Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.712.005 Intent

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare and to promote traffic safety by controlling the design, quality of materials, construction, illumination, size, location and maintenance of signs and sign structures. These standards are a regulation for both applicants and the Mendocino Historical Review Board (MHRB) members to encourage signs that are of a quality design, pleasing in appearance and appropriate in size, materials and illumination to the activity to which they pertain. Further, these regulations are intended to encourage signs which are compatible with the architectural style, characteristics and scale which are historically appropriate as well as being compatible with the building to which they are attached and adjacent buildings and businesses. It is intended that these regulations will enhance overall property values and the visual environment by discouraging signs which contribute to visual clutter such as offsite signs, oversized signs, neon signs and excessive temporary signing. It is intended that commercial signs be designed for the purpose of identifying a business in a functional and attractive manner rather than to serve as general advertising for the business.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

Off-site signs, except for public safety, traffic directional, and public access signs within the Highway 1 or any public road or street right-of-way, shall be prohibited within the boundaries of the Town of Mendocino.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

The following standards shall apply to all signs:

(A) Signs attached to a building shall not extend above the eave, roof line, or parapet of the building. Signs mounted flush to a building are preferable, although signs perpendicular to a building may be permitted under special circumstances, as provided in Chapter 20.714.

(B) Freestanding signs. Other than directory signs, signs shall not be more than six (6) feet in height. Wherever feasible, directory signs should be located on the inland side of any highway, road, street, or alley to avoid intruding into public views from such highway, road, street, or alley to and along the sea or shoreline.

(C) All signs for visitor accommodations shall be on the site of the visitor-serving facility.

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

(E) Only one (1) sign per business shall be allowed when one (1) sign will suffice. A two (2) sided sign, identifying the same business(es), will be considered one (1) sign. More than one (1) sign may be allowed when the business has more than one (1) entrance accessible to the public. No individual sign (freestanding or attached) may exceed six (6) square feet and the total of all freestanding and attached signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet per site. The number and size of rectory signs, window signs, open/closed signs, and menu boards are regulated in Chapter 20.760.

(F) The use of a directory sign is recommended for buildings containing more than one (1) business and using one (1) or more common entrance(s) or a common address. In addition, where a business is located on a lot (parcel) with frontage on two (2) streets, roads, or Highway 1, the business shall be allowed to be a part of a directory sign.

(1) Maximum height: Eighty (80) inches above natural grade, unless the directory sign is parallel to the road, when the maximum height shall be eight (8) feet above natural grade.

(2) Maximum width: Thirty-six (36) inches.

(3) Maximum size of the individual business sign within the directory: Two hundred sixteen (216) square inches.

(G) Size, design and location of signs shall be in harmony with the building and surrounding buildings and shall not detract from the Historic District.

(H) Signs shall not adversely affect public views of the bay and landmark structures from public view areas.

(I) 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. Neon lighting is prohibited.

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

(K) The total permissible sign area for each home occupation and cottage industry shall be two (2) square feet.

(L) All signs, including indoor commercial self-contained lighted signs visible from a walkway normally used by the public, are subject to the review and approval of the Mendocino Historic Review Board as provided in Chapter 20.760. The Mendocino Historical Review Board may grant an exception to sign standards provided that the granting of the exception is not contrary to the public good and does not detrimentally affect the historical character of the Town.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

The following temporary signs are permitted:

(A) One (1) temporary real estate sign, not exceeding three (3) 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 the sale or lease of the property.

(B) 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.

(C) Political signs pertaining to a scheduled election shall be permitted, provided that they shall be removed within fifteen (15) days after election day.

(D) Temporary signs that identify a special event for a non-profit organization or a school and that are visible for less than twenty-two (22) continuous days, are exempt from the Coastal Development Permit process as set forth in this Division.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

(A) The following signs are exempted from the requirements of this Chapter:

(1) Directional, warning, or informational signs required or authorized by law, which are erected by federal, state, county or public officials.

(2) Official notices issued by a court, other public agency, or public official, and posted in the performance of a public duty.

(3) Danger signs, signs of public utility companies indicating dangerous conditions, and aids to service or safety.

(4) House numbers and historical markers not exceeding one (1) square foot, i.e., "Blair House 1880", provided that a house or building number sign, that is visible from each adjacent street, alley, road, or highway, shall be affixed to each exterior wall that fronts on a street, alley, road, or highway.

