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Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS (old)

§ 155.162 ILLUMINATION; MOVEMENT.

Eureka Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Eureka

(A) Illuminated signs.

(1) Any illuminated sign shall substantially comply with the average light levels recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA):

Light colors Dark surroundings 20 footcandles
Dark colors Dark surroundings 50 footcandles
Light colors Bright surroundings 50 footcandles
Dark colors Bright surroundings 100 footcandles

(2) Whenever illumination is in issue, the Director of Community Development may require submission for his review a computer lighting study by the manufacturer of all lamps used in the particular lighting application. The Director of Community Development may require that lamps in use produce average light levels which, in the opinion of the Director, substantially comply with the standards of the IESNA stated above, or as may be amended from time to time to reflect changes in the state of the art of illumination as approved by the IESNA.

(3) All indirectly illuminated light levels shall be measured in footcandles according to the standards of the IESNA as illuminance falling on the sign face and not as reflectance off the sign face. A sign owner must produce the requested computer lighting study within 30 days. If the study is not produced, the city may contract for the performance of a lighting study to establish the levels of illuminance falling on the particular sign face in issue and bill the sign or property owner (as appropriate) for the cost of the lighting study.

(B) Sign illumination shall be maintained constant in intensity, color, and pattern at all times when the sign is lighted. No sign illumination shall be of such brightness as to create annoying or hazardous glare or an annoying halo effect.

(C) No movement, or apparent movement of, or in, a sign shall be permitted. A time or temperature sign, barber pole, or a theater canopy sign consistent with other regulations of this subchapter shall be permitted.

(D) Whenever the Director of Community Development may reasonably find that a particular lighting application is not in substantial compliance with the recommended light levels established by the IESNA as stated herein, then the Director of Community Development may proceed to abate the condition as a nuisance in accordance with the provisions of § 150.041(A)(4) of this title.

(E) Electronic message centers.

(1) Electronic message centers (EMC) shall comply with the brightness criteria based on the International Sign Association

(ISA) Electronic Message Display Brightness Guide.

(2) EMC illumination shall be limited to the difference between off and solid-message measurements using the EMC Measurement Criteria, and shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles at night.

(a) The illuminance of an EMC shall be measured with an illuminance meter set to measure footcandles accurate to at least two decimals.

(b) Illuminance shall be measured with the EMC off, and again with the EMC displaying a white image for a full colorcapable EMC, or a solid message for a single-color EMC.

(c) All measurements shall be taken perpendicular to the face of the EMC at the distance determined by the total square footage of the EMC as set forth in the Sign Area Versus Measurement Distance table.

(3) All permitted EMCs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions, or that can be adjusted to comply with the 0.3 footcandle measurements.

(4) The image on electronic message centers shall not change.

(F) Sign Area Versus Measurement Distance Table.

(F) Sign Area Versus Measurement Distance Table.
AREA OF SIGN Sq. ft. MEASUREMENT Distance (ft.)
AREA OF SIGN Sq. ft. MEASUREMENT Distance (ft.)
10 32
15 39
20 45
25 50
30 55
35 59
40 63
45 67
50 71
55 74
60 77
65 81
70 84
75 87
80 89
85 92
90 95
95 97
100 100
110 105
120 110
130 114
140 118
150 122
160 126
170 130
180 134
190 138
200 141
220 148
240 155
260 161
280 167

300 173

(Ord. 585-C.S., passed 12-20-94; Am. Ord. 786-C.S., passed 8-21-12) Penalty, see § 150.999

