Chino Municipal Code Ch. 16.01 General Provisions

The ordinance codified in this title shall be known as the "Sign Code of the City of Chino."

(Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)

A. The regulation and control of the location, size, type, number and design of signs permitted shall be governed by the provisions of this sign code. The intent of this title is as follows:

1. Safeguard and enhance property values;

2. Protect public and private investment in buildings and open spaces;

3. Preserve and improve the appearance of the city as a place in which to live and work, and as an attraction to nonresidents who come to visit or trade;

4. Encourage sound signing practices as an aid to business and inform the public, but to prevent excessive and confusing sign displays;

5. Reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians; and

6. Promote the public health, safety and general welfare by regulating and controlling all matters relating to signs.

B. It shall be the policy of the city that a sign should serve primarily to identify the general nature of an establishment, or to direct attention to a product, activity, place, person, organization or enterprise. As identification devices, signs must not subject the citizenry to excessive competition for their visual attention. As appropriate identification devices, signs must harmonize with the building or activity they serve, the neighborhood in which they are located, and other signs in the area.

C. Furthermore, the installation of signs that improve the appearance of a building and neighborhood is encouraged. To this end, the use of artistry and innovation in the design of signs is encouraged.

(Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)

A. The sign code is the primary tool for implementing the sign policies of the city pursuant to the provisions of the State Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code Section 5200 et seq.) and other applicable state and local requirements.

B. Whenever any provision of this title refers to or cites a section of state law, and that section is later amended or superseded, the title shall be deemed amended to refer to the amended section or the section that most nearly corresponds to the superseded section.

(Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)

A. The sign code shall be effective throughout the city's planning jurisdiction. For the purposes of this title, the planning jurisdiction shall be defined as the area within the corporate boundaries of the city.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the sign code does not apply to signs or displays located on property owned by the city that are not capable of being read from the public right-of-way or from an adjacent private property. Such signs and displays may be approved in the sole discretion of the city manager.

(Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)

(Ord. No. 2024-004, § 1, 2024.)

A. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of these provisions is to prescribe procedures for the enforcement of the provisions of the sign code, and any entitlement approved thereunder.

B. Applicability.

1. The planning commission shall have jurisdiction of, and be responsible for, the administration of the regulations and provisions of this title. It shall have the power to exercise this jurisdiction as hereafter provided, and shall have the authority to act in its administrative capacity on sign plan approvals, sign variances, adjustments and interpretations of this title.

2. In exercising its jurisdiction, the planning commission shall adopt from time to time, such general rules and regulations relating to its procedure as may be deemed necessary.

C. Enforcement—Remedies.

1. It shall be the duty of the director of community development to enforce the provisions of this title.

2. The city attorney, upon direction of the city council, planning commission or director of community development, is authorized to initiate an action for an injunction to restrain, or any other such action or proceedings to enforce the provisions of this title.

3. All remedies concerning this title shall be cumulative and not exclusive. The conviction and punishment of any person(s) hereunder shall not relieve such person(s) from the responsibility of correcting prohibited conditions or removing prohibited signs, and shall not prevent the enforced correction or removal thereof.

4. Any installation, placement or construction in violation of this title shall be subject to the issuance of a "stop work order."

D. Penalties. Any person, corporation, or other entity violating any provision of this Title is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

E. Enforcement Fees. The city may impose fees on repeat and habitual offenders (persons found guilty more than once in any twelve-month period) of the provisions of this title to cover the full costs incurred by the city for the monitoring and enforcement of the requirements of this title, as established by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 2004-05 § 29, 2004: Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)

(Ord. No. 2014-013, § 1, 2014.)

A. When there is any question regarding the interpretation of a provision of this title, or its application to any specific case or situation, the planning commission shall have the authority to interpret the intent of this title. The planning commission shall make such interpretations by written decision, which shall be in the form of a resolution adopted by a majority of the planning commission's voting membership.

B. An interpretation by the planning commission shall be followed in applying the provisions of this title, unless changed by the city council on appeal.

C. An appeal of an interpretation by the planning commission may be made to the city council in accordance with the appeal procedures set forth by Title 20 of the Chino Municipal Code.

(Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)

If any chapter, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of the sign code is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this title. The city council declares that it would have adopted the sign code and each chapter, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more portions of this title might be declared invalid.

(Ord. 97-12 § 2 (part), 1997.)