Orange Cove Municipal Code Ch. 15.20 Signs

For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth in this section unless the context otherwise indicates:

"City" means the city of Orange Cove.

"Illuminated sign" means any sign which has characters, letters, figures, design or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.

"Person" means and includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind or individual.

"Public property" means any real property owned by, or in which an interest is held by, the state of California, the county of Fresno, California, the city of Orange Cove, or any district organized under the laws of the state of California, when said real property is inside the city.

"Sign" means any name, figure, character, outline, spectacle, display, delineating announcement, advertising, signboard, billboard, barber shop sign, device, appliance or any other thing of a similar nature to attract attention, including all parts, portions, units and materials composing the same, together with the frame, background, structure, support or anchorage for same.

(Prior code § 13-101)

No person shall extend, suspend, erect, place or maintain or cause or permit to be extended, suspended, erected, placed or maintained any sign, other than an illuminated sign, upon, over or in, any public property unless the lowest part of such sign is more than eight feet above the public property and unless the post, pole or structure to which the sign is attached is on property other than public property. No person shall extend, suspend, erect, place or maintain or cause or permit to be extended, suspended, erected, placed or maintained any illuminated sign, upon, over or in, any public property unless the lowest part of such sign is more than ten feet above the public property and unless the post, pole or structure to which the sign is attached is on property other than public property.

(Prior code § 13-102)

Section 15.20.020 of this chapter shall not apply to any of the following:

A. Any sign placed on public property by the city, the state of California, the county of Fresno, or any district organized under the laws of the state, when such sign is permitted under any state or city law other than this chapter.

B. Any sign placed on public property by a public utility having an easement in the public property, provided the sign is so erected, installed and maintained as to be rigidly held in position vertically and horizontally.

C. Any sign attached to, or part of, a post or pole which has been firmly embedded in the ground in the public property and which post or pole has been so embedded for more than one year prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter; provided, however, this sign, post and/or pole shall at all times be kept in good condition and maintained by the person who placed the post or pole in the public property or some person claiming rights thereto as successor in interest; provided, further, that the lowest part of such sign proper shall be more than eight feet above the public property unless it be an illuminated sign in which case the lowest part of such sign shall be more than ten feet above the public property.

(Prior code § 13-103)

All signs not prohibited by this chapter which are over, in or upon any public property shall be so erected and installed as to be rigidly held in position vertically and horizontally and shall meet all requirements of any building regulations of the city applicable thereto and such other requirements of the public works superintendent of the city as may be established for the public safety.

(Prior code § 13-104)