Chapter 17.07 — UNIFORM SIGN CODE VIOLATIONS

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish, equip, use or maintain any sign or sign 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 code.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

A sign shall not hereafter be erected, re-erected, constructed, altered or maintained, except as provided by this code and after a permit for the same has been issued by the building official. A separate permit shall be required for a sign or signs for each business entity, and a separate permit shall be required for each group of signs on a single supporting structure. In addition, electrical permits shall be obtained for electric signs.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

All signs and sign support structures, together with all other supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official.

Footing inspections may be required by the building official for all signs having footings.

All signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the National Electrical Code, and the electrical components used shall bear the label of an approved testing agency.

The building official may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.05.305.

All signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the building official.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

Construction materials for signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the Uniform Building Code.

For all signs and sign structures the materials and details of construction shall, in the absence of specified requirements, conform with the following:

Structural steel shall be of such quality as to conform with Uniform Building Code Standard No. 27-1. Secondary members in contact with or directly supporting the display surface may be formed of light gauge steel, provided such members are designed in accordance with the specifications of the design of light gauge steel as specified in Uniform Building Code Standard No. 27-9, and in addition shall be galvanized. Secondary members, when formed integrally with the display surface, shall be not less than 0.024 inch in thickness. When not formed integrally with the display surface, the minimum thickness of the secondary members shall be 0.10 inch. The minimum thickness of hot-rolled steel members furnishing structural support for signs shall be ¼ inch, except that, if galvanized, such members shall be not less than ⅛ inch thick. Steel pipes shall be of such quality as to conform with Uniform Building Code Standard No. 27-1. Steel members may be connected with one galvanized bolt, provided the connection is adequate to transfer the stresses in the members.

Anchors and supports when of wood and embedded in the soil, or within 6 inches of the soil, shall be all heartwood of durable species, or shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative. Such anchors and supports shall be marked or branded by an approved agency.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

Members supporting unbraced signs shall be so proportioned that the bearing loads imposed on the soil in either direction, horizontal or vertical, shall not exceed the safe values. Braced ground signs shall be anchored to resist the specified wind or seismic load acting in any direction. Anchors and supports shall be designed for safe bearing loads on the soil and for an effective resistance to pullout amounting to a force 25 percent greater than the required resistance to overturning. Anchors and supports shall penetrate to a depth below ground greater than that of the frost line.

Portable ground signs supported by frames or posts rigidly attached to the base shall be so proportioned that the weight and size of the base will be adequate to resist the wind pressure specified in this chapter.

Signs attached to masonry, concrete or steel shall be safely and securely fastened thereto by means of metal anchors, bolts or approved expansion screws of sufficient size and anchorage to support safely the loads applied.

No wooden blocks or plugs or anchors with wood used in connection with screws or nails shall be considered proper anchorage, except in the case of signs attached to wood framing.

No anchor or support of any sign shall be connected to, or supported by, an unbraced parapet wall, unless such wall is designed in accordance with the requirements for parapet walls specified for seismic zones in the Uniform Building Code.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

Signs shall conform to the clearance and projection requirements of this section and Tables Nos. 4-B and 4-C of Section 17.07.404.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

Signs shall be located not less than 6 feet horizontally or 12 feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors which are energized in excess of 750 volts. The term "overhead conductors" as used in this section means any electrical conductor, either bare or insulated, installed above the ground, except such conductors as are enclosed in iron pipe or other material covering of equal strength.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

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.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

No sign shall obstruct any openings to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by this code.

Signs erected within 5 feet of an exterior wall in which there are openings within the area of the sign shall be constructed of noncombustible material or approved plastics.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

No sign or sign structure shall project into any public alley below a height of 14 feet above grade, nor project more than 12 inches where the sign structure is located 14 feet to 16 feet above grade. The sign or sign structure may project not more than 36 inches into the public alley where the sign or sign structure is located more than 16 feet above grade.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

Signs shall not project within 2 feet of the curb line.

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)

Table 4-A

Size, Thickness and Type of Glass Panels in Signs

Maximum Size of Exposed Glass Panel

Any Dimension Area Minimum Type of Glass

(In Inches) (In Square Inches) Thickness of

Glass

(In Inches)

30 500 ½ Plain, Plate or Wired

45 700 5/16 Plain, Plate or Wired

144 3,600 ¼ Plain, Plate or Wired

Over 144 Over 3,600 ¼ Wired Glass

Table 4-B

Projection of Signs

Table 4-C

Thickness of Projecting Signs

(Ord. 97-6 Div. 2 (part), 1997.)