Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 18.50 Definitions

For the purposes of this title, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning set forth in this chapter. For other words and phrases not found herein, this title shall utilize the definitions found in SMC Title 19. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“A-board sign or sidewalk sign” means a portable (typically double-sided) sign designed to stand independently upon a surface on which it is placed: a two-legged support sign in the form of the letter “A.” (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“Abandoned sign” means any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer exists. Thirty days after a business has ceased operation, or has gone out of business, signs for that business shall be presumed to have been abandoned. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“Advertising” or “advertising copy” means any form of nonpersonal promotion of ideas, goods, and/or services usually paid for by an identified sponsor including but not limited to, product logo, brand name, or other product identifying information. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“Advertising sign” means a sign which calls attention to particular goods or services, other than those which identify the basic name or function of the enterprise located on the premises, whether or not such goods or services may be offered on the premises. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“Aggregate sign area” means the total sign area of all signs located on a property or that portion of the property described by the provision of this title in which this term is being employed. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015).

“Animated sign” means a sign carried or worn by a person or animal, including an A-board sign, costume, placard, or similar device. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015).

“Awning or canopy sign” means a sign applied, attached, or painted on the surface of an awning or canopy. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.060).

“Banner sign” means a sign which is made of quality material attached on four sides. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Building face” means the general outer surface of a main exterior wall of a building. Rectangular buildings generally have four faces. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“Construction sign” means a sign located on a site where construction is underway, giving information concerning what is being constructed and/or by whom the work is being done. (Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000).

“Design review and historic preservation commission (DRHPC)” means the commission, duly appointed by the city council, which is charged with conducting sign and architectural review for the city. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 06-2013 § 3, 2013; Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Directional sign” means a sign which gives direction to, or the location of, a point of general interest; a sign, the purpose of which is to facilitate or control the efficient or safe movement of pedestrians or vehicles. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.090).

“Erect” means to build, erect, install, construct, hang, place, relocate, enlarge, substantially alter, attach, suspend, paint, post, maintain, or display. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.100).

“Feather sign” means a tall, thin flag mounted on long plastic or bamboo poles that bend with the wind. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015).

“Flag” means a sign which is made of a durable (not rigid) quality material that is attached on one side. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Freestanding sign” means a permanent sign which is self-supporting, standing on and attached to the ground and not attached to or projecting over any building or building projection. Such signs may be supported from the ground by one or more uprights, poles, or posts, with or without braces. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.110).

“Frontage” means the portion of a property parallel and adjacent to a public street. If there is more than one structure housing a separate business on a parcel, the frontage of each will be the measurement of the building portion fronting on the street plus a proportionate amount of the open area between those buildings, determined according to the frontage of each building. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.120).

“Hanging sign” means a sign suspended from a building structure, canopy, or other feature. See SMC 18.50.290, Projecting sign, and SMC 18.50.420, Wall sign. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.130).

“Identification sign” means a sign identifying the premises on which it is displayed by stating the name and/or general nature or description of the enterprise located there. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.140).

“Illuminated sign” means a sign with lighting applied to it, either in the form of exterior illumination, lighting applied to the sign from an outside source, or in the form of interior illumination, a sign lit from within the sign structure, including neon signs and light boxes. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.150).

“Information sign” means a sign used to convey information concerning the property upon which the sign is placed. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.160).

“Informational text” means writing on a sign that provides information about content, direction, description, address, or phone number, supplemental or accessory to the title or name on the sign. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.170).

“Legal nonconforming use (or business)” means a use which is not a permitted use in the location where it is found according to the current zoning ordinance, but is allowed by conditional use permit, variance, or by virtue of operating continuously in the same location prior to the adoption of the current zoning regulations. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.180).

“Mobile sign” means any permanent or temporary sign mounted on a vehicle, trailer or on portable supports. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.190).

“Moving signs” means signs and/or sign structures and light displays that are exhibited expressly to get attention through the use of motion, including pennants, whirligigs, flags, reflectors, reflective signs, moving lights, flashing lights, and visible gaseous discharges. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.200).

“Occupational nameplate” means a sign limited to name, occupation, and hours of business. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.210).

“Permanent sign” means a sign for which a sign permit is approved and issued with no time limit in accordance with the provisions of this title. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.220).

“Planning director” means the planning director of the city of Sonoma, or his/her equivalent or authorized deputy. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.230).

