Angels Camp Municipal Code Art. III Signs

A. Permit and Fees Required.

1. Temporary signs shall require a sign permit issued by the city planner in accordance with Section 17.62.060 excepting those identified in subsection B of this section. Any temporary sign installed without a temporary sign permit and not exempt per subsection B of this section may be removed by the city in accordance with Section 17.62.190.

2. A fee shall be collected as established by resolution of the city council.

B. Exceptions. Temporary signs allowed without obtaining a temporary sign permit include those:

1. Approved in conjunction with an approved temporary or intermittent use, or outdoor event permit or special event permit, or other planning entitlement(s) (e.g., site plan review, site development permit, special event permit, conditional use permit); or

2. Approved with a sign permit as a temporary sign pending manufacture and installation of an approved permanent sign for not more than thirty days or within a specified time frame as determined by the city planner; or

3. Approved by the city over designated rights-of-way (i.e., SR 49) in compliance with the city’s Caltrans encroachment permit; or

4. Exempt under Section 17.62.060.

C. Temporary Sign Standards for Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Excluding the Historical Commercial Zoning District. This subsection excludes temporary signs allowed in the historical commercial zoning district. For temporary signs allowed in the historical commercial zoning district, see Section 17.62.110.

Examples of temporary signs in nonresidential districts outside the historical commercial zoning district are campaign signs, real estate signs, notices of special events, and grand openings. Temporary signs shall be posted below the roofline of the building and not obscure architectural features or cover windows and comply with all of the following:

1. A total of twenty-four square feet of nonilluminated and nonelectronic temporary signage is permitted subject to obtaining a temporary sign permit (e.g., one sign not exceeding twenty-four square feet, or two temporary signs not exceeding twelve square feet etc.) for up to one hundred days per calendar year unless otherwise provided in subsection (C)(4) of this section.

2. Temporary signs shall not include sign types listed in Section 17.62.070 (Prohibited signs).

3. Temporary signs may change copy during the one-hundred-day period, but shall not exceed one hundred days total for all temporary signs per calendar year unless otherwise provided in subsection (C)(4) of this section.

4. Removal. Temporary signs must be removed within ten days after the election, sale, rental, lease or conclusion of the event which is the basis for the sign. For signs promoting events without an "end" date, the provisions of subsection (C)(1) of this section shall apply.

5. Temporary Political Signs in View of a State Highway (SR 4, SR 49). Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code) exempts the placing of temporary political signs from normal state outdoor advertising display requirements when the sign (a) encourages a particular vote in a scheduled election, (b) is placed no sooner than ninety days prior to the scheduled election and removed within ten days after the election, (c) is no larger than thirty-two square feet, and (d) the sign proponent has filed a statement of responsibility certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the sign and (e) the sign is not placed in the state right-of-way. State law directs the Department of Transportation to remove unauthorized temporary political signs and bill the responsible party for their removal.

6. Sunset Clause for This Section December 31, 2028. The provisions of this section shall end December 31, 2028, unless the city determines that this section is consistent with the purposes expressed in Section 17.62.030 and an extension to this section with or without changes is warranted.

(Ord. 552 (Att. A), 2025)

A. Maximum Area per Building. The maximum sign area for each building, except that covered under "shopping centers," Section 17.62.080(C)(2)(a) and provisions in the historic district, shall not exceed ten percent of the business front, but in no case shall exceed ninety square feet for the business front. The sign area allowed to separate occupancies in multiple-use buildings will be in direct proportion of their part of the total building front including doors and windows.

B. Types Permitted. There may be permitted for each building a combination of not more than three types of signs: freestanding, wall or projecting, with their aggregate size not exceeding the size limitations under subsection A of this section.

1. Freestanding Sign--On Premises. The following applies to freestanding signs on premises:

a. Location. An on-premises sign is one that is confined to the owner’s property. Such signs are not allowed in residential zones.

b. Height. No such sign shall exceed eight feet in height except as provided in Section 17.62.130. The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the base line.

c. Number. There may be one such sign for each building, and in no case shall exceed ninety square feet as defined in subsection A of this section.

