La Habra Heights Municipal Code Ch. 7.9 Sign Standards

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish standards for signs.

This Chapter applies to all development in the City of La Habra Heights regardless of the applicable Zone District.

The following sections implement the City of La Habra Heights General Plan goals and policies related to signs.

The following standards apply to signs in the IO Zone District only.

A. Maximum Total Sign Area. The maximum total sign area per site, excluding exempt
signs, is as follows:

1. The maximum total sign area per site may not exceed one square foot per linear foot
of building frontage. The Director of Community Development may designate
another side of a building as the building frontage if it is determined that the primary
access is from a side facing an interior side lot line and the interior lot line is longer
than the front lot line.

2. The maximum total sign area for freestanding or monument signs is one-half (1/2)
square foot for each linear foot of street frontage up to a maximum of thirty-two (32)
square feet on one face or sixty-four (64) square feet on two faces.

3. Where the street frontage exceeds 250 feet, one additional freestanding or monument
sign with no more two than faces, not to exceed 32 square feet on one face or 64
square feet on two faces, is permitted.

B. Additional Regulations for Signs. In determining compliance with maximum sign area,
the following additional regulations shall apply:

1. Only the street frontage that is developed, or is approved for development, is counted
for purposes of determining the maximum allowable sign area. Undeveloped land
reserved for future development may not be used in determining the maximum
allowable sign area.

2. The sign area may be allocated among wall signs, freestanding signs, and shingle
signs, provided that each sign conforms to the applicable regulations of this section.

3. No sign or sign area permitted on one frontage shall be transferred to another
frontage.

C. Wall signs. A wall sign shall conform to the following requirements:

1. Wall signs shall not project above an eave or parapet including the eave of a simulated
mansard roof.

2. Wall signs shall not project more than six (6) inches from the face of the building.

3. No portion of a wall sign shall be more than fifteen (15) feet above grade.

D. Freestanding or Monument Signs. A freestanding or monument sign shall conform to the
following requirements:

1. Only one sign is permitted on each street frontage less than two hundred and fifty
(250) feet in length.

2. The sign must be placed at least five (5) feet from edge of roadway pavement.

3. The sign may not be closer than thirty (30) feet to another freestanding or monument sign or to a shingle (projecting) sign. 4. The sign may not exceed six (6) feet in height.

   E. Shingle or Projecting Sign. A shingle or projecting sign shall conform to the following requirements: 1. The sign may not exceed four (4) square feet in area. 2. The sign may not be more than six (6) feet in height. 3. The sign may not project above an apparent eave or parapet, including the eave of a simulated mansard roof.

The following signs are allowed in the City of La Habra Heights:

A. Unless prohibited by this Chapter, street address numbers and nameplates, not over two (2)
square feet in area, displaying the name of the occupant at the address. The sign lettering
must conform to all pertinent Fire Department requirements.

B. Public information, identification, and directional signs erected or required by a public
agency.

C. Notices posted by a utility or other quasi-public agency in the performance of a public duty
or by any person giving due legal notice. Such notices shall be removed within thirty (30)
days following the resolution of the item being noticed.

D. City entry and community identification signs installed by the City.

E. Unless prohibited by this Chapter, construction signs with a cumulative surface area of less
than six (6) square feet and five (5) feet in height (such signs shall be removed before the
Certificate of Occupancy is issued).

F. Unless prohibited by this Chapter, two temporary on-site real estate signs, each not
exceeding six (6) square feet in area, and less than six (6) feet in height that advertises the
sale, lease or rental of a structure or land. The sign shall be removed within seven (7)
working days following the sale, lease or rental of the property. Open house signs shall be removed within a twenty-four (24) hour period following the conclusion of the open house.

G. On-premises parking or other directional signs, not exceeding one double-faced sign per
entrance and not exceeding four (4) square feet in area and three (3) feet in height. These
signs are not permitted to contain advertising material.

H. Name of the building, date of erection, commemorative tablet and the like, when carved
into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent
type material and made an integral part of the structure. Such signs may not exceed four (4)
square feet in area.

I. The flag(s) of the United States, State of California, or other flags mounted or flown no
higher than the maximum building height of that Zone District and with a cumulative total
area not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet.

J. Holiday displays and lights so long as they are erected for a cumulative period of not more
than ninety (90) days.

K. Two (2) garage or yard sale signs, not to exceed six (6) square feet in surface area each,
and erected for not more than three (3) days.

L. A temporary noncommercial sign for less that forty-five (45) days, once per year, and placed by the property owner. Temporary noncommercial signs placed on property owned by others are allowed with the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit. Permit application procedures are identified in Article 8.

M. Signage required for health and safety as determined by the City.

N. Non-conforming signs that are legal nonconforming are subject to the requirements of this
Chapter.

O. Uses within the Open Space Recreation and Open Space Conservation Zones may employ
a single identification sign at each public entrance not to exceed twenty-four (24) square
feet on either side.

P. Open Space Resource Production uses are permitted to display only that signage required
by law.

The following signs are prohibited in the City of La Habra Heights:

A. Signs determined to be unsafe, a danger to the public, or a traffic hazard by the Community
Development Director or City Engineer.

B. Off-site or off-premise signs, other than those exempted by Section 7.9.50 with the
issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit.

C. Signs on public property, unless otherwise permitted by this Chapter.

D. Portable A-frame or sidewalk signs, other than those exempted by Section 7.9.50 with the
issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit.

E. Three-dimensional objects or statues including air or gas-filled objects used as a sign.

F. Abandoned signs.

G. Roof signs.

H. Revolving, flashing, fluttering, spinning or reflective signs, or signs not consistent with the
color palette maintained by the City.

I. Banner signs other than those exempted by Section 7.9.50 with the issuance of a Temporary
Sign Permit.

J. Lighted signs.

K. All other signs not permitted by this Chapter.