Fremont Municipal Code Art. VI Signs within Commercial Land

18.193.530 Applicability.¶

This article applies to signs within commercial land use designations and commercial uses within mixed-use projects. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

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18.193.540 Basic permittable area (BPA).¶

The basic permittable area (BPA) is calculated by the street frontage multiplied by a factor stated in Table 18.193.550. Each street frontage creates its own BPA. Alleys and private driveways do not count as street frontage. BPA may not be transferred from one frontage to another. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

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18.193.550 Permissible sign types and corresponding permit type.¶

Table 18.193.550 lists the permissible types of permanent signs within commercial land use designations as defined by the general plan and the corresponding permitting requirement. As to mixed-use land uses, the table applies only to the commercial component of a mixed-use project. If the underlying land use for the mixed-use project is not a commercial land use, the general commercial category shall be utilized. All area allowances apply separately to each street frontage. Permanent signs should also adhere to any city approved design guidelines applicable to a particular area or zone of the city as noted in Table 18.193.550 or those found within a planned district zone.

Key		Permit Types
BF	Building frontage	CUP	Subject to conditional use permit
SF	Street frontage	MSP	Allowable only with a master sign program
sq. ft.	Square feet	P	Permitted with sign/building permit
D	Digital sign for assembly use only	X	Prohibited

Table 18.193.550 Permissible Sign Types and Corresponding Permit Type within Commercial Land Use Designations

	Building Mounted Signs	Building Mounted Signs	Building Mounted Signs	Building Mounted Signs	Building Mounted Signs	Freestanding Signs	Freestanding Signs	Freestanding Signs
General Plan Land Use Designation (Location)	Basic Permittable Area (BPA)	Walls and Windows	Awning and Canopy	Marquee	Projecting or Suspended (Blade) 1	Basic Permittable Area (BPA)	Pole	Monument
City Center and Downtown 2	1.3 x BF Max 200 sq. ft.	P only halo or external illumination	P	MSP/D	P	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq. ft.	X	P 3 D by MSP
Innovation Center	1.3 x BF Max 200 sq. ft.	P D by MSP	P on Innovation Way and within mixed-use projects only	MSP/D	P on Innovation Way and within mixed-use projects only	0.5 x SF Max 120 sq. ft.	MSP	P D by MSP
Regional Commercial	1.7 x BF Max 300 sq. ft.	P	X	MSP/D	X	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq. ft.	CUP	P D by MSP
General Commercial	1.2 x BF	P	X	MSP/D	X	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq. ft.	MSP	P D by MSP
Centerville Town Center 4	1.2 and no greater than 1/3 width of storefront	P	P on vertical surfaces of awning	MSP	P	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq. ft.	MSP	P
Irvington Town Center 5	1.2 x BF	P (external illumination only)	P on vertical surfaces of awning	MSP	P	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq. ft.	MSP	P
Mission San Jose Town Center 6	1 x BF	P (wall signs limited to 10 sq. ft. and external illumination only)	P on vertical surfaces of awning	MSP	P	0.5 x SF Max 100 sq. ft.	X	MSP
Niles Town Center 7	1 x BF	P (wall signs limited to 10 sq. ft. and external illumination only, excepting one exposed neon sign < 3 sq. ft.)	P on vertical surfaces of awning	MSP	P	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq. ft.	X	X Directional signs for parking lots only
Warm Springs Town Center	1.2 x BF	P	X	MSP/D	P	0.5 x SF Max 130 sq.ft	MSP	P D by MSP

Only one projecting or suspended/blade sign is permitted per tenant.
See downtown community plan and design guidelines.
Monument signs are only permitted on Mowry, Fremont, Paseo Padre and Walnut in the downtown district.
See Centerville sign design guidelines.
See Irvington design guidelines.
See Mission San Jose design guidelines.
See Niles design guidelines and regulations.

(Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14; Ord. 28-2014 § 6, 9-9-14; Ord. 08-2017 § 15, 6-6-17.)

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18.193.560 BPA – No street frontage.¶

When a legal commercial or mixed-use land use on the ground floor does not have street frontage, then the BPA is calculated by multiplying the sidewalk or tenant space frontage by the BPA factor which applies in that land use designation. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

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18.193.570 Signage for multi-story buildings.¶

A multi-story building may be authorized building signage within the allowances provided by Table 18.193.550. Such signs may be located on the ground floor or top floor but shall not be located on intervening floors. If the building contains multiple tenants, signage for tenants shall be provided via ground floor directories and freestanding monument signs. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

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18.193.580 Master sign programs for multi-tenant buildings.¶

A master sign program pursuant to Article X of this chapter is required to address sign placement among tenants and prospective tenants of multi-tenant buildings. Master sign programs must address prospective changes in tenancy over time, including the potential for additional tenants and tenant space divisions. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

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