2. A-Frame/Sandwich Board Signs.

a. Freestanding Signs on an A-Frame. Subject to the requirement to be located on the parcel of the business being identified; is not in the public right-of-way; does not block the sidewalk or create visibility problems for vehicles or pedestrians; and does not exceed a width of four feet or height of four feet for a total sign area to not exceed sixteen square feet per side of sign area.

b. Sandwich signs located along sidewalks shall not block sidewalks. Signs on or near sidewalks shall maintain a minimum four-foot travel way to accommodate accessibility.

3. Wall and Window Signs.

a. Location. Wall signs shall be located on the business front.

b. Height. No part of any sign shall extend above the top level of the wall upon or in front of which it is situated. Any such sign which is suspended or projects over any public walkway or walk area shall have an overhead clearance of at least eight feet.

c. Number. There may be any number of wall signs for each business front, but the total sign area shall not exceed ten percent of the building front, and in no case exceed ninety square feet, as defined in subsection A of this section.

d. Thickness or Projection. No sign, including any light box or other structural part, shall project more than twelve inches from the building face.

4. Projecting Signs.

a. Location. Signs may be located on the building front, providing they do not constitute a hazard to pedestrians or vehicular traffic, do not conceal from view any public or business sign or traffic signal, do not extend or project over a street right-of-way and do not extend lower than eight feet above the surface below it.

b. Height. No such sign shall extend above the top level of the wall upon or in front of which it is situated, or, in the case of buildings having sloping roofs, above the roof ridge.

c. Number. There may be one projecting sign for each business front, but total sign area shall not exceed ten percent of the building front, and in no case exceed ninety square feet.

C. Lighted Signs. Signs shall have no flashing or blinking lights; lighting shall be arranged so that visibility of vehicular traffic is not impaired, and objectionable glare is shielded from adjoining residential zones, except for the following:

Each business may have one LED or neon sign not exceeding two square feet as measured along the outside perimeter (frame) of the sign. The sign shall be nonblinking with steady light.

Any sign in violation of this subsection shall be removed immediately.

(Ord. 552 (Att. A), 2025)

The following signs are prohibited in the historical commercial zoning district and require a conditional use permit in all other zoning districts:

A. Electronic Message Centers (EMC Signs) and Digital Display. Signs using digital displays or other means to present images or messages. These signs typically use light emitting diode (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma or other technology to present a series of still images, full motion animation, or other text messages. (Does not apply where preempted by state law for fuel price signage or other applicable codes; does not apply to changeable message signs.)

B. Off-Site/Off-Premises Signs. Signs shall advertise only licensed business conducted, services rendered or products from or sold on the parcel. Off-site signs shall require approval of a conditional use permit by the planning commission.

C. Special Findings for Conditional Use Permit for Signs. In addition to the findings for a conditional use permit required in Section 17.78.030, the findings for sign exceptions in Sections 17.62.140(B) and (C) also are required for issuance of a conditional use permit pursuant to this section.

The planning commission may also consider and approve a conditional use permit for other types of signs, such as off-site signs, where provisions of this title specifically provide for such consideration, and approval and findings of Section 17.78.030 can be made.

(Ord. 552 (Att. A), 2025)

A. Sign permits (temporary and permanent) shall be secured prior to installing a new sign in accordance with Section 17.62.080(D) unless the sign is exempt pursuant to Section 17.62.060.

B. Permanent Sign Standards Within the HC Zoning District.

1. Design Standards. No sign shall be placed, erected, altered or relocated on any property within the historical district unless such sign shall as to its exterior appearance be compatible with the Mother Lode architectural style and the "City of Angels Design Guidelines for Signs" (PC Resolution 2010-02).

