§ 9126.7. Other Site Development Standards - Signs.

A. Real Estate Advertising. Real estate advertising signs are permitted subject to the following:

1. One (1) unlighted real estate sign is permitted, not to exceed three (3) square feet in area and four (4) feet in height if on a straight stake or stakes or six (6) square feet in area and six (6) feet in height if on a colonial post. Information may be printed on both sides of the sign, but it shall be restricted to the sale, lease or rental of the premises on which the sign is located.

2. Such sign shall be situated not less than ten (10) feet from the inside line of the sidewalk, or if there is no sidewalk, from the property line, except if the building setback on such premises is less than ten (10) feet, such sign shall be situated not less than one-half (1/2) the setback from the inside line of the sidewalk or property line.

3. Two (2) riders, not larger than six (6) by twenty-four (24) inches containing advertising matter pertinent to the premises, is permitted to be placed under the real estate advertising sign. Information may be printed on both sides of the riders.

4. Real estate advertising signs shall be removed from the premises at the close of escrow.

5. No more than five (5) lead-in signs, not to exceed four (4) square feet in area each, shall be permitted for new single or multi-unit developments. No such signs shall be permitted for existing developments.

6. No more than four (4) real estate flags, pennants or banners, in any combination, shall be permitted per street frontage on single or multi-unit property being sold, leased or financed.

7. On-Site Open House Signs. Open house signs placed on the property that is for sale are subject to the following regulations:

• (a) One (1) on-site open house sign, not to exceed three (3) square feet in area and not to exceed three (3) feet in height, shall be permitted.

• (b) Open house signs shall be placed on-site only during the hours that an open house is occurring at the property advertised, and at which the seller or his/her representative is present; provided, that on-site open house signs shall only be placed on-site on Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

• (c) No open house signs shall be placed so as to obstruct pedestrians' and motorists' view of signs erected by a local, State, or Federal governmental agency, including but not limited to traffic signs, public directional signs, parking signs, and street address signs.

• (d) No open house signs shall be placed so as to obstruct or hinder sidewalk or street access by pedestrians and vehicles.

• (e) No open house signs shall be placed so as to obstruct ingress and egress to any public or private property.

• (f) Open house signs shall not be designed or constructed to cause undue distraction to motorists. For example, signs shall not be illuminated, either internally or externally, shall not have flashing lights, shall not have any moving parts, shall not generate any source sounds (including radio waves), and shall not release steam or smoke.

(g) Open house signs shall be subject to any other reasonable restrictions, or modifications to the above restrictions, which the Community Development Director finds are necessary to further the purposes of this code, consistent with the type of sign or business.

(m) Open house signs shall not be designed or constructed to cause undue distraction to motorists. For example, signs shall not be illuminated, either internally or externally, shall not have flashing lights, shall not have any moving parts, shall not generate any source sounds (including radio waves), and shall not release steam or smoke.

• (n) Open house signs shall be subject to any other reasonable restrictions, or modifications to the above restrictions, which the Community Development Director finds are necessary to further the purposes of this code, consistent with the type of sign or business.

• (o) No off-site open house sign shall be erected prior to obtaining an open house sign permit. A permit must be obtained per property sold, and is valid for seven (7) days from the effective date of the permit. Permits will be issued by the Director upon request, and may be subject to a permit fee as determined by City Council resolution. No open house sign permit shall be construed to permit any violation of the provisions of this Section, or of any other applicable provision of the Carson Municipal Code.

a. Violations of this subsection (A) 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.

B. Identification Sign. For each multiple dwelling or rooming house, or permitted agricultural use in the RA Zone, one (1) unlighted sign not exceeding six (6) square feet in area and four (4) feet in any dimension may be placed on the wall of the building providing it does not extend above or out from the front wall and indicates only the name and address of the premises.

C. Nonresidential Uses. Identification signs for nonresidential uses may be erected subject to the following:

1. Not more than two (2) sign structures shall be permitted on a lot, except the Director may approve additional signs if he finds there are more than two (2) separate nonresidential uses on the same lot, the location of not more than two (2) sign structures would constitute an unnecessary hardship on the property owner, and the additional signs would not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare.

2. The total sign area per lot shall not exceed an area in square feet equal to the linear feet of lot frontage on a public street or streets. Lot frontage on a freeway shall not be considered in computing this figure.

3. 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.

4. A pole sign shall not be permitted.

5. A ground sign in excess of three and one-half (3-1/2) feet in height shall not be permitted. The distance between the ground elevation and the bottom of a ground sign shall not exceed one (1) foot.

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

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

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

9. Streamers, banners, pennants and similar displays are not permitted; provided, however, that 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.

10. Christmas decorations displayed between thirty (30) days prior to and fifteen (15) days after December 25th are not subject to zoning regulations.

11. Official public events, including but not limited to national, state and local elections, are not subject to zoning regulations.

D. Except as provided for violations of subdivision (A) 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. 78-434; Ord. 79-479 § 6; Ord. 80-514; Ord. 01-1225 § 3; Ord. 15-1563 §§ 3, 4)