Davis Municipal Code Art. 3.02 Adjacent to Freeways

For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Advertising display.

Advertising structures and signs.

Advertising structure.

A structure of any kind or character erected or maintained for outdoor advertising purposes, upon which any poster, bill, printing, painting or other advertisement of any kind whatsoever may be placed, including statuary, for advertising purposes, but does not include:

(1)

Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer;

(2)

Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person in giving legal notice;

(3)

Directional, warning or information structures required by or authorized by law or by federal, state, county or city authority;

(4)

A structure which contains the name of the city and the names of, or any other information regarding, civic, fraternal or religious organizations located therein.

Freeway.

A highway in respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right or easement of access to or from their abutting lands or in respect to which such owners have only limited or restricted right of easement, or access, and which is declared to be such in compliance with the Streets and Highways Code of the state.

Sign.

Any card, cloth, paper, metal, painted or wooden sign of any character placed for outdoor advertising purposes, on or to the ground or any tree, wall, bush, rock, fence, building, structure or thing, either privately or publicly owned, other than an advertising structure, but does not include:

(1)

Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer;

(2)

Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person in giving any legal notice;

(3)

Directional, warning or information signs or structures required by or authorized by law or by federal, state, county or city authority.

(Code 1964 § 7-6.01; Ord. 1370 § 3; Ord. 1863 § 4)

Except as provided in Section 3.01.040, no advertising display shall be placed or maintained on any property within the city within six hundred feet of the exterior boundary of a freeway, if the advertising display is designed to be viewed primarily by persons traveling on such freeway.

(Code 1964 § 7-6.02; Ord. 1370 § 3; Ord. 1863 § 4)

(a) The provisions of Section 3.01.030 shall not apply to any advertising structure or sign for which approval consistent with the provisions of Chapter 40 has been secured, and if the advertising display is used exclusively:

(1) To advertise the sale or lease of the property upon which such advertising display is placed;

(2) To designate the name of the owner or occupant of the premises upon which such advertising display is placed or to identify such premises;

(3) To advertise goods manufactured or produced, or services rendered on the property upon which such advertising display is placed;

(4) Noncommercial advertising of the ideas or beliefs of the owner or occupant of the property upon which such advertising display is placed, regarding sociological, religious or economic subjects of public interest or general concern.

(b) No use permit shall be granted to any advertising structure, or display or sign:

(1) Which simulates or imitates directional, warning, danger or information signs lawfully maintained along a freeway;

(2) Which contains illumination of such brilliance as to blind or dazzle travelers on a freeway;

(3) Which contains a red or blinking light which is likely to be mistaken for a warning or danger signal by travelers on a freeway;

(4) Which exceeds three hundred square feet in area;

(5) Which contains any moving parts;

(6) Which does not conform to one of the standards set forth in subsections (a)(1)—(4) of this section.

(Code 1964 § 7-6.03; Ord. 1370 § 3; Ord. 1863 § 4; Ord. 2308 § 3, 2008)

All advertising displays which are placed or which exist in violation of the provisions of this article are public nuisances and may be removed or destroyed summarily and without notice.

(Code 1964 § 7-6.05; Ord. 1370 § 3; Ord. 1863 § 4)