Redwood City Municipal Code Div. 2 Definitions

The following words and terms as used in this Article shall have the meanings stated in this Section.

ABANDONED SIGN: Means any sign remaining in place or not maintained for a period of ninety (90) days after it no longer advertises or identifies an ongoing business, product or service available on the establishment premises where the display is located.

ACCESSORY USE: Means a use subordinate to the principal use on the same site or building and serving a purpose customarily incidental to the principal use.

ADDRESS SIGN: Means a sign that displays the official address of a property or building.

ANIMATED SIGN: Means a sign with messages that are displayed electronically or mechanically and change more frequently than once every twenty-four (24) hours regardless of the method by which the visual change is effected. This definition does not include traditional barber poles, hand-held signs, personally attended signs, commercial mascots, and scoreboards. Animated signs include electronic message signs, digital signs, and LED signs.

AUDIBLE SIGN: Means a sign with a speaker or other sound-emitting device.

AWNING: Means an overhead structure attached to a building wall and that consists of fabric or other material covering a frame extending at least twelve inches (12″) from the face of a building. This definition does not include umbrellas on outdoor tables.

AWNING SIGN: Means a sign that is painted, printed, stenciled or attached to the surface of an awning.

BANNER, ARCHITECTURAL: Means a permanent sign made of plastic, canvas, fabric or other material secured on the top and bottom to brackets that extend perpendicular from a building wall or attached to or suspended from a fixture on real property, intended for display over ninety (90) days.

BANNER, TEMPORARY: Means a temporary sign made of plastic, canvas, fabric or other materials that is attached to, or suspended from, a building wall, eave, or parapet or on a fixture on real property, intended for display less than ninety (90) days. Flags are not within this definition.

BILLBOARD: Means a sign displayed on a permanent structure exceeding seventy-five (75) square feet in area which meets any one or more of the following criteria:

1. It is used for the display of off-site commercial messages;

2. It is used for general advertising or advertising for hire;

3. It constitutes a principal, separate or secondary use, as opposed to an accessory use of the parcel.

BLADE SIGN: Means a pedestrian-oriented sign fabricated from wood or other solid material suspended under a bracket that is mounted to a building.

BUILDING ELEVATION: Means a two-dimensional (2-D), scaled drawing of the front, rear or side of a building.

BUILDING FACADE: Means an exterior building wall facing a street, public right-of-way or parking lot.

BUILDING FACE: Means the outer surface on the exterior of a building wall.

BUILDING IDENTIFICATION SIGN: Means a sign which is located on, and parallel to a building wall which announces the name of the building.

BUILDING SIGN: Means a sign painted, printed or attached to on a building wall, parapet or fascia. Examples of building signs include, but are not limited to, advertising artwork, architectural banners, awning signs, blade signs, canopy signs, projecting signs, under-canopy signs and wall signs. Window signs are not included within this definition.

CANOPY: Means an overhead structure made of solid material other than an awning, that is attached to a building wall and that extends at least twelve inches (12″) from the face of the building.

CANOPY SIGN: Means a sign that is painted, printed, stenciled or attached to the surface of a canopy.

CITY: Means the City of Redwood City.

COMMERCIAL MESSAGE: Means a message on a sign that identifies, advertises or attracts attention to an establishment, product, service or activity and that does not include noncommercial messages.

COMMERCIAL MASCOT: Means a person or animal dressed or decorated with commercial costuming or imagery and used for commercial promotion purposes. Sign spinners, sign clowns, sign twirlers and persons or animals holding or personally attending commercial message signs are included within this definition. Persons holding or personally attending noncommercial signs are not within this definition.

CONSTRUCTION SIGN: Means a sign displayed on the site of a construction development project, during the time of actual construction.

COPY: Means any letters, numerals or symbols displayed on a sign face to convey a message to the public.

CUSTOMARY MAINTENANCE: Means cleaning, repainting, refinishing, repair or replacement of defective parts on a signs or sign structure in a manner that does not alter the size, height, materials, location or illumination of the sign. This does not include any change to the design, image or copy of the sign.

DEVELOPMENT ENTRANCE SIGN: Means a sign, typically freestanding, that identifies the subject development and which is located near a principal street entrance to a development of one acre or more.

DIRECTIONAL SIGN: Means a sign providing directions to a facility, establishment, development, building, activity or place of interest that is open to the public.

DIRECTOR: Means the City Community Development Services Director or his or her designee.

DIRECTORY SIGN: Means a sign identifying the occupants of the premises where the sign is located.

DISTRICT: Means an area designated on the Zoning Map that is subject to uniform use and development regulations as set forth in the Zoning Ordinance (the City's "Zoning Ordinance").

DRIVE-THROUGH SERVICE SIGN: Means a sign mounted on the premises of an establishment which provides services to customers or clients while they are in their vehicles and which is a part of such drive-through service.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN: Means an animated sign displaying messages that are displayed electronically.

