Porterville Municipal Code Art. IV Signs 1

A. Title: This article shall be known as the UNIFORM SIGN CODE, may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as "this sign code".

B. Purpose And Scope: The purpose of this sign code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, quality of materials, construction, location, electrification, and maintenance of all signs and sign structures visible from outside the building or intended for view by people outside the building. The regulations of this sign code are not intended to permit any violation of the provisions of any other lawful ordinance.

C. Enforcement: The building official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of this sign code.

D. Right Of Entry: Upon presentation of proper credentials, the building official or his duly authorized representatives may enter at reasonable times any building, structure, or premises in the city to perform any duty imposed upon him by this sign code.

E. Board Of Appeals: The board of appeals as provided in the currently adopted building code and which has been established thereunder is the appellate board to provide for reasonable interpretation of this article. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

For the purpose of this sign code, certain abbreviations, terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall be construed as defined in chapter 21, section 700.02 of this code. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the masculine. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

A. Permits Required: No sign shall hereafter be erected, reerected, constructed, altered, or maintained, except as provided by this sign code and a permit for the same has been issued by the building official. A separate permit shall be required for each sign. In addition, electrical permits shall be obtained for electric signs.

B. Application: Application for a sign permit shall be made in writing upon forms furnished by the building official. Such application shall contain the location by street and number of the proposed sign structure, as well as the name and address of the owner and the sign contractor or erector. The building official may require the filing of plans and specifications to be prepared and designed by an engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice such.

C. Exceptions: Signs identified as exempt signs in chapter 21, article 305, "Signs", of this code shall not require a sign permit.

D. Sign Permit Fee: A fee for each sign permit shall be paid to the building official as set forth in the schedule below.

1. The determination of value or valuation under any of the provisions of this sign code shall be made by the building official.

2. Where work for which a permit is required by this sign code is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining said permit, the fees specified shall be doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this sign code in the execution of the work nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.

3. Fees will be collected based on:

a. A resolution adopted by the city council.

b. Electrical permit fee to be taken from ordinance 742 (codified as section 7-11 of this code).

E. Plan Checking Fees: Where plans and other pertinent information are required in accordance with subsection B of this section, a plan check fee as per a resolution adopted by the city council shall be paid to the building official.

F. Maintenance: All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys, and anchors shall be kept in repair and in proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times.

G. Inspections: All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official.

1. Footing inspections will be required for all ground signs.

2. Electric signs shall be inspected before erection.

3. The building official may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with provisions of subsection F of this section.

4. All signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the building official. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007; Ord. 1833, 6-21-2016)

A. Design:

1. General:

a. 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.

b. The overturning moment produced from lateral force shall be transmitted through 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 (2/3) 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.

2. Wind Loads:

a. For the purpose of design, and except for combination signs, wind pressure shall be taken upon the gross area of the vertical projection of all signs and sign structures at not less than fifteen (15) pounds per square foot for those portions less than sixty feet (60') above the ground, and at not less than twenty (20) pounds per square foot for those portions more than sixty feet (60') above the ground.

b. Wind pressure upon combination signs and their support shall be taken at not less than thirty (30) pounds per square foot of the gross area of the plane surface, acting in any direction. In calculating wind pressure on curved surfaces such as cylindrical or spherical signs or sign structures, this pressure shall be assumed to act on six-tenths (6/10) of the projected area. In all open frame signs or sign structures, the area used in computing wind pressure shall be one and one-half (11/2) times the net area of the framing members exposed to the wind.

3. Seismic Loads: Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist seismic forces as specified in the currently adopted building code.

4. Combined Load: 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 shall be assumed to be acting simultaneously with the wind or seismic loads.

5. Allowable Stresses: The design of wood, concrete, or steel members shall conform to the requirements of the currently adopted building code. Loads, both vertical and horizontal, exerted on the soil shall not produce stresses exceeding those specified in the currently adopted building code. The working stresses for wind or seismic loads combined with dead loads may be increased as specified in the currently adopted building code.

B. Construction:

1. General: The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of this sign code.

2. Material: Materials of construction for signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the currently adopted building code. Anchors and supports when of wood are embedded in the soil, or within six inches (6") of the soil, shall be of all heartwood of a durable species or shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative. Such members shall be marked or branded by an approved agency.

3. Restrictions On Combustible Materials: Ground signs may be constructed of any material meeting the requirements of this sign code, except as provided above. Combination signs, wall signs, projecting signs, and signs on marquees shall be constructed of incombustible materials, except as provided in subsection B4 of this section. No combustible materials other than approved plastic materials shall be used in the construction of electric signs.

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

5. Anchorage:

a. 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 overturning. Anchors and supports shall penetrate to a depth below ground greater than that of the frost line.

b. 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 subsection A2 of this section.

c. 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.

d. No wooden block 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.

e. 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 currently adopted building code for parapet walls.

6. 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 4-A and 4-B of this article (section 3-25 of this article).

7. Restrictions As To Zoning Regulations: All signs shall comply with zoning regulation ordinances of the city of Porterville.