“Political sign” means any sign advocating preference for political parties, platforms, ideologies, and/or candidates for public office. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.240).

“Portable freestanding sign” means a portable (typically double-sided) sign, of creative design, designed to stand independently upon a surface on which it is placed. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Primary street frontage” or “primary frontage” means the street frontage on which the address of the building or lot is based. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.250).

“Projecting sign” means any sign that extends or projects outward from a building or structure. Any sign erected or suspended under a marquee, porch, portal, or walkway-covering type structure and placed generally perpendicular to the wall of the adjoining building shall be deemed a projecting sign. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.260).

“Real estate sign (commercial, corporate)” means any sign that advertises that a commercial or new development property is for sale or lease by a real estate company. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Real estate sign (commercial, noncorporate)” means any sign that advertises that a commercial or new development property is for sale or lease by an individual, not a real estate company. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Real estate sign (residential, one to four units)” means any sign that advertises that a residential property (four or fewer units) is for sale or lease. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Real estate sign (five or more units)” means any sign that advertises that a residential development (five or more units) is for sale or lease. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Rider sign” means a sign that attaches to the bottom of a real estate sign. There are two sizes of allowable rider signs: standard (24 inches by 18 inches); and premium (24 inches by 30 inches). (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Roof sign” means any sign erected upon or over the roof or parapet of any building, including the roof of any porch, walkway covering, or similar structure. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.270).

“Shopping center” means any combination of four or more commercial businesses on a single or commonly owned or leased parcel of land where common vehicular access from the street and common parking facilities are provided. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.280).

See SMC 18.50.270, Portable freestanding sign. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.290).

“Sign” means any writing, pictorial representation, symbol, logo, insignia, banner, placement of lighting, or any other feature of similar character of any material, which is used to identify, announce, direct attention to, or advertise, or which is used to decorate or illuminate for commercial purposes, or provide direction or information, which is erected on the ground or on any bush, tree, rock, wall, post, fence, building, structure, vehicle, or in or on anyplace whatsoever, which is normally visible from the exterior of a building and includes window signs. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.300).

“Sign area” means the area or size in square feet of the smallest geometrical form enclosing the total exterior surface of a sign with one exposed exterior surface; or the aggregate area of all sign surfaces of a sign with more than one exposed exterior surface, as measured above. For strictly two-sided signs (back-to-back), each face, as measured above, shall be multiplied by 0.75 to obtain the aggregate area.

If any structural element which supports a sign is designed, painted, or otherwise arranged so as to substantially contribute to the advertising qualities of the sign, such structural elements shall be included in the smallest geometrical form used to compute the area of the sign. Signs consisting solely of self-supporting block letters shall be the aggregate of the geometric form enclosing each letter when all of the following conditions apply:

A. One foot or more separates each letter;

B. The background for each face shall be the face of the building or roof upon which the letters are supported; and

C. There is no frame or other design device connecting the letters. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.310).

“Sign program” means a sign plan which identifies the placement, construction, size, materials, colors, texture, method of lighting, and other related requirement (including window signs) for those signs that are subject to the plan. The plan should address sign consistency, sign patterns, and manner in which signs attach to the building. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015).

“Temporary sign” means any sign for which a sign permit is approved and issued in accordance with the provisions of this title, with a time limit. As used in this section, “temporary” means for a period of no more than 90 days, or sooner if a date certain for removal is stated in the permit; any sign installed as a temporary sign pursuant to a permit granted pursuant to this section shall be removed before the sooner of the date required for removal in the permit or on or before 90 days after installation. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.320).

“Topper sign” means a sign that attaches to the top of a real estate sign. Topper signs may not exceed 24 inches by six inches. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011).

“Wall sign” means a sign posted on, painted on, suspended from, or otherwise affixed to the wall of any building or structure in an essentially flat position, or with the exposed face of the sign placed approximately parallel to the plane of the wall. Any sign erected or suspended from a canopy, porch, portal, or similar covering structure, and placed approximately parallel to the adjoining building wall, shall be deemed a wall sign. (Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.330).

“Window sign” means any sign secured, applied, or painted to the inside or outside of any window, or otherwise located such that the sign can be seen through a window, which is less than four feet from the sign and be visible from the exterior of the building. (Ord. 01-2015 § 1, 2015; Ord. 03-2011 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2000-9 § 1, 2000. Formerly 18.50.340).