Division II — SPECIAL MAJOR SIGNS

Wall painted signs, roof signs, changeable copy signs, residential neighborhood and commercial district identification signs, and historic signs shall all be considered special major signs. These sign types occur less frequently throughout the City and require specific regulation to ensure compatible design with surrounding architecture, signs, and land uses, to ensure that the City's aesthetic goals are achieved.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

A wall-painted sign is intended to take the place of a wall sign, and is painted directly onto the building wall. Wall-painted signs fill an important niche in the sign types this chapter makes available to the public— they can be established with no building permit or structural review required, at considerably less cost than a permanent wall sign. This is advantageous to small businesses just starting out, and others in similar situations. Wall painted signs also have the potential to make a significant character-enhancing contribution to their immediate surroundings and neighborhood, becoming something of a landmark if well executed. For these reasons, wall-painted signs are preferred over foam letter wall signs in the gamut of low-cost sign types.

A.

Number, height, location and copy. Standards for the number, height, location, and copy of wall-painted signs shall be the same as for wall signs, as specified in this chapter.

B.

Area. In order to encourage the selection of a wall-painted sign over foam letters or other low-cost sign types, the allowable area is increased such that wall-painted signs shall not exceed one and one-half (1½) square feet of sign area per every linear foot of building wall and shall not exceed a maximum of one hundred (100) square feet on any sign facing a residential, local or collector street, and not more than two hundred fifty (250) square feet for any sign facing a major or minor arterial.

C.

Review. In order to assure a quality design for each wall-painted sign, the wall-painted sign application shall be reviewed by the Site Plan Review Committee, or a sub-committee designated by the SPR Committee for this purpose, within three weeks of filing, at no fee to the applicant. The SPR Committee shall either approve the application, or direct the applicant to alter the plans in a way that would allow the Committee to approve the application.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Roof signs shall be permitted through the Creative Sign Permit process only. The area standards for projecting signs shall apply to roof signs. The building height limits established for the zoning districts shall not apply to roof signs.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Changeable copy signs shall be allowed subject to the following:

A.

Users limited. Changeable copy signs are limited to the following users: churches, florists, public schools, public colleges and universities, movie theaters, and gasoline price signs for gas stations. Exceptions to this rule shall require a Standards Variance as described in Division III of Chapter 21.25—Specific Procedures.

B.

Size. Changeable copy displays may be installed on freestanding, monument, and wall signs. The area of the changeable copy display shall be counted toward the allowable sign area for the type of sign upon which the changeable copy is installed.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.240 - Residential neighborhood and commercial district identification signs.

The City recognizes the desire for unique communities within its boundaries, both residential and commercial, to positively identify themselves and their geographic boundaries. To this end, the following guidelines are established to control the design, content, and location of such identification signs on both private and public property. In addition to these standards, the provisions of Subsection 21.44.900.A.6 (Signs on public property) also shall apply to any such sign located on public property. Street-name-style Neighborhood Marker Signs mounted on street lights or traffic signal poles are not regulated by this chapter, and are administered by the Department of Public Works.

A.

Type of Sign. Limited to monument signs for residential neighborhood identification. Monument or freestanding signs are allowed for commercial district identification.

B.

Number of Signs. Each residential neighborhood or commercial district shall display no more than one (1) sign on each side, or corner, or boundary of the neighborhood or district. In cases of irregularly-shaped or unclear boundaries, the Zoning Administrator shall be authorized to determine if a given proposal conforms to this regulation.

C.

Maximum Height, Width, and Area. The maximum height, width, and area allowed for residential neighborhood and commercial district identification signs shall be as provided in Table 44-3.

Table 44-3

Height, Width, and Area Development Standards for Residential Neighborhood and Commercial District Identification Signs

D.

Thickness. Minimum of three inches (3") to a maximum of one foot (1').

E.

Materials. Wood, stone, concrete, stucco, or metal or a combination of these materials.

F.

Lettering. Individual letters carved from display or bolted onto display. Fragile or glued-on lettering is prohibited.

G.

Lighting. Exterior light sources or internal illumination are allowed. External lights shall be aimed and shielded to prevent any light trespass into the adjacent roadway or adjacent properties.

H.

Prohibited. Cabinet signs are prohibited as residential neighborhood and commercial district identification signs, as well as any plastic or fabric panels or fascia.

I.

Identification. Each sign must indicate that the respective neighborhood or commercial district is part of the City of Long Beach, using the name "City of Long Beach" in at least three-inch (3")-tall letters. The purpose of this regulation is to avoid giving the impression that an area is a separate city or otherwise not a member of the City as a whole.

J.

Site Plan Review required. Prior to the issuance of a sign permit (and prior to issuance of a right-of-way permit by the Department of Public Works in the case of a sign located on public property), an identification sign for a residential neighborhood or commercial district shall be subject to review by the Site Plan Review

Committee. A fee equivalent to the fee for a Creative Sign Permit, as specified in a fee resolution to be adopted by the City Council, shall be required.