8. Clearance From Electric Power Lines: No permit for any sign shall be issued and no sign shall be constructed, installed, or erected which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from energized electrical power lines than prescribed by the California Penal Code section 385, the regulations of the California public utility commission, and the orders of division of industrial safety, state of California. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

A. General: Ground signs may be constructed of any material meeting the requirements of this sign code, except as provided in subsection 3-24B3 of this article.

B. Design: Ground signs shall be designed in accordance with the requirements specified in section 3-24 of this article.

C. Projection: Ground signs shall not project over public property or beyond a building line. For projection of combination signs, see section 3-28 of this article.

TABLE 4-A

LIMITATIONS OF APPROVED PLASTICS IN SIGNS

TABLE 4-B

SIZE, THICKNESS AND TYPE OF GLASS PANELS IN SIGNS

(Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

A. General: Wall signs shall be constructed of materials compliant with title 24 of the California building code, except as provided in subsection 3-24B4 of this article.

B. Design: Wall signs shall be designed in accordance with the requirements specified in section 3-24 of this article.

C. Projections: Signs or advertising structures projecting not more than six inches (6") from the face of a building or any other supporting structure, over a public sidewalk or any other public property, shall have a minimum clearance of eight feet (8') above the pavement or finished grade. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

A. General: Projecting signs shall be constructed of materials compliant with title 24 of the California building code, except as specified in subsection 3-24B4 of this article.

B. Design: Projecting signs shall be designed in accordance with the requirements specified in section 3-24 of this article.

C. Residential Districts: In any residentially zoned district, with the exception of newspaper and mail receptacles, no sign or advertising structure shall extend or project over any public sidewalk, street, alley, or other public property unless exempted under the zoning ordinance.

D. Projections Over Travelways Or Walkways: Signs or advertising structures projecting more than six inches (6") from the face of a building, or any other supporting structure, over travelways or walkways on private property used or intended to be used by the general public, shall have a minimum clearance of eight feet (8') above the pavement or finished grade. Such signs may not project greater than forty eight inches (48").

E. Wall Signs; Other Signs Projecting Into Alley: No wall sign shall have a projection over public property or beyond a building line greater than the distances set forth in this sign code, nor extend above any adjacent parapet or roof of the supporting building. No sign or sign structure shall project into any public alley whatsoever, below a height of eight feet (8') above grade, nor more than eight inches (8") when over eight feet (8').

F. Clearance Above Pavement Or Finished Grade: Signs or advertising structures projecting more than six inches (6") from the face of a building or any other supporting structure, over a public sidewalk or any other public property, shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet (10') above the pavement or finished grade.

G. Horizontal Dimensions: No sign or advertising structure shall exceed a horizontal dimension of more than thirty inches (30") when projecting from the face of any building or any other supporting structure, whether privately or publicly owned. When the sign projects over a public sidewalk or any other public property, and is suspended from or supported by a rod, anchor, or other hardware, the overall horizontal dimension may not exceed thirty six inches (36"). When the sign projects over a public sidewalk or any other public property, and when said sign is placed on or suspended from an awning, canopy, or marquee, the overall horizontal dimension must not exceed forty eight inches (48").

H. Restrictions In Certain Districts: Signs or advertising structures in any residential, PO, and CN zoned districts may not be attached to the roof of a building, nor shall it exceed the height of the lowest roof line of the building to which it is attached.

I. Clearance:

1. No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe. No sign shall obstruct any window to such an extent that any light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by any law or ordinance.

2. Signs shall be so located as to maintain all required clearances from overhead power and service lines. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007; Ord. 1801, 12-3-2013)

A. General: Combination signs shall be constructed of incombustible materials, except as provided in subsection 3-24B4 of this article.

B. Design: All supports of combination signs shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected to conform with the requirements specified in section 3-24 of this article.

C. Projection:

1. Signs may project over public property or beyond a building line as set forth in chapter 21, section 305.10 of this code.

2. The individual requirements of projecting and ground signs shall be applied for combination signs incorporating any or all of the aforesaid features. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

Signs may be placed on, attached to, or constructed in a marquee. Such signs shall, for the purpose of determining projection clearance, height and material, be considered a part of and shall meet the requirement for a marquee as specified in the currently adopted building code. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

A. General: Electric signs shall be constructed of incombustible materials, except as provided in subsection 3-24B3 of this article. The enclosed shell of electric signs shall be watertight, excepting that service holes fitted with covers shall be provided into each compartment of such signs.

B. Installation: Electric equipment used in connection with display sign shall be installed in accordance with local ordinances regulating electrical installations.

C. Erector's Name: Every electric sign projecting over any street or alley or public place shall have painted on the surface of the sign the name of the sign erector and date of erection. Such name and date shall be of sufficient size and contrast to be readable from a reasonable distance. Failure to provide such name and date shall be grounds for rejection of the sign by the building official. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

Refer to ordinance 727 (codified as article I of this chapter), and chapter 21, article 305 of this code, which shall apply. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)

A. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use or maintain any sign or structure in the city or cause or permit the same to be done contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this sign code.

B. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this sign code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this sign code is committed, continued, or permitted, and, upon conviction of any such violation, such person shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty (180) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 1711, 2-20-2007)