Santa Rosa Zoning Code Ch. 20-38 Signs (§ 20-38.010 – § 20-38.110)

The regulations established by this Chapter are intended to appropriately limit the placement, type, size, and number of signs allowed within the City, and to require the proper maintenance of signs. The purposes of

these limitations and requirements are to:

A.

Promote and maintain economically viable commercial enterprises for the benefit of Santa Rosa's citizens; B.

Encourage signing which identifies businesses in a fair and equitable manner;

C.

Ensure that signs safely attract and direct persons to various destinations;

D.

Protect public and private property values and investment;

E.

Reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians which result from excessive, confusing, and distracting signs; and

F.

Preserve and enhance the aesthetic quality of the entire community.

(Ord. 3677 § 1, 2004; Ord. 4028 § 2, 2014)

A.

Signs regulated. The requirements of this Chapter shall apply to all signs in all zoning districts, except on a site for which a specific plan has established separate sign regulations.

B.

Applicability to sign content. The provisions of this Chapter do not regulate the message content of signs (sign copy), regardless of whether the message content is commercial or noncommercial. C.

Definitions. Definitions of the specialized terms and phrases used in this Chapter may be found in Division 7, Definitions under "Sign."

D.

Permission of property owner. No sign shall be placed on public or private property without first obtaining permission from the property owner.

E.

Maintenance—Continuing. Each sign in the City shall be maintained in good structural condition at all times. All painted signs shall be kept neatly painted, including all metal parts and supports. The Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect and have the authority to order the painting, repair, alteration, or removal of signs that become dilapidated or are abandoned, or which constitute a hazard to the public safety.

F.

Building Permits required. A building permit is required for any sign that exceeds six feet in height or requires an electrical connection.

G.

Design Guidelines. See Section 4.8 (Signs) of the City's Design Guidelines. (Ord. 3677 § 1, 2004; Ord. 4028 § 2, 2014)

No sign shall be installed, constructed, or altered unless a Sign Permit and, where applicable, a Sign Program approval is first obtained in compliance with this Section, or the sign is allowed without Sign Permit approval (see Section 20-38.040 below). A Building Permit may also be required. After approval of a Sign Permit and/or Sign Program, each sign installed and maintained on the subject site shall comply with the Permit and Program.

A.

Sign Permit application. An application for a Sign Permit shall be prepared, filed and processed, in compliance with Chapter 20.50, Permit Application Filing and Processing. The application shall include required application fees, architectural elevations and plans of all proposed signs drawn to scale, with all dimensions noted, and include illustrations of copy, colors, materials, and samples of the proposed colors and materials. The plans submitted shall also show the location of each sign on buildings and the site.

B.

Sign Permit review authority. The Director shall review all Sign Permit applications, except within the Historic (- H) overlay zone, where Sign Permit review may be by the DRPB in compliance with Chapter 20-58 (Historic and Cultural Preservation) at the determination of the Director. The review authority may require conditions of approval as are reasonably necessary to achieve the purposes of this Chapter. This shall not apply to Wayfinding Signage, see section 20-38.080, Standards for Wayfinding Signs.

C.

Sign Programs. A Sign Program shall be required for any multiple occupancy commercial office building or business park complex or medical complex where the individual tenant spaces are not the location or adjacent to the location of the proposed individual tenant signs. Sign Programs for other development types such as shopping centers, industrial complexes, and/or business parks where the sign locations are on the tenant spaces themselves, are optional at the owners' discretion. A Sign Program may also be proposed to

provide identity and directional signage for a City recognized neighborhood or district. A Sign Program shall be approved by the Director, or elevated to the appropriate review authority, at the discretion of the Director.

1.

The purpose of the Sign Program shall be to establish signing for all tenants and users of a complex,

neighborhood or district as described above. An approved Sign Program shall prescribe the standards for all signs within the complex, building, neighborhood or district.

2.

A Sign Program shall comply with all provisions of this chapter and is not intended to provide special or additional signing. The Sign Program shall prescribe the standards of size, number, location and types of signing permitted.

D.

Findings for approval. The approval of a Sign Permit or Sign Program shall require that the review authority first make all the following findings:

1.

The proposed signs do not exceed the standards of Section 20-38.060, Zoning District Sign Standards, and 20-38.070, Standards for Special Category Signs, and are of the minimum size and height necessary to enable motorists and pedestrians to readily identify the facility or site from a sufficient distance to safely and conveniently access the facility or site;

2.

The size, location, and design of the signs are visually complementary and compatible with the scale and architectural style of the primary structures on the site, any prominent natural features on the site, and structures and prominent natural features on adjacent properties on the same street; and

3.

The proposed signs are in substantial conformance with the design criteria in the City Design Guidelines. E.