ESTABLISHMENT: Means any legal use of land other than long-term residential which involves the use of structures subject to the Building Code and the presence of human beings on the premises more than thirty-two (32) hours per week. By way of example and not limitation, this definition includes businesses, factories, farms, schools, hospitals, hotels and motels, offices and libraries but does not include single-family homes, mobile family homes, residential apartments, residential care facilities or residential condominiums.

ESTABLISHMENT SIGN: Means a sign displayed on an establishment which displays any combination of noncommercial messages and on-site commercial messages.

EXEMPT SIGN: Means a sign that is not subject to a permit, and does not count toward the maximum signage otherwise allowed but is still subject to otherwise applicable rules.

FACE CHANGE: Means a change in letter height, color, material, lighting intensity that requires the installation of a new or modified sign face, but which does not involve any change to an existing sign structure or mounting device.

FLAG: Means a piece of fabric or other flexible material, usually rectangular in shape, with distinctive colors and patterns that display the symbol(s) of a nation, state, local government, company, organization, belief system, idea or other meaning.

FREESTANDING SIGN: Means a sign that is self-supporting in a fixed location and not attached to a building. Common types include monuments and pole signs. "Portable sign" is not included in this definition.

FUEL PRICE SIGN: Means a freestanding sign associated with a motor vehicle fuel station which is used to satisfy State law requirements regarding the display of fuel prices.

FUTURE USE SIGN: Means a sign which pertains to a legal use of the parcel which has not yet began.

GARAGE SALE SIGN: Means a sign displayed on the day when a garage sale, yard sale, moving sale, estate sale or similar event involving the occasional sale of used or handmade goods, on residential property.

GENERAL ADVERTISING: Means the business of promoting other businesses or causes using methods of advertising, in contrast to self-promotion or on-site advertising.

GOVERNMENT SIGN: Means a sign that is displayed by a public body or officer in the performance of a public duty or function. Examples include, but are not limited to, traffic signs, public transit signs, warning signs and signs guiding persons to emergency centers and places of public interest.

HEIGHT (of sign): Means the vertical distance measured between the top edge of a sign and the lowest finished grade below the subject sign.

HOME BASED OCCUPATION SIGN: Means a commercial sign which identifies, advertises or attracts attention to any home based occupation as defined in the Zoning Ordinance.

ILLEGAL SIGN: Means a sign that was installed in violation of the regulations concerning the noncommunicative aspects of signs that were in effect at the time of installation, or where a legal nonconformity has been expanded, or which does not confirm to the terms and conditions of the permit.

ILLUMINATION: Means the use of an artificial source of light to make the message displayed on a sign more readable.

INFLATABLE SIGN: Means a balloon or combination of balloons, blimp, gas-filled figure or other device inflated to at least one foot in diameter that identifies, advertises or attracts attention to a business, service, person, organization, event or activity. This definition includes hot or cold air balloons and lighter than air balloons which are tethered to the ground and are used for advertising purposes.

INFORMATIONAL SIGN: Means any sign or notice that is required or authorized by law and which complies with the requirements of the law. Informational signs include, but are not limited to, legal notices, address signs and fuel price signs, signs indicating location of utilities and public restroom signs.

INTERIOR SIGN: Means any sign located within three feet (3′) of a window or glass door as well as any internally illuminated sign within ten feet (10′) of a window or glass door, when such is visible from the public right-of-way. Merchandise available for immediate sale and displayed in a window is not within this definition.

LANDSCAPED FREEWAY: As defined by Business & Professions Code 5216.

LEGAL NOTICE: Means a sign or display which is required by law or is displayed in furtherance of legal processes. By way of example and not limitation, such signs include notices of public hearings, proposed ownership changes for locations with liquor licenses and eviction notices.

LOT FRONTAGE: Means a single lot line abutting a public right-of-way. On lots abutting more than one public right-of-way, the property line with the longest dimension shall be the lot frontage.

MARQUEE SIGN: Means a large canopy-like structure mounted over the entrance of a theater.

MASTER SIGN PROGRAM: Means a duly adopted document that establishes general design parameters for all signs on a property or development project designed for multiple tenants.

NONCOMMERCIAL SIGN: Means a sign that primarily pertains to debate on topics of public concern, not including commercial messages. Typical examples include signs whose message addresses a topic of public concern or controversy such as, by way of example and not limitation, politics, religion, philosophy, science, art or social commentary.

NONCOMMUNICATIVE ASPECTS: Means those aspects of a sign which do not constitute a communicative part of the sign copy or display. These aspects include, but are not limited to, physical structure or mounting device, location, orientation, spacing, density, visibility and view obstruction, size, allowable area height and illumination.