(5) Window signs located within a structure, provided the total sign area does not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the window area.

(B) Pursuant to Section 30610(b) of the California Public Resources Code and Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 13253, no coastal development permit is required for the improvement of an existing structure with a sign or signs, which are directly attached to the existing structure, provided that the structure being improved with a sign is not located (1) on a beach; or (2) in a wetland, stream, or lake; in an area designated as highly scenic in a certified land use plan; or within fifty (50) feet of the edge of a coastal bluff. Further provided that the sign improvement (3) does not include removal or placement of vegetation, on a beach, on a sand dune, in a wetland, in a stream; within one hundred (100) feet of the edge of a coastal bluff, in a highly scenic area, or in an environmentally sensitive habitat area. Further provided that (4) any sign improvement that is located (a) between the sea and the first public road paralleling the sea or within three hundred (300) feet of the inland extent of any beach or of the mean high tide of the sea where there is no beach, whichever is the greater distance, or (b) in a significant scenic resource area designated by the Coastal Commission or former North Coast Regional Coastal Commission; would not constitute an additional improvement of ten (10) percent or less where an improvement to the structure has previously been undertaken pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 30610(b); and/or increase the height of the existing structure by more than ten (10) percent. Further provided that the sign is not an improvement to a structure (5) where the coastal development permit issued for the original structure by the Coastal Commission, North Coast Regional Commission, or the County indicated that any future improvements would require a coastal development permit, (6) which changes the intensity of use of the structure, or (7) made pursuant to a conversion of an existing structure from a multiple unit rental use or visitor-serving commercial use to a use involving a fee ownership or long-term leasehold including but not limited to a condominium conversion, stock cooperative conversion, or motel/hotel timesharing conversion. See Section 20.720.020.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

A nonconforming sign is a sign lawfully erected, established, and maintained prior to the effective date of this Chapter, but one (1) that does not conform to:

(1) The use regulations and/or standards of height, setback, sign area, or number for the Zoning District in which the sign is located, or

(2) The regulations of this Division.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

(A) All nonconforming signs shall be allowed to continue for not longer than five (5) years after the effective date of this Division. All nonconforming signs must be removed at the end of the five (5) year period, or the owner must apply for and obtain MHRB approval that the sign conforms to the regulations of the Mendocino Historical District Preservation Ordinance.

(B) This section shall not apply to any signs for which the owner has previously obtained a MHRB permit.

(C) If a directory panel is 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 of the sign, or 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, or shall be ordered removed.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

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. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

(A) Signs which have been abandoned due to a closing of a business, a change in business name, or for any other reason that renders the sign not applicable to the real property involved, shall be removed by (1) the permit holder, or (2) the owner of the building or premises, within ninety (90) days after the date of the action or inaction that caused the sign to be considered abandoned. A condition of approval for all signs shall be that the permit holder or owner of the building or premises, at his/her own expense, remove all abandoned signs. An abandoned sign may be removed by the County after the ninety (90) day period, and the permit holder or owner may be charged for the cost of removal. New signs, for a building or real property on which an abandoned sign is located, shall not be approved until the abandoned sign has been removed. Approval may be given on the condition that the abandoned sign is removed before a new sign is erected.

(B) Prior to removal of a sign by the County, the Board of Supervisors shall hold a hearing to determine when that sign was abandoned. Thirty (30) days' written notice of the hearing shall be sent by certified mail to the permit holder at his/her last known address, and to any other address at which there is reason to believe he/she might receive mail, and to the owner at his/her address, as shown on the records of the County Assessor's office. The notice shall also state:

(1) A general description of the sign;

(2) That upon a finding of abandonment, the sign shall be held by the County for thirty (30) days and then disposed of by sale, if determined to be of a value of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more, or disposed of in any manner if worth less than one hundred dollars ($100.00);

(3) Where the sign may be reclaimed;

(4) That the reasonable costs of removal may be assessed at the hearing along with an administrative charge;

(5) That the hearing and assessments can be avoided by the removal of the sign or display case within fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice.

(C) The Board of Supervisors shall determine the reasonable cost to the County of removing the sign and if an administrative charge should be assessed. Administrative costs shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Sales shall be carried out pursuant to California Civil Code, Section 1988. Proceeds shall be first applied to pay assessed costs, administrative costs and other costs reasonably incurred.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)