Division 4 — SIGN REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL ZONES

SEC. 16-610. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.

(A) General requirements and limitations for signs in all zones, except freeway adjacent digital display billboards which are governed exclusively by section16-609, are as follows:

(1) A sign shall not flash, scintillate, move, change color, appear to change color or change intensity, or contain any part or attachment which does the same;

provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to public service time and temperature signs in commercial and industrial zones.

(2) (a) Banners, pennants, flags and captive balloons are not permitted except pursuant to a temporary use permit as authorized by the director for a period not to

exceed one month for grand opening purposes.

(b) Grand opening purposes allow promotional signs or devices displayed only when an existing permanent business changes ownership or a new permanent

business opens. Grand opening purposes arise only within three months of the issuance of a city business license.

(3) Except as otherwise provided herein, portable or movable signs are not permitted, and paper, cloth or similar temporary signs are not permitted on the exterior

of any building unless placed within a glass showcase or permanent framed area designed for that purpose.

(4) Flood lighting used for illumination of any sign is permitted only when such lighting is installed on private property and is hooded or shielded so that the light

source is not visible from the public streets, alleys, or highways of any residentially zoned property.

(5) The director shall permit one double-faced permanent directional sign per vehicular entrance, provided such signs do not exceed three square feet in area each,

in addition to signs permitted elsewhere in this article, if such signs are needed for traffic safety.

(6) Two construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area each are permitted on a parcel of property, providing that such signs are located and regulated in

accordance with this chapter.

(7) Where the public convenience and necessity require, the commission may grant a special use permit allowing identification signs along major thoroughfares

entering the city within 1,000 feet of the city boundary showing the name of the city and the names of nonprofit, civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, provided the overall size of the sign, including all riders, is not larger than 50 square feet.

(8) No sign shall be permitted in or over a public street right-of-way except that signs constructed on the face of a building that is located on the property line and

parallel to a public street may project over such right-of-way a maximum of 12 inches.

(9) Roof signs are not permitted in any zone.

(10) Any attached sign which projects over a public right-of-way or any driveway or walkway shall have a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet above said right-

of-way, driveway or walkway.

(11) No attached sign or wall sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building face, canopy face or wall upon which it is displayed.

(12) No illuminated signs shall be permitted within 100 feet of and facing residentially zoned property.

(13) In addition to any signs permitted by other sections of this article, gasoline service stations may be permitted the following signs:

(a) A red, yellow or green availability flag;

(b) Gasoline price panels on gasoline pumps provided that the panels do not exceed 8 inches by 12 inches in size; and

(c) Not more than two signs which are either a portable, ground-mounted or landscaped monument type sign. The total combined sign area for all such signs

shall not exceed 80 square feet. Such signs shall be used exclusively for displaying grades of motor fuel, prices and hours of operation. No such sign shall have a greater width than five feet or a greater height than five feet as measured from the ground.

(d) The signs referred to in subsection (c) above shall be made of weather-resistant materials and not of paper, cloth or similar materials. The permitted portable

ground-mounted, or landscaped ground monument sign shall not be located so as to create an obstruction to traffic visibility, shall be adequately anchored or supported

to prevent overturning, and shall not be located upon or within any public right-of-way. A ground-mounted or monument sign requires building permit approval.

(B) Signs permitted by this section shall not be included in determining the total allowable sign area permitted by this article, nor shall permits be required for such signs.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-187) (Ord. No. 1573, 1633, 1861, 1945, 3023)

SEC. 16-611. NONCONFORMING SIGNS; ABATEMENT REQUIRED; TERMS OF ABATEMENT.

(A) The purpose of this section is to provide for the continuity of display property rights in existing nonconforming advertising signs by continuing in effect the former abatement removal requirement applicable to nonconforming advertising signs erected or displayed prior to May 10, 1968. This section is intended to preserve the existing display property rights in other nonconforming advertising signs by ensuring full return of investment to owners or lessees who are required by this article to conform or remove advertising signs in the future. The abatement procedure of this section has been considered by the commission and the city council at public hearings, and both bodies find the classification and methods of this section to be reasonable after weighing and considering the public interest to be served with the private property rights to be affected.

(B) Every owner or lessee of a nonconforming advertising sign shall terminate the nonconformity of the sign within the following terms of abatement:

(1) Banners, pennants, flags, captive balloons, and similar portable, moveable or temporary signs not treated by section16-610 shall be removed within six months.

(2) Signs with nonconforming attachments or parts which are not integral parts of the sign structure or message (e.g., flashing beacons, flashing arrows, wind

activated devices, and similar attachments or parts) shall be brought into conformance with the article within six months.

(3) Any nonconforming sign erected or displayed prior to May 10, 1968, shall be conformed to the requirements of this article or shall be removed by May 10, 1978.

(4) Other nonconforming signs shall be conformed to the requirements of this article or removed by April 1, 1992.

