Lafayette Municipal Code Art. 5 Requirements and Limitation on Special Uses

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, for a particular use, the maximum total sign allowance for a ground floor principal business frontage is indicated in the table below and is based upon application of the principal business frontage rules (see subsection (b) below):

Maximum Allowed Signage for a Principal Business Frontage

(b) If a business has more than one side which qualifies as a principal frontage, the following rules apply:

(1) When the principal business frontages are on opposite sides of the building, the total sign area calculated for each frontage may be placed on that frontage.

(2) When the principal business frontage are on adjacent sides of the building, only one frontage may be used for a principal frontage calculation, but the sign allowance may be distributed in any manner on the two sides.

(3) If three or more walls of a building qualify as principal business frontage, both of the above rules apply. However, in distributing the total sign allowance, the sign area on any two adjacent sides may not exceed the area permitted on the largest principal business frontage use.

(4) A business may distribute to the frontage along the street which provides its official Post Office address, the signage which would be permitted on its largest principal business frontage.

(c) A business whose principal frontage is not on the ground floor and which has an independent exterior customer entrance is allowed a maximum of 20 square feet of signage.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

The copy of a business sign is limited to: (1) the name of the business, (2) the address, and (3) the principal classification of goods sold or services offered.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

(a) The regulations in this section apply to each office building, mixed use building or mixed use office complex.

(b) An office or mixed use building or mixed use complex is limited to the following allowable signs:

(1) One master identification sign, not exceeding 25 square feet in area, at each adjacent street containing the name and address of the building or complex;

(2) A directory sign which identifies each tenant of the building or complex. The directory sign may not exceed 25 square feet in area;

(3) Individual office signs not exceeding two square feet per tenant;

(4) A ground floor business having direct customer entry from a public open space may have a sign which meets the specifications in Section 6-2560; and

(5) A business whose principal frontage is not on the ground floor and which has an independent exterior customer entrance, may have a sign up to a maximum of 20 square feet.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

An on-premises temporary commercial sign is allowed for a business established at a new location after July 10, 1996 without a sign permit provided it complies with Section 6-2561 and:

(a) The aggregate sign area of all signs does not exceed 30 square feet;

(b) Each allowed sign may remain in place only while the new business is going through the necessary administrative procedure to obtain and install its permanent business sign. In no event shall a temporary commercial sign be in place for longer than 90 days; and

(c) No more than one sign is allowed on each principal frontage.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

The total sign allowance for the identification of an apartment building or a rooming house is computed on the basis of one square foot for each rentable unit. The maximum area allowed is 12 square feet.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

This section shall apply to signs on property that contains a residential use or is located in a residentially zoned district.

(a) A sign, including an exempt sign, shall not:

(1) Be located on a roof or, with the exception of a flag (Section 6-2502(13)), extend above the ground floor of the residence;

(2) Be internally illuminated, or externally illuminated with a spot light or other source of light specifically designed for the sign with the exception of a mailbox or address identification sign (Section 6-2502(23)) and a neighborhood identification sign (Sections 6-2520(31); 6-2567);

(3) Exceed six feet in height, with the exception of a flag (Sections 6-2502(13) and 6-2521(a)).

(b) The total aggregate area of all signs, including exempt signs, shall not exceed 80 square feet per parcel, of which only 32 square feet may be permanent.

(c) In addition to the aggregate area allowed under subsection (b), each parcel may contain an additional 180 square feet of temporary noncommercial signage for a total of 45 days or less in a calendar year, and notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, each temporary noncommercial sign may be as large as 12 square feet in area and six feet in height. This 45-day period is in addition to the 90-day period otherwise allowed for temporary noncommercial signs.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 6-2527(b), a property owner or a tenant may apply for a variance under Section 6-2527 for noncommercial signs.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

An institution sign identifying the institutional use shall not exceed 25 square feet in area.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

A neighborhood identification sign may not exceed 25 square feet in area. A neighborhood identification sign may be placed only at each main entrance to a neighborhood.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

This section is intended to complement Civil Code Sections 712 and 713. A real property owner or his agent may display on the owner's real property and on real property owned by others, with the other's consent, one sign each which is reasonably located, in plain view of the public, and which does not adversely affect public safety, including traffic safety, provided the sign meets the requirements of this section:

(a) The sign may advertise that the property is for sale, for lease or for exchange. It may include directions to the property, the owner's or agent's name, and the owner's or agent's address and telephone number.

(b) The sign shall not exceed four square feet in area.

(c) An off-site open house real estate sign that complies with Sections 6-2568(a) and (b) is permitted and may be placed only on the day and during the hours that the property is available for public showing and may be a portable or A-board sign. For each parcel there may be only one sign per intersection and no sign may be located farther from the property than the closest main thoroughfare intersection. The sign must be removed after each day of showing.

(d) On an unimproved lot that is capable of being subdivided, a for sale, for lease or for exchange sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.

(e) For a recorded subdivision, no more than one on-site subdivision sign and one off-site subdivision sign on real property owned by another with the other's consent is allowed. A subdivision sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area or eight feet in height and shall not be placed within 100 feet of an occupied residence.

(f) A temporary residential realty sign may not be internally or externally illuminated.

(g) A temporary residential realty sign shall be removed either: (1) no more than 90 days after placement; or (2) ten days after the sale of the property to which it relates, whichever is earlier.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

A commercial property owner or his agent may display on the owner's commercial property and on commercial property owned by another, with the other's consent, one sign each which is reasonably located, in plain view of the public, and which does not adversely affect public safety, including traffic safety, provided the sign meets the requirements of this section:

(a) A for sale, for lease, or for exchange sign that is placed on commercial property shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall not be internally or externally illuminated.

(b) No more than one temporary commercial realty sign is allowed per site.

(c) The copy shall be limited to the name of the seller or agent, address and telephone number, directions to the property and whether the property is for sale, lease or exchange.

(d) The sign shall be removed either: (1) no more than 90 days after placement; or (2) ten days after the sale of the property to which it relates, whichever is earlier.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

(a) The total area allowance for all signs at a service station is 70 square feet, not including exempt signs.

(b) An individual sign face may not exceed 25 square feet in area unless a specific limitation is imposed by this section.

(c) A roof sign is prohibited.

(d) A price sign may be placed without a permit if it complies with this subsection and with Sections 13530 et seq. of the Business and Professions Code, and:

(1) The sign does not exceed 15 square feet in area;

(2) A price sign may not be attached to another sign. It must be either a wall sign or a sign suspended from or mounted on the supporting structure of a canopy. It may not be a freestanding sign;

(3) A price sign required by the Business and Professions Code, but not in compliance with this section, requires a permit. A permit for a noncomplying sign may be issued only if the finding is made that it is not feasible for the required sign to conform to this section.

(e) Each of the following signs does not require a permit and is not included in the total sign allowance of subsection (a) of this section:

(1) An information, safety, direction or convenience sign two square feet or less in area;

(2) A sign intended solely to identify an island as full service, mini-serve or self-serve. The sign may not exceed four square feet in area and must be attached to the supporting structure of the canopy. There may be no more than two such signs per island. The sign may not be internally illuminated.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)

(a) A temporary construction sign is limited to one sign per street frontage of the project and shall not be internally or externally illuminated.

(b) A temporary construction sign placed in a commercially zoned district shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and six feet in height.

(c) A temporary construction sign placed in a residentially zoned district shall not exceed four square feet in area and six feet in height.

(d) The sign shall be removed either: (1) no more than 90 days after placement; or (2) ten days after the construction to which it relates has been suspended, terminated, abandoned or otherwise concluded, whichever is earlier.

(Ord. 565 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2007)