San Jose Municipal Code Part 2 Downtown Sign Zone

A. This part shall govern standards for signage for all nonresidential uses in the downtown sign zone.

B. The standards for signage for wholly residential uses within the downtown sign zone and for uses located in the OS Open Space or A Agricultural zoning district or in a residentially zoned district within the downtown sign zone shall be governed by Part 4 of this chapter.

C. Standards for temporary signs shall be governed by Parts 7 and 8 of this chapter.

D. For purposes of this title, "downtown sign zone'' shall mean the downtown growth area as defined in the planned growth areas diagram of the general plan.

E. For purposes of this title, "San Pedro Square signage area" shall mean that certain area encompassing those real property parcels located entirely within the area bounded by West Santa Clara Street, North San Pedro Street, West Saint John Street and Almaden Avenue.

(Ords. 24201, 27375, 28754, 29097, 29223.)

A. Except as provided in Subsection B. below:

1. The aggregate sign area of all signs on an occupancy frontage shall not exceed two and five-tenths square feet for each linear foot of occupancy frontage.

2. Except as otherwise specifically allowed in this part, the maximum sign area for any one sign shall not exceed one and five-tenths square feet for each linear foot of occupancy frontage where the sign is displayed except that in the San Pedro Square signage area the maximum area for any one sign on a single-story building shall be two and twenty-five hundredths (2.25) square feet for each linear foot of building frontage where the sign is displayed.

3. Signs may be displayed on more than one occupancy frontage, subject to the maximum amount of signage allowed for each occupancy frontage.

B. Instead of the signage amount permitted by Subsection A. above, an applicant, at applicant's option, may select any of the following methods, as applicable, for determining maximum amount of signage:

1. Maximum signage for a parcel may be based on street frontage instead of occupancy frontage. In such case, the total amount of signage on each street frontage shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of street frontage.

2. For an occupancy frontage including a marquee, maximum sign area of the marquee, maximum amount of other signage on the occupancy frontage and placement of signs may be determined by the director, subject to design approval.

3. For a single building with a footprint of one hundred twenty-five thousand square feet or more, maximum signage may be determined as follows:

a. A building with a footprint of one hundred twenty-five thousand square feet or more but less than one hundred seventy-five thousand square feet may have one programmable electronic sign plus other signage as allowed in Subsection c. below.

b. A building with a footprint of one hundred seventy-five thousand square feet or more may have up to two programmable electronic signs plus other signage as allowed in Subsection c. below.

c. The total signage for the building, including programmable electronic sign(s) and other signage, shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the signage allowance computed as in Section 23.04.110A. above; however, the signage allowance computed as in Section 23.04.110A. above for all occupancy frontages of such building may be aggregated for the purpose of determining the maximum allowable size of the programmable electronic sign(s).

C. Inflatable signs expressly allowed under Section 23.04.120Q. below shall not reduce the allowable signage permitted under Sections 23.04.110A. and 23.04.110B.

D. Small assembly spaces may have as part of allowed signage one programmable electronic sign; and large assembly spaces may have as part of allowed signage up to two programmable electronic signs, all as described in Section 23.04.120J.4. below.

(Ords. 24201, 27864, 28754, 29097.)

A. Any combination of signs.

1. Signage allowed by Section 23.04.110 may consist of any combination of allowed freestanding signs, flat-mounted signs, projecting signs, awning signs, banners, inflatable or balloon signs, arcade signs, programmable electronic signs for assembly spaces, skyline signs and roof signs. Segmented signs are allowed.

2. Each occupancy frontage may also display window signs, temporary signs, safety or directional signs, and any other signs expressly authorized by this code.

B. Freestanding signs.

1. Except as provided in this subsection, freestanding signs shall not exceed eight feet in height above grade.

2. Freestanding signs that are less than six feet wide may be up to twenty-five feet in height above grade.

3. The height of construction signs shall be as set forth in Section 23.04.610B 6.

4. Freestanding roof signs in accordance with Subsection G below and freestanding programmable electronic signs in accordance with Subsection J below shall not be subject to the foregoing height restrictions.

C. Flat-mounted signs.

1. Flat-mounted signs (except for permitted skyline signs, flat roof-top signs and banner signs) shall be displayed no higher than thirty feet above grade, except as otherwise specifically allowed in this section and in Section 23.04.120J 4. for assembly spaces.

2. Flat-mounted signs on buildings located within two hundred feet of the travel lane of a freeway may be located at a height of up to sixty feet above grade. Such signs may orient towards a freeway regardless of whether there is an intervening street.

3. Flat-mounted signs on buildings containing wholly non-residential uses and which buildings are one hundred forty feet or greater in height above grade may be located up to a height of sixty feet above grade.