2. On-Site. No sign shall be allowed except a sign which identifies or advertises the business conducted on the premises.

3. Location. Each sign shall be affixed to a building, except that where a building is set back from the street to such extent that a sign affixed to the building would not be within reasonable view from the street, then a sign need not be so affixed, but may be located in some other manner as the city planner shall approve.

4. Projections.

a. No sign shall project more than six feet from the face or vertical surface of the building where applicable. Signs must not constitute a hazard to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.

b. No sign shall project above the eave or the parapet line of the building.

c. Signs shall not project over the edge of the sidewalk into Caltrans right-of-way or otherwise interfere with parking or ingress/egress of the public from vehicles parking along sidewalks within the Caltrans ROW.

5. Area.

a. The total aggregate area per any one parcel for attached on-site signs shall not exceed ten percent of the building facade excluding parapets and/or false fronts and in no case shall exceed fifty square feet of the total sign area. If a single business entity has public customer entrances on two or more sides of a building, the building owner may choose which building facade is most beneficial to use as the ten percent of the facade area.

b. The area of an irregular sign shall be the area of the smallest rectangle which can wholly contain all the sign text and graphics.

6. Moving/Flashing. No sign shall contain any flashing, blinking, or moving letters, characters, or other elements, and the sign itself shall not move.

7. Sidewalk Clearances. All hanging signs above walkways shall maintain a minimum eight-foot clearance as measured from the bottom of the sign to the sidewalk surface.

C. Temporary Signs in the Historical Commercial Zoning District.

1. Require a sign permit and shall be processed in accordance with Section 17.62.080(D) unless the sign is exempt pursuant to Section 17.62.060.

2. Banners are the only temporary sign type permitted in the historical commercial zoning district.

3. Banners are limited to one per parcel and shall not exceed twenty-four square feet in size and may remain up to one hundred days per calendar year unless otherwise provided in subsection (C)(4) of this section.

4. Removal. Temporary signs must be removed within ten days after the election, sale, rental, lease or conclusion of the event which is the basis for the sign. For signs promoting events without an "end" date; the provisions of subsection (C)(3) of this section shall apply.

5. Temporary Political Signs in View of a State Highway (SR 4, SR 49). Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code) exempts the placing of temporary political signs from normal state outdoor advertising display requirements when the sign (a) encourages a particular vote in a scheduled election, (b) is placed no sooner than ninety days prior to the scheduled election and removed within ten days after the election, (c) is no larger than thirty-two square feet, and (d) the sign proponent has filed a statement of responsibility certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the sign and (e) the sign is not placed in the state right-of-way. State law directs the Department of Transportation to remove unauthorized temporary political signs and bill the responsible party for their removal.

6. Sunset Clause for Subsection C of This Section December 31, 2028. The provisions of subsection C of this section, Temporary Signs in the Historical Commercial Zoning District, shall end December 31, 2028, unless the city determines that this section is consistent with the purposes expressed in Section 17.62.020 and an extension to this section with or without changes is warranted.

D. Sandwich Board Signs. In addition to the standards included in 17.62.100(B)(2), sandwich board signs or A-frame signs in the historical commercial district shall incorporate the following design features:

1. The sign shall not be made of plastic;

2. The sign must be historical in nature (wood, metal, scroll writing, etc.).

E. Tubing/Neon Signs.

1. Tubing. No sign shall contain any outline tubing except as provided in subsection (E)(2) of this section.

2. Neon signs or signs containing any outline tubing which are to be located inside a building and which area is designed to be seen from the outside of the building are prohibited except for the following:

a. Each business may have one LED or neon sign not exceeding two square feet as measured along the outside perimeter (frame) of the sign. The sign shall be nonblinking with steady light.

b. Buildings originally constructed in the Art Deco style using neon (e.g., the Angels Theatre) may continue use of neon where neon originally was used on the building.

(Ord. 552 (Att. A), 2025)