§ 17.116

A.

Signs that create a safety hazard to pedestrian and vehicular traffic;

B.

Any ground or roof sign if the proposed sign would adversely affect access to air, light or visual corridors by adjacent residential property;

C.

Any portable, folding, A-frame or box sign, or similar signs on rollers, casters or otherwise designed to be portable;

D.

Signs on any utility poles, traffic sign posts, traffic signals, or signs on any parkway or sidewalk, except for freestanding signs on public property located in redevelopment project areas (though the signs may remain after redevelopment of the project area has been completed), are within two hundred (200) feet of property zoned P-D and within seventy-five (75) feet of the Interstate 10 (San Bernardino) Freeway, the physical

characteristics, including, but not limited to, height and total area of which are subject to the approval of the City Council;

E.

Freestanding signs displayed from trucks, autos, trailers or other vehicles except public buses;

F.

Revolving and/or flashing signs.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

Signs in all R (residential) zones shall be designed and located in a manner which does not interfere with adjoining residential uses, and which assures general aesthetic controls for a harmonious residential and visual environment in the surrounding neighborhood. Those signs permitted in R (residential) zones shall be:

A.

Sale, Lease or Rent Signs. One sign not to exceed seven square feet in sign area.

B.

Temporary Signs During Construction. One temporary sign, not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area, giving the names and other pertinent information of the architects, contractors and engineers of the project during any construction period. Such signs may be erected on the date the building permit is issued, and must be removed not later than fifteen (15) days after notice of completion is filed or occupancy granted.

C.

Identification Signs.

1.

Single and Duplex Dwelling Structures. One sign per dwelling, not to exceed ten (10) square feet in area, and displaying only the name of the property owner or occupant of the dwelling, and the address.

2.

Identification Signs for Multiple Dwelling Structures. One sign not to exceed an area of fifteen (15) square feet. Any pylon or freestanding sign shall not exceed a maximum height of six feet or project into a public right-of-way, nor project above the roof line.

D.

Subdivision Signs. Subdivision signs for the limited purpose of advertising the existence and availability of new single-family, duplex or multiple-family dwellings in an approved subdivision, may be erected on property included within the approved subdivision. Such signs shall not exceed a maximum size of six feet

by twelve (12) feet and an area of seventy-two (72) square feet, nor a maximum height of twenty (20) feet measured from the adjacent grade level to the top of the sign.

1.

Removal of Subdivision Signs. The developer, upon receiving approval of any subdivision, shall agree, in writing, to remove all signs from the tract within fifteen (15) days after the close of escrow on the last lot on which the signs are located, and shall grant the City the right to enter upon the property and remove the signs upon the expiration of the fifteen (15) days and failure to have removed the signs. The developer shall bear all costs and liability for City removal and disposal of the signs by posting a bond or providing other appropriate guarantee to performance.

2.

Lighting. Subdivision signs may be lighted by internal or indirect lights.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.070 - Signs in commercial and industrial zones.

All commercial and industrial zones shall have controls and limitations placed upon sign design and location to minimize visual discontinuity created by large numbers of signs spaced in irregular patterns. Spacing, design and size requirements are intended to promote an attractive commercial environment without vehicular distractions, visual disorder, or economic effect on surrounding properties. Those signs permitted in commercial and industrial zones shall be:

A.

Building Directory Signs. One exterior sign at each building entrance, such sign not to exceed ten (10) square feet in area.

B.

Exterior Wall Signs. Exterior wall signs may cover no more than twenty-five (25) percent of any front, side or rear wall of a main building or structure.

C.

Roof Signs.

D.

Flag (Vertical) Signs. One flag sign for each structure or building.

E.

Freestanding Signs.

1.

Number. The number of freestanding signs for each property shall be determined by the number of linear feet the property has along the street from which its address is derived. The number of signs shall be based upon the following formula:

2.

Size. The total area of any freestanding or roof sign (as defined in Section 17.116.020 shall not exceed:

F.

Miscellaneous Signs. All signs permitted in the R (residential) zones as set forth in Section 17.116.060.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.080 - English language use on on-premises signs.

