Redwood City Municipal Code § 3.150 Exempt Signs

A. Government Signs: The following signs are exempted from the permit requirement: traffic control and traffic directional signs erected by the City or another governmental entity; official notices required or authorized by law; signs placed in furtherance of its governmental functions; signs allowable under Division 7 of this Article.

B. Certain Permanent Signs: Permanent signs which were erected in the past on public land in conformance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations then in effect may remain in that same location so long as they are not expanded and are properly repaired and maintained.

C. Commercial Mascots: Commercial mascots on the public sidewalk from sunrise to sunset subject to: maximum area sign displayed: twelve (12) square feet per person, no special illumination and no inflatable signs.

(Ord. No. 2309, § 2, 5-7-07)

A. In addition to the signs allowed under other Divisions of this Article, within the time period commencing ninety (90) calendar days before and ending ten (10) calendar days after any special, primary or general election, temporary signs displaying noncommercial message(s) may be displayed in the locations specified following, subject to the rules stated in this Division. Individual signs may not exceed six (6) square feet in display area or eight feet (8′) in height. Only one sign bearing a particular image or message may be displayed in any one permissible area. No sign may be mounted in such a manner as to obscure the view of another sign previously mounted in the same permissible area. No sign may be mounted so as to obscure the view within the visibility triangle. Such signs are not permitted in the street median.

B. For purposes of this Division, the permissible areas are:

1. The planter strip adjacent to City-owned sidewalks;

2. On City-owned land adjacent to street intersections, when such land is out of the traffic lanes and is not used for vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

C. This Division does not authorize the posting of temporary noncommercial signs on City Hall or the area around it or on any building owned or leased by the City and in which City employees routinely perform their duties or in any of the parking areas near such buildings.

D. Signs allowed under this division are not subject to any permit.

E. Signs which violate the rules of this Section, and are not allowed under any other provision of this Article, may be summarily removed by the City. All persons placing signs pursuant to this Section are responsible for removing such signs when the permissible display period has ended. When a sign is not removed at the expiration of the permissible display period, the City may summarily remove the sign pursuant to Division 4 above.

(Ord. No. 2309, § 2, 5-7-07)

A. This Section applies only when City regulations concerning special public events, parades and demonstrations, for which a City permit is required, do not.

B. In areas qualifying as traditional public forums, private persons may display signs bearing noncommercial messages thereon without first obtaining a permit, provided that their sign conforms to all of the following:

1. The signs must be personally held by a person or personally attended by one or more persons;

2. The signs may be displayed only during the time period of sunrise to ten o'clock (10:00) P.M.;

3. The maximum aggregate size of all signs held by a single person is twelve (12) square feet;

4. The maximum size of any one sign which is personally attended by two (2) or more persons acting in concert is thirty-two (32) square feet, measured one side only;

5. The sign must have no more than two (2) display faces and may not be inflatable or air-activated;

6. In order to serve the City's interests in traffic flow and safety, persons displaying signs under this Division may not stand in any vehicular traffic lane when a roadway is open for use by vehicles and persons displaying signs on public sidewalks must give at least five feet (5′) width clearance for pedestrians to pass by. Persons holding signs may not block the view within a visible triangle.

7. In order to serve the City's interests in preserving and protecting the First Amendment rights and interests associated with the distribution of newspapers and similar materials, signs shall not rest against, cover, or block the public view or access to newsracks that are located on City sidewalks.

(Ord. No. 2309, § 2, 5-7-07)

(Ord. No. 2364, § 4, 6-13-11)

A. Signs displaying information about real estate open house events, garage sale events, or any noncommercial messages may be displayed without a permit, subject to the following:

1. Display hours: sunrise to sunset on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and in the case of real estate open house signs and noncommercial messages, any additional days as designated by the Administrator.

2. Maximum size of six (6) square feet; maximum height of three feet (3′) above grade.

3. May be mounted in the public right-of-way in locations where they will not interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicle traffic, and must not block the visibility triangle. Such signs may not be placed in the street median (middle of the street), and cannot block the view of other signs.

4. Maximum of four (4) signs for each event or message. Personal attendance not required; illumination not allowed.

5. Such signs must be temporary in physical structure and mounting method.

B. Signs described in this Section which are displayed in times other than the allowable hours may be summarily removed by the City.

(Ord. No. 2309, § 2, 5-7-07)