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▸ Contents — Eureka Zoning Code
Eureka Zoning Code
  1. Article I — NAME AND SEAL; FORM OF GOVERNMENT; BOUNDARIES; MUN…
  2. Article II — ELECTIONS
  3. Article III — CITY COUNCIL
  4. Article IV — MAYOR
  5. Article V — ORDINANCES
  6. Article VI — ADMINISTRATION
  7. Article VII — FISCAL ADMINISTRATION
  8. Article VIII — OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
  9. Article IX — FRANCHISES
  10. Article X — INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
  11. Article XI — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
  12. Chapter 10 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  13. Chapter 30 — CITY COUNCIL
  14. Chapter 31 — CITY OFFICIALS
  15. Chapter 32 — CITY DEPARTMENTS
  16. Chapter 33 — BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
  17. Chapter 34 — PERSONNEL POLICIES
  18. Chapter 35 — FINANCE, REVENUE AND TAXATION
  19. Chapter 36 — HEALTH FACILITY REVENUE BONDS
  20. Chapter 37 — ELECTIONS
  21. Chapter 38 — CIVIL EMERGENCIES
  22. Chapter 39 — CITY POLICY
  23. Chapter 40 — TRANSFERS OF CITY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY
  24. Chapter 50 — SEWERS
  25. Chapter 51 — SOLID WASTE
  26. Chapter 52 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
  27. Chapter 53 — WATER
  28. Chapter 54 — STORM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONT…
  29. Chapter 55 — ENERGY
  30. Chapter 56 — STREETS
  31. Chapter 70 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  32. Chapter 71 — TRAFFIC RULES
  33. Chapter 72 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
  34. Chapter 73 — BICYCLES
  35. Chapter 75 — MOBILE VENDORS OPERATING UPON A STREET
  36. Chapter 90 — ABANDONED VEHICLES
  37. Chapter 91 — ANIMALS
  38. Chapter 92 — FIRE PREVENTION
  39. Chapter 93 — PARKS AND RECREATION
  40. Chapter 94 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  41. Chapter 95 — MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
  42. Chapter 96 — PARADES AND ASSEMBLIES
  43. Chapter 97 — SMOKING
  44. Chapter 98 — STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
  45. Chapter 99 — TRAINS AND RAILROADS
  46. Chapter 100 — HARBOR REGULATIONS
  47. Chapter 101 — FILMING
  48. Chapter 102 — BEEKEEPING
  49. Chapter 103 — PRIVATE SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
  50. Chapter 104 — MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE
  51. Chapter 110 — BUSINESS LICENSES
  52. Chapter 112 — AMBULANCES
  53. Chapter 113 — AMUSEMENTS
  54. Chapter 114 — CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEMS
  55. Chapter 115 — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND OUTDOOR DINING AREAS
  56. Chapter 117 — MASSAGE PARLORS
  57. Chapter 118 — SOLICITORS, CANVASSERS, AND SIDEWALK VENDORS
  58. Chapter 119 — SECOND-HAND DEALERS
  59. Chapter 120 — TAXICABS AND LIMOUSINES
  60. Chapter 121 — OTHER VEHICLES FOR HIRE
  61. Chapter 122 — FOREIGN-TRADE ZONE
  62. Chapter 130 — OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY
  63. Chapter 131 — PROPERTY OFFENSES
  64. Chapter 132 — DRUG OFFENSES
  65. Chapter 133 — WEAPONS OFFENSES
  66. Chapter 134 — ABATEMENT OF CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES
  67. Chapter 150 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  68. Chapter 151 — AIRPORT ZONING
  69. Chapter 152 — PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATION
  70. Chapter 153 — FLOOD HAZARD AREA REGULATIONS
  71. Chapter 154 — SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
  72. Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS
  73. ▸ Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS (old)
    Overview
    1. § 155.080 OFF-STREET PARKING.
    2. § 155.081 OFF-STREET LOADING.
    3. § 155.082 SIGNS.
    4. § 155.083 SITE PLAN REVIEW AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW.
    5. § 155.095 PURPOSES.
    6. § 155.096 SPECIAL PURPOSES OF ML AND MG DISTRICTS.
    7. § 155.097 REQUIRED CONDITIONS.
    8. § 155.098 PERMITTED USES.
    9. § 155.099 CONDITIONAL USES.