4. Flat-mounted signs (except for permitted skyline signs, flat roof-top signs and banner signs) shall be displayed no higher than eighty feet above grade when the building meets all of the following criteria:

a. The building is eighty feet or greater in height above grade; and

b. The building has a building footprint of one hundred fifty thousand square feet or greater.

5. Flat-mounted signs shall not project more than two inches from the face of the building, except for:

a. Flat-mounted signs consisting of individual letters or letters attached to raceways; or

b. Flat roof-top signs that may project no more than sixty inches from the face of the roof.

D. Vertical projecting signs, fin signs and arcade signs.

1. Vertical projecting signs:

a. Shall be located at least twenty feet but no higher than seventy feet above grade, except that any vertical projecting sign with a total area that is one hundred square feet or less shall be located fifteen or more feet above grade; and

b. Shall project no more than five feet six inches from the building surface to which the sign is attached; and

c. May project above the cornice or parapet of a building a distance no greater than ten feet.

2. Fin signs.

a. Shall be located at least eight feet but no higher than thirty feet above grade, except that in the San Pedro Square signage area a fin sign on a single-story building may be located no higher than forty feet above grade;

b. Shall project no more than seven feet six inches from the building surface to which the sign is attached; and

c. May project above the cornice or parapet of a building a distance no greater than the vertical dimension of the sign divided by four, except that a fin sign located in the San Pedro Square signage area on a single-story building may project above the cornice or parapet a distance greater than the vertical dimension of the sign divided by four.

3. Arcade signs.

a. Shall be located at least eight feet above grade.

E. Awning signs; porte-cochere signs.

1. Awning signs shall be located no higher than thirty feet above grade.

2. Signage on awnings shall be limited to twenty-five percent of the exterior surface area of the awning.

3. Signage on porte-cocheres shall be allowed only on vertical surfaces of the porte-cochere and shall be limited to twenty-five percent of the exterior surface area of the vertical surfaces of the porte-cochere.

F. Banner signs.

1. Freestanding banners shall comply with the provisions of Section 23.04.120 B. above.

2. Projecting banners shall comply with the provisions of Section 23.04.120 D. above.

3. Flat-mounted banners:

a. Shall not exceed twenty feet in width; and

b. Shall be located no higher than fifty feet above grade, provided that banners located higher than thirty feet above grade shall be mounted within building recesses or portals.

4. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, buildings with a footprint of seventy-five thousand square feet or greater may erect banners only in compliance with all of the following criteria:

a. A total maximum of five banners shall be allowed at any time;

b. One banner may be up to a maximum of one thousand two hundred square feet in total sign area and any and all remaining banners may be up to a maximum of six hundred square feet in total sign area; and

c. All banners shall be placed no higher than eighty feet above finished grade; and

d. All banners shall contain and display noncommercial messages only.

G. Skyline signs; roof signs.

1. Applicability.

a. Buildings eighty feet or greater in height above grade may have either skyline signs or roof signs; and

b. Non-garage uses on the top floor of parking garages may have skyline signs; and

c. Buildings that are no more than one story in height and located within the San Pedro Square signage area may have one roof sign.

2. Dimensions.

a. The total amount of square footage of sign area for all skyline signs or roof signs on buildings two hundred twenty-five feet or greater in height above grade shall not exceed two thousand square feet per building. Any one such skyline sign or roof sign shall not be larger than one thousand square feet.

b. The total amount of square footage of sign area for all skyline signs or roof signs on buildings one hundred ninety feet or greater in height above grade and less than two hundred twenty-five feet in height above grade shall not exceed one thousand four hundred square feet per building. Any one such skyline sign or roof sign shall not be larger than seven hundred square feet.

c. The total amount of square footage of sign area for all skyline signs or roof signs on buildings one hundred forty feet or greater in height above grade and less than one hundred ninety feet in height above grade shall not exceed one thousand one hundred square feet per building. Any one such skyline sign or roof sign shall not be larger than five hundred fifty square feet.

d. The total amount of square footage of sign area for all skyline signs on buildings greater than eighty feet and less than one hundred forty feet in height above grade shall not exceed five hundred square feet per building. Any one such skyline sign shall not be larger than two hundred fifty square feet.

e. The total amount of square footage of sign area for skyline signs for non-garage uses on the top floor of parking garages shall not exceed seven hundred fifty square feet per building. Any one such skyline sign shall not be larger than five hundred square feet.

f. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23.04.110 A.2., the total amount of square footage of sign area for a roof sign on a building that is no more than one story in height and located in the San Pedro Square signage area shall not exceed two and twenty-five hundredths (2.25) square feet for each linear foot of building frontage. Such roof sign shall not extend more than ten feet above the cornice or parapet of a building.

