Article 3 — ORANGE COUNTY SIGN CODE

This article shall hereafter be known and cited as the "Orange County Sign Code."

(Code 1961, § 71.031)

The following terms, as used in this article shall, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, have the respective meanings herein set forth:

Advertising Surface: The total area of the face of the structure excluding supports.

Combination Sign: Any sign incorporating any combination of the features of ground, projecting and roof signs.

Director: The Director of Environmental Management Agency of the County of Orange, his assistants, deputies, inspectors and officers of the Environmental Management Agency of the County of Orange.

Electric Sign: Any sign containing electrical wiring, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light source.

Erect: To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix.

Grade: The elevation of the finished surface of the ground beneath an advertising sign.

Ground Sign: A sign supported by uprights or braces placed upon or into the ground and detached from any building.

Illuminated Sign: A sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper.

Incombustible Material: Any material which will not ignite at, or below, a temperature of twelve hundred (1,200) degrees Fahrenheit during an exposure of five (5) minutes, and which will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature. Tests shall be made as specified in Uniform Building Code Standard 4-1-58.

National Electrical Code: The current National Electrical Code adopted by the Board of Supervisors of this County.

Nonstructural Trim: The molding, battens, caps, nailing strips, latticing, cutouts or letters and walkways which are attached to the sign structure.

Person: Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind whatsoever.

Plastic Materials: Materials made wholly or principally from standardized plastics listed and described in the Uniform Building Code.

Projecting Sign: A sign other than a wall sign suspended from or supported by a building or structure and projecting therefrom.

Public safety area: A strip of land twenty (20) feet in width and running parallel with street rights-of-way.

Roof sign: A sign erected wholly upon or above the roof of a building or structure, or upon or above canopies, marquees and similar overhangs.

Sign: Any structure, device or contrivance and all parts thereof which are erected or used for advertising purposes upon or within which any poster, bill, bulletin, printing, lettering, painting, device or other advertising of any kind whatsoever is used, placed, posted, tacked, nailed, pasted or otherwise fastened or affixed. This definition also includes electric signs.

This definition shall not be held to include, unless otherwise provided for in this article, any board, sign or surface used exclusively to display official notices issued by any court officer or public officer or a private person in giving legal notice; nor shall it be held to include a nonilluminated ground sign the advertising surface of which does not exceed six (6) square feet and which does not extend more than six (6) feet above grade; nor shall it be held to include a nonilluminated professional sign such as used by a doctor, dentist or similar professional person, provided the advertising surface of such nonilluminated sign does not exceed six (6) square feet and the sign extends not more than six (6) feet above grade.

Uniform Building Code Standards: The current Uniform Building Code Standards of the Uniform Building Code as adopted by the Board of Supervisors of this County.

Uniform Building Code: The current Uniform Building Code (U.B.C.) adopted by the Board of Supervisors of this County.

Wall sign: A sign attached to or erected on the exterior wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the exterior wall.

(Code 1961, § 71.032; Ord. No. 3384, § 1, 5-17-83)

No person shall erect or maintain or cause to be erected or maintained any sign or add to an existing sign or move from one location and erect in another location or alter any sign or any part thereof without first obtaining a permit to do so pursuant to Section 7-9-144.

The placing, attaching or superimposing of letters, figures or representations in cutouts of irregular form during the change of advertising copy shall not be considered a structural change for which a permit is

required, provided that such sign has been first approved by the Director as a sign capable of receiving such cutouts. Approval of such signs shall be contingent upon proof that the sign is so designed and constructed as to adequately support the loads contributed by the cutouts and/or irregular shapes.

(Code 1961, § 71.033; Ord. No. 3384, § 2, 5-17-83; Ord. No. 98-15, § 66, 12-8-98)

Application for erection permits shall be made on forms provided by the Director.

The forms shall contain, or have attached thereto, such information as the Director may require to show full compliance with this and all other applicable laws and ordinances of the County of Orange.

