Encinitas Municipal Code § 3.7 Signage Regulations

Except as otherwise specified in this Section and Chapter 4 of this Specific Plan, the signage standards and review and approval procedures of Chapters 23.08 and 30.60 of the Encinitas Municipal Code shall apply for all signs within the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Specific Plan area.

In addition to the provisions of Chapter 30.60 of the Encinitas Municipal Code, the following standards for window signs in the Specific Plan area shall apply:

A. When used in conjunction with wall signs, permanent window signs shall not occupy more than the lesser of four square feet or 20% of the total window area located on the same side of the tenant space of the building on which the sign is placed.

B. When used in lieu of wall signs, permanent window signs may occupy up to 50% of a window's area, with the aggregate area of window signs not to exceed the maximum area allowed for walls signs, as per Chapter 30.60 of the Encinitas Municipal Code.

A. General

In a commercial zone, freestanding A-frame signs shall be allowed, subject to the following standards:

(1) One sign per business.

(2) Maximum size is two and one-half (2 1/2) feet in height by two feet in width.

(3) Maximum of two faces per sign, back-to-back.

(4) There shall be no external or internal illumination.

(5) Sign shall not be permanently affixed to any object, structure or the ground, including utility poles, light poles, trees or any merchandise or products displayed outside of buildings.

(6) Sign shall be portable, self-supporting, stable and weighted or constructed to withstand overturning by wind or contact.

(7) Sign shall not be on display during non-business hours.

(8) Sign shall be located directly in front of the building/business it is advertising.

(9) Sign shall not be placed in such a way as to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular sight lines or corner clear zone requirements as specified by the City.

(10) Sign shall not be placed in such a way as to obstruct access to a public pathway, public street, driveway, parking space, fire door, fire escape, handicapped access or in such a way that it obstructs free passage over any public right-of-way.

(11) Sign shall not obscure or interfere with the effectiveness of any official notice or public safety device.

(12) Placement of sign shall maintain at least a four foot width for pedestrian clearance over the entire length of the pathway or the public right-of-way in front of the business, free of all obstructions such as planter areas, fire hydrants, street lights, other street furniture, on-street parking overhang, and any approved public right-of-way dining area.

B. Placement of A-frame Signs in the Public Right-of-Way

In addition to meeting the above standards, A-frame signs which encroach into the public right-of-way are allowed with the issuance of an encroachment permit from the Engineering Services Department. Encroachment permits for A-frame signs in the public right-of-way shall require the submittal of the following information and are subject to the following limitations:

(1) Submit a brief description of the proposed encroachment and its proposed location in the public right-of-way.

(2) Submit a site plan, in a form acceptable to the Engineering Services Department and the Planning and Building Department, showing local conditions, including street and pathway width, and location/dimensions of all street furniture and elements on the pathway.

(3) The description and site plan shall be reviewed and accepted by the Planning and Building Department prior to the issuance of an encroachment permit by the Engineering Services Department.

(4) A liability insurance policy naming the City as additionally insured shall be provided as specified by the Engineering Services Department.

(5) An issued encroachment permit may be revoked by the City after a 30 day written notice.