§ 13-115. Signs regulations and design standards. — Costa Mesa Zoning Code

Table 13-115 indicates the maximum allowed area, height, number, and other design restrictions for both permanent and temporary signs.

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	TABLE 13-115 SIGN REGULATIONS PERMANENT SIGNS
	RESIDENTIAL ZONES	COMMERCIAL ZONES	INDUSTRIAL ZONES	INSTITUTIONAL ZONES
TOTAL SIGN AREA PER STREET FRONTAGE	Residential uses: 1.0 sq. ft per unit, not to exceed 90 sq. ft. (25 sq. ft. minimum for sites with 4 or more units). Permitted non-residential uses: 30 sq. ft. for sites less than 1 acre. 45 sq. ft. for sites of 1 acre or more. Total area of all permanent sigs (freestanding signs and building signs) may not exceed TOTAL SIGN AREA PER STREET FRONTAGE. TOTAL SIGN AREA PER STREET FRONTAGE See section13-116for commercial or industrial signs located within 200 ft. of residentially-zoned property.	1.0 sq. ft. per ft. of lot width + 0.5 sq. ft. per ft. of lot depth		30 sq. ft. for sites less than 1 acre. 45 sq. ft. for sites of 1 acre or more.
FREESTANDING SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED		Yes
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS	1. Must be located in landscaped planter equal to twice the sign area. 2. May not obstruct visibility for motorists or pedestrians at driveways or intersections. 3. May not obstruct visibility of legal signs on adjacent site(s). 4. May not consist of a pole sign with a visible cylindrical pole structure(s). 5. Planning Division may require freestanding signs to incorporate street address if address on building is not visible from public streets: 4 inches high minimum in residential zones; 8 inches high minimum in nonresidential zones. The address area, up to 6 sq. ft., is not counted against allowable sign area. Address must be integrated into the design of the sign and placed at such an elevation so as not to be obstructed by landscaping. 6. See section13-116if located within 200 ft. of residentially-zoned property.
MAXIMUM AREA (not including street address)	30 sq. ft. (Includes both on-site and neighborhood identifcation signs.)	Total area of all freestanding 50% of total allowed sign are	signs may not exceed a per street frontage.	15 sq. ft.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT	7 ft.	12 ft.		7 ft.
NUMBER & SEPARATION	300 ft. separation between freestanding signs on same site.
ILLUMINATION	Exterior, or interior with opaque background. No fashing or blinking allowed.	No fashing or blinking allowed.		Exterior, or interior with opaque background. No fashing or blinking allowed.
VERTICAL CLEARANCE	8 ft. minimum clearance ov circulation areas.	er pedestrian circulation areas	. 16 ft. minimum clearance	over parking and vehicular
FREEWAY-ORIENTED FREESTANDING SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED	Prohibited	Yes	Prohibited
MAXIMUM AREA AND HEIGHT	N/A	For commercial properties of one acre or more, within 300 feet of a freeway exit: One freeway-oriented sign may be allowed, not to	N/A

