Fremont Municipal Code Art. VIII Signs within Open Space Land Use Designations

This article applies to signs for legal uses on land designated open space as defined by the general plan. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

Signs for legal residential uses on land designated open space are subject to the rules applicable to residential buildings with less than 10 units set forth in Table 18.193.700. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

The following sign types and regulations are permitted for nonresidential uses within open space land use designations:

(a) Wall Signs. One square foot of sign area per foot of building frontage up to a maximum of 130 square feet.

(b) Freestanding Monument Signs. Freestanding monument signs may not exceed five feet in height or seven feet with decorative base with a maximum of 30 square feet of sign area per side and a maximum of two sides of sign copy.

(c) Temporary Signs. Temporary signs are allowed for nonresidential uses within open space land use designations, subject to the following regulations:

(1) Size: The total display area for temporary signs allowed at any one time is up to a maximum of 64 square feet.

(2) Number: maximum one per street frontage.

(3) Height: maximum eight feet above grade.

(4) Display time: Temporary signs are allowed in increments of 15 days but in no case may the number of days per calendar year that temporary signs may be displayed exceed a cumulative total of 45 days. Temporary real estate signs may be displayed during the sale period but must be removed within 15 days of the close of escrow.

(5) Location: Temporary signs may be affixed to a door, window or building wall below the roof eve or parapet wall, but not to trees or other landscape structures. Real estate signs may also be freestanding.

(6) Illumination: not allowed.

(e) Temporary Signs Displayed During the Election Period. In addition to the noncommercial signs allowed under the message substitution policy, temporary signs displaying any variety of noncommercial constitutionally protected speech may be displayed without a sign permit during the election period defined in Section 18.25.2600 and may be freestanding or mounted on a building wall. On vacant sites, such signs may only be placed with an approved sign permit that incorporates the owner’s consent. Since no buildings are located on the property, such signs may be either freestanding or fence-mounted. The maximum cumulative display area for temporary signs during the election period is 100 square feet of the area allowed for wall signs. Except as specifically provided in this subsection, all other structural and locational rules apply. This subsection does not authorize private parties to place temporary signs on city property or the public right-of-way. Such signs are regulated by Chapter 18.194.

(f) Flags. Nonresidential uses in open space land use designations may display flags at any time. Flags do not count toward basic permittable area. Only establishments with more than 30 feet of street frontage may erect flag poles, subject to the following provisions:

(1) Maximum number of flag poles: three per street frontage.

(2) Maximum number of flags: not limited (see “maximum display area”).

(3) Maximum height of flag poles: the same as the allowable building height within the applicable zoning district.

(4) Maximum display area for all flags (measured on one side only):

(A) Lots under one acre: 45 square feet.

(B) Lots between one and 10 acres: 72 square feet.

(C) Lots over 10 acres: 150 square feet.

(5) Other requirements: Flags may not be used to display off-site commercial images, or used for general advertising for hire. Flags may be mounted on poles or attached to walls via a projecting arm that holds the flag wherein the top of the projecting arm does not exceed the roof eave. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

(a) Illuminated signs.

(b) Freestanding pole signs.

(c) Off-site commercial and general advertising for hire message types. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)