Redlands Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

This chapter shall be known as the SIGN CODE. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

A. This chapter establishes regulations for the erection, maintenance and use of signs and other exterior advertising media within the City to:

1. Safeguard and enhance property values;

2. Protect public and private investment in buildings and open spaces;

3. Improve the appearance of the City as a place in which to live and work, and as an attraction to nonresidents who come to visit or trade;

4. Encourage sound signing practices as an aid to business, and to provide information to the traveling public;

• 5. Prevent excessive and confusing sign displays;
• 6. Reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians; and
• 7. Promote the public health, safety, and general welfare.

B. The City has a reputation as a community of natural beauty rendering it highly attractive to visitors and potential future residents. The City Council has determined that the natural, traditional and manmade advantages of the City substantially contribute to the residential character of the community and to its aesthetic, cultural and economic values. The unregulated and uncontrolled erection and maintenance of signs, billboards and advertising structures results in a gaudy and garish atmosphere that would be out of harmony with the fine attributes and excellent character of the City. The City Council further determines that the lack of regulation and control of signs results in costly and unfair competition for the public eye through the proliferation, increased height, and size of signs, and that the safety of the general public requires that the structural elements and location of signs be regulated.

C. The reasonable and proper regulation of signs and advertising structures is conducive to the fullest enjoyment by the people of the community of natural and traditional advantages, and necessary to prevent depreciation of property values, and the regulation of signs results in a more fair and equitable public exposure of the advertising displays of all businesses, large and small, and that the appearance of the commercial areas will be protected.

D. It is also the intent of this chapter to recognize that the eventual elimination of existing signs that do not conform with the provisions of this chapter is as important as is prohibiting new signs that would violate these regulations. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)

A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all zones established by title 18 of this Code. Except as noted below, a "sign", as defined in this chapter, may be affixed, erected, constructed, placed, established, mounted or maintained only in compliance with the standards, procedures and other requirements of this chapter. The standards regarding number and size of signs regulated by this chapter are maximum standards, unless otherwise stated. In those areas of the City where specific plan sign standards or sign programs have been adopted by ordinance or resolution, those sign standards or sign programs shall apply; provided, however, the "substitution" provisions of this section shall apply to such programs and plans. This chapter shall not apply to the following signs:

1. Signs which are not visible from any public vehicular or pedestrian right of way;

2. Signs required by federal or state law which do not exceed the minimum number and dimensional requirements of such law;

3. Signs and advertising for the California state lottery as authorized by Government Code section 8800 et seq.;

4. Signs containing a maximum area of two (2) square feet or less;

5. Holiday decorations and lights;

6. Flags and any other insignia of any government that do not display a commercial message and are attached to poles; provided that no more than three (3) flags/poles are permitted on property containing less than one acre of land, and no more than six (6) flags/poles are permitted on property containing more than one acre of land. Poles for flags and insignia shall not exceed thirty feet (30') in height and flags shall not exceed forty two (42) square feet in surface area. Such flags shall be maintained in good condition and free of tattering or tearing. The city has a compelling interest in permitting the identification of government facilities;

7. Street address signs. The city has a compelling interest in permitting such signs to promote the identification of property to guide emergency response personnel; provided such signs shall not exceed two (2) square feet in area or the size required by the city's fire department, whichever is greater;

8. Official traffic signs or other municipal directional signs, legal notices, advertisements prescribed by law and placed by governmental entities, and signs indicating the location of buried utility lines or any notices posted by a governmental officer in the scope of the officer's duty. The city has a compelling interest in permitting such signs to comply with state and local laws and to promote public safety;

9. Memorial tablets and identification plaques installed by a recognized governmental historical agency. The city has a compelling interest in permitting such signs to promote interest in historical structures and events and to promote public safety and identification;

10. Time and temperature signs containing no advertising copy. The city has a compelling interest in permitting such signs to promote awareness of local conditions for individuals with medical problems;

11. Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet and carried by individuals who are standing, sitting or traveling along any public sidewalk or other public property;

12. Signs located on city owned property;

13. Signs located in the interior of a building or enclosed area;

14. Signs designated by the city as a historic resource, provided that the original verbiage, symbols and structure of the sign are retained.

B. All sign programs that were approved prior to the effective date hereof are subject only to the "substitution" provisions of this section; provided, however, that if any such sign program is proposed for amendment to increase overall sign area allowed, then the sign program shall be amended to conform with all development and design standards of this chapter.

C. In each instance, and under the same conditions in which this chapter permits any sign, a sign containing an ideological, political or other noncommercial message of the same dimensions shall be permitted. Noncommercial messages may be placed on any sign otherwise permitted by this chapter.

D. Real estate signs may be placed as authorized by Civil Code section 713 et seq., provided they shall comply with the type, number, area, height, special restrictions and permitting requirements applicable to temporary signs in the zoning district in which the real estate sign is located. (Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)