	TABLE 13-115 SIGN REGULATIONS PERMANENT SIGNS
	RESIDENTIAL ZONES	COMMERCIAL ZONES	INDUSTRIAL ZONES	INSTITUTIONAL ZONES
		exceed 230 sq. ft. and 32 ft. high.
ILLUMINATION	N/A	No fashing or blinking		N/A
VERTICAL CLEARANCE	N/A	8 ft. minimum clearance over pedestrian circulation areas. 16 ft. minimum clearance over parking and vehicular circulation areas.		N/A
BUILDING WALL SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED		Yes
MAXIMUM AREA	Total area of all permanent building wall signage may not exceed TOTAL SIGN AREA PER STREET FRONTAGE	Each single tenant may be allowed a maximum of 1.5 sq. ft. of building wall signage per lineal foot of building frontage of the business. If the building frontage of any such use is less than 25 lineal feet, only one sign, having a maximum area of 25 square feet, may be permitted.
ILLUMINATION	Exterior, or interior with opaque background. No fashing or blinking allowed.	No fashing or blinking allowed.		Exterior, or interior with opaque background. No fashing or blinking allowed.
NUMBER	N/A	Single tenant buildings: A maximum of three wall signs per street frontage. Multi-tenant buildings: One wall sign per business on each street frontage.		N/A
		Exception: A tenant with more than 10,000 square feet of foor area in a multi-tenant building shall be permitted a maximum of three wall signs per business/street frontage. Buildings with more than 2 stories and 30 feet in height: No sign is permitted above the frst foor of any building except for a single sign per street frontage on the uppermost portion of the building fascia identifying either the street address, name of the building, major tenant and/or logo. Street address up to 6 square feet per story shall not be counted toward allowable sign area.
LOCATION	Signs may only be attached to a building wall abutting a public street or on-site parking area serving the subject building, unless otherwise approved by the Planning Division.
VERTICAL CLEARANCE	Awning, canopy and projecting signs: 8 ft. minimum clearance over pedestrian circulation areas. 16 ft. minimum clearance over parking and vehicular circulation areas.
MURALS AND SUPER GRAPHICS PERMIT REQUIRED	Yes
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS	Subject to approval by the Planning Division. The purpose of the Planning Division approval is to verify that it is not a sign.
PAINTED WALL SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED	Yes
MAXIMUM AREA	Total area of painted wall signs may not exceed 10% of total allowed sign area per street frontage.
PERMANENT WINDOW SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED	Yes

	TABLE 13-115 SIGN REGULATIONS PERMANENT SIGNS
MAXIMUM AREA	1. 20% of contiguous window area maximum. 2. Window sign area in excess of the above maximum may be permitted if it can be shown that the merchandise offered for sale cannot be adequately displayed and, therefore, justifes substitution of additional window signage for merchandise display, subject to written approval by the Planning Division or Zoning Administrator. Total of permanent and temporary window sign area shall not exceed 50% of contiguous window area.
CONVENIENCE SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED	Yes
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS	1. 9 sq. ft. maximum per sign. 2. Not counted against allowable sign area. 3. Placement and height subject to approval of Planning Division.
CONSTRUCTION SIGNS PERMIT REQUIRED	Yes

	TABLE 13-115 SIGN REGULATIONS PERMANENT SIGNS
	RESIDENTIAL ZONES	COMMERCIAL ZONES	INDUSTRIAL ZONES	INSTITUTIONAL ZONES
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS	1. One per street frontage. 2. 64 sq. ft. maximum. 3. 16 ft. high maximum. 4. Must be removed within 1 year after installation, or within 30 days of fnal inspection, whichever occurs frst. Construction signs in R-1 zoning districts shall be consistent with allowable real estate signs (One per street frontage, 5 sq. ft. maximum, and 6 ft. high maximum).
REAL ESTATE SIGNS (No permits are required.)
FOR SALE SIGNS	1. One per street frontage. 2. 5 sq. ft. maximum. 3. 6 ft. high maximum.	1. One per street frontage. 2. 32 sq. ft. maximum. 3. 12 ft. high maximum.
OPEN HOUSE SIGNS	1. One per street frontage. 2. 3 sq. ft. maximum. 3. 5 ft. high maximum.	Prohibited
NON-COMMERCIAL PORTABLE SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY	5 sq. ft. maximum per sign with a maximum 6-ft. height above grade for signs affxed in the ground.	5 sq. ft. maximum per sign with a maximum 6-ft. height above grade for signs affxed in the ground subject to the time periods set forth in section 13-123(a)(5).
COMMERCIAL PORTABLE SIGNS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY	Subject to section13-123.5.
TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGNS (No permits are required.)	Prohibited	1. 20% of window area. 2. Window sign area in excess of the above maximum may be permitted if it can be shown that the merchandise offered for sale cannot be adequately displayed and, therefore, justifes substitution of additional window signage for merchandise display, subject to written approval by the Planning Division or Zoning Administrator. Total of permanent and temporary window sign area shall not exceed 50% of contiguous window area. 3. Time limit shall not exceed 60 days.		Prohibited
APARTMENT FLAGS (No permits are required.)	1. 1 per 60 ft. of lot frontage (minimum of 2). 2. 15 sq. ft. maximum. 3. 18 ft. high maximum. 4. Must be maintained in good condition; removed or replaced if torn, faded or dirty.	Prohibited
OTHER FLAGS AND PENNANTS	Flags of a nation or the state shall be displayed in an appropriate manner consistent displaying products, logos and/or business names are prohibited. Pennants are prohibited.			with state and federal law. Flags
BALLOON SIGNS (less than 24 inches) (No permits are required)	Prohibited	Allowed, subject to the following: 1. May not extend beyond any property line or over any public-right-of-way, regardless of wind conditions. 2. Must be securely anchored. 3. May not be released into the air. 4. Metallic balloons are prohibited.		Prohibited
INFLATABLE SIGNS (over 24 inches)	Prohibited
BANNERS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY (Permit required) MAXIMUM AREA	0.5 ft. per unit. Maximum area: 100 sq. ft. per site.	0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building frontage facing the street. Minimum entitlement: 25 sq. ft. per tenant. Maximum area: 75 sq. ft. per tenant.
TIME LIMITS	A maximum display time of 60 days per calendar year. Exception: For residential developments of 100 units or more, a maximum display time of 120 days per calendar year.
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS	1. The entire surface of the banner must be securely affxed to either a building wall of the business being advertised (the building wall must abut a public street or on-site parking area serving the business being advertised), or to the sign face of a freestanding sign. 2. May not be attached to any staff, pole, line, framing, vehicle, or similar support. 3. May not project above roof. 4. Must be maintained in good condition; removed or replaced if torn, faded, or dirty.

