San Jose Municipal Code Part 7 Temporary Signs

A. In addition to permanent signage allowed elsewhere in this title, temporary signs may be displayed in accordance with the provisions set forth in this part.

B. Temporary signs in the public right-of-way are governed by Part 9 of this chapter.

C. Temporary signs in the airport sign zone are governed by Section 23.04.240 of this title.

D. Temporary signs in the OS, A, R-1, R-1-B-1, R-1-B-2, R-1-B-3, R-1-B-6, R-1-B-8, R-2, R-3, R-3-F, R-3-A, R-3-B, R-3-C, R-4 and T-M zoning districts and for residential uses in other zoning districts and in special zones are governed by Section 23.04.340 of this title.

E. Temporary signs that are election signs are governed by Part 8 of this chapter.

(Ord. 24201.)

A. Unless expressly provided otherwise elsewhere, no more than two temporary signs may be on display at any one time for each occupancy frontage.

B. Permissible temporary signs include:

1. One temporary sign not larger than twenty square feet in sign area may be displayed in those locations allowed under Sections 23.04.610.D., E., F. and G. for up to thirty consecutive days for each occupancy frontage. No more than three such signs shall be displayed in any calendar year. Each such sign shall include the date(s) such sign is intended to be posted, and whether that sign is the first, second or third such temporary sign displayed in that calendar year for that occupancy frontage. Such sign may be displayed only during that period of time stated on such sign.

2. Any building with a building footprint of five thousand square feet or more may display one temporary sign larger than twenty square feet in sign area. Such signs may be displayed in those locations allowed under Sections 23.04.610 D., E., F. and G. for up to thirty consecutive days in any calendar year, as follows:

a. Such sign shall not be larger than sixty-five square feet.

b. Such sign may consist of noncontiguous segments placed on more than one frontage of the building but the aggregate sign area of all segments may not exceed sixty-five square feet.

c. Each such sign, including all noncontiguous segments, shall include the date(s) such sign is intended to be posted, and shall identify the total number of sign segments displayed for that building. Such sign, including all sign segments, may be displayed only during that period of time stated on such sign.

3. Any building with a building footprint of twenty thousand square feet or more may display one temporary sign larger than twenty square feet in sign area. Such sign may be displayed in those locations allowed under Section 23.04.610 D., E., F. and G. for up to thirty consecutive days in any calendar year, as follows:

a. Such sign shall contain only noncommercial messages.

b. Such sign may consist of noncontiguous segments placed on more than one frontage of the building.

c. No sign or sign segment on any frontage shall be larger than one hundred twenty-five square feet in sign area.

d. Such sign may be an animated sign.

e. Each such sign, including all noncontiguous segments, shall include the date(s) such sign is intended to be posted, and shall identify the total number of sign segments displayed for that building. Such sign, including all sign segments, may be displayed only during that period of time stated on such sign.

4. One temporary sign related to the lease or sale of the real property on which the sign is placed and not larger than forty square feet in sign area may be displayed. Such sign shall be removed within ten days after the property is no longer for lease or sale.

5. One or more construction signs related to construction on the property on which the sign is placed may be displayed as follows:

a. Construction signs may be displayed one hundred eighty days prior to the commencement of construction, during construction and for a period no longer than thirty days after completion of construction; and

b. Construction signs attached to fences that enclose the construction site and no higher than ten feet above finished grade may be of any size; and

c. In the downtown sign zone, construction signs, whether or not the signs are attached to fences that enclose the construction site, shall not exceed three hundred square feet each in sign area, may be up to twenty-four feet in height and shall be limited to one such sign per street frontage, except that two allowed signs may be joined together at the corner of a corner parcel to form one larger sign which shall not exceed six hundred square feet in sign area; and

d. In CO, CP, CN, CG, IP, LI, and HI zoning districts and neighborhood business districts, construction signs not attached to fences that enclose the construction site shall not exceed one hundred twenty-eight square feet each in sign area and shall be limited to one such sign per street frontage; and

e. In CO, CP, CN, CG, IP, LI, and HI zoning districts and neighborhood business districts, construction signs attached to fences that enclose the construction site that are located higher than ten feet above finished grade shall meet all of the following criteria:

i. Shall not exceed a size equal to one hundred square feet of sign area; and

ii. Shall be limited in number to one such sign per street frontage for every two hundred linear feet of perimeter construction fence along a street frontage; and

iii. Shall be located no higher than twenty-five feet above finished grade; and

f. Construction signs shall not be illuminated.

C. In addition to the signs described in subsections A. and B. above, unimproved parcels may display the following temporary signs:

1. One temporary sign related to the lease or sale of any real property, as follows:

a. Such sign shall not exceed forty square feet in sign area.

b. Such sign shall be removed within ten days after the property to which it refers is no longer for sale or lease.

2. For each three hundred feet of street frontage, one additional temporary sign related to the lease or sale of any real property, subject to the same requirements as set forth in subsection C.1. above.

3. By permit in accordance with all requirements of Part 4 of Chapter 23.02 of this title, one temporary sign larger than forty square feet and related to the sale or lease of any real property may be approved as follows:

a. Such sign shall be permitted for the shorter period of three years or ten days after the property to which it refers is no longer for lease or sale.

b. Maximum size shall conform to the size allowable in the zoning district for a permanent sign on a parcel of that size.

4. The provisions of this subsection C. shall not apply in the downtown sign zone.

D. Temporary signs may be freestanding or attached and, except with regard to construction signs or unless otherwise stated, shall also conform to any requirements for permanent signs in the zoning district or sign zone where located.

E. Unless expressly provided otherwise elsewhere, freestanding temporary signs may be up to ten feet in height. No greater setback than ten feet shall be required.

F. Temporary signs may not be affixed to the outside surface of a window.

G. Temporary signs posted at events within the downtown core for which city permits have been issued for both the exclusive use of a specified location in the public right-of-way and a permit for temporary outdoor use of private property that is contiguous or adjacent to the public right-of-way permit area shall not be subject to these regulations to the extent such temporary signs are posted during the event and within the approved boundaries of the event. This provision also applies to signage on temporary structures at such events, regardless of whether the temporary structure is in the public right-of-way or on private property.

(Ords. 24201, 24757, 26273, 27458, 28022.)