K.

Waiver of standards. The Site Plan Review Committee may, at its discretion, waive the following development standards: type of sign, number of signs, height, length, thickness, materials, and lettering. The Site Plan Review Committee shall approve such waivers only if the findings required for a Creative Sign Permit are made, and the waiver will achieve the specified purpose of a Creative Sign Permit. However, prohibited sign types and materials shall not be approved through a waiver.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Any sign designated by City ordinance as a Historic Landmark, or granted historic designation by the California State Historic Preservation Office, or the United States Secretary of the Interior, or any sign that is a historic element of such a designated building or site, shall be considered a historic sign. Historic signs shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter as to height, illumination, location, movement, sign area, and materials, and may be maintained as legally conforming signs subject to the following conditions:

A.

All parts of the exempted historic sign including neon tubes, incandescent lights and shields, and sign faces shall be maintained in a functioning condition as historically intended for the sign to the greatest degree possible.

B.

Parts of historic signs originally designed to flash or move may be allowed to continue to flash or move. There shall be no alterations to the historic pattern, speed, or direction of flashing or moving elements.

C.

The wording or image of a historic sign may be altered only if the alterations do not substantially change the historic dimensions, height, scale, style, character, or type of materials of the historic sign.

D.

Failure to maintain a historic sign as required above shall be grounds for disallowing an exemption from the requirements of this chapter. The Cultural Heritage Commission shall be authorized to make a determination of revocation of exemption. The sign shall thereafter be brought into compliance with the requirements of this chapter to the satisfaction of the Director of Development Services.

E.

Full reconstruction or major alteration of a historic sign shall require approval of the Site Plan Review Committee, and the Cultural Heritage Commission in the case of a City-designated Historic Landmark.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

DIVISION III. - MINOR SIGNS

Menu boards, on-site directional signs, and traffic directional signs shall be considered minor signs subject to the development standards outlined in this Division.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.310 - Menu boards.

Menu boards are permitted for drive-through fast-food restaurants subject to the following restrictions:

A.

Number. In addition to other permitted signs, two (2) freestanding menu boards and one (1) wall sign are permitted for each automobile service window.

B.

Area. Menu boards shall not contain more than forty (40) square feet in area.

C.

Height. Menu boards shall not exceed seven feet (7') in height above grade.

D.

Copy. Menu boards shall contain only the business name, and information related to the food items and prices. The maximum letter size shall be three inches (3").

E.

Orientation and location. Each sign shall be oriented to customers on the site, and not toward the adjacent right-of-way. The purpose of these signs is to provide information to customers already on-site, and not passers-by. Signs shall not be located within the required corner cutoff areas at driveway or drive-through entrances/exits.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.320 - On-site directional signs.

On-site directional signs are permitted at business and institutional sites, for the purpose of directing persons to destinations within the site, subject to the following restrictions. They are intended primarily for land uses with larger parking lots, and/or drive-through lanes.

A.

Number. In addition to other permitted signs, a business or site may display up to four (4) on-site directional signs by right. If a business or site wishes to display five (5) or more on-site directional signs, a Sign Program shall be required.

B.

Area. On-site directional signs shall not be more than sixteen (16) square feet in area.

C.

Height. On-site directional signs shall not exceed four feet (4') in height above grade.

D.

Copy. On-site directional signs shall contain only words such as "Drive-through" (or "Drive-thru"), "Enter," "Exit," "This Way," and "Do Not Enter," as well as the business name and/or logo. The maximum letter size shall be three inches (3").

E.

Orientation. On-site directional signs shall be oriented toward on-site traffic, and not toward the adjacent right-of-way. The purpose of these signs is to provide direction to traffic already on site, and not to traffic on the adjacent right-of-way. Signs shall not be located within the required corner cutoff areas at driveway or drive-through entrances/exits.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.330 - Traffic directional signs.

Traffic directional signs, either wall or freestanding, may be displayed as necessary for all land uses to ensure the safe and orderly flow of automobile traffic on private property.

A.

Copy. Traffic directional signs are limited to noncommercial messages for the purposes of directing safe flow of automobile traffic. A traffic directional sign shall not provide directions to a particular business, location, or event. Traffic directional signs shall be limited to stop signs, one-way signs, do not enter signs, speed limit signs, left/right turn only signs, no left/right turn signs, and other traffic signs of like purpose.

B.

Area and Size. Each sign shall have a maximum area of six (6) square feet, and a maximum height of seven feet (7'), unless waived by the Zoning Administrator upon the recommendation of the City Traffic Engineer.

C.

Interference with Official Traffic Control Devices. No traffic directional sign shall interfere with any official public traffic control device. Any traffic directional sign that is found to do so shall be removed or remedied by the property owner upon order by the City Traffic Engineer.

