25.1303 Sign Approvals

Any person desiring to erect or place a sign or other improvement regulated by this Section in the City of Fairfield shall first obtain any necessary clearance or sign permit(s) to do so, in compliance with this Section. All requests for approval shall be accompanied by the drawings and information necessary to demonstrate compliance with the applicable regulations of this Section. Where required, applications shall be filed with the Department of Planning and Development on a form prescribed by the Director. The application shall be accompanied by any drawings, plans, fees, and other information required by the Director.

A. Required Sign Approvals. Table 25.13-1 (Sign Approval Requirements) lists signs or other improvements that are regulated by this Section and specifies the requirements for approval. A Zoning Clearance, Sign Permit, or Sign Program may be required, as described below. Certain types of signs or improvements are regulated by this Section, but do not require approval (indicated as “No Review Required” in Table 25.13-1). Although no permit is necessary, compliance with the applicable regulations of this Section is required.

1. Zoning Clearance. A Zoning Clearance is required for items that are routine in nature and the review is based on specific regulations that require little or no subjective judgment. Action on a Zoning Clearance item is “ministerial” or non-discretionary.

Requests that comply with the applicable regulations shall be approved; while those requests that do not comply shall be denied by the Director. No public notice is required, and the decision is not subject to appeal unless the request for Zoning Clearance also includes a request for Minor Exception as defined in Section 1306.

2. Sign Permit. Sign Permit Applications are required for signs or improvements that typically require an interpretation to determine compliance with regulations of this Section. No public notice is required, but the action may be appealed in accordance with Section 25.405 of the zoning ordinance.

3. Sign Program. Sign Program approval is required for all new non-residential projects comprised of more than three tenant spaces. However, a Sign Program can be approved on any commercial project containing more than one tenant space. The purpose is to ensure that all signs are coordinated with the project architecture, and that they have design features consistent with other signs in the project. A Sign Program shall illustrate the design of all permanent signs within a project. It shall specify the design details including the number and precise placement of freestanding and building signs, the type of construction or type of sign cabinets to be used, illumination, colors, and letter size and font. All new signs within a project shall be consistent with the approved Sign Program.

roject. A Sign Program shall illustrate the design of all permanent signs within a project. It shall specify the design details including the number and precise placement of freestanding and building signs, the type of construction or type of sign cabinets to be used, illumination, colors, and letter size and font. All new signs within a project shall be consistent with the approved Sign Program.

B. Director approval required. The Director is authorized to approve, conditionally approve, or deny Zoning Clearances, Sign Permits, and Sign Programs, except when Planning Commission action is specified in paragraph 25.1303 C. below, or when a referral to the Planning Commission is made in accordance with Section 25.402.010, B. of the zoning ordinance. Any application for Zoning Clearance, Sign Permit or Sign Program approval requiring action by the Director shall be acted upon within 30 days of submittal.

C. Planning Commission approval required. The Planning Commission shall hold a Public Hearing as specified in the zoning ordinance, review the application based on the criteria of this Article, and take action under the following circumstances:

1. The sign(s) does not conform with an established design policy adopted by the Planning Commission or City Council in accordance with Section 25.1307 of this Section;

2. The sign is a freeway-oriented, freestanding sign;

3. The approval of a Zoning Clearance, Sign Permit, or Sign Program requires approval of a Major Exception as defined in Section 1306;

4. The proposal is a promotional sign cabinet in excess of 36 square feet in area, with a size of up to 50 square feet in area.

Any application for Sign Permit or for Sign Program approval requiring action by the Planning Commission shall be acted upon within 60 days of submittal.

D. Valid term. Any sign approval authorized by this Section shall be valid for two years from the date of approval, or as specified in a concurrent application for Development Review, Use Permit, or Variance, during which time the approved signs must be installed. A Sign Permit approved for a Sign Program is valid for the life of the project.

E. Appeals and Reconsideration of Denied Application. Action taken in this Section regarding approval of a Sign Permit, Sign Program or Exception may be appealed in accordance with Section 25.405 of the Zoning Ordinance. No application that has been denied by the City shall be reconsidered within one year. The City Council is authorized to grant exceptions to this provision.

F. Enforcement. The City shall keep an up to date log of all permits issued for all banners, portable signs or inflatable signs by business name and address. Businesses displaying illegal banners, portable signs or inflatable signs shall receive a warning notice requiring that the business secure a permit within 10 days. Notice shall include all pertinent information necessary for the business to apply for a sign permit for their sign. If no permit is secured with 10 days of receipt of the warning, a fine as specified by City Code shall be issued immediately to the business displaying the illegal sign or banner. Fines will continue to be issued on a daily basis until such time the illegal sign is removed or a permit is acquired by the business.