Sec. 1406. Types of Signs:

A. Non-Conforming, Discontinued, Abandoned, and Prohibited Signs:

1. Non-Conforming Signs: A non-conforming sign for a non-conforming use, which is discontinued for a period exceeding 180 days, or is superseded by a conforming use, shall be considered a prohibited sign and shall be removed or brought into conformance upon establishment of a conforming use.

2. Discontinued and Abandoned Signs: Any sign which is located on property which becomes vacant or unoccupied for a period exceeding 180 days, or is devoid of any message for a period exceeding 180 days or displays a message pertaining to a time, event, or purpose that no longer applies shall be deemed to have been discontinued and abandoned. Any sign whose use had been discontinued and abandoned is prohibited and shall be removed by the owner of the sign or owner of the premises or parcel.

3. Prohibited Signs: The following types of signs are specifically prohibited:

• a. Animated, video, flashing or moving signs: Signs that incorporate video, flashing, moving, rotating, pulsating or intermittent lighting or movement, with the exception of changeable copy message center signs and barber poles, unless specifically permitted elsewhere in this Development Code.

b. Signs that emit sound.

• c. Signs creating pedestrian safety or traffic hazards: Signs that simulate in color, size or design any traffic control sign, signal or device, or that make use of words, symbols or characters in a manner that interferes with, misleads or confuses pedestrian or vehicular traffic. No sign, light or advertising structure shall be located in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, color or movement may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.

d. Signs on trees.

• e.

  • Signs on utility poles , other than signs installed by the utility and related to the utility facility.

• f. Hazardous location: Signs located in a manner that:

  • (1) Interferes with the free use of a fire escape, exit or standpipe; or

  • (2) Obstructs a required door, stairway, ventilator, window or public way; or

  • (3) Are otherwise hazardous.

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• B. Permanent Signs: In general, permanent signs are those signs that:

  1. Are used to identify a business or other land use on a parcel; and

  2. Have been permitted through either a Site Plan Review or Conditional Use Permit as part of the permitting process for the business or other land use located on the parcel. Permanent signs shall be erected in such a manner as not to create a traffic or pedestrian hazard and shall comply with the following requirements:

C. Temporary Signs:

1. Temporary Special Event Signs are permitted in compliance with the following requirements:

   • a. Canvas signs and banners, including signs made of materials such as Coroplast, foam-core, or other similar material, not exceeding 32 square feet in size are permitted for community or business sponsored special events.

   • b. Temporary special event signs are limited to one sign per parcel and shall be installed no sooner than 30 consecutive days prior to the event.

   • c. Temporary special event signs should be professionally designed and fabricated from durable and weatherproof materials and shall not exceed 12 foot height limit above ground level.

   • d. Advertising flags, pennants, streamers, garlands, whirly-gigs and similar devices may only be used in conjunction with a permitted temporary special event sign and must be removed at the same time as the temporary sign to which they relate.

   • e. It is the responsibility of the owner of the property on which the sign is located to ensure that the temporary special event sign is removed no later than 10 calendar days after the event.

2. Temporary Advertising/Promotional Signs are permitted in compliance with the following restrictions:

   • a. Canvas signs and banners, including signs made of materials such as Coroplast, foam-core, or other similar material, not exceeding 32 square feet in size are permitted for “grand opening” of a new business, “relocation”, “going out of business”, “new occupancy”, “new proprietor”, “new management”, or other similar event.

   • b. Temporary Advertising/Promotional signs are limited to one sign per business and shall be installed no sooner than 14 consecutive days prior to the event.

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• c. Temporary Advertising/Promotion signs should be professionally designed and fabricated from durable and weatherproof materials and shall not exceed a 12 foot height limit above ground level.

• d. Advertising flags, pennants, streamers, garlands, whirly-gigs and similar devices may only be used in conjunction with a permitted temporary advertising/promotional sign and must be removed at the same time as the temporary sign to which they relate.

  • e. It is the responsibility of the owner of the property on which the sign is located to ensure that the temporary advertising/promotional sign is removed no later than 10 calendar days after the event.

3. Large Temporary Subdivision Signs pertaining to the sale of lots, tracts, or homes within a recorded subdivision are defined as measuring more than 32 square feet in area or six feet in height are permitted in compliance with the following requirements:

   • a. Large Temporary Subdivision Signs are a permitted use on the site of such subdivision in the all zoning districts and may have copy on both sides.

   • b. Signs shall be limited to one per recorded parcel map or final map, per perimeter abutting street up to a maximum of four Large Temporary Subdivision Signs per subdivision.

   • c. Large Temporary Subdivision Signs allowed by Section 505 of this Development Code, shall be located within the subdivision, or on an adjacent site which is not part of another residential development project or subdivision, where the sales of the lots or homes will take place, for a period of not to exceed 24 months from the date of recordation of the subdivision map.

     • (1) The Large Temporary Subdivision Sign may remain on the approved site up until the time the last lot is sold and a building permit is issued for a residence on the lot.

     • (2) The Large Temporary Subdivision Sign must also be removed at the expense of the property owner if the map is not recorded within 90 days of the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. Otherwise the subdivision signs shall be removed prior to the expiration of 24 months from the date the subdivision map is recorded, unless an extension of time of no more than 12 months is granted by the Planning Commission. Upon expiration of such extension period, subdivision signs shall be removed at the expense of the owner.