D.

Conformance with Traffic Control Device Standards. All traffic directional signs shall be in conformance with the national, state, and local standards for traffic control devices in effect in the City of Long Beach to the

satisfaction of the City Traffic Engineer.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

DIVISION IV. - TEMPORARY SIGNS

21.44.400 - Temporary signs.

Certain classes of signs may be erected as temporary signs subject to the following regulations.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.410 - Promotional activity signs (banners).

Promotional activity signs, as defined in Section 21.15.2720 of this title, are permitted, subject to the following:

A.

Area. A promotional activity sign (banner) shall not exceed one (1) square foot of banner area for each linear foot of building street frontage and shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet, whichever is less.

B.

Number. Only one (1) promotional activity sign shall be allowed per street frontage, or per business in the case of a commercial building with multiple business tenants.

C.

Aspect ratio. A promotional activity sign shall not have an aspect ratio exceeding 3.0 (three (3) units length per one (1) unit height).

D.

Location. Promotional activity signs shall be placed on a building wall only. It shall be prohibited to place a promotional activity sign on a fence, supported from poles or trees, between buildings or walls, upon an existing sign cabinet or structure (whether in use or not), on a building roof or extending above the parapet wall, or upon another structure. Promotional activity signs shall not be placed overhanging or obscuring windows.

E.

Time Limit. The following time limits shall apply to promotional activity signs:

1.

A promotional activity sign permit shall be valid for only ninety (90) days and shall not be renewable in the same calendar year.

The allowed time period shall be measured in calendar days. The ninety (90) day period may be broken into two (2) forty-five (45) day periods or three (3) thirty (30) day periods, provided that the sign is removed at the end of each period.

3.

If the ninety (90) days includes December 31 and January 1, the permit shall be prorated or adjusted accordingly, such that permits are not issued for a site for more than ninety (90) days in a given calendar year, including prior promotional activity sign permits having a portion of the ninety (90) days period in the same year.

F.

Legalization of promotional activity signs (banners) without permits. Any promotional activity sign placed without a valid permit shall be subject to the following:

1.

If a permit is to be issued, the applicant shall pay double fees;

2.

The duration (in days) that the sign was in place without a permit shall be subtracted from the ninety (90) days allowed for a promotional activity sign if it is to be legalized through a permit;

3.

If the sign was in place for ninety (90) days or more without a permit, the sign shall be removed and no permit shall be issued for the subject location in that calendar year; and

4.

If the duration that the sign was in place without a permit is not known or is not divulged by the applicant, the sign shall be assumed to have been in place for ninety (90) days, and the sign shall be removed, and no promotional activity sign permit shall be issued for the subject location in that calendar year.

G.

Exceptions.

1.

Real estate signs and banners. Real estate signs and banners are considered "permit exempt" signs and are subject to the restrictions specified in Table 44-4.

2.

Grand opening signs. One (1) promotional activity sign for a grand opening event shall be allowed for a period of ninety (90) days in a calendar year, in addition to one (1) other promotional activity sign in the same calendar year.

3.

Automobile sales businesses/dealerships. Vehicle sales businesses may be exempted from the limitations of this section on promotional activity signs through the Creative Sign Permit process; except that all pennants, streamers, and inflatable, air-blown, balloon-type and all other prohibited signs or decorations shall be prohibited regardless.

4.

Noncommercial promotional activity signs. Noncommercial promotional activity signs are considered permit exempt signs and are subject to the restrictions specified in Table 44-4.

H.

Street Banners. Street banners and banners hung across a public street are subject to approval by the City Manager as provided in Section 18.04.010 of the Municipal Code, and are not regulated by this chapter.

I.

Maintenance. Promotional signs shall not be in a condition of disrepair. Disrepair shall include torn, faded, sagging, or dirty signs, and signs with a message that is outdated or no longer relevant. Signs in disrepair shall be removed, or may be restored or repaired if still within the permitted ninety (90) day period.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.420 - Political signs.

Political campaign signs are not regulated as a separate class of signs.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Subdivision signs advertising the initial sale or lease of residential units within a single contiguous grouping comprised of fifteen (15) or more dwelling units, or fifteen (15) or more lots, are permitted, subject to the following regulations:

A.

Display Period. A subdivision sign may be displayed during the period of construction and for a period not to exceed six (6) months from the date which eighty percent (80%) of the units have received certificate of occupancy, or until all of the units or lots have been sold or leased, whichever occurs first.

B.

Permitted Sign Types. Only non-illuminated, freestanding signs are permitted.

C.

Number. One (1) sign is allowed, plus one additional sign for each fifty (50) dwelling units or lots in the subdivision, or one (1) plus one (1) for each five (5) acres in the subdivision, whichever is less.

D.

Sign Area and Height. The size of a subdivision sign shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet, and the height shall not exceed fifteen feet (15'), measured from grade to the highest point of signs.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)