Two (2) copies of plans and specifications shall be submitted with the application for a permit for each sign. Such plans shall show method of support and/or attachment, location, materials and colors to be used. Plans for all roof signs and other signs which by reason of their height or characteristics make them subject to excessive stresses shall be accompanied by structural computations showing that the structure is designed for dead load and wind pressures, in any direction in the amount required by this article. Sufficient data shall be submitted to show that the supporting surfaces and other members of the existing building or structure to which a sign is to be attached are in good condition and are adequate to support the additional load imposed.

(Code 1961, § 71.034; Ord. No. 3384, § 3, 5-17-83)

The erection of a sign in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a sign permit, require a separate electrical permit in compliance with the National Electrical Code. Prior to erection, the sign shall be physically inspected by the Director.

(Code 1961, § 71.035; Ord. No. 3384, § 4, 5-17-83)

Secs. 7-1-99—7-1-103. - Reserved.

It shall be the duty of the Director to examine the plans and specifications upon the filing of a sign permit application; and if it shall appear that the proposed sign is in compliance with this and other applicable codes and ordinances of the County of Orange, he shall, upon receipt of the required fee, issue the permit. Failure to complete work within one hundred twenty (120) days after date of issuance shall make said permit null and void.

(Code 1961, § 71.036; Ord. No. 3384, § 5, 5-17-83)

When the permit is issued, the plans shall be stamped with the Director's approval. No changes, alterations or modifications shall be made thereto. The sign structure shall be erected in conformity with the approved plans unless authorization to modify is obtained from the Director and the plans and records are so changed and noted.

(Code 1961, § 71.037; Ord. No. 3384, § 6, 5-17-83)

(a)

Permit fees. A fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors shall be paid for each permit at time of issuance.

(b)

Plan check fees. A plan-checking fee shall be paid to the Director at the time of submitting plans and specifications for checking. Said plan-checking fee shall be established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(c)

Investigation fee. An investigation fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors may be charged by the Director whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit. This fee shall be paid and the investigation shall be made prior to the issuance of any permit for said work. An investigation fee may be charged for any investigation of a sign, work reports, certification or any other related work requested by an owner or authorized agent of such owner.

(d)

Reinspections. A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or when corrections called for are not made.

This subsection is not to be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to comply with the requirements of this code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspections before the job is ready for such inspection or reinspection.

Reinspection fees may be assessed when the permit card is not properly posted on the work site, the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested, or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of the Director.

To obtain a reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.

(Code 1961, § 71.038; Ord. No. 3384, § 7, 5-17-83)

Failure to obtain a sign permit prior to the erection of a sign shall require the payment of a double fee; however, payment of the double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with other provisions of this article, nor from liability to penalties prescribed herein.

(Code 1961, § 71.039)

Editor's note— The provisions of this section were made inoperative from May 6, 1993, through Oct. 30, 1993, by § 1(c) of Ord. No. 3884, adopted Apr. 6, 1993, effective May 6, 1993.

The issuance or granting of a sign permit shall not be deemed or construed to be a permit for or an approval of any violation of any of the provisions of this article; and no sign permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this article shall be valid except insofar as the work or use which is authorized by the issuance of a sign permit is lawful.

(Code 1961, § 71.0310)

Secs. 7-1-109—7-1-113. - Reserved.

(a)

Inspection. The Director shall inspect at such times as he deems necessary each sign regulated by this article for the purpose of ascertaining whether the sign is secure or insecure and whether it is in need of removal or repair.

If the Director shall find that any sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has been constructed, erected or maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, it shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal in accordance with the procedure specified in Section 102— UNSAFE BUILDING, NUISANCE, NOTICE, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, APPEAL—of the Uniform Building Code, as amended by the County of Orange.

(b)

Summary removal. The Director may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.

(Code 1961, § 71.0311; Ord. No. 3384, § 8, 5-17-83; Ord. No. 98-15, § 67, 12-8-98)

No person owning or controlling an advertising sign shall fail to keep such sign in a state of good repair at all times with all braces, bolts, clips and supporting frame free from deterioration, termite infestation, rot, rust, loosening and in such condition that at all times it will withstand the wind pressure specified in this article.

