Chapter 17.28 — STANDARDS FOR SIGNS

The purpose of this chapter is to establish sign standards that allow signs to promote commerce and further the economic development of the City, while ensuring the protection of the public's safety, welfare and property by ensuring that signs will be safe, well designed, and visually attractive by providing standards for the type, size, number, height, location, lighting and maintenance of signs. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as regulating the message content of any sign. (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained in the City only if in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

The definitions for all the sign types used in this chapter are provided under "Signs" in Chapter 17.50 (Definitions).

(Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

Any new, altered or changed sign, with the exception of exempt signs listed in Section 17.28.050 or unless otherwise provided in this chapter, shall obtain a zoning clearance prior to conducting any work. Any required building permit shall also first be obtained. (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. Exempt signs are not required to obtain a zoning clearance and shall not be included in the determination of allowable number or size of signs. Any required building permit shall first be obtained.

• A. Nonstructural Modifications and Maintenance to Existing Signs.

  1. Modifications to a sign's copy.

  2. Nonstructural maintenance of signs in conformance with Section 17.28.120 .

• B. Address Sign. Provided in reference to a structure or use to a street.

• C. Civic Signs. Memorial signs and plaques installed by a civic organization.

• D. Civic event signs.

• E. Vehicle Signs. Signs on vehicles, including trailers, provided such vehicles and/or trailers are not used as parked or stationary outdoor display signs, pursuant to Section 17.28.060.K.

• F. Flags. Official flags of a state, nation, or political subdivision and nationally or internationally recognized organizations, provided they are within the height limits provided in the zone district within which the lot is located.

• G. Off-Site Garage/Yard Sale Signs. Limited to two such signs, having a maximum of five square feet and not exceeding six feet in height, located on private property with the property owner's permission. All signs are to be removed within 24 hours of the conclusion of the sale.

• H. Gas Station Signs. Limited to price signs that are required by State law.

• I. Signs Not Visible From a Public Right-of-Way or Property Perimeter. Signs within retail centers that are not visible from any point along the boundary of the premises or from any public rightof-way.

• J. Notices. Official and legal notices issued by a court or government agency.

• K. Political signs: Political signs and posters are subject to the following conditions:

  1. A political sign shall encourage a particular vote in a scheduled election.

  2. Political signs and posters shall not require a zoning clearance from the City.

  3. Political signs and posters shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or beyond the legal set-back line, as determined by a City Code Enforcement Officer, and shall be placed so as not to create a safety hazard as determined by Law Enforcement or City Code Enforcement Officer.

  4. All political signs and posters located within the clear vision triangle shall meet the visibility standards provided in Section 17.24.040 .

  5. Political signs shall not be visible within 660 feet from the edge of the right-of-way of a classified landscaped freeway, or be subject to removal by the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and bill the responsible party for the removal of the signs.

6. Political signs and posters shall not be fastened to the ground. Placement by means of a stake driven in the earth shall not be considered to be fastened to the ground. Political signs and posters may be staked in the ground; may be tacked, pasted, or otherwise temporarily affixed to legally existing fences, structures, and buildings; and may be taped, painted, or otherwise temporarily affixed to the interior or exterior surfaces of building windows.

   7. Political signs and posters shall not be placed without prior approval from the property owner or tenant.

   8. Political signs and posters may remain in place for 90 days prior to, and 10 days after, any national, state or local election.

   9. Political signs and posters shall not exceed 32 square feet in area or six feet in height, measured from the adjacent grade to the highest point of the sign. Signs in windows are not subject to the height limitation.

   10. Nonconforming political signs and posters shall be subject Title 14 of the Live Oak Municipal Code, including removal by a City Code Enforcement Officer.

• L. Real Estate Signs.

  1. All Zone Districts. One on-site sign per street frontage, not to exceed six square feet in size and six feet in height. In addition, "open house" signs are allowed when a sales agent or owner is on site.

  2. Commercial and Industrial Zone Districts. One per street frontage not to exceed 32 square feet in size and eight feet in height.

  3. Up to Four Off-Site Directional Signs. Not exceeding four square feet each and three feet in height, directing traffic to open houses and subdivision home sales, provided such signs are on private property.

• M. Developer/Contractor Signs. One construction sign per street frontage that provides the names of the architect, engineer, and contractors working on the site. Each sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in size and eight feet in height. Signs shall be removed upon occupancy.

• N. Traffic Signs. Traffic, directional, warning, or informational signs required or authorized by a government agency.

• O. Window Signs. Signs displayed on windows in nonresidentially zoned property not exceeding 10% of the window area, or four square feet, whichever is greater.

• P. Government Signs. Any sign erected in compliance with and in discharge of any governmental function or as required by law, ordinance or governmental regulation. This includes any signs erected by a public utility.

• Q. Bench and Other Signs. Signs located at a designated public transit location and authorized by the transit agency.

