§ 9136.7. Other Site Developments Standards - Signs.

• A. Outdoor advertising signs are not permitted in commercial zones except as authorized pursuant to CMC § 9138.71 .

• B. Business signs are permitted, subject to the following:

  1. All business signs and sign structures shall be permitted in conformance with development plans which have been approved pursuant to the Site Plan and Design Review procedures (including the number of signs and sign structures to be permitted) as provided in CMC § 9172.23 . All signs and sign structures shall also comply with the minimum requirements, as outlined in this Section of the Zoning Ordinance.

  2. The total sign area per lot shall not exceed an area in square feet equal to two (2) times the linear feet of lot frontage on a public street or streets. Window signage shall not exceed ten (10) percent of window area. Lot frontage on a freeway shall not be considered in computing this figure.

When the total frontage of a lot is less than the square root of the lot's area, said frontage shall be deemed to be equal to the square root of the lot's area for the purpose of determining the permitted sign area.

3. A ground sign in excess of six (6) feet in height shall not be permitted. The distance between ground elevation and the bottom of a ground sign shall not exceed one (1) foot. Not more than one (1) ground sign shall be permitted on a lot. No ground sign shall be erected until written approval is obtained from the City Traffic Engineer. Such signs shall be in conformance with development plans which have been approved pursuant to the Site Plan and Design Review procedure as provided in CMC § 9172.23 .

4. A sign may be affixed to a building but shall not project above the height of the building wall or roof fascia.

5. A sign shall not project into an existing or future right-of-way.

6. No "A" frame or "sandwich" sign, or scintillating, flashing or revolving sign shall be permitted.

7. Electronic message center signs are permitted, subject to the following:

   • (a) Such sign shall be at least one hundred (100) feet from a residential zone.

   • (b) Such sign shall be at least five hundred (500) feet from any other electronic message center sign.

   • (c) A conditional use permit (CUP) shall be required for all electronic message center signs in accordance with the provisions set forth in CMC § 9172.21 . Approval shall not be granted if the Commission finds that the proposed sign would interfere with the traffic signals, disrupt normal traffic flows or otherwise create a safety hazard.

8. All business signs for vehicle dealerships shall be permitted in conformance with development standards as provided in CMC § 9138.15(E) .

9. All business signs within the MU-CS Zone shall be permitted in conformance with development standards as provided in CMC § 9138.17 .

10. All business signs within the MU-SB Zone shall be permitted in conformance with development standards as provided in CMC § 9138.18 .

• C. Streamers, banners, pennants, and similar displays are permitted subject to the following:

1. Streamers, banners, pennants, and similar displays may be exhibited in connection with grand openings and other special events upon written approval of the Planning Officer. Requests for such displays shall be submitted to the Planning Officer, in writing, thirty (30) days prior to the event. All approvals shall be limited to a total of sixty (60) consecutive days at any one (1) time with a minimum of thirty (30) days in between the next display period for a total of one hundred twenty (120) days of display per calendar year per business. An additional thirty (30) days of display is permitted; provided, that a new banner permit is issued and a fee is paid. Temporary business signs for department stores or regional shopping centers with a gross floor area of at least one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet located in the CR Zoning District and in a Mixed-Use Residential (MUR) Overlay District may be allowed to deviate from the provisions of this Section as it pertains to display size, location, orientation, material, length of time, and content pursuant to an approved sign program. Signs must show content related to businesses, events, products or services provided at the department store or regional shopping center.

   2. Any streamer, banner, pennant, or similar display shall be suspended so as to maintain at least seven (7) foot clearance.

   3. In any event, no streamer, banner, pennant, or similar displays shall be exhibited if, in the opinion of the Director, such displays are not adequately maintained.

   4. Christmas decorations displayed between thirty (30) days prior to and fifteen (15) days after December 25th, and those displayed during official public events, are not subject to this subsection.

   5. Streamers, banners, pennants and similar displays may be attached directly upon the structure of a lawfully erected fireworks stand (see CMC § 3101.0 through § 3101.10) without necessity of a banner permit.

   6. All temporary signs and similar displays for vehicle dealerships shall be permitted in conformance with development standards as provided in CMC § 9138.15(E) .

• D. Real Estate Advertising. Real estate advertising signs are permitted, subject to the following:

  1. One (1) unlighted sign structure is permitted per lot; except, on parcels larger than five (5) acres, one (1) such sign structure is permitted for each street frontage of the parcel.

  2. A sign structure may have any number of sign faces, but the total sign area shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet per sign structure.

  3. All portions of a sign structure shall be not less than ten (10) feet from the inside line of the sidewalk, or if there is no sidewalk, from the lot line, except, if the building setback is less than ten (10) feet, the sign structure shall be not less than one-half (1/2) the setback from the inside line of the sidewalk or lot line.

  4. A freestanding real estate advertising sign shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height.

  5. A sign may be affixed to a building but shall not project above the height of the building wall or roof fascia.

6. Advertising copy shall pertain only to the premises upon which the sign is located.

   7. Any such signs shall be removed within two (2) weeks after the execution of a sales agreement, escrow instructions or lease agreement.

   8. Off-site open house signs for residential properties may be placed on commercial properties with the permission of the commercial property's owner, and consistent with the provisions of Section 9126.7(A )(8).

   9. Violations.

   • a. Violations of this subsection (D) shall be subject to the following civil fines within a calendar year: (a) $50.00 for the first violation; (b) $75.00 for the second violation; and (c) $100.00 for the third and any subsequent violation.

   • b. Fines shall be payable within thirty (30) days of issuance. Late payment shall incur a late penalty equal to the amount of the fine. The failure of any person, within sixty (60) days of the date of issuance of a fine, to pay the fine and any applicable late penalty, may result in the matter being referred to the Director of Finance to file a claim with the small claims court. Alternatively, the City may pursue any other legal remedy to collect the civil fines. The City may also recover its collections costs according to proof.

   • c. Violations shall be recorded by realtor office address, rather than by individual property for sale; provided, that if the property is being sold by its owner, the violations shall be recorded against the property that is for sale.

   • d. The remedies provided in this Section are in addition to any other remedies and penalties that may be available under the Carson Municipal Code and the laws of the State of California.

• E. Except as provided for violations of subsection (D) of this Section, any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this Section shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 2 of Article I .

(Ord. 79-473; Ord. 79-479 § 7; Ord. 80-513 § 1; Ord. 80-531 § 1; Ord. 88-856 § 1; Ord. 89-873 § 2; Ord. 90-915 § 2; Ord. 01-1225 § 4; Ord. 02-1245 § 4; Ord. 03-1279 §§ 15, 16; Ord. 07-1392 § 9; Ord. 09-1421 § 2; Ord. 11-1475 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 15-1563 §§ 5, 6; Ord. 16-1602 § 3)