(Code 1961, § 71.0312)

If, after inspection, any advertising sign or any portion thereof is found to violate any provision of this article, the corrections required shall be made promptly and the sign shall be made to conform in all respects and another call for final inspection shall be made.

No person shall continue or proceed with any sign erection work in violation of this article, or of any other code or ordinance regulating such signs after receipt of any notice from the Environmental Management Agency to stop work. The work must be made to comply with the provisions of this article or other such codes or ordinances. Orders given by the Environmental Management Agency to make safe such sign must be complied with promptly. "Stop work notices" and "correction notices" affixed to a sign by an authorized representative of the Environmental Management Agency while erection work on a sign is in progress shall be considered as having been delivered to permittee.

(Code 1961, § 71.0313; Ord. No. 3384, § 9, 5-17-83)

Upon presentation of proper credentials, the Director may enter, at reasonable times, any building, structure or premises in the unincorporated area of the County of Orange to perform any duty imposed upon him by this article.

(Code 1961, § 71.0314; Ord. No. 3384, § 10, 5-17-83)

No person shall erect, own, control or maintain any sign which does not have the name of such person and the sign permit number plainly and permanently marked, painted or outlined on said sign in a conspicuous place.

On all signs, other than ground signs, the weight of the sign shall be included in the above required information.

(Code 1961, § 71.0315)

Secs. 7-1-119—7-1-123. - Reserved.

Each fluorescent, mercury, vapor or high voltage gaseous tube (neon) sign shall, in addition to the above required information, be provided with a legible nameplate, which shall correctly state the manufacturer's name or trademark and the voltage, amperage, total watts and power factor. All the aforementioned types of signs shall have affixed Underwriters' Laboratory labels or recognized testing laboratory labels. Before delivery to the erection site, illuminated gaseous type signs shall be inspected and approved by the Director.

(Code 1961, § 71.0316; Ord. No. 3384, § 11, 5-17-83)

No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.

(Code 1961, § 71.0317)

Secs. 7-1-126—7-1-127. - Reserved.[2]

Editor's note— Sections 1 and 2 of Ord. No. 3479, adopted Aug. 22, 1984, repealed former §§ 7-1-126 and 7-1-127, pertaining to signs. Said former sections were derived from §§ 71.0318 and 71.0319 of the 1961 Code.

It shall be unlawful for any person to exhibit, post or display, or cause to be exhibited, posted or displayed upon any sign anything which constitutes obscene matter, as defined in Penal Code Section 311(a), or which is otherwise unlawful.

(Code 1961, § 71.0320; Ord. No. 98-15, § 68, 12-8-98)

Secs. 7-1-129—7-1-133. - Reserved.

To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished for that purpose. Every such application shall be accompanied by plans and specifications as required in section 7- 1-135.

(Code 1961, § 71.0321)

With each application for a sign permit, and when required by the Director for enforcement of any provisions of this article, two (2) sets of plans and specifications shall be submitted. The Director may require plans and specifications to be prepared and designed by an engineer or architect licensed by the State to practice as such.

(Code 1961, § 71.0322; Ord. No. 3384, § 12, 5-17-83)

Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper or cloth and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this article and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.

(Code 1961, § 71.0323)

(a)

General. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind and seismic forces as specified in this section. All bracing systems shall be designed and constructed to transfer lateral forces to the foundations. For signs on buildings the dead and lateral loads shall be transmitted through the

structural frame of the building to the ground in such manner as not to overstress any of the elements thereof.

The overturning moment produced from lateral forces shall in no case exceed two-thirds of the dead load resisting moment. Uplift due to overturning shall be adequately resisted by proper anchorage to the ground or to the structural frame of the building. The weight of earth superimposed over footings may be used in determining the dead load resisting moment. Such earth shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted.

(b)

Wind. Signs and sign structures shall be designed to withstand the minimum horizontal pressures set forth in Table No. 1, allowing for wind from any direction. The wind pressures set forth in Table No. 1 are minimum values and may be adjusted by the Director for areas subjected to higher wind pressures.

(c)

Wind pressure. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand pressures acting upward normal to the surface, equal to one and one-fourth (1¼) times those specified for the corresponding height zone in which the roof is located. The height is to be taken as the mean height of the sign above grade and the pressure assumed on the entire sign area.

