San Diego Municipal Code Div. 11 Sign Use Category--Separately Regulated Uses

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

Community entry signs are used by local communities to identify community area limits. Community entry signs may be permitted as a limited use in the zones indicated with an “L” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.

(a) Application shall be made by a recognized group, such as a Town Council,
Civic Association, or Community Planning Committee, affiliated with a
community with an adopted land use plan.

(b) No more than one sign shall be installed on each major approach to the
community, with no more than four signs in total for the community.

(c) Community entry signs may be located within the public right-of-way. Where
located on private property, the sign shall be located within 12 feet of the
public right-of-way.

(d) The signs shall be ground-mounted and stationary.

(e) The applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the City Engineer that
the proposed community entry sign would not impede sight distance for
drivers or pedestrians.

(f) An Encroachment Maintenance and Removal Agreement shall be processed
for the community entry sign in accordance with Section 129.0715.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Added “Community Entry Signs” 11-13-08 by O-19804 N.S; effective 12-13-2008.
Former Section 141.1101 renumbered to Section 141.1104.)

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Neighborhood identification signs are signs that are typically located at the entrances of subdivisions or neighborhoods. Neighborhood identification signs may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in the zones indicated with an “N” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.

(a) No more than one sign shall be permitted at an entrance to a subdivision or
neighborhood, with no more than four signs in total for a neighborhood area.

(b) Neighborhood area identification signs shall be located on private property
and shall be set back a minimum of 6 feet from the public right-of-way. The
applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the City Engineer that the
proposed neighborhood identification sign would not impede sight distance
for drivers or pedestrians.

(c) Neighborhood area identification signs shall be designed as ground signs with
a maximum height of 6 feet and a maximum sign copy area of 20 square feet.

(d) The information on the signs shall be limited to the identification of the
neighborhood area. Directional, commercial, or institutionally oriented
information is not permitted.

(e) Neighborhood area identification signs may be illuminated only with low
intensity ground-mounted flood lights.

(f) Neighborhood area identification signs shall be constructed of stone, brick,
adobe, rough-hewn wood, logs, beams, planks, or similar materials. Plywood
signs are not permitted.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Renumbered from former Section 141.1104, retitled and amended 11-13-2008 by
O-19804 N.S; effective 12-13-2008.)

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Comprehensive sign plans may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in the zones indicated with an “N” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones). Comprehensive sign plans may be requested to modify applicable sign requirements if the proposed signs, as a whole, are in conformance with the intent of the sign regulations and if the exceptions result in an improved relationship among the signs and building facades on the premises. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Renumbered from former Section 141.1105 on 11-13-2008 by O-19804 N.S; effective 12-13-2008.) (Retitled to“Comprehensive Sign Plans“ and amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)

Revolving projecting signs may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in the zones indicated with an “N” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.

(a) Revolving projecting signs may be permitted only in Sign Category “A” as
described in Section 142.1220.

(b) The maximum speed of revolution shall not exceed 6 revolutions per minute.

(c) The sign may be illuminated but shall not have a flashing or intermittent light
or light source.

(d) The sign shall be installed at least 100 feet from the property line of
residentially zoned property.
(Amended 6-12-2001 by O-18948 N.S.; effective 12-12-2001.)
(Renumbered from former Section 141.1101 on 11-13-2008 by O-19804 N.S; effective
12-13-2008.)

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Signs with automatic changing copy may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in the zones indicated with an “N” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations. Section 141.1105 does not apply to automobile service station gasoline pricing signs designed in accordance with state law.

(a) Automatic changing copy may be permitted only on primary ground or wall
signs.

(b) Automatic changing copy shall be electronically controlled and shall have a
remote-control capacity.

(c) Signs with automatic changing copy may include only the following
information:

(1) Time, temperature, weather, news, and other similar information;

(2) Messages pertaining to public events sponsored or promoted by civic,
charitable, or other similar organizations; and

(3) Messages directing attention to any product that is available or
establishment that is located on the premises at the time that the
message is displayed.

(d) Display of messages and information on signs with automatic changing copy
may be provided by one of the following methods only:

(1) Message Center. A changing message contained within the sign area
of the sign that remains constant for a minimum period of time with a
total blackout between message changes. The message shall not travel
or appear to travel in any direction.

(2) Electronic Reader Board. A horizontally or vertically traveling,
printed or written message that travels or appears to travel
continuously. The characters incorporated into any message shall
remain constant with no change in hue or intensity as they travel.
Electronic reader boards shall be installed so that no portion
containing automatic changing copy is visible from a public
right-of-way.

(3) Multi-Vision Board. A message on panels that rotate in sequence to
create a minimum of three visually different presentations. The copy
shall not travel or appear to travel in any direction or change in hue or

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intensity. Multi-vision boards shall be installed so that no portion

containing sign copy is visible from a public right-of-way.

(e) The sign copy area shall be reduced in light intensity at night by an automatic intensity control that is incorporated into the sign. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Renumbered from former Section 141.1102 on 11-13-2008 by O-19804 N.S; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 5-5-2015 by O-20481 N.S.; effective 6-4-2015.)

Theater marquees may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in the zones indicated with an “N” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.

(a) Theater marquees that existed before April 5, 1973 are exempt from the
provisions of this section.

(b) The decision maker will review and may impose conditions on changeable
copy and trailing lights when on theater marquees that project over the public
right-of-way.
(Renumbered from former Section 141.1103 on 11-13-2008 by O-19804 N.S; effective
12-13-2008.)

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