23.3 EXEMPT AND PROHIBITED SIGNS

• 23.3.1 Signs Exempt from Permit. The following signs do not require a permit and do not count toward the total sign area limit for a site, provided that they conform to applicable standards:

  • (a) Address Signs . Each residence and establishment may post one address sign, not to exceed two (2) square feet, facing the primary street frontage.

  • (b) Commercial Mascots . Only when on private property in front of the establishment with which they are associated.

  • (c) Equipment Signs . Signs incorporated into permitted displays, machinery or equipment by a manufacturer, distributor or vendor and identifying or advertising only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment, such as signs customarily fixed to automated teller machines (ATMs) and gasoline pumps.

  • (d) Flags . Flags may be erected and located in accordance with the following standards:

    • (1) Maximum Number . One flag pole per lot.

    • (2) Location . Flagpoles shall not be located within any required side or rear yard setbacks.

    • (3) Maximum Flagpole Height . Flag pole height shall not exceed 20 feet in residential districts, and residential uses in any district, or 30 feet in commercial districts, or the distance from the base of the pole to the closest lot line plus 2 feet, whichever is less.

    • (4) Maximum Flag Area . The maximum total flag area on a lot is 30 square feet per side in residential districts and residential uses in any district, or 48 square feet per side in all other districts.

  • (e) Government Signs . Official notices issued by a court, public body or office; official notices posted by a utility or other quasi-public agency; signs erected by a governmental body to direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic; public hearing or meeting notices; seismic warning signs, or other signs required or authorized by law.

  • (f) Historical Plaques . Plaques, not to exceed 2 square feet, commemorating the site of an historical event, the residence or workplace of an historical figure or a building whose architectural or historical character is recognized by the City as part of its cultural heritage.

  • (g) Holiday and Cultural Observance Decorations on Private Property . Decorations that are on display for not more than 45 calendar days per year (cumulative, per lot or use) and do not include commercial advertising messages.

  • (h) Interior Graphics or Signage . Visual communicative devices that are located entirely within a building or other enclosed structure and are not visible from the exterior

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thereof, or are located on the inside of a building and are at least three feet from the window.

• (i) Manufacturers’ Marks . Marks on tangible products, which identify the maker, seller, provider or product, and which customarily remain attached to the product even after sale.

• (j) Menu Displays . Display of a menu not exceeding 2 square feet in area mounted on a wall, door, or in a window of an establishment serving food to customers who eat on the premises.

  • (k) Name Plate and Home Occupation . In a Residential District, each residence may post one permanent wall sign, not exceeding 2 square feet, displaying a name or a licensed home-based business/occupation. Such sign may be wall mounted only.

  • (l) On-site Advisory Signs . On-site Advisory Signs not exceeding 4 square feet in area are allowed except on single family and duplex properties.

  • (m) Public Transit Graphics . Graphic images mounted on duly licensed and authorized public transit vehicles and taxis that legally pass through the city.

  • (n) Temporary Signs . No permit required, however subject to regulations of Subsection 23.8.

  • (o) Signs on Vehicles . Messages relating to the establishment of which the vehicle or vessel is an instrument or tool, and messages relating to the proposed sale, lease or exchange of the vehicle or vessel are exempt. However, the message shall not utilize changeable copy or special illumination, and the message shall not be general advertising for hire. Bumper stickers on vehicles are exempt.

• 23.3.2 Prohibited Signs, Locations, Materials, and Sign Types. Unless expressly allowed by another Subsection of Section 23 or other applicable law, or approved as part of a Master Sign Program, the following signs, locations and materials are prohibited:

  • (a) Sign Types

    • (1) Animated Signs . Animated signs as defined herein are prohibited.

    • (2) Banners, Pennants, Streamers, Balloons, Inflatable Signs and Other AttentionGetting Devices . In Commercial districts, banners, streamers, pennants, and other signs made of lightweight fabric or similar material, designed to rotate or move with the wind, forced air or gas, except where expressly provided for in this Section (see Subsection 23.8.6). Signage or displays that are inflatable or activated by wind or forced air are prohibited.

    • (3) Billboards . Billboards as defined herein are prohibited. This provision, however, does not prohibit agreements to relocate presently existing, legal billboards, as encouraged by Business and Professions Code Section 5412, so long as such agreements are not contrary to State or federal law.

    • (4) Cabinet Signs. Internally lit cabinet signs as defined herein are prohibited.

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• (5) Exposed Lighting and Neon Signs . Exposed lighting and neon signs are prohibited except as provided under Subsection 0.

• (6) General Advertising (for Hire). Signs shall not publicize or promote other businesses or causes using methods of advertising (in contrast to self-promotion, on-site sales, or on-site advertising). General advertising is also known as advertising for hire.

• (7) Mobile Billboards . Mobile billboards as defined herein are prohibited.

• (8) Roof Signs. Signs mounted or painted on roofs, including mansard roofs are prohibited.

