Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 6 Signs Allowed by Zoning

SEC. 36.36.55. - Signs allowed by permit in specific zoning districts.¶

The following signs are permitted in the individual zoning districts, subject to compliance with all provisions of this article, including approval through the design review process as set forth in Sec. 36.44.45. The sign regulations listed below are the maximum permitted standards and may be reduced to ensure architectural compatibility, including the sign's relationship to the overall appearance of the building and subject property and to the surrounding community. In the event a conflict arises between the text of this article and the following table, the text shall prevail.

In the following tables, abbreviations and symbols are used and shall have the following meanings:

"Sq. ft." shall mean total square footage as measured by one (1) rectangular or circular shape that encloses all sign elements except the support structure.
"Ft." shall mean "foot" or "feet," a linear measurement.
"Ht." shall mean "height."
"=" shall mean "equal" as in "exactly equivalent to"; for example, "maximum ht. = nine (9) ft." shall mean "maximum height equals nine (9) feet."
"ROW" shall mean "right-of-way," the line of easement or dedicated land used as a public street or alley.
"N/A" shall mean "not applicable."
"%" shall mean "percent."

PERMITTED SIGNS BY ZONING DISTRICT

Zoning District	Maximum Permitted Aggregate Sign Area	Permitted Building Signs	Permitted Site (Monument) Signs	Special Signs	Building Real Estate Signs (see Sec. 36.36.15 )
A	32 sq. ft.	None	One sign, maximum height = 12 ft., unlighted, no closer than 15 feet to right-of-way.	N/A	N/A
R1	1 sq. ft.; maximum of 25 sq. ft. for churches, day-care centers and schools.	One sign, area = 1 sq. ft., maximum height = 9 ft., unlighted or indirect or interior illuminated, mounted on building, fence or mailbox.	None	N/A	One sign, maximum of two faces, 4 sq. ft. per face, maximum height = 5 ft. unless placed in window, unlighted.
R2	1 sq. ft. per occupancy up to maximum = 6 sq. ft.; maximum of 25 sq. ft. for churches, day-care centers and schools.	One sign per occupancy, area = 1 sq. ft., maximum height = 9 ft., unlighted or indirect or interior illuminated, mounted on building, fence or mailbox.	None	PUD with more than 3 units: one additional project identification sign, maximum area = 4 sq. ft., maximum height = 3 ft., unlighted or indirect or interior illuminated, freestanding.	Two signs, maximum two faces, 4 sq. ft. per face, maximum height = 5 ft. unless placed in window, unlighted.
R3, R3D, R4	5 sq. ft. per acre, minimum allowed = 25 sq. ft., maximum allowed = 50 sq. ft. Each face of sign shall be counted.	One sign per building, attached to building, located below eave line, unlighted or indirect or interior illuminated.	One sign, attached to building below eave line or freestanding. Freestanding maximum height = 10 ft., no closer than 10 ft. to right-of-way.	Main and real estate signs, for single-family, duplex, or small lot single-family shall follow the sign standards for the R1 or R2 district as appropriate.	One sign, maximum area = 12 sq. ft., attached to building below eave line or 6 sq. ft. if added to freestanding site sign, unlighted.
RMH	5 sq. ft. per acre, minimum allowed = 25 sq. ft., maximum allowed = 50 sq. ft.	Each mobile home park shall provide at or near the entrance to the park an illuminated directory, including a map showing location of all lots and street names.	One sign, attached to building below eave line or freestanding. Freestanding maximum height = 10 ft., no closer than 10 ft. to right-of-way.	Main and real estate signs for single-family duplex, or small lot single-family shall follow the sign standards for the R1 or R2 district as appropriate.	One sign, maximum area = 12 sq. ft., attached flat to principal building below eave line, unlighted.
CN	N/A	Two per occupancy. First sign minimum allowed area = 15 sq. ft./maximum = 100 sq. ft., attached to building, maximum height = 15 ft. and below eave, unlighted or indirect or interior illumination. Second sign—see Special Signs.	One sign, freestanding, for center with minimum of 4 acres. Maximum of 2 faces, aggregate area = 200 sq. ft., maximum height = 20 ft., unlighted or indirect or interior illumination.	Pedestrian oriented occupancy sign with maximum of 2 faces, maximum area = 6 sq. ft. per face, attached flat to building or hung from canopy or eave above on-site sidewalk, indirect or interior illumination.	One sign per occupancy, maximum area = 8 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