	TABLE 13-115 SIGN REGULATIONS PERMANENT SIGNS
	RESIDENTIAL ZONES	COMMERCIAL ZONES	INDUSTRIAL ZONES	INSTITUTIONAL ZONES
	5. Limit 1 banner per tenant or building occupant on each street frontage maximum. 6. Banners are permitted only as a means of temporary advertisement, such as for new businesses, grand openings, or similar special events, and may not be used as permanent signs. 7. Prior to the installation of a banner, a permit shall be obtained from the Planning Division. A city-issued decal shall be attached to face of the banner in the lower right-hand corner. The banner and any support elements shall be promptly removed at the expiration of the banner permit.
BANNERS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY	See section13-118, street banners.
TEMPORARY SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY PERMIT REQUIRED	Subject to section13-118.1

	TABLE 13-115 SIGN REGULATIONS PERMANENT SIGNS
BANNERS ON PUBLIC BASEBALL AND/OR SOFTBALL FIELDS PERMIT REQUIRED	Subject to section13-118.2
NON-COMMERCIAL BANNERS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY (Permit required)
MAXIMUM AREA	The greater of 0.5 sq. ft. per dwelling unit or 20 sq. ft. Maximum area: 100 sq. ft. per site.	0.5 sq. ft. per lineal foot of building frontage facing the street. Minimum entitlement: 25 sq. ft. per tenant. Maximum area: 75 sq. ft. per tenant.
TIME LIMITS	A maximum display time of 60 days per calendar year. Exception: For residential developments of 100 units or more, a maximum display time of 120 days per calendar year.
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS	1. The entire surface of the banner must be securely affxed to either a building wall of the residence or business (the building wall must abut a public street or on-site parking area serving the residence or business), or to the sign face of a freestanding sign. 2. May not be attached to any staff, pole, line, framing, vehicle, or similar support. 3. May not project above roof. 4. Must be maintained in good condition; removed or replaced if torn, faded, or dirty. 5. Limit 1 banner per tenant or building occupant on each street frontage maximum. 6. A permit is required.
SIGNAGE IN MIXED-USE OVERLAY DISTRICT	Refer to the appropriate urban plan for signage regulations in the mixed-use overlay district.

(Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-5, §§ 20—22, 3-2-98; Ord. No. 99-10, § 4, 7-19-99; Ord. No. 02-8, § 1c, 4-15-02; Ord. No. 0411, § 3, 10-18-04; Ord. No. 06-9, § 1i., 4-18-06; Ord. No. 10-20, § 1(Exh. A), 1-4-11; Ord. No. 11-11, § 1, 9-20-11; Ord. No. 16-04, § 3, 8-2-16; Ord. No. 18-02, § 3, 1-16-18; Ord. No. 19-08, § 2, 4-2-19; Ord. No. 21-20, § 1, 12-7-21)