• (9) Search Lights. Lights used as attention attracting devices for commercial or special events are prohibited.

• (10) Signs That Produce Noise or Emissions. Signs that produce noise or sound that can be heard at the property line, excluding voice units at menu boards, and signs that emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, fumes or odors are prohibited.

(b) Locations that are Prohibited .

• (1) Public Rights-of-Way . Other than official government signs or warning signs required by law, or expressly allowed under Section 23A, no inanimate sign shall be placed in median strips or islands, on sidewalks, trees, retaining walls, bridges, benches, traffic signals, public fences, poles or utility equipment, street lighting, or utility poles or on traffic signs or traffic sign posts or supporting structures, or on utility poles, anchor wires or guy wires, or elsewhere within the public right-ofway.

• (2) Trees . No sign shall be hung on, affixed to, or cut into any tree or other living vegetation.

• (3) Terrain . No sign may be cut, burned, planted, marked or displayed in any manner on a cliff or hillside.

• (4) Signs Creating a Traffic Hazard or Affecting Pedestrian Safety . Signs shall not be placed or located in such a manner as to constitute a safety hazard or to impede the public use of the public right-of-way.

  • (A) Exits and Entrances. No sign shall be placed, mounted, erected or installed in any manner that obstructs the use of any door, window or fire escape.

  • (B) Sidewalks. No sign shall be mounted or displayed in such a manner that blocks or impedes the normal pedestrian use of public sidewalks. A minimum unobstructed width of four (4) feet shall be maintained on sidewalks at all times.

  • (C) Intersections. No sign shall be erected or maintained at or near any street intersection that obstructs the free and clear vision of drivers and pedestrians. Other than traffic control signals, no sign shall be installed in the visibility triangle at intersections, extending horizontally 15 feet from the corner of the intersection, and vertically from a height of 3 feet to a height of 8 feet.

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FIGURE 0 VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTIONS AT INTERSECTIONS

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• (5) Minimum Clearance from Utilities . Signs and their supporting structures shall maintain clearance from and not interfere with electrical conductors, communications equipment or lines, surface and underground facilities and conduits for water, sewage, gas, electricity and communications equipment or lines.

  • (A) Utility Easements. Signs shall not be placed in public utility easements unless express written permission from the affected public utility is obtained.

  • (B) Clearance from Electrical Power Lines. Signs shall maintain clearance from energized electric power lines as prescribed by the California Public Utilities Code, the regulations of the California Public Utilities Commission, and the orders of the California Division of Industrial Safety, as now in force and as hereafter amended.

• (c) Prohibited Sign Materials . Signs may not be made of roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, or balloons, or any other similar building, landscaping or decorative component.

23.4 PERMITS REQUIRED. With the exception of exempt signs listed in 0, and temporary signs meeting the standards of 0, no person or entity shall erect, install, move, alter, or replace a permanent sign without first obtaining approval of a sign permit. Review and permitting procedures are established in 0.

• 23.5 GENERAL REGULATIONS APPLYING IN ALL DISTRICTS

• 23.5.1 Citywide Requirements

  • (a) Maximum Sign Area. The maximum allowable sign area for permanent signs, exclusive of area of exempt signs, is based on the zoning district in which the sign is

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located, the nature of the land use, and the physical type of sign structure. These standards are established in 0 (Nonresidential), 0 (Residential), 0 (Standards for Specific Sign Types), and 0 (Master Sign Program). Maximum sign area limitations for temporary signs are established in 0.

• (b) Noncommercial Messages . Whenever an individual lot, parcel or land use has not used all of its allowable area for signs subject to a sign permit, then the unused portion may be used for signs displaying noncommercial messages; in such cases, a permit is required only if the sign qualifies as a structure, subject to a building permit under the Building Code. Signs originally installed under this provision may not be converted to display commercial messages without a sign permit.

• (c) Applicable Codes . In addition to complying with the provisions of this Section, all signs shall be constructed in accordance with the Uniform Building Code, the Electrical Code, and all other applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.

• (d) Encroachment Permits . Any sign, mounted on private property, which projects into or above public property or the public right-of-way, requires an Encroachment Permit approved by the Director of Public Works under Chapter 22 of the City Code.

• (e) Permanent, Legal Signs Run with Land . As to all permanent signs attached to real property, the sign-related rights, duties and obligations arising from this Section attach to and travel with the land on which a sign is mounted, installed or displayed; such rights and duties do not travel with the permittee or sign owner. A sign permit is an official authorization to place a specific permanent sign on a specific parcel of land in a specific location. This provision does not modify or affect the law of fixtures, signrelated provisions in private leases, or the ownership of sign structures. This provision does not apply to hand-held signs, personally-attended signs, or aspects of personal appearance. This provision does not prevent a sign owner from removing a sign structure from a given location and installing it in another location, so long as all permit requirements applicable to the new location are satisfied and any permits and/or modifications thereof have been approved and issued.