Chowchilla Municipal Code Ch. 15.20 Signs

A. There is adopted by reference by the city council for the purpose of providing minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, quality of materials, construction, location, electrification and maintenance of all signs and sign structures not located within a building in the city that certain code identified as the Uniform Sign Code (U.S.C.) published by the International Conference of Building Officials.

B. A copy of such code has been and is now on file in the community and economic development office.

(Ord. 312-80 § 5, 1980: Ord. 306-79 § 5.010, 1979)

(Ord. No. 500-19, § 1, 10-8-2019; Ord. No. 517-23, § 55, 11-28-2023)

Section 303(3) of the U.S.C. is deleted.

(Ord. 312-80 § 6, 1980: Ord. 306-79 § 5.030, 1979)

It is unlawful for any person to place or maintain upon or attach to any building or premises any sign, advertisement, transparency or bulletin board which shall project over or upon the sidewalk, except those included within the following classes:

A. Class A. Flat, curved or drum signs, incandescent lights, signs and transparencies with safe or secure fastenings for their whole length parallel to the front of the buildings and not projecting over the sidewalk more than four inches, when placed less than eight feet above the sidewalk, and not projecting more than twelve inches, when placed eight feet or more above the sidewalk;

B. Class B. Pole signs or barber's mechanical sign projecting not more than twelve inches from the building;

C. Class C.

1. Horizontal electric signs must be equipped for illumination. The aggregate rated candlepower of the lamps used in illuminating signs must equal not less than eight candlepower per square foot of area of the illuminated portion of the sign; provided, that in the case of a double-faced interiorly illuminated sign, such area shall be the area of only one face thereof.

2. Such horizontal electric signs shall not project over the sidewalk area nearer than two feet from the outer edge of the curbline; provided, that no such sign shall project more than ten feet from the property line and no part of such sign shall be less than ten feet above the sidewalk. Such sign and its supporting members shall be made entirely of metal and other noncombustible and noncorrosive materials.

3. Such sign and metal frame shall be attached to the building or to a tripod mast or structure of substantial design with through bolts or other fitting approved by the city building inspector. All frame members, guys, braces or other supports of such signs shall be of iron or steel, galvanized or covered with noncorrosive paint or weatherproofing incombustible material, and of sufficient strength to adequately sustain such sign.

4. No projecting sign of this class shall have an exposed area to exceed fifty square feet;

D. Class D. For the purpose of this chapter, all electric signs, other than horizontal electric signs, shall be considered vertical electric signs. Vertical electric signs shall conform in every respect in regard to material, character or construction of signs, supports, exposed-area limitation and amount of illumination to the requirements of Class C signs. Vertical electric signs shall have no part less than ten feet above the sidewalk and shall project no more than six feet from the property line, except that, upon proper showing of the necessity thereof, the city council may, by resolution, issue a permit for a Class D sign, which shall project no more than eight feet from the property line;

E. Class E. Flat or curved wire neon signs with flat or raised letters may be extended from the front of one bay window above the first story to any adjacent bay window of the same building, provided that projection of the sign from the front of the bay windows is not more than six inches;

F. Class F. Wooden signs shall be fastened flat against the wall of a building or in front of or on top of the cornice over a first-story show window and, when exceeding two feet in height, shall not exceed forty square feet in area.

(Prior code § 16-1)

(Ord. No. 517-23, § 56, 11-28-2023)

All electric signs shall be constructed in every respect in accordance with the regulations of the Industrial Accident Commission of the state from time to time in effect.

(Prior code § 16-2)

(Ord. No. 517-23, § 57, 11-28-2023)

No electric sign shall be used or maintained which has less than ninety percent of the installed sockets effective while illuminated.

(Prior code § 16-3)

(Ord. No. 517-23, § 58, 11-28-2023)

No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use or maintain any sign or structure in the city, or cause or permit the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 306-79 § 5.020, 1979)