Table No. 1. Wind Pressures for Various Height Zones Above Grade

Height Zones Wind-Pressure- (in feet) Map Areas (pounds per square foot)

Less than 30 20

30 to 49 20

50 to 99 25

100 to 499 30

500 to 1199 35

1200 and over 40

(d)

Seismic loads. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist seismic forces as specified in the Uniform Building Code.

(e)

Combined loads. Wind and seismic loads need not be combined in the design of signs or sign structures; only that loading producing the larger stresses need be used. Vertical design loads, except roof live loads, shall be assumed to be acting simultaneously with the wind or seismic loads.

(f)

Allowable stresses. The design of wood, concrete or steel members shall conform to the requirements of the Uniform Building Code. Loads, both vertical and horizontal, exerted on the soil shall not produce stresses exceeding those specified in the Uniform Building Code. The working stresses of wire rope and its fastenings shall not exceed twenty-five (25) per cent of the ultimate strength of the rope or fasteners. Working stresses for wind or seismic loads combined with dead loads may be increased as specified in the Uniform Building Code.

(Code 1961, § 71.0324; Ord. No. 3384, § 13, 5-17-83)

(a)

General. The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of this article.

(b)

Materials. Materials of construction for signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the Uniform Building Code. In all signs and sign structures, the materials and details of construction shall, in the absence of specified requirements, conform with the following:

(1)

Structural steel shall be of such quality as to conform with the Uniform Building Code. Secondary members in contact with or directly supporting the display surface, may be formed of light gauge steel provided such members are designed in accordance with the specifications of the design of light gauge steel as specified in the Uniform Building Code and in addition shall be galvanized. Secondary members, when formed integrally with the display surface, shall be not less than No. 24 gauge in thickness. When not formed integrally with the display surface, the minimum thickness of the secondary members shall be No. 12 gauge. The minimum thickness of hot-rolled steel members, furnishing structural support for signs, shall be one-fourth inch, or three-sixteenths inch if galvanized. Steel pipes shall be of such quality as to conform with the Uniform Building Code. Steel members may be connected with one galvanized bolt provided the connection is adequate to transfer the stresses in the members.

(2)

Anchors and supports when of wood and embedded in the soil, or within six (6) inches of the soil, shall be pressure-treated with an approved preservative. Such members shall be marked or branded by an approved agency.

(c)

Restrictions on combustible materials. Ground signs may be constructed of any material meeting the requirements of this article. Combination signs, roof signs and projecting signs shall be constructed of incombustible materials, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. No combustible materials other than approved plastics shall be used in the construction of electric signs.

(d)

Nonstructural trim. Nonstructural trim may be of wood, metal, approved plastics or any combination thereof.

(e)

Anchorage. Members supporting unbraced signs shall be so proportioned that the bearing loads imposed on the soil in either direction, horizontal or vertical, shall not exceed the safe values. Braced ground signs shall be anchored to resist the specified wind or seismic load acting in any direction. Anchors and supports shall be designed for safe bearing loads on the soil and for an effective resistance to pull-out amounting to a force twenty-five (25) percent greater than the required resistance to overturning. Anchors and supports shall penetrate to a depth below ground greater than that of the frost line.

Portable ground signs supported by frames or posts rigidly attached to the base shall be so proportioned that the weight and size of the base will be adequate to resist the wind pressure specified in Table No. 1.

Signs attached to masonry, concrete or steel shall be safely and securely fastened thereto by means of metal anchors, bolts or approved expansion screws of sufficient size and anchorage to support safely the loads applied.

No wooden blocks or plugs or anchors with wood used in connection with screws or nails shall be considered proper anchorage, except in the case of signs attached to wood framing.

No anchor or support of any sign shall be connected to, or supported by, a parapet wall, unless such wall is designed in accordance with the requirements specified in the Uniform Building Code for parapet walls.

(f)

Display surfaces. Display surfaces in all types of signs may be made of metal, glass or approved plastics, in accordance with the area limitations set forth in Tables No. 2 and No. 3.