The following regulations shall apply to on-premises signs in the City:

A.

All commercial, industrial and professional office on-premises signs shall identify the type of business (e.g. "restaurant," "market") in the English language.

B.

All commercial, industrial and professional office locations shall have required street numbers in Arabic numerals.

C.

The signage required in subsections A and B of this section shall be no less than four inches in height and shall be visible from the street for a distance of at least fifty (50) feet.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

All signs in the P-D, P-O, and R/C MUDO zones are subject to the following sign provisions and are regulated thereby:

P-D zone: Chapter 17.24 (Section 17.24.040.I)

P-O zone: Chapter 17.16 (Section 17.16.030.B.1.b)

R/C MUDO zone: Chapter 17.28 (Section 17.28.030.D.18)

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.100 - Billboards prohibited.

Because billboards create visual blight, visual distraction to motorists, unsightliness and impairment of the economic environment for residential and commercial uses throughout the City, development of new billboards is expressly prohibited in any zone within the City.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.110 - Billboards erected prior to December 1, 1979.

To provide for an amortization period for existing billboards and a term of years for the phasing out of existing boards, all existing billboards shall be subject to the amortization periods set forth in this chapter, unless, as of December 1, 1979, such billboard was:

A.

Erected with a valid building permit or pursuant to preexisting regulations of the county of Los Angeles; and

B.

Constructed to a face width of at least twenty-five (25) feet and face height of at least twelve (12) feet.

The owners of billboards qualifying under the provisions of subsections A and B of this section may elect to rehabilitate their billboards to the standards set forth in Section 17.116.120 and, upon successful completion of such rehabilitation, become exempt from the period of amortization set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

All billboards existing as of December 1, 1979, shall be rehabilitated to the following standards on or before December 31, 1980.

A.

Aesthetic Standards.

1.

Face Width: twenty-five (25) feet.

2.

Face Height: twelve (12) feet.

3.

Bottom Edge: Not less than fifteen (15) feet from the ground. But in no event to exceed the dimensions in existence on December 1, 1979.

B.

Structural Standards.

1.

All supports shall be of metal structure, freestanding systems, and shall not be attached to or supported by the roof or sides of any structure.

2.

No billboard shall project onto any portion of the public right-of-way.

3.

The rear of any single face board shall have a solid back of metal and shall remain painted and in good repair at all times or shall have a second conforming face for advertising display.

4.

The name or insignia of the owner of each billboard shall be displayed on the front of each billboard.

5.

All billboards shall be maintained in good condition and repair and shall pose no hazard to public safety.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

All existing eight-foot by nine-foot size wooden billboards shall be completely removed by their owners within the time allowed by that certain agreement dated September 11, 1984, between Independent Outdoor Advertising, Inc., and the City.

Such signs may be replaced in accordance with that certain agreement by the placement of single-faced six-foot by 12-foot stainless steel nonilluminated signs at the following locations only:

8640 E. Garvey Avenue FW, single face

8724 E. Garvey Avenue FW, single face

8905 W. Garvey Avenue FW, single face

2708 N. San Gabriel Blvd. FN, single face

9430 Valley Boulevard FW, single face

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.140 - Effect of conformity to Section 17.116.130.

A.

Billboards not in conformity with the standards of Section 17.116.130 on December 31, 1978, shall be subject to the amortization terms set forth in this chapter.

B.

Billboards conforming to the standards of Section 17.116.130 on December 31, 1980, shall be exempted from the amortization provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.150 - Nonconforming sign—Replacement of alteration.

A.

A nonconforming sign may be replaced only by a conforming sign. Alteration of a nonconforming sign shall be permitted only to decrease or abate the nonconformity. Nothing in this section shall preclude repair for normal maintenance of a sign.

B.

No signs may be added to an occupancy with a nonconforming sign unless all signs associated with such occupancy are made conforming.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

Upon determination by the Community Development Director that a particular use, structure or sign is nonconforming, the following procedure shall be employed:

A.

