Santa Ana Municipal Code § 41-1000 General

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. NS-2116, § 6, adopted Mar. 18, 1991, repealed Div. 6, §§ 41-1000—41-1010, relative to sign standards and regulations for on-premise signs, and enacted new provisions in lieu thereof as Div. 6, § 41-1000. Formerly, such provisions derived from Ord. No. NS-1721, § 1, adopted Apr. 2, 1984; Ord. No. NS-1860, § 13, adopted Sept. 15, 1986; and Ord. No. NS-1986, § 4, adopted Dec. 19, 1988.

The words and phrases used in this article shall be construed as defined in this division, unless the context clearly required otherwise. Unless specifically defined in this article, the definitions set forth in other provisions of this Code shall likewise apply to this article.

(1) A-frame sign: A portable, self-supporting sign, also known as a sandwich board sign, typically constructed in an "A" or inverted "V" shape and consists of two (2) flat surfaces joined at the top, designed to be placed on the ground and capable of being easily moved or relocated.

(2) Aerial sign: A free floating balloon, kite, or similar object not directly secured to property within the city.

(3) Alter: To change the copy, color, size, shape, illumination, position, location, construction or supporting structure of a sign, not including ordinary maintenance.

(4) Area of a sign: The entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles that enclose the extreme limits of writing, representation, logo, or any figure of similar character, together with any frame, background area, structural trim, or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed. The supports or uprights on which any such sign is supported shall not be included in determining the sign area. The area of signs with two (2) faces shall be considered to be the area of the largest face. The area of signs with three (3) or more faces shall be considered to be the area of the largest face or one-half (½) the area of all of the faces, whichever is less.

(5) Awning sign: A sign affixed to or imprinted on a temporary shelter composed of nonrigid material on a supporting framework, affixed to the exterior wall of a building.

(6) Business activity: An enterprise offering goods, services, or other consideration to the public, in legal occupancy of a site or of a specific portion of a site and under separate and distinct management from any other enterprise located on the same site.

(7) Business frontage: The horizontal dimension of a building or individual business elevation measured at ground level.

(8) Canopy sign: A sign affixed to any permanent architectural projection extending over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area.

(9) Changeable copy sign: A sign or portion thereof which copy is changed manually or electrically, such as readerboards and electronic message boards, without altering the face or surface.

(10) Construction sign: A sign at the site of a construction project which identifies the project and/or the persons or firms involved in it.

(11) Directional sign: A sign erected for the purpose of facilitating or controlling the efficient and safe movement of pedestrians or vehicles on private property and containing only directional information and no advertising.

(12) Elevation: The visible vertical plane of the side of a building from ground level to the roof line.

(13) Elevation, primary: The side of a building directly abutting either a street or a parking area. A business owner may choose which elevation is considered the primary elevation, except that in a multitenant building the elevation which is contiguous to other businesses shall be the primary elevation.

(14) Elevation, secondary: Any elevation of a building not determined to be a primary elevation.

(15) Flag canopy: A line of flags, or a series of lines of flags, suspended above a site.

(16) Freestanding sign: A sign standing directly on the ground that is independent from any building or other structure.

(17) Frontage: The length of a property line along the street that forms its boundary.

(18) Frontage, primary: A frontage which is either abutting a major arterial or is longer than other frontages on lots having two (2) or more frontages.

(19) Frontage, secondary: On a lot with frontage on two (2) or more streets, all frontages except that frontage designated as the primary frontage.

(20) Gross leasable space: A single leasable space regardless of number of tenants or leases within the space.

(21) Height of sign: The overall height of the sign above the top of the curb grade.

(22) Illegal sign: A sign which does not conform to the requirements and standards of this article and which is not a nonconforming sign as hereinbelow defined.

(23) Implied sign program: The predominant pattern of signs within a commercial center which does not have an adopted sign program.

(24) Incidental sign: A sign conveying information that includes, but is not limited to, hours of operation, delivery information, credit cards accepted, and open/closed signs.

