Cerritos Municipal Code Ch. 12.24 Street Intersection Obstructions

(a) On property at any corner formed by intersecting streets, in the city, it is unlawful to install, set out or maintain, or to allow the installation or setting out or maintenance of, any sign, hedge, shrubbery, natural growth, or other obstruction of the view, higher than three feet six inches above the level of the center of the adjacent intersection, within that triangular area between the property line and a diagonal line joining points on the property lines twenty-five feet from the point of their intersection, or in the case of rounded corners, the triangular area between the tangents to the curve and a diagonal line joining points on the tangents twenty-five feet from the point of their intersection. The tangents referred to are those at the beginning and at the end of the curve at the corner.

(b) To illustrate the operation of the foregoing provision, the shaded spaces on the following diagram will show the triangular areas involved at typical corners.

(Ord. 22 § 1, 1957)

The foregoing provision shall not apply to permanent buildings; public utility poles; trees trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least eight feet above the level of the intersection; the form of a hedge, which are so planted and trimmed as to leave at all seasons a clear and unobstructed cross-view; supporting members of appurtenances to permanent buildings existing on August 8, 1956; official warning signs or signals; or to places where the contour of the ground is such that there can be no cross visibility at the intersection.

(Ord. 22 § 2, 1956)

The enforcement of this chapter shall be under the direction of the city manager or such other person or agency as may be designated and authorized by the city council to enforce the provisions hereof.

(Ord. 22 § 3, 1956)

Every person violating any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as provided in Section 1.08.020. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, any obstruction maintained in violation of this chapter shall be deemed a nuisance, and upon failure to abate the same within twenty days after the posting upon the premises of notice to abate the nuisance signed by the city clerk, or his representative, or any other duly authorized official charged with the duty of enforcing this chapter, such person may enter upon the premises and remove or eliminate the obstruction. In such event, the cost to the city of the abatement of the nuisance shall be a lien upon the premises, provided a claim therefor be filed within the time and in the manner as prescribed in Section 1193.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure of this state. The cost of such abatement shall, in addition, be a personal obligation against the owner of the premises upon which the nuisance was maintained, recoverable by the city in an action before any court of competent jurisdiction.

(Ord. 22 § 4, 1956)

No obstruction to cross visibility shall be deemed to be excepted from the application of this chapter because of its being in existence at the time of the adoption hereof, unless expressly exempted by the terms of this chapter.

(Ord. 22 § 1, 1957; Ord. 22 § 5, 1956)