3. Each skyline sign or roof sign shall be designed as an integral part of the building design and placed on a permanent architectural element which has been designed to accommodate it.

4. There shall not be both a skyline sign and a roof sign on the same building or on connected buildings.

5. Skyline signs and roof signs may be illuminated with external lighting; halolighting; and internal lighting if only the letters or symbols are illuminated. Such signs shall be illuminated only with continuous lighting, except that gradual color changes shall be allowed if there is no perception of flashing lights created.

6. Skyline signs and roof signs on buildings greater than eighty feet in height above grade shall not reduce otherwise allowable signage for the building or parcel.

7. Unless otherwise set forth in this section, a total of two skyline or roof signs are allowed per building.

8. Illuminated Skyline or Roof Signs located on buildings that are greater than eighty feet in height and less than one hundred and forty feet in height within one thousand (1,000) feet of a river or creek shall not be displayed to directly face that river or creek.

H. Window signs. Window signs consistent with Section 23.02.1060 of this title shall be allowed on first- and second-story windows.

I. Marquees.

1. Marquees are allowed for theatres and movie houses and on buildings containing marquees that historically were theatres or movie houses.

2. A marquee, including any vertical projection, is a single sign and an architectural element. The vertical projection of a marquee may project above the cornice line of a building.

3. Marquees may be animated signs or have animated sections.

4. Marquee signage shall not be subject to the size and placement limitations elsewhere in this part, but instead shall be subject to the provisions of Section 23.04.110 B.2.

J. Programmable electronic signs.

1. For a single building with a footprint of at least one hundred twenty-five thousand square feet, a maximum of two, attached programmable electronic signs are allowed, subject to the approval of the director, whose approval shall be issued when the sign or signs meet all of the following criteria:

a. The sign(s) shall be located no higher than twelve feet from grade unless the director finds that a greater height achieves a pedestrian-level orientation; and

b. The sign(s) shall not reduce or obscure glazing; and

c. Each sign does not exceed a maximum size of eighteen square feet in sign area; and

d. No sign is displayed on the exterior of that portion of a building containing residential uses.

2. For a building with one or more single ground-floor occupancy frontages of at least one hundred linear feet, a maximum of one attached programmable electronic sign is allowed per single ground-floor occupancy frontage, or one attached sign for any ground floor occupancy with a total frontage of at least one hundred fifty feet on two streets, subject to approval of the director, whose approval shall be issued when the sign meets all of the following criteria:

a. The sign shall be mounted to the building and located no higher than twenty-five feet above grade; and

b. The sign shall not reduce or obscure glazing; and

c. The sign shall not exceed a maximum size of thirty-five square feet in sign area and shall not exceed seventy five percent of the total sign area; and

d. The sign shall not be mounted on the exterior of or illuminate that portion of a building facade or wall containing residential living units on the other side.

3. Programmable electronic kiosk signs. Programmable electronic kiosk signs are allowed subject to the following criteria and conditions:

a. The total sign area on kiosks shall not exceed eighteen square feet per kiosk face in the aggregate, and no programmable electronic kiosk sign shall be located higher than eight feet in height above grade.

b. Programmable electronic kiosk signs may be animated and/or may be illuminated with continuous external or internal lighting.

c. Programmable electronic kiosk signs shall not be displayed on kiosks located within two hundred feet of another kiosk displaying a programmable display kiosk sign.

d. A minimum width of unobstructed sidewalk clearance of four feet shall be maintained around a kiosk for pedestrian traffic.

4. Assembly spaces.

a. An attached or freestanding sign allowed for a small assembly space in accordance with Section 23.04.120 may have a programmable electronic sign component not to exceed seventy-five percent of the allowable sign area. No more than one sign (attached or freestanding) shall include a programmable electronic sign.

i. The maximum height for a freestanding programmable electronic sign shall be twenty-five feet above grade.

ii. The maximum height for an attached programmable electronic sign shall be thirty feet from grade.

b. An attached or freestanding sign allowed for a large assembly space in accordance with Section 23.04.120 may have a programmable electronic sign component not to exceed seventy-five percent of the allowable sign area.

i. The maximum height for a freestanding or attached programmable electronic sign shall be fifty feet from grade.

c. Other criteria.

i. The maximum area for a programmable electronic sign component shall be limited to fifty square feet if the sign is located one hundred feet from a residentially zoned parcel and to two hundred and fifty square feet for signs set back more than one hundred feet from a residentially zoned parcel.

