San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Art. V Sign Permits—Application and Processing Procedures

No sign shall be constructed, maintained, displayed or altered without a sign permit obtained as provided in this chapter, unless the sign is specifically exempted from permit requirements. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)

Any person desiring to construct, repair, alter or display a sign for which a permit is required shall submit an application and associated fees, established by resolution of the city council, to the community development department.

Such application shall include descriptive material sufficient to enable evaluation of the proposal’s conformance with the sign regulations including at least the following items:

A. A complete construction permit application and supplemental sign permit worksheet.

B. A site plan showing existing improvements and proposed sign locations.

C. A detailed plan of the proposed signage, including dimensions and method of illumination, if any.

D. Samples and descriptions of the proposed sign’s colors and materials.

E. Photographs of all existing signage and of the building faces or site areas where signage is proposed.

The community development department staff will review all sign permit applications for completeness and consistency with these regulations. Staff will notify the applicant within fifteen days if architectural review or an administrative use permit is required. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)

When review is required by the architectural review commission, a separate application for such review together with fees, as established by resolution of the city council, shall be filed with the community development department. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)

Within fifteen working days after receiving a complete application for a sign permit, which does not require architectural review or the issuance of other permits, the community development director shall forward the sign permit application to the chief building official for issuance. The director may impose only such conditions as will assure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

Any sign not specified in this chapter for review by the architectural review commission, community development director, or planning commission, which does not, in the determination of the community development director, comply with these sign regulations, or with requirements of Section 15.40.470 or design principles of Section 15.40.480, may be denied consistent with Section 15.40.550. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)

The chief building official shall be responsible for issuance of sign permits, determination of compliance with building code requirements, and inspection of installation. No sign permit shall be issued until other required permits and approvals, including architectural review, have been issued and granted, and any associated appeal periods have expired. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)

Denial of a sign permit application shall be based on specific findings explaining how the proposed sign fails to satisfy the evaluation criteria above or other provisions of these regulations. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)

A. Community Development Director Decisions.

1. Appeal Body. Any discretionary decision of the community development director authorized by these regulations may be appealed to the planning commission.

2. Filing Time. Appeals must be filed in writing at the community development department within ten calendar days of the director’s decision. If the tenth day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the appeal period shall extend to the next use day.

3. Public Hearing. Once an appeal has been filed, it shall be considered at the earliest available planning commission meeting, considering public notification requirements.

B. Planning Commission Decisions. Any decision of the planning commission may be appealed to the city council in accordance with the procedures set out in Chapter 1.20. (Ord. 1667 § 3(2) (Exh. A), 2019)