Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.476.040 Nonconforming Signs

The purpose of this Chapter is to promote and protect the public health, welfare, and safety by regulating existing and proposed signs of all types. It is intended to protect property values, create a more attractive, economic and business climate, enhance the aesthetic appearance of the physical community, preserve the scenic and natural beauty of the coastal area, and protect the aesthetic qualities which contribute to the coastal character. It is further intended hereby to reduce signs or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents or visual pollution.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

Off-site signs are prohibited, except in the C and I Zoning Districts where they are subject to the regulations in Section 20.476.015 and Section 20.536.005.

(Ord. No. 3785 part), adopted 1991)

The following standards shall apply to off-site signs:

(A) Permitted Locations. Off-site signs may be placed on any property zoned C and I except as prohibited below:

(1) Within three hundred (300) feet of any residential zone having frontage on the same street or highway;

(2) Upon or over the right-of-way of any county, state, or federal road or highway;

(3) Within a designated highly scenic area.

(B) Directional Sign—Permitted Location. Off-site directional signs may be placed on any property, other than that which is zoned "Open Space," provided the sign is directional, does not exceed two (2) square feet on any one side and complies with the standards of Subsections (F) and (G) of this section.

(C) Setbacks. All off-site signs shall conform to setback requirements of the zone in which it is located.

(D) Area. Off-site signs may be single-faced or double-faced. In no case shall a single face or one side exceed twelve (12) square feet.

(E) Height. No portion of an off-site free-standing sign or its supporting structures shall exceed fifteen (15) feet above the grade of any adjacent public road and said sign shall be subservient to the setting. Signs on buildings shall not exceed the building height.

(F) Number. Only one (1) off-site sign shall be permitted per lot.

(G) Construction. Double-faced signs shall be so constructed that the area and perimeter of both faces coincide and are back-to-back in parallel planes at a distance not to exceed three (3) feet apart.

(H) Time Limit. As specified by conditions of the Coastal Development Administrative Permit.

(I) Lighting. No off-site signs shall be illuminated.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

(A) Temporary (visible for less than ninety (90) days) signs solely for the purpose of identifying and providing directional information to new residential developments, special events, or festivals may be constructed, placed and maintained in any location upon the granting of a Coastal Development Administrative Permit in accordance with Section 20.536.005. Such temporary signs shall be subject to the following conditions:

(1) Area. No sign shall exceed a total of thirty-two (32) square feet in area.

(2) Number. No more than five (5) such signs shall be allowed.

(3) Height. No sign shall exceed the height limitation for the district in which it is located.

(4) Time Limit. As specified by conditions of the Coastal Development Administrative Permit but not to exceed ninety (90) days.

(B) Temporary (visible for less than twenty-two (22) days) signs identifying a special event for a nonprofit organization are exempt from the Coastal Development Permit process as set forth in this Division.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

The following standards shall apply to all on-site signs:

(A) On-site signs for bed and breakfast accommodations outside the Commercial or Rural Village Zoning Districts shall be limited to one sign not to exceed two (2) square feet.

(B) All signs shall, where feasible, be made of wood.

(C) Where a building contains more than one business using a common entrance, a directory sign shall be required.

(D) Signs shall not block public views of the ocean.

(E) Where sign illumination is required, lighting shall be indirect, low key, and restricted to business hours only. The lighting shall not create glare or reflection onto adjacent properties or public streets and no sign shall be internally illuminated.

(F) No flashing or moving signs or lighting creating the effect of movement shall be permitted.

(G) Signing for home occupation or cottage industry is limited to one (1) sign not exceeding two (2) square feet of area, non-illuminated and attached flat to the main structure or visible through a window.

(H) Sign Types.

(1) Wall Signs. Signs attached or painted onto a building or approved structure. Wall signs shall meet the following standards:

(a) Not extend more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall thereof,

(b) Extend no higher than the building roof line;

(c) Not exceed one (1) square foot of sign area for each foot of street frontage, but in no case to exceed eighty (80) square feet. All sites shall be permitted twenty-five (25) square feet minimum wall signs.