    10. § 155.100 OFF-STREET PARKING.
    11. § 155.101 OFF-STREET LOADING.
    12. § 155.102 SIGNS.
    13. § 155.103 SITE PLAN REVIEW.
    14. § 155.115 PURPOSES.
    15. § 155.116 BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
    16. § 155.117 SCHEDULE OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENTS.
    17. § 155.118 STANDARDS FOR OFF-STREET PARKING FACILITIES.
    18. § 155.119 LOCATION OF OFF-STREET PARKING FACILITIES.
    19. § 155.120 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    20. § 155.121 EXEMPTIONS FOR SITES IN PARKING ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS.
    21. § 155.122 EXISTING USES.
    22. § 155.123 IN LIEU PAYMENTS.
    23. § 155.124 ADA PARKING.
    24. § 155.135 PURPOSES.
    25. § 155.136 BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
    26. § 155.137 SCHEDULE OF OFF-STREET LOADING BERTH REQUIREMENTS.
    27. § 155.138 STANDARDS FOR OFF-STREET LOADING FACILITIES.
    28. § 155.139 LOCATION OF OFF-STREET LOADING FACILITIES.
    29. § 155.140 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    30. § 155.141 EXISTING USES.
    31. § 155.155 PURPOSES AND SCOPE.
    32. § 155.156 DEFINITIONS.
    33. § 155.157 TEMPORARY AND OTHER EXEMPT SIGNS.
    34. § 155.158 SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS.
    35. § 155.159 REGULATIONS FOR ON-PREMISES AND OFF-PREMISES SIGNS.
    36. § 155.161 MURALS, GRAPHIC DESIGNS AND THE LIKE.
    37. § 155.162 ILLUMINATION; MOVEMENT.
    38. § 155.163 PROHIBITED LOCATIONS; SIGN TYPES; MESSAGES.
    39. § 155.164 MAINTENANCE, ABANDONMENT, REMOVAL, RETRIEVAL, AND DE…
    40. § 155.165 NONCONFORMING SIGNS.
    41. § 155.166 SIGN PERMITS.
    42. § 155.167 COMPENSATION.
    43. § 155.168 COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA BUILDING AND ELECTRIC COD…
    44. § 155.169 INVENTORY AND IDENTIFICATION OF ILLEGAL OR ABANDONED…
    45. § 155.180 PURPOSES.
    46. § 155.181 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE.
    47. § 155.182 DRAWINGS TO BE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZATION.
    48. § 155.183 DRAWINGS TO BE SUBMITTED.
    49. § 155.184 REFERRAL TO DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE.
    50. § 155.185 ACTION OF DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE.
    51. § 155.186 ACTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION.
    52. § 155.187 APPEALS TO COUNCIL; ACTION OF COUNCIL.
    53. § 155.200 PURPOSES.
    54. § 155.201 SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT PERMIT REQUIRED; APPLICATION…
    55. § 155.202 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - COASTAL ZONE.
    56. § 155.203 EXISTING SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS.
    57. § 155.204 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - INLAND.
    58. § 155.215 HOME OCCUPATIONS; REQUIRED CONDITIONS AND APPLICATIO…
    59. § 155.216 SUBDIVISION SALES OFFICE PERMITS.
    60. § 155.230 LICENSE REQUIRED FOR OCCUPANCY; COMPLIANCE WITH STAN…
    61. § 155.231 REQUIRED CONDITIONS FOR MOBILEHOME PARKS.
    62. § 155.232 REQUIRED CONDITIONS FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS.
    63. § 155.244 PURPOSES.
    64. § 155.245 DEFINITIONS.
    65. § 155.246 CONTINUATION AND MAINTENANCE.
    66. § 155.247 ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS.
    67. § 155.248 ABANDONMENT OF NONCONFORMING USES.
    68. § 155.249 RESTORATION OF DAMAGED STRUCTURES.
    69. § 155.265 PURPOSE AND INITIATION.
    70. § 155.266 APPLICATIONS.
    71. § 155.267 INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.
    72. § 155.268 DETERMINATIONS.
    73. § 155.269 EFFECTIVE DATE OF DECISION.
    74. § 155.270 APPEALS TO COUNCIL; DETERMINATIONS BY COUNCIL.
    75. § 155.280 PURPOSES AND AUTHORIZATION.
    76. § 155.281 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; FEES.
    77. § 155.282 PUBLIC HEARINGS; NOTICE AND PROCEDURE.
    78. § 155.283 INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.
    79. § 155.284 ACTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
