El Centro Municipal Code Div. 1 Purpose and Applicability

The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures and regulations addressing signs that are intended to:

(a) Encourage communications that aid orientation and promote economic vitality while preventing visual clutter that will detract from the aesthetic character of the city; and

(b) Apply basic principles of good design and sensitivity to community appearance to signage to avoid the creation of nuisances and privacy violations that will degrade the value of surrounding properties; and

(c) Enhance safety by ensuring that signs are designed, constructed, installed, and maintained in compliance with minimum standards necessary to provide adequate visibility and to avoid the creation of hazards or unreasonable distractions for pedestrians or drivers and specifically addressing types of sign structures that raise special issues; and

(d) Ensure that the constitutionally-guaranteed right of free speech is protected; and

(e) Provide for the use of public property only for public purposes.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)

(a) Signs shall only be erected or maintained in compliance with this chapter.

(b) The sign regulations outlined in this chapter are intended to be the minimum standards needed to achieve the city's purposes in regard to signs.

(c) Where this chapter conflicts with provisions of the adopted zoning ordinance (chapter 29 of this Code) or any amendments thereto, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

(d) These sign regulations are not intended to restrict, limit or control the content or message of signs but to address public health, safety and welfare.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)