• R. Temporary Business Identification Signs. A maximum of two temporary signs for the identification of a new business are allowed for a period not to exceed 90 days, until permanent signs can be erected. Maximum area for each sign is 50 square feet.

• (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010; Ord. 575 § 3, 2020)

The following signs are prohibited in all zone districts:

• A. Abandoned or Dilapidated Signs and Sign Structures. Such signs shall be removed within 90 days of abandonment.

• B. Animated, Moving, Revolving, or Other Similar Signs. Except time, temperature and date devices and barber poles.

• C. Flashing Signs. No sign (including window and other exterior lighting) shall be permitted which blinks, flashes, scintillates, has moving letters or pictures or other means of not providing constant illumination except Christmas lights for a duration not to exceed 60 days during the holiday season.

• D. Changeable Copy Signs or Electronic Message Signs. Except as provided in Table 17.28.070.

• E. Fence Signs. Unless approved as part of an overall sign plan for a permitted use and the area of the fence sign is included in the overall size allowed for the building sign.

• F. Inflated Signs, Balloons and Figures. Except as provided in Section 17.28.070.B.

• G. Obscene signs.

• H. Off-Site Signs. Includes billboards and outdoor advertising signs, except as otherwise provided in Table 17.28.070.

• I. Noise, Smoke, or Odor. Signs or devices which emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter.

• J. Roof signs.

• K. Vehicle Signs. Whether attached or painted on motor vehicles that are parked on or adjacent to property for more than 72 consecutive hours, for which the principle purpose of the vehicle at this location is to attract attention to a product sold or business located on the property.

• L. Signs on City Property. No sign shall be located on City property or right-of-way without the express permission of the City.

• M. Posters. The tacking, pasting or otherwise affixing of signs or posters of a miscellaneous character, visible from a public right-of-way, located on walls of a building, shed, fence, pole, post or other structure or anywhere on public property.

• N. Pole signs. (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

All signs described in this section must first obtain a zoning clearance, as provided in Section 17.35.020 , to ensure compliance with these standards.

• A. Every sign described in Table 17.28.070, unless otherwise provided.

• B. Special Event Signs. Special event signs, banners, flags, pennants, balloons, and similar signs may be displayed on a temporary basis, not to exceed 60 days annually.

• C. Outdoor Decoration. Within commercial zone districts permanent or semi-permanent displays such as bunting may be suspended from parking lot light standards provided the following is met:

  1. Decorative Only. The display is decorative only and does not advertise a company, product, or a special event associated with a business; and

  2. Traffic Safety. The display does not obstruct traffic, sight distance, or parking lot lighting.

• D. Subdivision Signs and Flags.

  1. As part of subdivision home sales, up to eight flags each not exceeding 20 square feet in size and within the height limits of the zone district in which they are located.

  2. Two on-site subdivision identification or directional signs that are not internally lit and that do not exceed 32 square feet each and a height of 10 feet.

  3. All of the flags and signs shall be removed upon completion of sales.

(click here to view the full table)

Notes:

• 1 In the R-1 and R-2 Zone Districts signs are allowed only for uses that require a use permit, unless otherwise provided in this title.

• 2 Up to two contiguous sides may be used to calculate area, provided each side has a street or customer parking lot frontage.

(Ord. 540 § 9, 2011)

• A. Smallest Area. The area of a sign shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle or triangle or combination thereof that encompasses the limits of writing, representation, emblem or other display.

• B. Double Faced. When a sign is double faced back to back and the two sides are within five degrees of parallel, and located on the same structure, the sign area shall be computed by measurement of only one face.

• C. Three-Dimensional Objects. When a sign, or portion of a sign, consists of one or more threedimensional objects (e.g., balls, cubes, clusters of objects or sculptures) the sign area shall be measured as their maximum projection upon a vertical plane.

• (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

All signs located within the clear vision triangle shall meet the visibility standard provided in Section 17.24.040 .

(Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

Because a use or uses or a specific building site may have unique needs or circumstances, sign requirements established by a specific plan, Planned Development Zone District, use permit, or development agreement may supersede the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

See Section 17.38.050 . (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

Every sign displayed within the City, whether a zoning clearance is required or not, shall be maintained in good physical condition. All signs, together with supports, braces, anchors, and electrical components, shall be kept in a safe presentable condition. All defective or broken parts shall be replaced. Exposed surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and painted where paint is required.

(Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

• A. Permanent Construction. Except for permitted banners, flags or temporary signs and window signs conforming with the requirements of this chapter, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.

• B. Must Be Professionally Prepared. All permanent signs shall be designed and constructed by professionals (e.g., those whose principal business is the design, manufacture or sale of signs, architects, building designers, etc.) or others who are capable of producing professional results. The intent is to achieve signs of neat and readable copy, and durability so as to reduce maintenance costs and prevent dilapidation. Materials for permanent signs shall be durable and capable of withstanding weathering over the life of the sign with reasonable maintenance.

• (Ord. 540 § 9, 2011)