23.5.7 Non-Conforming Signs — Belmont Zoning Code

(a) Continuance and Maintenance . Non-conforming signs that were legal when first installed, and which have not been modified so as to become illegal, may be continued, except as otherwise provided for in this Subsection.
- (1) Routine maintenance and repairs may be performed on signs that are nonconforming.
- (2) A sign that did not conform to law existing at the time of its erection shall be deemed an illegal sign and shall not be a non-conforming sign. The passage of time does not cure illegality from the outset.

City of Belmont Zoning Ordinance 23-13

(b) Alterations and Additions to Non-Conforming Signs . No non-conforming sign shall be moved, altered, enlarged, or converted to a different display technology or methodology unless required by law or unless the moving, alteration or enlargement will result in the elimination of the nonconformity. Modifications to either sign copy or the design of a sign display shall not constitute an alteration that would require the elimination of a sign’s nonconformity.
(c) Restoration of a Damaged Sign .
- (1) Whenever a non-conforming sign shall be destroyed by vandalism, fire or other calamity to the extent of 50% or less, the sign may be restored to display the preexisting sign area and the non-conforming use of the sign may be resumed, provided that restoration is started within one year and diligently pursued to completion and the height of the restored sign conforms to the standards of Section 23.
- (2) Whenever a non-conforming sign shall be destroyed by vandalism, fire or other calamity to a greater extent than 50%, or shall be voluntarily razed or shall be required by law to be razed, the sign shall not be restored except in full conformity with Section 23.
- (3) The extent of damage or partial destruction shall be based upon the ratio of the estimated cost of restoring the sign to its condition prior to such damage or partial destruction, to the estimated cost of duplicating the entire sign as it existed prior thereto. Estimates for this purpose shall be made or shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Community Development.
(d) Signs Rendered Non-Conforming by Annexation . Any sign that becomes nonconforming subsequent to the effective date of this Section by reason of annexation to the City of the territory, upon which the sign is located, shall be subject to the provisions of this Section
(e) Façade Improvement Funds . For any project that City Façade Improvement Program funds are provided, all existing non-conforming signs on the subject property shall be brought into full compliance with existing sign standards at the time of the façade improvement as a condition for the receipt of City funding.
(f) Abandoned Nonconforming Signs. Any nonconforming sign structure which has carried no message for more than 90 days, or which no longer identifies a bona fide establishment, business, lessor or owner, shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the property, after notice and hearing required by law.
23.5.8 On-site/Off-site Distinction. Throughout Section 23, the distinction between on-site (or on-premise or point-of-sale) and off-site (or off-premise or non-point-of-sale) applies only to commercial messages.
23.5.9 Signs That Display Obsolete Commercial Messages. Any sign copy that displays a commercial message identifying an establishment, lessor or owner whose use of the premises has ceased for more than 90 days, or which no longer identifies a bona fide establishment, lessor, service, owner, product, activity or event shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the property.

City of Belmont Zoning Ordinance 23-14

23.6 SIGN STANDARDS FOR NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS . This Subsection establishes standards for signs in Nonresidential Districts. These signs also are subject to the regulations in 0 (“General Regulations Applying in All Districts”) and in 0 (“Standards for Specific Sign Types”). Regulations for temporary signs are in 0.
23.6.1. Types of Signs Allowed in Nonresidential Districts. The following table establishes the types of permanent signs allowed in Village, Commercial, Manufacturing, Executive, and Planned Development Districts.

Table 0: Permitted Permanent Signs By District – Nonresidential[1 ]

	Village Sign Districts	Commercial Districts	Manufacturing Districts	Executive Administrative Districts	Planned Dev.
	V2 V3 V4 VR	C1-C3 C4	M1-M2	E1-E2	PD
Awning & Canopy	■ ■ ■ ■	■ ■	■	■	◘
Freestanding	■ ■ ■ ■	■ ■	■	■	◘
Projecting	■ ■ ■ ■	■ ■	■	■	◘
Wall	■ ■ ■ ■	■ ■	■	■	◘
Window	■ ■ ■ ■	■ ■	■	■	◘

■ Permitted (subject to compliance with this Section)

◘ Permitted only as part of an approved Master Sign Program as described in 0

Additional allowances apply to signs on properties fronting El Camino Real; see Subsection 0.

City of Belmont Zoning Ordinance 23-15

Figure 0: Village Sign Districts

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23.6.2 Dimensional Limits for Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts . Table 0 establishes the dimensional standards for permanent signs allowed in Nonresidential zoning districts. Additional allowances apply to signs on properties fronting El Camino Real; see Subsection 0.

Table 0: Dimensional Limits For Signs In Nonresidential Districts

	Village Sign Districts	Commercial Districts	Manufacturing Districts	Executive Administrative Districts
Total Sign Area Allowed (sq. ft.)*	1.5 x ln.ft. of frontage	1.5 x ln.ft. of frontage	0.5 x ln.ft. of frontage	0.5 x ln.ft. of frontage
Awning & Canopy Signs
Maximum Ht (ft)	14	14	14	14
Minimum Clearance (ft)	8	8	8	8

City of Belmont Zoning Ordinance

23-16

Table 0: Dimensional Limits For Signs In Nonresidential Districts

	Village Sign Districts	Commercial Districts	Manufacturing Districts	Executive Administrative Districts
Freestanding Signs
Maximum Size (sq. ft)	36	60	25	25
Maximum Height (ft)	6	6	6	6
Projecting Signs
Maximum Size (sq. ft)	16	16	16	16
Maximum Height (ft)	18	18	18	18
Wall Signs
Maximum Elevation (ft)	28	28	28	28
Maximum Projection (in.)	12	12	12	12
Window Signs
Maximum % of Window	15%	15%	15%	15%

* Total Sign Area is based on an allowance in square feet per lineal foot of all street frontage.