(2) Free-Standing Signs. A sign detached from the main or accessory buildings, advertising uses on site. Free-standing signs shall meet the following standards:

(a) Not project into a private or public right-of-way;

(b) Extend no higher than fifteen (15) feet above the grade of any adjacent public road;

(c) Not exceed forty (40) square feet on any single sign face;

(d) The square footage of portable on-premises signs shall count towards the total square footage allowed for free-standing signs.

(3) Roof Signs. Signs attached to a main building or accessory structure that project above the roof line. Roof signs shall meet the following standards:

(a) Extend no higher than five (5) feet above the highest point of the roof on which located, or beyond the height limitations for the district in which it is located, whichever is the lesser height.

(b) Not extend beyond the exterior wall of the structure on which it is located.

(c) Not exceed forty (40) square feet on any single sign face.

(I) Setbacks. All on-site signs shall conform to all setback requirements of the zone in which it is located.

(J) Sign Area—Maximum. Except as permitted in Chapter 20.540 (Variance), Section 20.476.040 and Section 20.476.045 the total square footage of all signs on a lot may not exceed forty (40) square feet, provided however in the absence of both free-standing signs and roof signs the maximum total sign area allowed may be increased to eighty (80) square feet.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

The following temporary on-site signs are permitted without the necessity of obtaining a Coastal Development Permit:

(A) One (1) temporary real estate sign, not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet, containing the seller's name, address, phone number, and the zoning district of the site may be displayed on each street frontage of real property that is for sale, rental, or lease. Such signs shall be removed within fifteen (15) days of sale or lease of the property.

(B) Temporary signs such as paper, cloth, and water soluble paint signs may occupy up to fifteen (15) percent of the area of ground floor windows and shall not be included in computing permitted sign area if they are not placed for a period exceeding fifteen (15) days during any six (6) month period.

(C) Strings or individual banners, streamers, pennants, and similar devices shall be permitted for business openings. Such devices must be removed fifteen (15) days after the opening or twenty (20) days after their installation, whichever comes first.

(D) Political signs pertaining to a scheduled election subject to the following standards:

(1) The sign cannot be put up more than ninety (90) days prior to the election.

(2) The sign must be removed within ten (10) days after the election.

(3) The sign cannot exceed thirty-two (32) square feet on any single sign face.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

The following shall apply in the construction and maintenance of on-site and off-site signs.

(A) Special Purpose Signs. The following special purpose signs shall be exempt from these regulations:

(1) Directional, warning or informational signs required or authorized by law which are erected by federal, state, county, municipal officials or special district officials;

(2) Official notices issued by a court or public body or office and posted in the performance of a public duty;

(3) Danger signs, railroad crossing signs and signs of public utility companies indicating danger and aids to service or safety;

(4) House numbers;

(5) Flags, emblems and insignia of a nation or political subdivision;

(6) Commemorative signs or plaques of recognized historical organizations;

(7) Signs on public transportation vehicles regulated by a political subdivision, including but not limited to buses and taxicabs;

(8) Signs on licensed vehicles, provided such vehicles are not used or intended for use as portable signs;

(9) Signs which are not intended to be viewed from public streets and are not legible therefrom nor from adjacent properties, such as signs in interior areas of shopping centers, commercial buildings and structures, ball parks, stadiums, race tracks and similar uses of a recreational or entertainment nature;

(10) Changing the sign copy of a sign;

(11) Any maintenance which does not involve changes increasing the size of the sign;

(12) Signs required by state or federal law;

(13) Directional Signs. In areas where street identification or house numbering systems do not exist or are inadequate to a degree as to make finding particular residences unduly difficult, signs intended solely to provide directional information to a particular residence are permitted. Not more than three (3) single-faced or double-faced signs having an area not greater than two (2) square feet each face may be permitted pertaining to any one (1) property or residence. Such signs shall be limited to the name of the owner or resident and directional information to the property or residence thereof.

(B) Special Purpose Signs—Standards. Permits for special purpose signs shall be required only for signs specified in the Uniform Sign Code.

(1) "No Trespassing," and "No Parking" and similar warning signs which exceed four (4) square feet each.

(2) Signs on awnings or removable canopies not permanently attached to or built as part of a building, provided that all of the following conditions hold:

(a) No such sign shall exceed an area of four (4) square feet on any side of such awning or canopy.