Notice. Notice shall be directed, in writing, to the owner of the subject property and the lessee, if known, that a public hearing will be held before the Commission to determine if the use, structure or sign is nonconforming and, therefore, considered a public nuisance, injurious to neighboring properties and to the health and welfare and environment of the city. The notice shall be mailed not less than ten (10) days before the public hearing. In the case of a nonconforming sign, the notice shall be directed to the owner of the sign, if known, and to the owner of the land.

B.

Procedure at Hearing. The procedure to be employed by the Commission and rights of appeal therefrom shall be set forth in Article 6.

C.

Decision. If the Commission finds that the use, structure or sign does not conform to the provisions of this Code, and that the period of continuation of such use, structure or sign has expired, the Commission shall order repair, alteration, correction or removal of such structure, sign or use within thirty (30) days of mailing a copy of its decision to the owners.

D.

If the owner of the land, lessee, the owner of the sign or structure, or other responsible party fails or refuses to repair, correct, demolish or discontinue a use, sign or structure declared to be nonconforming and a nuisance pursuant to subsections A and C of this section, and such correction, repair, discontinuance or demolition is not performed within thirty (30) days of the mailing of the notice set forth in subsection C of this section, the City may order such work be done by, and the costs therefor, assessed against the owner of the land and becoming a lien on such property by operation of law.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.170 - Illegal signs in public right-of-way—Removal authority.

A.

Any illegal sign in the public right-of-way may be removed by the city.

B.

No notice shall be required prior to removal of illegal signs, including without limitation elections signs, in the public right-of-way.

C.

Any sign removed by the city, except any sign of de minimis value, shall be held in storage and the owner or other person in control of such sign, if the owner or other person in control of such sign is identified, shall be given written notice and ten (10) days to reclaim such sign. In the event the City is not able to identify the owner or person in control of such an illegal sign, no notice is required.

D.

Any sign held in storage by the City may be destroyed by the City if not reclaimed:

1.

In the time period set forth in subsection C of this section; or

2.

Within ten (10) days after the removal if the owner or other person in control of such sign is not known.

E.

In order to reclaim a sign removed by the city, the owner or other person in control of such sign shall first pay to the City a fee as set forth in a resolution adopted by the City Council.

F.

Any illegal sign in the public right-of-way of de minimis value shall be deemed to be abandoned and may be destroyed by the City after removal. No opportunity to reclaim such sign shall be given by the city.

G.

For purposes of this section, any sign made of cardboard or other nondurable material shall be deemed to be of de minimis value.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.180 - Illegal signs—Presumption of responsible party.

A.

Each of the following persons is pre-sumed to be responsible for the posting of an illegal sign, including without limitation an election sign, on public property:

1.

Any person whose name appears on the sign; and

2.

The promoter or sponsor of an event named on the sign; and

3.

Any person retained to post or distribute such signs.

B.

More than one person may be deemed responsible for the placement of the same sign.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.190 - Illegal signs on public property—Removal charges.

A.

All persons responsible for an illegal sign posted on public property, as well as any person who actually posted the sign, shall be jointly and severally liable for the costs of the City for the removal of such sign from public property. Such charges shall be in addition to all other legal remedies, criminal, civil and administrative, which may be pursued by the City to address any violation of this Code.

B.

A bill of charges shall be served upon a responsible party by the director of the department which removed the sign.

C.

The total amount of the bill of charges shall be deemed to be a civil debt to the City and the City may take such action to recover such charges as the City is authorized to do by law for the recovery of a civil debt.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

17.116.200 - Hearing on removal costs.

A.

The bill of charges shall include a notice of the right of the person being charged to request a hearing before the City Manager to dispute the imposition of the charges.

B.

Any request for a hearing to dispute the imposition of charges must be in writing and received by the office of City Manager within ten (10) days of the date of service of the bill of charges, and shall include a statement of the reasons and grounds upon which the dispute is based. The office of the City Manager shall conduct the hearing on disputed charges within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the request for hearing.

(Ord. No. 931, § 5(Exh. A), 10-22-13)

Article 5. - LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION PROCEDURES Chapter 17.120 - APPLICATIONS AND PROCESSING