of timber. All footwalks supported by the frame shall be provided with a secure metal railing.

d. Every electrically illuminated roof sign shall be provided with an approved externally operable switch, which shall be installed in a readily accessible place on the supporting structure of the sign, or within sight of and within easy access from the supporting structure, and at a height of not over six (6′) feet six (6″) inches above the roof. Such switch shall open all ungrounded conductors supplying the sign and all electrical equipment thereon; shall be capable of safely interrupting such total load of the sign; shall be weatherproof type or installed within a weatherproof cabinet, and shall be in addition to any other switch that may be required or provided at some other location within the building for controlling the feeder or circuit supplying the sign.

e. All roof signs shall be inspected annually by the Building Inspector. Any roof sign which is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be deemed a menace to public health and safety, and is hereby declared to be a nuisance. In such event the owner or owners of such sign shall be notified in writing to repair such condition, and the owner or owners shall have fifteen (15) days from the date of mailing such notice to cause the sign to conform to all the provisions of this section. In the event that the owner shall fail or refuse within the fifteen (15) days to cause the sign to conform to all the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to report the fact to the City Council, which is hereby authorized and empowered to summarily abate such nuisance.

f. The provisions of paragraphs a. to e., inclusive, shall not apply to any roof sign erected or maintained upon the roof or above the fire wall of any building, the total height of which sign is less than thirty (30″) inches above the roof line or fire wall of the building, and the surface area of which is less than fifty (50) square feet, but such roof sign must be built in a thoroughly safe, secure and workmanlike manner, and to the thorough satisfaction of the Building Inspector.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-271—12-276)

a. Billboards shall not have an advertising surface of more than ten and one-half (10 ½′) feet in height. An ornamental moulding or cornice, not exceeding two (2′) feet in width, may be placed around the same.

b. All portions of the lower edge of the advertising surface of any billboard shall be at least eighteen (18″) inches from the surface of the ground, and no portion of the lower edge of such advertising surface shall be more than five (5′) feet from the surface of the ground, or more than five (5′) feet above the level of the portion of the street upon which the billboard faces, whichever is the highest.

c. The space below the lower edge of the advertising surface, or moulding which may surround the advertising surface of any billboard, shall be kept clear, except for the necessary upright supports, or an ornamental lattice work may be placed between the bottom edge of the sign and the ground, but the members comprising such lattice work shall be of uniform width, and shall be so spaced that the open or clear space between the members of such lattice work shall be at least equal to the greatest width of any members thereof. A baseboard not exceeding one-third (⅓) the height of such lattice work may be placed at the lower edge thereof.

d. Any billboard built less than twenty-five (25′) feet from the side line of any dwelling or apartment house (the distance to be measured parallel to the street line) shall be located in such manner that the end of the billboard nearest the building is not closer to the street line than the front line of the building, and the other end of the billboard shall be not less than twenty-five (25′) feet (the distance to be measured parallel to the street line), from the line of the building; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply in cases where a billboard is erected between two (2) such buildings and no part of such billboard is located closer to the street line than the line drawn between the nearest front corner of one (1) building to the nearest front corner of the other building, nor in cases where neither end of a billboard is closer to the street line than the front line of any building within twenty-five (25′) feet of such billboard.

e. All billboards shall have a surface of metal or other noncombustible material.

f. A billboard may have a surface of wood if the following condition is met:

1. The wood surface shall have a net dimension of not less than two (2″) inches thick.

g. The advertising surface of all billboards, exceeding seven (7′) feet in height shall be securely fastened to a framework, the parts or uprights of which shall be of redwood not less than four (4″) inches by six (6″) inches in dimensions, the posts to be spaced not more than eight (8′) feet apart, extending to the top of the billboard, the posts to be firmly set not less than three and one-half (3 ½′) feet in the ground. The surface of the billboard shall be securely attached to three (3) two (2″) inch by six (6″) inch wooden stringers, which shall run continuously the entire length of the billboard. Each wooden stringer shall be attached to each wooden post with three (3) 30d nails or properly bolted.

h. The vertical posts of all billboards described in paragraph g. shall be braced by wooden braces two inches by six inches (2″ x 6″) in dimensions; one (1) brace to each post; each brace to be securely attached to the top or within two (2′) feet of the top of each post with at least three (3) 40d nails. The lower end shall be securely attached with at least three (3) 40d nails to a redwood anchor post not less than four inches by six inches by five feet (4″ x 6″ x 5′) in dimensions. The anchor post shall be set back of the vertical post a distance equal to not less than one-half (½) of the total height of the billboard above the ground, and the anchor post shall be set not less than three and one-half (3 ½′) feet in the ground and in line with the attached brace. Two (2) anchor blocks twelve (12″) inches long, six (6″) inches wide, two (2″) inches thick on one (1) end and tapering to a point on the other end, shall be placed one (1) on each side and at the lower end of each anchor post with the thicker end downward and securely nailed thereto with three (3) 20d nails.

i. All billboards whose advertising surface does not exceed seven (7′) feet in height from the lower to the upper edge shall comply with the requirements set forth in paragraphs g. and h., except that the same may be modified as follows: The posts shall be at least four inches by four inches (4″ x 4″); the braces must be at least two inches by four inches (2″ x 4″); the anchor posts must be at least four inches by four inches (4″ x 4″); placed not less than three (3′) feet in the ground. There shall be at least two (2) posts and two (2) braces to every billboard. Two (2) nails may be used instead of three (3) and no anchor blocks shall be required.

j. Nothing contained in paragraphs g. to i., inclusive, shall be deemed or construed as applying to any billboard the full length of which is fastened to, or the vertical supports of which are placed against, the side of a building, or to any billboard with a gross area of the face thereof of less than thirty (30) square feet, but such billboards must be securely erected and maintained to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.

k. Iron, steel, or reinforced concrete may be substituted for the posts, stringers, braces and/or anchor posts of billboards, and approved rot resisting timber may be substituted for redwood with the approval of the Building Inspector. Where the entire construction is of reinforced concrete and iron or steel, or where the same is designed and constructed to withstand a lateral pressure of twenty (20) pounds per square foot, the requirement of braces and anchor posts may be eliminated with the approval of the Building Inspector.

l. No paper, cloth or advertising matter shall be allowed or permitted to hang loose from any billboard, but shall be securely fastened to the same; the surface thereof shall be smooth, and no nails, tacks or wires shall be permitted to protrude therefrom.

m. There shall be placed and maintained on top of each billboard erected or maintained in the City, in letters not more than six (6″) inches in height, the name, plainly painted, of the person owning or having possession, charge or control of the same for advertising purposes. The name may be placed on a board or metal sign not more than ten (10″) inches high by seven (7′) feet in length. The board or metal sign must be securely fastened to the billboard. There shall be painted on the face of every billboard in characters one (1″) inch high, the building permit number under which the same was erected.

(Ord. No. 535 N.S. 12-281—12-2812; Ord. No. 2040 N.S.)