El Centro Municipal Code Div. 1 Sign Design, Construction and Maintenance Requirements

All signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind and seismic forces as specified in the latest edition of the California Building Code adopted by the city.

(a) Allowable stresses. The following shall conform to the requirements of the latest edition of the California Building Code adopted by the city:

(1) The design of wood, concrete, steel or aluminum;

(2) Stresses produced by loads, both vertical and horizontal, exerted on the soil;

(3) Increases in working stresses for wind or seismic loads combined with dead loads.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)

(a) General. Except for governmental signs, the supports for all signs or sign structures shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed, and erected in conformance with the requirements of this chapter and the latest edition of the California Building Code as adopted by the city.

(b) Materials. Materials used for the construction of signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the California Building Code. For all signs and sign structures the materials and details of construction and anchorage shall, in the absence of specified requirements, conform to all applicable building and related code requirements, as determined by the city building official.

(1) Nonstructural trim. Nonstructural trim and portable display surfaces may be of wood, metal, approved plastics, or any combination thereof, treated or painted to resist oxidation, decay or dry rot.

(c) Anchorage. Anchorage shall be as required by the latest edition of the California Building Code adopted by the city.

(d) Approved plastics. Any plastic material used must meet the specifications of the community development director.

(e) Bare bulb illumination. Bare bulb illumination must meet the requirements established by the latest version of the California Electrical Code as adopted by the city.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)

(a) General. All types of signs shall conform to the clearance and projection requirements of this section.

(b) Clearance from high voltage power lines. Signs shall be located not less than six (6) feet horizontally or twelve (12) feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors in excess of seven hundred fifty (750) volts. For conductors less than seven hundred fifty (750) volts, there shall be a minimum of three (3) feet horizontal and vertical clearance. The term "overhead conductors" as used in this section means any electrical conductor, bare or insulated, installed above the ground except such conductors as are enclosed in iron pipe or other material covering of equal strength. All applicable Imperial Irrigation District (IID) requirements shall also apply.

(c) Clearance from fire escapes, exits, or standpipes. No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.

(d) Clearance from obstructing view of vehicles. No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere or obstruct, in any way, the clear view for drivers/vehicles entering or exiting onto or from streets, roads, highways or another public way from the property where the sign is located.

(e) Sign clearance from sidewalks, line of site, and obstructions shall be set out by the community development director.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)

(a) The standards of all signs and outdoor advertising shall reasonably comply with the guidelines of this chapter. All signs and advertising structures shall comply with the requirements of the latest editions of the California Building Code and California Electrical Code as adopted by the city. Electrically energized components and cabinets shall bear the seal of its listing by the testing agency or laboratory, which must be approved by the assistant community development director.

(b) All signs and sign structures shall be maintained in a safe condition and good repair.

(c) In the event a use of any site or building is vacated, terminated or abandoned, for any reason for a period of more than one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days, the owner or person in possession of the property shall be responsible for removal of all signs and their support structures on the property, building or wall, or for having the copy thereof painted out, at its expense, within thirty (30) days of notice from the city.

(d) Painting, repainting, or cleaning of any sign or outdoor advertising structure shall not be considered an erection or alteration that requires a sign permit.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)

(a) All temporary signs shall be maintained in a safe condition and good repair. Signs that are dangerous, illegible, ripped, or similarly damaged may be removed and disposed of by City Code enforcement without notice or compensation.

(b) Temporary signs that block line of site and obstruct sidewalks or create traffic hazards may be removed and disposed of by Code Enforcement without notice or compensation.

(Ord. No. 22-07, § 4, 11-15-22)