(25) Integrated development site: Any commercial site, regardless of the number of lots or individual tenants, that is developed with common parking, layout, architecture or design features.

(26) Item of information: A word, figure, logo, abbreviation, or other symbolic representation.

(27) Logo: A design of letters or symbols used as a trademark or for identification in lieu of, or in conjunction with, other signs.

(28) Lot line: A line that separates two (2) lots.

(29) Marquee sign: A sign affixed to a permanent projection extending from the building or beyond the wall of the building.

(30) Monument sign: A freestanding low profile sign with the sign width greater than the sign height and designed with a solid base and background.

(31) Multitenant development: A development consisting of three (3) or more leasable spaces.

(32) Noncommercial sign: A sign which is not any of the following:

a. A sign which is designed to promote the sale, lease, or exchange of goods, services, or property.

b. A sign which is designed to identify or attract attention to any place which sells, leases, or exchanges goods, services, or property.

c. A sign which is designed to identify or attract attention to any church or other place of worship, club, nonprofit facility, governmental office or facility, or other such place where a person, group of persons or organization is engaged in any activity involving interaction with the general public or a significant portion thereof, whether for income purposes or not.

d. A directional sign.

e. A construction sign.

(33) Nonconforming sign: Any sign which at one time conformed to all applicable requirements and standards of this chapter, including all applicable permit requirements, but which subsequently ceased to so conform due to changes in such requirements and standards.

(34) Painted sign: A sign painted directly on a building or on material which is then attached to a building.

(35) Parapet: A protective wall or barrier projecting above any canopy, balcony, or roof.

(36) Permanent sign: A sign constructed of weather-resistant material and intended for permanent use.

(37) Projecting sign: A sign attached to a building with the face not parallel to the vertical surface of the building.

(38) Raceway: A conduit to house electrical wires for signs and used to support and/or affix signage on a wall.

(39) Real estate sign: A temporary sign pertaining to the sale, lease, or rental of land and/or buildings.

(40) Roof line: The uppermost edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, excluding mechanical equipment screens, whichever is highest. Where a building has several roof levels, the roof line shall be the one belonging to that portion of the building on which the sign is located.

(41) Roof sign: A sign which has a point of attachment to the roof of a building. Architectural projections, including mechanical equipment screens, above any parapet or roof line whose sole function is a background for signs shall be considered a sign structure. A sign on such an architectural projection shall be considered a roof sign.

(42) Sign: Letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, or logos, with or without illumination, intended to identify any place, subject, person, firm, business, product, article, or merchandise. A sign includes all parts, materials, frames, and backgrounds.

(43) Signable area: The area of the largest rectangular portion of a face of a building to which a sign is affixed or proposed to be affixed, which can be included within parallel, vertical and horizontal lines uninterrupted by significant architectural features of the building.

(44) Site: A unit of land, together with all improvements thereon, determined as follows:

a. A unit of land which may be conveyed separately from any and all adjacent land without the requirement of approval of a tentative map pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act and Chapter 34 of this Code.

b. Two (2) or more buildings or business activities that are or will be related to each other physically or architecturally, such as by sharing off-street parking facilities, so as to form an integrated development, such as a shopping center, industrial park or office complex.

(45) Special event sign or display: Signs or advertising displays or combination thereof which advertise or attract public attention to a special one-time event, the opening of a building or business activity, the sale or goods or services at discounted or otherwise specially advantageous prices, or similar event; but excluding signs pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of real estate.

(46) Temporary sign: Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.

(47) Under-canopy sign: A sign that is suspended below a canopy or marquee perpendicular to the nearest elevation.

(48) Unshielded lighting: An external illumination source which is exposed to view.

(49) Wall sign: A sign which is attached parallel to or painted on a wall, including parapet or canopy fascia, or a building.

(50) Width of sign: The total horizontal dimension of a sign, including all frames or structures.

(51) Window sign: A sign that is attached to or is intended to be seen in, on, or through a window and is visible from the exterior of the window.

(Ord. No. NS-2116, § 6, 3-18-91; Ord. No. NS-3085, § 6, 9-16-25)