Benicia Municipal Code Ch. 18.12 General Use Regulations

In its evaluation of quality of design, the city planner and the planning commission shall apply the following criteria among others:

A. To the extent feasible, signs shall be graphic and nonverbal, with the design emphasis on simplicity, style trademarks, business identification and symbols rather than on extensive wording and advertising messages.

B. Sign proliferation creates a busy, unpleasant atmosphere and shall be avoided. Good design calls for thoughtful coordination of all signs, in a lesser rather than greater number of locations on the premises.

C. Signs shall relate to the architectural design of the building. Signs which cover windows, or which spill over natural boundaries or architectural features and obliterate parts of upper floors of buildings are a menace to visual order and shall not be permitted.

D. The typical plastic-faced sign with white, internally illuminated background shall be discouraged; dark backgrounds with the letters or design lighter to reduce the glare and the resulting bland night-lighting effect are preferred. Sign illumination shall be designed so as to avoid glare and light intrusion onto other signs or premises.

E. Neon shall be carefully and sparingly used in signs to avoid blatancy and garishness. Neon is usually better used in symbols or design than for lettering.

F. Good signs can become bad signs by installation on thoughtlessly contrived or overpowering structures. Careful consideration shall be given to minimize and simplify every sign's supporting structure.

G. The city planner may make design and structure exemptions if the proposed sign attempts to duplicate signs used in certain historical periods: for example, the exposed light bulbs used in the late Victorian period, and the wall-painted sign incorporated into the design facade of the art deco.

(Ord. 77-12 N.S. Appendix III, 1977)

A. The sign area is computed by including the maximum single display surface which is visible from a single ground position. The structure supporting a sign is not included in determining the sign area unless the structure is designed in a way as to form part of the display or is an integral background for the display.

B. The area of a sign is determined by computing the area of an encompassing circle or rectangle, whichever is smaller.

C. Where a commercial building is on a corner, the side of the building will be treated as the front in calculating the area allowed for the side sign.

D. The following illustration sets forth the manner for computing facing area:

(Prior code § 8-913; Ord. 77-12 § 1, 1977)

A. The maximum aggregate area of all wall signs permitted for a frontage of a premises is based upon the frontage of the premises and number of stories of the premises to which the sign will be affixed. This maximum area is set forth in Table I, as follows:

Table I Maximum Sign Area in Square Feet

B. In applying Table I to a building if the frontage of the building is not listed therein, the next larger frontage figure determines the maximum wall sign area.

C. Regardless of the frontage or height of the building, the total permissible aggregate area of all wall signs for a frontage of a building is 200 square feet.

D. The maximum aggregate permissible wall sign area for buildings set forth in this section shall be reduced by the sign area of each freestanding sign and shingle sign on the property, but shall not be reduced by the amount of area used for window signs. However, if the building is set back at least 100 feet from the street line on an official street setback line, if one exists, then the permissible wall sign area is not reduced by the sign area of the freestanding sign.

(Prior code § 8-905; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)

Each sign shall be maintained in a secure, safe and good condition. If the city building inspector finds that a sign is not secure, safe or in a good state of repair, he shall give written notice in a reasonable manner of this fact to the person responsible for the maintenance of the sign. If the defect in the sign is not corrected within the time permitted by the city, the city planner and/or the planning commission may revoke the permit to maintain the sign and abate it in the manner provided in BMC § 18.28.010.

(Prior code § 8-936; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)

No part of a sign attached to or mounted on a building may project beyond 12 inches from the wall to which it is attached, except as permitted with shingle signs.

(Prior code § 8-906; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)

No part of a sign affixed to a building may extend above the roof line or ridge line of the building to which it is attached.

(Prior code § 8-907; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)

No sign may be located in a manner which may obstruct or interfere with the view of a traffic signal. No sign may be located within 100 feet of the intersection of public streets, if it obstructs the vision of a motorist within 100 feet of the intersection. No sign may be located so as to create a hazardous condition to a person using the public right-of-way.

(Prior code § 8-914; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)

The owner of any sign shall maintain legal clearance from communications and electric facilities. A sign may not be constructed, erected, installed, maintained or repaired in any manner that conflicts with a rule, regulation, or order of the California Public Utilities Commission pertaining to the construction, operation and maintenance of public utilities facilities.

(Prior code § 8-918; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)

An accessory sign which ceases to advertise a bona fide business conducted or product sold on the premises shall be removed within 90 days after written notification from the building inspector.

(Prior code § 8-940; Ord. 77-12 N.S. § 1, 1977)