5. Safety or directional signs for public parking garages.

a. A safety or directional sign that is an attached sign with a programmable electronic sign component is allowed, subject to and so long as the sign fully meets the criteria set forth below in this Section 23.04.120 J.5., and such sign shall not reduce otherwise allowable signage for a public parking garage:

i. The programmable electronic sign component of the sign shall be integrated with the allowed attached sign; and

ii. The programmable electronic sign component of the sign shall not be greater than ten square feet in sign area.

b. A safety or directional sign that is a freestanding sign with a programmable electronic sign component is allowed subject to and so long as the sign fully meets the criteria set forth below in this Section 23.04.020 J., and such sign shall not reduce otherwise allowable signage for a public parking garage or for the parcel, as parcel is defined in Section 23.04.010, on which such sign is located:

i. A maximum of three such signs are allowed per parcel, as parcel is defined in Section 23.04.010; and

ii. Each such sign shall be no more than ten square feet in sign area.

6. All programmable electronic signs and all programmable display kiosk signs shall conform to the provisions and requirements of Section 23.02.905 of this title.

K. Reserved.

L. Lightbox signs for service stations.

1. Lightbox signs at service stations shall not exceed twenty percent of the surface area of the lightbox up to a maximum of eight square feet.

2. Signage at service stations shall conform to Section 23.02.1110.

M. Architectural signs.

1. The total amount of architectural signs allowed on any one building shall not exceed a total maximum area of two hundred square feet per building, in the aggregate.

2. Each architectural sign shall be limited in area to a maximum of thirty-two square feet, except that one architectural sign of up to one hundred square feet in area may be located on one building frontage, all subject to the total maximum area allowed under Subsection 23.04.120 M.1. above.

3. Architectural signs may be allowed on the exterior of that portion of a building containing residential uses.

N. Public parking garage signs.

1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, one public parking garage sign per street frontage shall be allowed on any building containing a garage with two hundred or more parking spaces that are open and available for parking to the general public.

2. Such sign:

a. Shall be flat-mounted.

b. Shall be a maximum of one hundred square feet in sign area.

c. Shall be located at least thirty feet but no higher than seventy feet above grade and shall not project above the cornice or parapet of the building.

3. Such sign shall not reduce otherwise allowable signage for the parcel or building.

O. Freeway or highway off-ramp signs.

1. Subject to the provisions of Section 23.02.1180, a building greater than eighty feet in height above grade located on a parcel of real property that is directly adjacent to a freeway off-ramp or highway off-ramp may have only the following skyline or roof signs:

a. A maximum of two skyline or roof signs that conform to all of the applicable requirements set forth in Section 23.04.120 G.; or

b. A maximum of one skyline or roof sign that conforms to all of the applicable requirements set forth in Section 23.04.120 G. and one flat-mounted sign that meets all of the following criteria:

i. The size of the sign shall not exceed a maximum of one hundred square feet in sign area;

ii. The sign shall be mounted to the building with an orientation that is perpendicular to, and is not directly facing, the centerline of the freeway or highway off-ramp; and

iii. The sign shall not be visible from the main freeway or highway to which the off ramp is attached.

P. Flat roof-top signs.

1. Buildings with a footprint of one hundred fifty thousand square feet or greater may install a maximum of two flat roof-top signs that meet all of the following criteria:

a. Each flat roof-top shall not exceed a maximum of sixteen thousand square feet in sign area, and the total sign area of two flat roof-top signs shall not exceed a maximum of thirty-two thousand square feet; and

b. A flat roof-top sign may be externally or internally illuminated with continuous lighting between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m., but shall not be illuminated by any means after 12:00 a.m. and before 7:00 a.m.; and

c. Any illumination of a flat roof-top sign shall fully conform with the city's lighting policies, unless an exception is granted therefor or applicable thereto; and

d. Any illumination of a flat roof-top sign shall not produce light that is visible with the naked eye from public areas located within one hundred feet of the building on which the sign is installed.

Q. Inflatable or balloon signs.

1. Inflatable or balloon signs may be allowed on sites and in a manner meeting all of the following criteria:

a. The size of the parcel on which the inflatable or balloon sign would be located shall be a minimum of seven acres; and

b. A maximum of one inflatable or balloon sign may be installed on a building on each such parcel; and

c. The sign must be safely and securely mounted to the roof of a building with a minimum floor area of fifty thousand square feet and a maximum height of fifty feet.