CS	N/A	One sign per occupancy frontage, maximum of 2 faces, maximum area per face = 25 sq. ft., located below eave.	One sign per lot, maximum of 2 faces, maximum area = 150 sq. ft. per face, maximum height = 30 ft., may be freestanding.	N/A	One sign per occupancy, maximum area = 8 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
CRA	Total of all signs not to exceed 2 percent of gross floor area or 1 sq. ft. per foot of lot frontage, whichever is greater. Minimum of 10 sq. ft. per tenant. Each face of sign shall be counted.	One sign per street frontage, maximum area per sign = 100 sq. ft., building mounted or mounted on canopy not extending into right-of-way. Individually mounted letters, may be illuminated, or painted sign on building, unless other design found more compatible.	One freestanding sign per lot, maximum of 2 faces, maximum area per face = 75 sq. ft., maximum height = 12 ft. for lots under 120 ft. wide/ = 15 ft. for lots wider than 120 ft., must be located within landscaping and must be design compatible with building.	Decorative graphics in addition to building sign area, on building, size clearly secondary to main sign, must complement building and main sign in color and style. Pedestrian- oriented sign, one per occupancy, maximum area = 3 sq. ft. per face, unlighted.	One sign per occupancy, maximum area = 8 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
CO	N/A	One sign per principal building, maximum area = 20 sq. ft., mounted flat against building, cannot extend above eave, unlighted or indirect illumination.	One sign, freestanding, maximum area = 50 sq. ft., maximum height = 10 ft., unlighted or indirect illumination.	N/A	One sign per occupancy, maximum area = 8 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
ML	Total of all signs not to exceed ½ sq. ft. per foot of lot frontage. Minimum of 10 sq. ft. per tenant. Each face of sign shall be counted.	One sign per street frontage, located near main entranceway, cannot extend above eave and cannot be mounted above first floor, except signs on office buildings may be located above the first floor on multi-story buildings, but in no case can it extend above the roof or eave.	One sign per street frontage, maximum height = 10 ft., must be located in landscaped area.	Decorative graphics, counted in total sign area, mounted on building, size clearly secondary to main sign, must complement building and main sign in color and style.	One sign per occupancy, maximum area = 8 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
MM	Total of all signs not to exceed ¾ sq. ft. per foot of lot frontage. Minimum of 10 sq. ft. per tenant. Each face of sign shall be counted.	One sign per occupancy, located near main entranceway, cannot extend above eave and cannot be mounted above first floor, except signs on office buildings may be located above the first floor on multi-story buildings, but in no case can it extend above the roof or eave.	One sign per occupancy, maximum height = 10 ft., must be located in landscaped area.	Decorative graphics, counted in total sign area, mounted on building, size clearly secondary to main sign, must complement building and main sign in color and style.	One sign per occupancy, maximum area = 8 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
PF	5 sq. ft. per acre, allowed minimum = 25 sq. ft., maximum sign area = 100 sq. ft.	One sign per building, mounted flat on building wall, located near main entranceway and cannot extend above eave and cannot be mounted above first floor. Maximum area = 10 sq. ft.	One sign per lot, maximum height = 10 ft., must be located 10 ft. from any property line. Sign unlighted or indirect illumination.	N/A	One sign per lot, maximum area =12 sq. ft., attached flat to building wall and below eave, unlighted.
F	N/A	N/A	One sign per lot, maximum area = 32 sq. ft., maximum height = 10 ft., not located within 15 ft. of right-of-way, unlighted or indirect illumination.	N/A	N/A
P	See individual precise plans. See 36.36.60 for sign regulations for downtown. Sign provisions of precise plans are enforceable as a regulation of this chapter.	See individual precise plans. See 36.36.60 for sign regulations for downtown. Sign provisions of precise plans are enforceable as a regulation of this chapter.	See individual precise plans. See 36.36.60 for sign regulations for downtown. Sign provisions of precise plans are enforceable as a regulation of this chapter.	See individual precise plans. See 36.36.60 for sign regulations for downtown. Sign provisions of precise plans are enforceable as a regulation of this chapter.	See individual precise plans. See 36.36.60 for sign regulations for downtown. Sign provisions of precise plans are enforceable as a regulation of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13; Ord. No. 20.19, § 10, 12/10/19.)

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