    80. § 155.285 FINDINGS BEFORE GRANTING USE PERMIT.
    81. § 155.286 EFFECTIVE DATE OF USE PERMITS.
    82. § 155.287 APPEALS TO COUNCIL; COUNCIL REVIEW.
    83. § 155.288 TRANSMISSION OF RECORDS.
    84. § 155.289 PUBLIC HEARINGS BY COUNCIL.
    85. § 155.290 ACTION OF COUNCIL.
    86. § 155.291 LAPSE OF USE PERMITS.
    87. § 155.292 PREEXISTING CONDITIONAL USES.
    88. § 155.293 MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONAL USES.
    89. § 155.294 SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION.
    90. § 155.295 NEW APPLICATIONS.
    91. § 155.296 USE PERMITS TO RUN WITH THE LAND.
    92. § 155.297 TIME OF APPLICATIONS WHERE ZONING RECLASSIFICATION I…
    93. § 155.298 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW.
    94. § 155.299 ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES.
    95. § 155.310 PURPOSES AND AUTHORIZATION.
    96. § 155.311 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; FEES.
    97. § 155.312 ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
    98. § 155.313 PUBLIC HEARINGS; NOTICE AND PROCEDURE.
    99. § 155.314 INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.
    100. § 155.315 ACTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION.
    101. § 155.316 FINDINGS; CRITERIA FOR GRANTING VARIANCE.
    102. § 155.317 ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REGARDING SIGNS; PARKING AND LOA…
    103. § 155.318 EFFECTIVE DATE OF VARIANCE.
    104. § 155.319 APPEALS TO COUNCIL; COUNCIL REVIEW.
    105. § 155.320 TRANSMISSION OF RECORDS TO COUNCIL.
    106. § 155.321 PUBLIC HEARINGS; NOTICES.
    107. § 155.322 ACTION OF COUNCIL.
    108. § 155.323 LAPSE OF VARIANCES.
    109. § 155.324 REVOCATION.
    110. § 155.325 NEW APPLICATIONS.
    111. § 155.335 PURPOSES AND REQUIREMENTS.
    112. § 155.336 APPLICATIONS AND ISSUANCE OF ZONING PERMITS.
    113. § 155.337 ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS AND SIGN PERMITS.
    114. § 155.338 ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY.
    115. § 155.350 PURPOSE; INITIATION.
    116. § 155.351 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; FEES.
    117. § 155.352 PUBLIC HEARINGS; NOTICE AND PROCEDURE.
    118. § 155.353 INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.
    119. § 155.354 ACTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION.
    120. § 155.355 REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL HEARINGS ON DENIED APPLICATIONS.
    121. § 155.356 ACTION OF COUNCIL.
    122. § 155.357 RECLASSIFICATION OF C DISTRICT TO FORMER ZONING DIST…
    123. § 155.358 MODIFICATIONS OF SUBMITTED PLANS FOR C DISTRICT DEVE…
    124. § 155.359 CHANGE OF ZONING MAP.
    125. § 155.360 NEW APPLICATIONS.
    126. § 155.361 PREZONING OF UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY.
    127. § 155.362 UNZONED TERRITORY.
    128. § 155.365 PURPOSE; AUTHORIZATION; PETITION.
    129. § 155.366 PETITION REQUIREMENTS; MAPS AND FEES.
    130. § 155.367 PUBLIC MEETING; NOTICE AND PROCEDURE.
    131. § 155.368 INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.
    132. § 155.369 ACTION OF CITY COUNCIL.
    133. § 155.370 INITIATION REQUIREMENTS; MAPS AND FEES.
    134. § 155.371 PUBLIC HEARINGS; NOTICE AND PROCEDURE.
    135. § 155.372 NEW PETITION APPLICATIONS.
    136. § 155.375 ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL PROCEDURE.
    137. § 155.376 PERMITS, CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES.
    138. § 155.377 DUTIES OF CITY OFFICIALS.
    139. § 155.378 VIOLATION OF PROVISIONS.
    140. § 155.379 VOIDABLE CONVEYANCES.
    141. § 155.380 EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHAPTER.
    142. § 155.381 NOTIFICATION OF LITIGATION CONCERNING COASTAL ZONE D…
  74. Chapter 156 — COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS
  75. Chapter 157 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  76. Chapter 158 — CANNABIS
  77. Chapter 159 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES

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