2. The inflatable or balloon sign allowed under this section must meet the additional following criteria:

a. The inflatable or balloon sign shall be no greater than three thousand six hundred cubic feet in size; and

b. The inflatable or balloon sign shall extend no higher than the lesser of the following heights:

i. Thirty feet above the building parapet or building roof surface if there is no parapet; or

ii. The height set forth in a no hazard determination by the Federal Aviation Administration; and

c. The inflatable or balloon sign shall extend no more than ten feet below the building parapet or building roof surface if there is no parapet.

R. Projected light signs.

1. A building with a footprint of one hundred thousand square feet or greater may be allowed one projected light sign on the building per calendar year that meets all of the following criteria:

a. A projected light sign shall be no greater than twelve thousand square feet in area; and

b. A projected light sign shall be located no higher than sixty feet above grade; and

c. A projected light sign shall not be of an illumination intensity or character that creates a safety hazard or undue disturbance for vehicles, pedestrian or occupants in the area, and shall conform to all applicable Federal Aviation Administration requirements; and

d. A projected light sign and associated projection equipment may be allowed only during such time period as specified in a permit issued by the director, finding that all the criteria specified in this section are met for a proposed projected light sign, and which time period in all instances shall not exceed a maximum period of sixty days per calendar year; and

2. A permit application for a projected light sign shall be signed by all private property owners upon whose real property a projected light sign is projected, upon whose property associated projection equipment is located, and upon whose property the associated projected light directly traverses.

3. A projected light sign may be animated.

4. A projected light sign shall not reduce otherwise allowed signage area for the building upon which it is projected nor for any other affected property.

(Ords. 24201, 24757, 25032, 25263, 25668, 26014, 26187, 26273, 26282, 27375, 27864, 28022, 28144, 28641, 28754, 29097, 29153, 29223, 29324, 30626.)

A. One (1) Supergraphic Sign may be allowed on a Building that has no residential use and a Building Height, as defined in Section 17.82.210 of this Code, of at least one hundred (100) feet or on a Parking Garage with three (3) or more parking levels above grade, subject to the following:

1. No Supergraphic Sign shall cover any portion of a window or door; and

2. No Supergraphic Sign shall be displayed for more than one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days and no Building shall display a Supergraphic Sign for more than one hundred twenty (120) days in a calendar year.

B. On a Building with no residential use, no more than two (2) Supergraphic Signs are allowed per Building in connection with Large Events, subject to all of the following:

1. A Supergraphic Sign shall be displayed only during a Large Event and for a period up to seventy-five (75) additional days before and/or after the Large Event. No Building shall be allowed to display a Supergraphic Sign under this subsection B. for more than one hundred eighty (180) days total in a calendar year.

2. No Supergraphic Sign shall be displayed at a height less than forty (40) feet above grade.

3. One additional flat-mounted Supergraphic Sign attached to the roof of a Building shall be allowed.

4. No Supergraphic Sign shall obstruct Fire Department aerial access as required by California Fire Code Section D105 with local amendments.

C. All Supergraphic Signs shall conform to all of the following:

1. No Supergraphic Sign shall be located on an Historic Landmark Building;

2. A Supergraphic Sign shall be located on no more than one (1) Building Facade and the Sign Area shall not exceed the area of the Building Facade on which it is located, except that such Sign may be located on two (2) Building Facades provided the total Sign Area is not greater than would otherwise be allowed on the larger of the two Building Facades;

3. A Supergraphic Sign may consist of non-contiguous segments;

4. No Supergraphic Sign shall be externally illuminated;

5. Except as provided in subsection (B)(3), no Supergraphic Sign shall be a Roof sign;

6. A Supergraphic Sign shall comply with all life safety requirements, including but not limited to all requirements of Titles 17 and 24 of this Code;

7. A Supergraphic Sign shall be maintained in good condition at all times and the Sign surface shall be free of dirt, rips and tears;

8. A Supergraphic Sign shall not reduce otherwise allowable Sign Area for a Building or Parcel;

9. A Supergraphic Sign shall be in conformance with any requirements applicable under state or federal law or regulations including but not limited to height, separation, or other location requirements;

10. A Supergraphic Sign authorized by subsection A. shall not be displayed on a Building concurrent with the display of a Supergraphic Sign authorized by subsection B.; and

11. In lieu of the requirements of Section 23.02.960, Supergraphic Signs are encouraged to have a translucent background, but may have an opaque background.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23.02.1300 C. of this Code, a Supergraphic Sign shall require approval of an Administrative Permit.

(Ords. 29850, 30371, 31205.)

A. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, external lighting, internal lighting, neon tube lighting, halolighting and any similar lighting technology is permitted.

B. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, signs may be illuminated only with continuous lighting.

C. Lighting of programmable electronic signs and programmable electronic kiosk signs shall conform to the requirements of Section 23.02.905.

(Ords. 24201, 28754.)