(b) The sign copy shall be limited to name, occupation, street address, telephone number, date of establishment, and other comparable copy of a non-advertising nature, which copy may relate to one (1) or more separate establishments.

(3) Identification plaques, provided that all of the following conditions hold:

(a) No more than two (2) such signs having an area of not more than two (2) square feet each may be placed on a building facing or fence.

(b) The sign copy shall be limited to name, occupation, street address, telephone number, date of establishment, trade organization associations, names of products produced under registered trade names, logos, and other comparable sign copy of a non-advertising nature, which copy may relate to one (1) or more separate establishments.

(4) Temporary (thirty (30) days or less) window signs constructed of paper, cloth or similar expendable material, provided that all of the following conditions hold:

(a) The total area of such signs shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the window area.

(b) Such signs shall be affixed only to the interior window surface for a short period of time to promote a particular sale of produce or merchandise.

(5) Bulletin boards for charitable or religious organizations, provided that such signs do not exceed an area of twelve (12) square feet per face and are not illuminated.

(6) One sign, up to eight (8) square feet in area, for each lot identifying the agricultural products produced on the premises permitted by the applicable zone regulations.

(7) One identification sign, up to eight (8) square feet in area, for each lot or parcel identifying multiple dwellings, clubs and similar uses of premises.

(8) Free-standing, wall or roof identification signs up to a total of forty (40) square feet in area identifying civic use types, hospitals, and institutions of an educational, philanthropic or charitable nature.

(9) Temporary On-Site Signs. Signs offering premises for sale or lease and temporary construction site signs provided that all the following conditions hold:

(a) Not more than two (2) such single-faced or double-faced signs along any one (1) frontage.

(b) The total area of all faces for any frontage shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet, provided however that on a double frontage, each sign may have an area per face not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.

(c) No such sign shall exceed a height of eight (8) feet.

(d) Temporary construction site signs shall be erected only for the duration of the construction with which associated.

(e) Such signs are not subject to the setback requirements in the zone in which they are located.

(f) Temporary signs shall be removed no later than ten (10) days after the end of an event, project completion, sale of structure, lot or residential development.

(10) Community Identification Signs. Signs solely to identify a community, its civic, fraternal, and religious organizations, and its community slogan or motto, provided:

(a) Number and Location. Not more than one (1) sign may be located along any principal approach route to a community.

(b) Area and Height. Each sign may be single-faced or double-faced with no face to exceed an area of twelve (12) square feet. No sign shall exceed a height of fifteen (15) feet above the average elevation of the ground directly below the sign.

(C) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated unless otherwise specified, provided such signs are so constructed that no light bulb, tube, filament or similar source of illumination is visible. Signs making use of stroboscopic lights, rotary beacons, chasing or similar types of light to convey the effect of movement shall not be permitted, nor shall flashing, intermittent or variable intensity lighting be permitted. This restriction shall not apply to signs which convey information such as time, temperature, or weather.

(D) Movement. No sign shall move or revolve, nor display any moving and/or revolving parts. Wind propellers and other noise creating devices shall not be permitted. This restriction shall not apply to signs which convey information such as time, temperature, or weather.

(E) Exceptions. Regulations for regulated signs may be modified upon approval of an administrative permit.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

A nonconforming sign is a sign lawfully erected, established and maintained prior to the effective date of this Chapter but which does not conform to the use regulations and/or standards of height, setback, sign area, or number, etc., for the zone in which it is located or to the regulations of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

All nonconforming signs shall be allowed to continue provided, however, that if the sign shall be destroyed or deteriorated as a result of vandalism, fire, wind, flood, age or other cause to the extent where repairs exceed fifty (50) percent of the replacement value or fifty (50) percent of the area of the sign, and the sign is not replaced within six (6) months in its original size and appearance, said sign shall be brought into conformance with this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

Any sign not legally erected or placed pursuant to the regulations in existence at the time of its erection or placement is an illegal sign and shall be removed.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

Where, because of special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape, topography, location, or surroundings, the strict application of these sign requirements deprives the property of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and under identical zoning classification, a variance may be issued subject to the requirements of Chapter 20.540. Any such variance may be issued from requirements pertaining to height, area, location or number of signs.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)