Table No. 2. Limitations of Approved Plastics in Signs

Area of Facing or Area Occupied or Display Surface Covered by Plastics

100 square feet or less 100 per cent of display surface area

Over 100 square feet, but less than 2,000 square 100 square feet plus 25 percent of the difference feet between 100 square feet and the area of the display surface

Over 2,000 square feet Not over 575 feet

Table No. 3. Size, Thickness and Type of Glass Panels in Signs

Maximum Size of Exposed Glass Panel

Any Area Minimum Type of Glass Dimension in Square Thickness in Inches Inches of Glass in Inches

30 500 ⅛ Plain, plate or wired

45 700 3/16 Plain, plate or wired

144 3,600 ¼ Plain, plate or wired

Over 144 Over 3,600 ¼ Wired

(Code 1961, § 71.0325; Ord. No. 98-15, § 69, 12-8-98)

Secs. 7-1-139—7-1-143. - Reserved.

(a)

Private property. Projection and clearance of signs over private property are not limited except that such signs projecting more than six (6) inches from the face of a building over private property used or intended to be used by the general public shall have a minimum clearance of eight (8) feet above sidewalk or grade. In no event, however, may a sign project closer than two (2) feet to the curb or street drain line.

(Code 1961, § 71.0326; Ord. No. 3479, § 3, 8-22-84)

(a)

Defined. A sign supported by uprights or braces placed upon or into the ground and detached from any building.

(b)

Construction and design.

(1)

All ground signs shall conform to the requirements of sections 7-1-134 through 7-1-138.

(2)

All posts, anchors, bracing or any other support that enters into or rests upon the grounds or set in concrete shall be treated with an approved preservative.

(c)

Condition of site. The immediate area surrounding the site of a ground sign shall be maintained by the owner thereof in a clean, sanitary condition, free from rubbish, weeds and all obnoxious substances.

(d)

Removal. Any sign projecting into public property shall be moved, without expense to any public agency, if such moving is necessary because of widening of highway.

(Code 1961, Sec. 71.0327; Ord. No. 3479, § 4, 8-22-84)

(a)

Defined. A sign attached to or erected on the exterior wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the exterior wall.

(b)

Construction and design.

(1)

All wall signs shall conform to the requirements of sections 7-1-134 through 7-1-138.

(2)

The surface or facing shall be of incombustible material; however, combustible structural trim may be used.

(Code 1961, § 71.0328; Ord. No. 3479, § 5, 8-22-84)

(a)

Defined. A sign erected wholly upon or above the roof of a building or structure, or upon or above canopies, marquees and similar overhangs.

(b)

Construction and design. All roof signs shall conform to the provisions of sections 7-1-134 through 7-1- 138.

(c)

Obstruction of roof openings. No roof sign shall be placed on a roof so as to prevent free passage from one part of the roof to another, nor shall it interfere with any skylight or similar roof openings.

(Code 1961, Sec. 71.0329; Ord. No. 3479, § 6, 8-22-84)

(a)

Defined. Combination sign shall mean any sign incorporating any combination of the features of ground, projecting and roof signs.

(b)

Classifications. Each portion of a sign which is subject to more than one classification shall meet the requirements for the classification to which such portion is subject.

(Code 1961, § 71.0330; Ord. No. 3479, § 7, 8-22-84)

Secs. 7-1-149—7-1-153. - Reserved.

(a)

Defined. A sign other than a wall sign suspended from, or supported by, a building or structure and projecting outward therefrom.

(b)

Construction and design. All projecting signs shall conform to the requirements of sections 7-1-134 through 7-1-138.

(c)

Projections. All projecting signs shall conform with the provisions of section 7-1-144.

(Code 1961, § 71.0331)

Every sign lawfully in existence on the adoption of this article shall not be repaired, altered or moved unless it is made to comply with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1961, § 71.0332)

In addition to the penalty provided in the Codified Ordinances of the County of Orange for violation of the provisions of this Code, the Director is authorized to revoke any permit upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provision of this article.

(Code 1961, § 71.0333; Ord. No. 3384, § 14, 5-17-83)

Secs. 7-1-157—7-1-166. - Reserved.