NONCONFORMING SIGN: Means a sign that conformed to the law in effect at the time of original construction, but which does not conform to the provisions of this Article, or a prior version of this Article.

NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTY: Means any property other than residential.

NONSTRUCTURAL TRIM: Means any molding, batten, caps, nailing strips, lattice or other components of a sign other than a sign face or structure.

OFF-SITE SIGN or OFF-PREMISE SIGN: Means a sign that identifies, advertises or attracts attention to a business, product, service, event or activity sold, existing or offered elsewhere than upon the same property where the sign is displayed, as determined by the definition of "site" herein. The off-site/on-site distinction applies only to commercial messages.

ON-SITE or ON-PREMISE SIGN: Means any sign that identifies, advertises or attracts attention to a business, product, service, event or activity sold, existing or offered upon the same property or land use where the sign is displayed, as determined by the definition of "site" herein. The off-site/on-site distinction applies only to commercial messages.

PERMANENT WINDOW SIGN: Means a sign which is designed, constructed and intended to be displayed for a period in excess of ninety (90) days and which is located on or within three (3) interior feet of a window or glass door, and which is visible from the public right-of-way outside the building in which it is displayed. Merchandise available for immediate sale and displayed in a window is not within this definition.

PERMIT: Means a written authorization, issued by the City, to erect or display a sign which is subject to such authorization by this Article. Permits authorized by this Article do not include those permits issued by the City Building Division under the authority of Chapter 9 of the Redwood City Code as that section may be amended from time to time.

PLANNED DEVELOPMENT: Means the zoning entitlement provided for by Article 46 of the Zoning Ordinance as that Article may be amended from time to time.

PRECISE PLAN: Means the zoning document provided for by Article 52 of the Zoning Ordinance as that Article may be amended from time to time.

PROPERTY OWNER'S CONSENT: Means the permission for the mounting or display of a sign given by the legal title holder of record of land, as well as all other persons or entities holding a present right of possession or control of the property on which a sign is displayed.

PORTABLE SIGN: Means a sign that is designed to be transported and that is not secured to the ground or a permanent structure. Portable signs include, but are not limited to, A-frame signs and signs with wheels. This definition does not include commercial mascots.

PROJECTING SIGN: Means a sign attached to a building facade that extends at least twelve inches (12″) from the wall. A sign extending less than twelve inches (12″) from a building facade shall be considered a wall sign.

READERBOARD SIGN: Means a traditional sign with text/characters that can be physically removed and replaced from the face of the sign, typically plastic letters mounted into grooved channels. Examples of readerboard signs include, but are not limited to, theater/movie marquee signs, directory signs, and neighborhood announcement signs. Readerboard signs are not animated signs.

REAL ESTATE SIGN: Means a sign that advertises a property, building or tenant space for sale, exchange, lease or other economic transaction. This definition does not include signs advertising tenancy for periods of less than one month (such as vacancy information on hotels and motels). The signs described in Civil Code Section 713 are within this definition.

RECESSED ENTRY SIGN: Means a sign which is oriented parallel to the building facade and which is suspended over a recessed entry.

REGULATED LAND: Means all that land located within the City which is either privately owned or is owned by a public entity, other than the City and its subsidiaries or related entities, and over which the City holds zoning or other land use regulatory authority.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY: Means a property located in a zoning district where residential uses are allowed as a permitted use, accessory use, or conditional use, which are used for residential purposes. This includes legal residential uses located in mixed use districts or nonresidential districts.

ROOF SIGN: Means a sign that is mounted on the roof of a building, the side of a roof screen, a building wall, eave, parapet, or which extends above the roof line.

SAFETY CODES: Means those codes adopted to protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating the manner of development and construction including, but not limited to, building, grading, demolition, mechanical, plumbing and electrical regulations.

SIGN: Means any device, fixture, placard or structure, including its component parts, which by display of a visual image draws attention to an object, product, place, activity, opinion, idea, person, institution, organization or place of business, or which identifies or promotes the interests of any person and which is visible from any public street, road, highway, right-of-way or parking area.

Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the following are not within the definition of "sign" for the regulatory purposes of this Article:

A. Architectural Features: Decorative or ornamental elements of buildings, not including letters, trademarks or moving parts.

B. Cornerstones and Foundation Stones:

C. Cultural Decorations: Displays of noncommercial nature, mounted on private property used for residential purposes, which pertain to cultural observances. Such decorations include, but are not limited to, Halloween, Christmas and New Years.

D. Fireworks:

E. Grave Markers: Gravestones, insignia on tombs, mausoleums and other insignia of the deceased, which such are part of a burial, interment, mausoleum or memorial site which is otherwise legal.

F. Hot Air Balloons: Inflated balloons which carry persons and do not display general advertising images.

G. Manufacturer's Marks: Marks on tangible products, such as trademarks and logos, which identify the maker, seller, provider or product, and which customarily remain attached to the product or its packaging even after sale.

