Chapter 12.44 — BILLBOARDS AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Billboard. Any board, fence, sign or structure erected for advertising purposes, or any board, fence or sign upon which any advertisement is shown or whereon any poster, bill, printing, painting, device or other advertising matter of any kind whatsoever may be placed, stuck, tacked, posted, printed, painted, pasted or fastened but this definition shall not be held to include any board, sign or surface used to display official notices issued by any court or public office, or posted by any officer in the performance of a public duty.

Outdoor advertising. Advertising on any board, fence or structure, or the placing thereon of any poster, bill, printing, painting, device or any advertising matter of any kind whatsoever, and the pasting, posting, painting, printing, nailing or tacking, or otherwise fastening of any handbill, card, banner, sign, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind upon any property or place. (Prior code § 8-1)

All billboards with an advertising surface in excess of 30 square feet shall be constructed according to the following specifications:

• A. The surface of the billboard shall be securely fastened to a framework, the posts or uprights of which shall be redwood not less than four inches by six inches in dimension. Such posts shall be spaced not more than eight feet apart and shall extend to the top of the billboard. Such posts shall be set not less than three feet in the ground and the earth about them shall be securely tamped into place. The material which comprises the surface of the billboard shall be securely attached to wooden stringers, which stringers shall run continuously the entire length of the billboard. There shall not be less than one stringer, two inches by four inches in dimension, for each four feet or fraction thereof that the surface of such billboard is in height; provided, that when the advertising surface of a billboard does not exceed 10 feet in height, three wooden stringers may be employed; the one to which the top edge of the advertising surface is attached shall be two inches by six inches in dimension; the one to which the middle of the advertising surface is attached shall be two inches by four inches in dimension, and the one to which the lower edge of the advertising surface is attached shall be two inches by six inches in dimension. Each wooden stringer shall be attached to each post with three 30d nails.

• B. The vertical posts shall be braced by wooden braces two inches by six inches in dimension; one brace to each post. Each brace shall be securely attached to the top or within two feet of the top of each post with three 40d nails. The lower end shall be securely attached with three 40d nails to a redwood anchor post not less than four inches by six inches by five feet in dimension. The anchor post shall be set back of the vertical post a distance equal to onehalf of the total height of the billboard above the ground and the anchor post shall be set not less than four feet in the ground and in such a position as to make an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the brace. A cross-piece 14 inches long of two-inch by sixinch redwood shall be securely nailed with three 30d nails across the back of the lower end of the anchor post, and a piece of redwood, two inches by six inches by 18 inches in

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.44.020

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.44.060

dimension, shall be securely nailed with three 30d nails across the front of the anchor post six inches below the ground surface. Redwood anchor posts not less than four inches by six inches by six inches by five feet in dimension or concrete or steel anchor posts of other types of equal strength may be substituted for the foregoing.

• C. Signs with a circular advertising surface and not to exceed 10 feet in diameter may be erected on one post or standard. Such post or standard shall be of redwood not less than six inches by eight inches in size. The standard or post shall be set not less than four feet in the ground and shall extend to the top of the advertising surface of the sign. The circular surface of the sign shall be attached to two-inch by four-inch stringers, which in turn shall be securely nailed to the vertical post.

• D. No advertising sign or structure shall be erected in the City unless the same shall be build to withstand a wind pressure of 20 pounds per square foot of exposed surface and where topographical or other conditions make it impossible to erect an advertising sign or structure in accordance with the specifications provided in this section, then such advertising sign or structure shall be erected so as to withstand a wind pressure of 20 pounds per square foot, and the City Engineer shall have the right to require that any advertising signs or structures which are not securely built as provided in this section be either strengthened or removed.

(Prior code § 8-5)

No person shall erect or construct any billboard or advertising signboard at or near the intersection of two or more public highways in such a manner or in such a position that the view of the approaching highways for a distance of 100 feet from the center of such intersection is obstructed in such a manner as to prevent an approaching automobile or vehicle from being seen from another approaching automobile or vehicle while the same are within 100 feet of the center of such intersection of such highways. (Prior code § 8-6)

No person shall erect or construct any billboard or advertising signboard at or near the intersection of a highway and a railway track in such a manner or in such a position that the view of the approaching highway or railway track for a distance of 100 feet from the center of such intersection is obstructed in such a manner as to prevent an approaching automobile or other vehicle from being seen from another approaching automobile or other vehicle while the same are within 100 feet of the center of such intersection of a highway with such railway tracks. (Prior code § 8-7)

No person shall erect or construct any billboard or advertising signboard on private property fronting on the inner side of any curve on any public highway in such a manner or in such a position as to impair an unobstructed view of such highway from anyone traveling thereon for a distance of 150 feet as measured around the curve. (Prior code § 8-8)

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.44.060

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 12.44.070

It is unlawful for any person erecting, constructing, owning or controlling any billboard or advertising signboard to fail, refuse or neglect to cause the name of the person erecting, constructing, owning or controlling such billboard or advertising signboard to be plainly marked, painted or outlined upon or above such billboard or advertising signboard in a conspicuous manner.

(Prior code § 8-9)

It is unlawful for any person to exhibit, post or display, or to cause or permit to be exhibited, posted or displayed, upon any billboard or advertising signboard, any statement, words or signs of any obscene, indecent or immoral nature, or any picture, illustration or delineation of any human figure in such detail as to offend public morality or decency; or of any lewd or lascivious act, or any other matter or thing of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature, or offensive to the moral sense; or any murder, suicide, robbery, holdup, shooting, stabbing, clubbing or beating of any human being wherein any such act is shown in gruesome detail or in a revolting manner, or in any manner objectionable to the moral sense. (Prior code § 8-10)

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.48.010

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.48.040