Approval period, expiration, and time extension of Sign Permits. A Sign Permit approval shall expire one year from its date of issuance, unless the sign has been installed within the period or a later expiration date is stated in writing at the time of approval.

Prior to the expiration of a Sign Permit, the applicant may apply to the Director for an extension of up to one additional year.

2.

A Sign Permit shall become null and void if circumstances occurring prior to the installation of the sign change significantly so that the sign would not be permitted under the new circumstances.

(Ord. 3677 § 1, 2004; Ord. 3711 § 1, 2005; Ord. 4028 § 2, 2014; Ord. 2024-005, 4/9/2024; Ord. 2025-003, 2/25/2025)

The following types of signs and sign changes are permitted without a Sign Permit, provided that they comply with City Design Guidelines and any required Building Permit is obtained.

A.

Agricultural signs. Signs in agricultural zones advertising sale of products or other items raised or produced on-site are allowed without a Sign Permit, providing there is no more than one sign per parcel and the sign does not exceed 20 square feet in area.

B.

Commemorative plaques. Signs commemorating an historical building name register and/or erection date, when cut into or affixed to a permanent surface and not exceeding four square feet per building are allowed without a Sign Permit.

C.

Construction signs. One sign per construction site announcing a construction project, architect, builder/developer, engineer, etc., and not exceeding 32 square feet is allowed without a Sign Permit.

D.

Credit cards, trading stamps, association membership. Up to six signs per business identifying credit cards, trading stamps, or association membership not exceeding one square foot per sign are allowed without a Sign Permit.

E.

Directional signs and notices. Signs showing the location of public facilities such as public telephones, restrooms, and underground utilities are allowed without a Sign Permit.

F.

Garage sale signs. Up to one sign located at the residence where the garage sale sign is being conducted and not exceeding four square feet is allowed without a Sign Permit.

G.

Governmental signs. Signs installed or authorized by the City, or a Federal or State governmental agency within a public right-of-way; and any sign, posting, notice, or similar sign placed by, allowed by or required by a governmental agency in carrying out its responsibility to protect public health, safety, and general welfare, installed on City owned property, are allowed without a Sign Permit.

H.

Interior signs. Signs located in excess of five feet inside exterior windows, walls or doors of any building, mall, court, stadium or enclosed lobby, when such signing is intended for interior viewing only are allowed without a Sign Permit.

I.

Non-profit organization signs. Signs and notices containing the identification of nonprofit service clubs, religious organizations, charitable organizations or associations and containing information relating to their meetings, fund raising, other nonprofit activities and not exceeding 12 square feet and occurring no more than four times within a 12-month period are allowed without a Sign Permit.

J.

Nonstructural modifications, and maintenance. The following maintenance or modifications to signs are allowed without a Sign Permit:

1.

Modifications to sign copy on conforming signs, or changes to the face or copy of conforming changeable copy signs;

2.

Nonstructural modifications of the face or copy of an existing conforming sign installed in compliance with a Sign Program, provided that the modifications are consistent with the Sign Program approved in compliance with Subsection C;

3.

The normal maintenance of conforming signs.

K.

Official flags. Up to three flags per site identifying national, State, or local governments, or nationally recognized religious, fraternal, or public service agencies are allowed without a Sign Permit, provided that the length of the flag shall not exceed one-fourth the height of the flag pole. The maximum allowed height of a flag pole in a residential zoning district shall be 12 feet; the maximum height of a flag pole in a non-

residential zoning district shall be 30 feet. Additional height may be authorized by the Zoning Administrator through the Minor Design Review process. No flag shall be located within the public right-of-way unless placed by, allowed by or required by a governmental agency.

L.

On-site signs required for city public hearing notification. On-site signs for public hearing notification before a City agency are allowed without a Sign Permit but shall comply with the following specifications and operational procedures:

1.

Sign area. Each sign shall be of the following minimum and maximum area, based on the size of the subject parcel.

2.

Height limit. Sign height shall not exceed six feet.

3.

Location. The sign shall be located not less than five feet inside the property line in residential zones, not less than one foot inside the property line for commercial and industrial zones, not within the vision triangle, and in areas most visible to the public.

4.

Other restrictions:

a.

No sign shall be illuminated;

b.

One sign shall be displayed per public street frontage of the subject property; and

c.

Removal is required within 15 days after the noticed public hearing.

5.

Verification. On or before the required date of posting, the applicant or applicant's representative shall submit to the Department a signed affidavit of the installation of an on-site sign.

M.

Private directional signs. Directional or informational signs not exceeding five square feet in area, bearing no advertising message, and located wholly on the site to which the sign pertains are allowed without a Sign Permit. These signs shall not impede vehicular and/or pedestrian visibility in any way.