San Jose Municipal Code Part 2 Sign Requirements Generally

In addition to the regulations in Title 23, all signs shall comply with the regulations in this chapter.

(Ord. 24203.)

A. The following signs shall require a building permit from the building official, in addition to any other permits required by this Code:

1. A freestanding sign, any part of which extends six or more feet above the ground;

2. A projecting sign, any part of which projects two or more feet from the surface of the wall by which it is supported;

3. Any sign which projects one or more feet into the air space above a public right-of-way.

B. A sign for which a permit is not required under the provisions of this section shall nevertheless comply with all the provisions of this part except the requirement for a permit or fee.

C. No permit issued under this part shall be deemed or construed to authorize the erection, construction, alteration or display of any sign in an illegal or unlawful manner, or in violation of any provision of the San José Municipal Code or of any other ordinance of the city.

(Ord. 24203.)

Application for a sign building permit under this part shall be made in writing upon forms furnished by the building official. Such application shall contain the location by street and number of the proposed sign, as well as the name and address of the owner and the sign contractor or erector. The building official may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information where, in the official's opinion, such information is necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this part.

(Ord. 24203.)

Application and permit fees for each sign permit shall be as set forth in the schedule of fees established by resolution of the council.

(Ord. 24203.)

Signs and supporting structures shall be designed according to accepted principles of engineering and design. All bracing systems shall be designed and constructed to transfer lateral forces to the foundation. For signs on buildings, the dead and lateral loads shall be transferred through the structural frame of the building to the ground in such manner as not to overstress any of the elements thereof.

(Ord. 24203.)

A. The design of wood, concrete or steel members shall conform to the requirements of the San José building code. Loads, both vertical and horizontal, exerted on the soil shall not produce stresses exceeding those specified in the building code.

B. The working stresses of wire rope and its fastenings shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the ultimate strength of the rope or fasteners.

(Ord. 24203.)

A. For purposes of design, wind pressure for all signs shall be twenty pounds per square foot, and for all roof signs and open-frame signs, thirty pounds per square foot. The area of an open-frame sign, for the purposes of this section, shall be the net area of framing members exposed to the wind. Vertical design loads, except for roof live loads, shall be assumed to be acting simultaneously with wind loads.

B. Notwithstanding subsection A. above, portable signs shall be so designed and/or weighted as necessary to resist tip-over under wind gusts and continuous wind load.

(Ords. 24203, 24757.)

A. Supporting structures shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of this chapter.

B. Materials of construction for signs and supporting structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the Uniform Building Code. Not limiting the generality of the preceding sentence:

1. All steel shall be galvanized steel;

2. Anchors and supports, when of wood embedded in the soil or within six inches of the soil, shall be pressure-treated with an approved preservative.

C. No sign may be constructed of combustible materials except as follows:

1. Signs may be constructed of wood;

2. Temporary signs may be of paper;

3. Electric signs may use approved plastics in their construction.

D. Nonstructural trim may be of wood, metal, approved plastics or any combination thereof.

(Ord. 24203.)

A. No sign or supporting structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.

B. No sign shall obstruct any window to such an extent that any light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by any law.

C. Signs shall be so located as to maintain all required clearances from overhead power and service lines.

(Ord. 24203.)

Subject to the provisions set forth in this section, signs may project into the air space over a public right-of-way. The foregoing permission to project signs into the air space over a public right-of-way shall be revocable at the will of the city council at any time. No part of any sign which projects into the air space over a public right-of-way:

A. Shall project to within three feet of the curbline;

B. Shall be below seven feet above grade; and

C. Shall interfere with the effectiveness of any traffic control device.

(Ord. 24203.)

No sign which projects into the air space over a public right-of-way shall have a depth or thickness in excess of two feet nor a sign area which is in excess of one hundred fifty square feet.

(Ord. 24203.)

Electrical equipment used in connection with signs shall be installed in accordance with the San José electrical code.

(Ord. 24203.)

Every cable-hung banner extending across a public right-of-way:

A. Shall maintain a minimum clearance of sixteen feet;

B. Shall be perforated over at least ten percent of its area to reduce wind resistance;

C. Shall be supported and attached with wire rope of three-eighths-inch minimum diameter; and

D. Shall not be supported or anchored with strings, fiber ropes or wood slats.

(Ord. 24203.)

All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in a proper state of preservation.

(Ord. 24203.)

All signs for which a permit is required under this part shall be subject to inspection by the building official.

(Ord. 24203.)

A. Should any sign for which a permit is required by this chapter be erected without first obtaining such permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such sign.

B. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be set forth in the schedule of fees adopted by resolution of the city council. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this chapter nor from any penalty prescribed by law.

(Ord. 24203.)