(C) (1) The commission may grant the owner or lessee of a nonconforming sign permission to abate the nonconformity within an extended period greater than that limited by this section; provided, however, the extended abatement period shall not exceed 15 years in any case. Applications for extended sign abatement shall be made and granted by special use permit. The commission, in establishing the extended abatement period, shall consider the depreciation schedule initially computed or calculated and actually employed for the purpose of taxation by the owner or lessee during the display life of the sign.

(2) The following criteria shall also be considered in the consideration of any application for a special use permit or an appeal therefrom:

(a) Cost of the sign structure;

(b) The age of the sign in place and the date of its construction;

(c) Secondary meaning of the sign;

(d) The degree of the sign's deviation from the standards of this article;

(e) Encroachment and potential hazard to safety; and

(f) The remaining economic value of the sign.

(D) A nonconforming sign shall not be structurally altered, reconstructed, expanded in area or moved unless it conforms to the requirements of this article, nor shall a damaged, nonconforming sign be repaired without conformance to this article if the cost of repair exceeds 50 percent of the sign's depreciated book value immediately prior to damage. Sign panels of nonconforming signs may be replaced, repainted or changed in copy, provided that a permit is issued by the building official. Such replacement or change will not be used as justification to prolong a nonconforming sign as provided in subsections (B) or (C) above.

(E) Cessation of a nonconforming sign's use or purpose exceeding 30 days, regardless of the owner's or lessee’s intent not to abandon or of intent to resume the sign's use or purpose, shall require the sign's conformance or removal; provided, however, that damage or destruction due to an act of God or cessation required by a public agency (other than for financial problems of the business) shall not require a sign's removal or conformance under this section.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-188) (Ord. No. 1673)

SEC. 16-612. SUBDIVISION SIGNS.

(A) In the case of the simultaneous offering for sale of a group of five or more new houses or improved lots which are under a single ownership and within the final map of single subdivision, the following signs shall be permitted subject to the issuance of a temporary use permit pursuant to sections 16-475 through 16-483.

(B) Only subdivision directional signs shall be permitted in locations other than within the subdivision site boundaries. Subdivision directional signs provide information about travel direction to arrive at the subdivision and display the name of the project and any trademark, insignia or other device identifying the developer. Subdivision directional signs may be located only on vacant parcels.

(C) All subdivision signs, as permitted in this section, shall advertise the sale of houses or lots within the city only.

(D) One on-site advertising sign and two off-site subdivision directional signs, subject to all of the following provisions:

(1) The signs may be either single- or double-faced. Vee-shaped signs are not permitted.

(2) Neither the horizontal nor the vertical dimension of an on-site advertising sign shall exceed 25 feet, including supporting structures, and the total area of the

sign face shall not exceed 210 square feet per side.

(3) The maximum area of any sign face of a subdivision directional sign shall not exceed 60 square feet with a maximum vertical dimension of six feet and a

horizontal dimension of ten feet. Such signs shall not exceed a total height of 12 feet above the ground level.

(4) No riders are permitted. Additions, tag signs, streamers, devices, display boards, or appurtenances shall not be added to the signs.

(5) A sign approved for a particular subdivision shall not be changed to advertise another subdivision without at least ten days' prior written notice to the director.

(6) Signs may be established along, but not within, the right-of-way of any highway, street, or thoroughfare, except such signs may not be established along

established and existing freeways which have been designated as freeway routes by the division of highways of the State, or along streets and roads designated as scenic by the city council.

(7) Such signs may be maintained until all of the lots in the subdivision have been initially sold, so long as there is an occupied sales office on the site. Upon

discontinuance of use of said sales office facility or the sale of the last lot in the subdivision, whichever comes first, all signs permitted pursuant to this section shall be removed.

(E) Where subdivision directional signs are not located within the tract or on property owned by the subdivider, approval of such directional signs shall be at the discretion of the director. The subdivider shall submit to the director the written approval of the owner of the property on which the directional sign is to be located.

(F) (1) Prior to erecting any subdivision sign authorized by a temporary use permit the subdivider shall deposit with the director cash in the amount of $250 per sign. The subdivider shall also file a written statement from the property owner authorizing erection of the sign and further authorizing both the applicant and city staff to go onto the property to remove the sign.

(2) If a sign for which a temporary use permit is granted is not removed by the subdivider or property owner upon expiration of the period of time stated in the temporary use permit, the director shall declare that the cash deposit is forfeited, and city shall remove the sign. If a sign for which a temporary use permit is granted is removed within the time stated in the use permit, the director shall return the cash deposit to the subdivider.

(G) During the sale of houses in a subdivision, one feature sign and one model home sign identifying the particular model, not exceeding two feet by three feet in size and three flags on each lot on which a model home is located and which fronts on an interior road shall be permitted. Such signs shall not exceed three feet in height and shall not be located closer than ten feet from any property line.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-189) (Ord. No. 1573, 1633)