H. Mass Transit Signs: Advertisements or banners mounted on trains or duly licensed mass transit vehicles which legally pass through the City.

I. Newsracks: Any self-service or coin-operated box, container, storage unit, fixture or other dispenser placed, installed or maintained for display and sale or other distribution of one or more newspapers, periodicals or other publications and which are otherwise regulated by Chapter 43 of this Code.

J. Noncommercial Symbols Integrated Into Architecture: Symbols of noncommercial organizations or concepts including, but not limited to, religious or political symbols, when such are permanently integrated into the structure of a permanent building which is otherwise legal; examples include church bells, stained glass windows, carved relief doors, etc.

K. Personal Appearance: Items or devices of personal apparel, decoration or appearance, including apparel, tattoos, makeup, masks and costumes, but not including hand-held commercial signs or commercial mascots.

L. Vehicle and Vessel Signs: When attached to vehicles, watercraft and aircraft: noncommercial messages, indications that such vehicle is available for sale or rent, registration insignia, [and commercial messages pertaining to the business of which the vehicle or vessel is an instrument or tool, not including general advertising].

M. Vending Machines:

SIGN AREA: Means the extreme limits of copy, graphics and background on a sign face, excluding nonstructural trim and sign structure components.

SIGN FACE: Means the surface available on a sign for the purpose of displaying a message.

SIGN-RELATED DECISIONS: Means sign-related decisions include decisions on applications for sign permits, master sign programs, repair or removal orders, abatement orders, amortization schedules, requests for interpretations and all other sign-related matters requiring decision by the City.

SIGN STRUCTURE: Means any framework, uprights, braces, pedestals or poles that support a sign face and that are not part of a building.

SITE: Means a single parcel of land, as designated by the County Assessor, containing the subject signage; in case of contiguous parcels which are part of a single development, all such parcels together constitute the "site."

SKY SIGN: Means an animated sign that is attached to, suspended under or painted onto the surface of a balloon, blimp, kite, inflated sign or other airborne device which is activated by wind or forced air or gas including but not limited to: aerial signs, spinners, ribbons, string pennants, streamers and commercial flags.

SPECIAL EVENT SIGN: Means a sign-related to and used as part of an event which occurs a maximum of two (2) times per year, lasts not more than four (4) days, and is expected to draw a crowd or audience for which a street closure or special event permit is required.

TEMPORARY SIGN: Means a sign not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet, which is designed, constructed and intended to be on display for a period of not more than ninety (90) days. Such signs are typically made of lightweight or flimsy materials and can be easily and quickly mounted or removed.

TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGN: Means a sign which is designed, constructed and intended to be on display for a period of not more than ninety (90) consecutive days per year and which is located on or within three (3) interior feet of a window or glass door, and which is visible from the public right-of-way outside the building in which it is displayed.

UNDER CANOPY/AWNING SIGN: Means a blade sign which is pedestrian-oriented and suspended beneath a canopy or an awning.

UNSAFE SIGN: Means a sign posing an immediate peril or reasonably foreseeable threat of injury or damage to persons or property by virtue of the condition of the physical structure of the sign, its location or its mounting or support mechanism.

VISIBILITY TRIANGLE: Means the area encompassed by the triangle formed by projecting lines from the point of intersection (corner) of the back edges of the sidewalks of the intersecting streets, or of the intersecting back edge of the sidewalk with the edges of the driveway or alley, as the case may be, fifteen feet (15′) along said edges, and by closing said triangle with a line connecting the termini of said project lines. Where no sidewalk exists, the triangle shall be projected using the property line or lines as needed in place of the back edge of the sidewalk. As used in this definition, "back edge of the sidewalk" refers to the sidewalk edge closest to the property line.

WALL SIGN: Means a sign painted on or attached to a building wall, which extends not more than twelve inches (12″) from the building face. A sign extending over twelve inches (12″) from a building shall be considered a projecting sign.

WARNING SIGN: Means a sign that conveys a message of caution, danger or warning. Examples of warning signs include, but are not limited to, "Danger High Voltage," "No Dumping," and "No Trespassing" signs.

WINDOW AREA: Means the area within any window pane or group of window panes contained entirely within glazing separators (muting mullions, piers, columns, etc.) of one and one-quarter inches (1¼″) or greater in width. Multiple window panes divided by glazing separators less than one and one-quarter inches (1¼″) in width shall be considered to be a single window area.

WORKING DAY: Means a day on which City Hall is open to the public during normal business hours.

ZONING ORDINANCE: Means Ordinance No. 1130, the Redwood City Zoning Ordinance, as amended, revised or superseded from time to time.

(Ord. No. 2309, § 2, 5-7-07)

(Ord. No. 2364, § 2, 6-13-11)