Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 18.16 General Regulations

All signs within the city of Sonoma shall comply with all applicable regulations of this title and chapter. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

There shall be no more than two separate signs for any one business or enterprise, except as specified under Chapter 18.20 SMC, Specific Regulations, or unless one or more of the conditions listed below apply:

A. Where a property or structure is designed for more than one business occupancy, each occupancy is authorized to have two signs.

B. If a business provides access to a parking area with a rear entrance available to the general public, an additional sign no greater than three square feet shall be permitted at the rear access point.

C. If a parcel has a primary frontage greater than 200 feet, an additional sign shall be permitted.

D. Where a business is located in a courtyard, alleyway, or is not visible from street frontage or parking area, an additional sign may be permitted. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

No sign permit shall allow for the aggregate sign area of any structure or property to be exceeded. No building, property or parcel shall have installed or erected upon it any sign or signs which in the aggregate exceed the aggregate sign area permitted in SMC 18.16.021 and 18.16.022. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

A. Primary Street Frontage. For the first 30 feet of primary frontage of the parcel, the allowable aggregate sign area shall be three square feet of sign area for each five lineal feet of primary frontage. For primary frontage of more than 30 feet, two additional square feet of sign area shall be permitted for each five lineal feet of primary frontage in excess of 30 feet.

B. Secondary Frontage. In addition to the above, one square foot of sign for each five lineal feet of parcel frontage on a secondary street shall be allowed.

C. Forty-Foot Sight Distance. In addition to subsections (A) and (B) of this section, the allowable aggregate sign area may be increased by 50 percent if the structure involved and the sign are located more than 40 feet from the centerline of the street on which they face. The increased aggregate sign area shall not increase the maximum sign sizes as provided below or in the specific regulations.

D. One-Hundred-Fifty-Foot Site Distance. If the sign and the structure involved are more than 150 feet from the centerline of the street on which they face, the aggregate sign area permitted may be increased by an additional 25 percent to that allowed by the 40-foot sight distance in subsection (C) of this section. If this section applies, the individual sign sizes as permitted by subsections (E) and (F) of this section may also be increased by 25 percent.

E. Minimum Allowed Sign Area. Any business not having the necessary frontage (or floor area as in subsection (F) of this section) to permit at least six square feet of aggregate sign area shall, in any event, be permitted six square feet of aggregate sign area.

F. Multiple Businesses. Where two or more businesses or occupancies exist in any one building, the aggregate sign area shall be prorated among tenants in direct proportion to the floor area for each use.

G. Multisided Signs. In computing sign area of a strictly two-sided sign (back-to-back), each face shall be multiplied by 0.75. Multisided signs other than double-faced signs, constructed with faces at any angle, shall be counted as one sign per face. Other signs constructed in the form of a cylinder, sphere or similar figure shall be considered as one sign and the total surface area shall be computed as sign area. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

No sign shall exceed 48 square feet in total area. Each face of a double-faced sign shall not exceed 32 square feet. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

Signs shall be located only on the property of the use or business being identified, unless the property or business has no street frontage, in which case signage may be located on a property that contains street frontage that is in front of or adjacent to the subject property, with written permission of the property owner. No other off-site signs shall be permitted. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

No signs shall be allowed in residential zones except as otherwise permitted by SMC 18.12.090 and as follows:

A. Except for bed and breakfasts and home occupations, one non-illuminated identification sign no larger than five square feet may be allowed for a permitted business within the historic overlay district, or for a legal, nonconforming business in a residential zone.

B. One subdivision or apartment identification sign is allowed for each project in any residential zone. Such signage shall be permitted only on the site of the use being identified. The sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in area, with a maximum horizontal length of five feet. In the case of freestanding signs, a maximum of seven square feet per sign with a maximum horizontal length of five feet is allowed.

C. Bed and breakfast signs shall be limited to two square feet in area, and one in number.

D. No window display of products, nor signs advertising the location of a home occupation, shall be permitted in a residential zone. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

The owner of any sign shall properly maintain all parts and supports of the sign. Signs and sign structures shall be maintained at all times in a state of good repair and finish, with all braces, bolts, and structural parts and supporting frames and fastenings free from deterioration, rot, rust and loosening. No person shall maintain, or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him/her, any sign which is sagging, leaning, fallen, decayed, deteriorated or otherwise dilapidated or unsafe. The planning director or his or her designee shall give written notice to the owner of any sign determined to be improperly maintained. After 30 days, any sign not properly maintained or removed shall be deemed to be noncompliant with this section, in violation of this code, and subject to the abatement provisions of this title. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, no sign shall be constructed, erected, installed or maintained in any manner that conflicts with any rule, regulation or order of the California Public Utilities Commission pertaining to the construction, operation, and maintenance of public utilities.

Nothing in this section shall extend the time for a sign that is exempt under SMC 18.12.090 to be displayed in accordance with that section. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).