   • d. Such Large Temporary Subdivision Signs may be permitted prior to recordation of the subdivision map.

   • e. Large Temporary Subdivision Signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in size.

4. Small Temporary Subdivision Signs pertaining to the sale of lots, tracts, or homes within a recorded subdivision are defined as measuring less than 32 square feet in area and no more than six feet in height are permitted in compliance with the following requirements:

   • a. Shall not require sign permits issued by the Planning Division of the Community Development Agency.

   • b. May have copy on both sides.

   • c.

     • Shall be limited to one sign per new subdivision on each major community entrance route.

5. Temporary Construction Signs shall not require sign permits issued by the Planning Division of the Community Development Agency, but must conform to the following requirements:

• a. One sign per street frontage where a building is under construction is permitted in all zoning districts.

  • b. Temporary construction signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall be placed at least 10 feet from any public right-of-way and shall comply with the Traffic Safety Visibility Requirements.

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  - c. If attached to a structure, the sign shall not exceed the roof line or parapet wall of the building or structure.  If freestanding, the maximum height is six feet. 

  - d. Temporary construction signs shall be non-illuminated. 

• D. Exempt Signs shall not require sign permits issued by the Planning Division of the Community Development Agency and do not count toward the total sign number or area limit for a site provided they conform to the specified standards:

  1. Signs displayed during holidays as identification of temporary sales areas for trees, pumpkins, and similar holiday items, provided such signs are displayed only within 30 days prior to the holiday.

  2. Temporary signs for events of a general County wide civic or public benefit.

  3. Signs not discernable beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located, or from any public rightof-way.

  4. The placement and maintenance of official traffic, fire, and police signs, signals, and devices of the State of California, County of Kings, incorporated city, or other authorized public agency, and the posting of notices as required by law.

  5. Non-illuminated directional or informational signs of a non-commercial public or quasi-public nature, including street, building, or suite numbers which do not exceed six square feet.

  6. Signs designating a historic landmark.

  7. On-Site Real Estate Signs shall not require sign permits issued by the Planning Division of the Community Development Agency, but must conform to the following requirements:

     • a. One non-illuminated sign per street frontage, pertaining only to the lease, sale, or rental of the land or structure on that land upon which such signs are displayed, is permitted in all zoning districts.

     • b. Real estate signs shall be removed within 10 days after the lease, sale or rental of the property or structure has been accomplished.

     • c. Unless a different size is specifically allowed in a particular zoning district, portable real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area or four feet in height.

     • d. Up to four open house directional signs intended to direct traffic to a property for lease, sale, or rental are permitted in all zoning districts during the time the open house is being conducted.

  8. Awning Signs shall not require a sign permit and are not calculated against the total allowable signage. Awnings shall conform to the size and shape of the window or door they are above. Overly large awnings and awnings with unusual shapes designed for the purpose of providing additional sign area are not allowed.

9. Noncommercial Signs shall not require sign permits issued by the Planning Division of the Community Development Agency and are not restricted in quantity, but must conform to the following requirements:

   • a. Political Signs pertaining to candidates for public office, measures, or issues on a scheduled election are permitted in all zone districts subject to the requirements of state law. For additional requirements concerning political and campaign signs, contact the Kings County Election Department.

   • b. Political signs shall not be placed or posted on any public owned property including public lands and buildings. Political signs also shall not be placed or posted on publicly owned utility polls, walls, playground equipment, fire hydrants, trees, or like facilities in a manner that could imply public endorsement of a position or candidate. As used here, “public property” does not include public rights-of-way over private property, but political signs will be removed by the County from public rights-of-way to the extent that non-political signs would also be removed to keep rights-of-way safe and accessible.

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• c. Generally applicable regulations governing all types of signs shall apply in a like manner both to signs bearing commercial and noncommercial messages. As with commercial signs, a person placing a noncommercial sign should pay special attention to the sign placement requirements of Section 1402.B, above

• d. Temporary event signs of a noncommercial nature, such as for religious services or charity events sponsored by not-for-profit organizations, are exempt from the requirements of subdivision C of this section except to the extent that those requirements apply to all types of signs generally. As with all types of signs, placement of temporary event signs in any manner that would constitute a common law nuisance is not allowed, including the excessive placement of such signs or the failure to remove or maintain signs following the event advertised.

• e. Temporary decorations or displays including window paintings associated with a holiday, festival, or other special event are permitted when the decorations or displays contain no reference to goods or services sold or provided onsite. So as not to constitute a nuisance, such temporary decorations or displays, should be displayed not more than 30 calendar days prior to the holiday, festival, or event, and 10 calendar days after the holiday, festival, or event. Any temporary decoration or display of any nature shall be removed by the property owner if the timing of the decoration or display, together with the size, appearance, and/or failure to maintain the decoration or display, actually rises to the level of a common law nuisance and creates a hazard or gives rise to public complaints.

10. Residential Name Plates for single-family dwellings which identify the family name shall not require sign permits.

(Ord. No. 668-1-16, §17, 1/12/16)