Article X — Removal and Disposition of Signs

15.148.820 Removal of signs by director of building inspections.

15.148.830 Disposal of signs-Fees.

Article XI . Special Signs and Sign Districts 15.148.840 Freeway-Designation as landscaped freeway. 15.148.850 Freeway-Off-site signs and billboards. 15.148.860 Freeway-On-site signs. 15.148.870 Neighborhood signs. 15.148.885 Signs on multiple-family structures. 15.148.900 Construction-site signs. 15.148.910 Permanent window signs. 15.148.920 Signs for large entertainment venues. 15.148.925 Digital signs in regional shopping centers. 15.148.930 Special sign districts. 15.148.940 Special sign districts-Proceeding initiated by planning and design commission. 15.148.950 Planned unit development signs. 15.148.960 Special planning district signs. 15.148.965 Agreements for digital billboards. Article XII . Indemnification by Sign Hangers 15.148.970 Indemnification of city. 15.148.980 Liability insurance required. Article XIII . Variances 15.148.990 Generally. 15.148.1000 Variance powers-Construction codes advisory and appeals board. 15.148.1010 Variance powers-Planning and design commission. 15.148.1020 Variance powers-Zoning administrator. 15.148.1030 Use variance. 15.148.1040 Application-Evidence required to be shown. 15.148.1050 Fee. 15.148.1060 Hearing. Article XIV . Conditional Use Permits 15.148.1070 Authority for conditional use permits. 15.148.1080 Delegation to zoning administrator. 15.148.1090 Application. 15.148.1100 Fee. 15.148.1110 Hearing. Article XV . Appeals 15.148.1120 Appeals from decision of planning director. 15.148.1130 Appeals from decision of planning and design commission. 15.148.1140 Appeals from decision of construction codes advisory and appeals board. 15.148.1150 Hearing procedure. Article XVI . Enforcement 15.148.1160 Violation of chapter a public nuisance-Infraction. Article XVII . Definitions 15.148.1170 Generally. Article I. In General

The purpose of the sign regulations set forth in this chapter shall be to eliminate potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians; to encourage signs which, by their good design, are integrated with and harmonious to the buildings and sites which they occupy, and which eliminate excessive and confusing sign displays; to preserve and improve the appearance of the city as a place in which to live and to work and as an attraction to nonresidents who come to visit or trade; to safeguard and enhance property values; to protect public and private investment in buildings and open spaces; to supplement and be a part of the regulations imposed and the plan set forth under the Planning and Development Code; and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare. (Ord. 2013-0021 § 57; prior code § 3.02.030)

Nothing in this chapter applies to or restricts the following:

A. The city's use of city property to display the city's own messages. "City property" means real property over which the city: (1) has fee title, an easement (including a public right-of-way), a leasehold interest, or other legal interest; and (2) has the present right of possession and control.

B. Governmental signs for regulatory purposes such as traffic control and public safety (e.g., street signs, danger signs, railroad-crossing signs, signs of public-service companies indicating danger, and aids to service or safety). (Ord. 2016-0025 § 1)

The definition of terms used in this chapter are set forth in Section 15.148.1170 of this chapter. (Prior code § 3.02.031)

A. Subject to the consent of the land owner and the sign owner, a constitutionally protected noncommercial message of any type may be substituted, in whole or in part, in place of any commercial message or any other noncommercial message on a sign if the sign structure or mounting device is legal without consideration of message content. Similarly, an onsite commercial message may be substituted for another commercial message on an on-site sign if the substitution does not also involve a change of the physical structure or mounting device for the sign. Such

message substitutions may be made without any additional approval or permitting.

B. The purposes of this section are to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech or of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message and to allow a change of commercial messages on an on-site sign without a new permit.

C. This section does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on a parcel, nor does it affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be properly permitted. This section does not allow the substitution of an off-site commercial message in place of an on-site commercial message or the conversion of a sign to general advertising for hire. D. In addition to message substitution, whenever a parcel has a right to display area that is unused, that area may be used for constitutionally protected non-commercial messages on temporary signs, without permits or approvals; it may also be used for display of noncommercial messages on permanent structures, if the structure is properly permitted. E. This section prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary within this chapter. (Ord. 2013-0025 § 1; Ord. 2007-083 § 1)

Throughout this chapter, the on-site/off-site distinction applies only to commercial messages on signs. There is no location criterion for noncommercial messages on signs. (Ord. 2007-083 § 2)