Tiburon Municipal Code Art. VI General Sign Provisions

All signs subject to the provisions of this chapter shall comply with the following general sign provisions.

(Ord. No. 515 N.S., § 2 (part))

Examples of sign types are presented in Figure 16A-1. A definition for these sign types is provided in section 16A.305 of this chapter. The type of sign that is permitted for an establishment shall be regulated by type of use, as specified in section 16A.700 et seq. of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 515 N.S., § 2 (part))

To determine sign compliance with sign area limitations of this chapter, sign area shall be measured as follows:

(a) Measuring Surface Sign Area. Surface area of a sign shall be calculated as follows:

(1) By enclosing the extreme limits of all framing, writing, logo, representation, emblem and other display including, but not limited to, telephone numbers and internet web site addresses within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles. This method of sign measurement is depicted in Figure 16A-2.

(2) When a sign is comprised of individual letters, which appear as an unframed surface, the script and logo for each line shall be calculated separately. When distance between two lines of script is more than twice the height of the script, each line shall be counted as a separate and individual sign.

(3) The area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face.

(b) Measuring Three-Dimensional Objects. Signs that are spherical, conical, cylindrical or non-geometric three-dimensional shapes shall be measured as the area of their maximum projection upon a vertical plane. The method of such sign measurement is depicted in Figure 16A-3.

(c) Measuring Double-Faced (Back-to-Back) Signs. The area of a double-faced sign where only one sign face can be seen at one time from any location shall be calculated as a single sign face.

(d) Measuring Double-Faced or Multiple-Faced Signs Where More Than One Sign Face Is Visible From Any One Location. The maximum area of all faces that can be seen at one time from any location shall be counted in the calculation of sign area.

(e) Tubing or Strings of Lights. Illuminated tubing and strings of lights used to outline a sign or portions thereof shall be included in the calculation of permitted sign area. The tubing or strings of light shall be deemed to have a minimum width of six (6) inches in the calculation of the sign area. When illuminated tubing and strings of lights border an area that forms a substantially closed geometric shape, which contains signage within this shape, all area within the closed shape shall be considered sign area.

(f) Clocks and Temperature Display. Elements of a sign displaying time of day and/or temperature shall be included in measuring the surface sign area. Such elements are prohibited if they constitute an animated or moving sign as defined herein.

(g) Supporting Framework, Bracing, Pedestals or Foundations. Supporting framework, bracing, pedestals or foundations that are clearly incidental to or separate from the sign display shall not be computed as sign area. Examples of this condition would be a solid foundation or pedestal base on a monument-type sign. When such members are designed or illuminated so as to contribute to the advertising qualities of the sign display, the area of such members shall be computed as sign area.

(h) Sign Frames. Signs that are framed or have distinguishing color background shall be measured by the entire area of the sign and background, including the framing surfaces.

(Ord. No. 515 N.S., § 2 (part))

Figure 16A-1: Types of Signs

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Figure 16A-2: Measuring Surface Sign Area

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Figure 16A-3: Measuring Three-Dimensional Signs

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The location and placement of a sign shall be subject to the following:

(a) On-Site Location Only. All signs displaying commercial messages shall be located on the same site, building or development as the subject establishment, except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this chapter.

(b) Hazardous Location. No sign may be placed or located in such a manner as to constitute a safety hazard or to impede the public use of the public right of way, by factors including, but not limited to, sight distance and tripping hazard; and no sign shall be erected, mounted or displayed in such a manner that it blocks or impedes the normal pedestrian use of public sidewalks.

(c) Prohibited Mountings. Other than official government signs or warning signs required by law, no sign shall be placed in or upon median strips or islands, bridges, benches, traffic signals, utility poles, utility equipment, street lights, traffic signs, traffic sign posts or supporting structures, or on anchor wires or guy wires. No sign may be cut, burned, marked or in any other manner displayed on a cliff, hillside or tree.

(d) Intersection Visibility. Signs erected or maintained at or near any street intersection may not obstruct the free and clear vision of drivers and pedestrians. Other than traffic control signals, no sign shall be installed in the visibility triangle at intersections.

(e) No Obstruction of Exits, Windows and Safety Equipment, etc. No sign shall be erected in any manner where a portion of the sign or its supports would interfere with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe, or obstruct any required stairway, door, ventilator, window, handicapped ramp or access, or required parking space.

(f) Maintenance of Adequate Sight Distance. No sign shall be erected in any manner or location where it will physically impede or cause hazardous obstruction to the visibility of vehicles or persons entering or exiting doorways or driveways.

(g) General Placement of Signs. The permitted sign(s) for an establishment shall be placed on the street front face or elevation of the building where the establishment is located (see definition for establishment frontage in section 16A.305). Where an establishment is located in a building that has no street frontage, is located on a one-way street, or where public visibility of the front face or entrance of an establishment is limited or impaired, the permitted sign may be placed on the side or rear face or elevation of the building where the establishment is located.

(h) Establishment Frontage on Corner Lots. On corner lots where establishment frontage exists on two streets, signs may be placed on both frontages, but the permitted square footage for each establishment frontage may be transferred from one frontage to another only by granting of an exception.

(i) Establishment frontage on a public parking lot or public parking structure, or publicly-traveled waterway. Where establishment frontage exists on a parking lot or parking structure generally open to the public, or on a publicly-traveled waterway such as San Francisco Bay, this establishment frontage shall be considered the same as establishment frontage on a public street when determining permitted sign area.

(j) Placement of Wall and Window Signs. No wall sign shall project more than twelve (12) inches from the wall to which it is affixed; nor shall any portion of a wall sign extend above a roof line in such manner that it becomes a roof sign. No more than twenty-five (25) percent of the area of a framed window or a continuous window area shall be used for a sign or signs. When a window contains multiple panes, the framed area of the whole window, inclusive of the individual paned areas, shall be used in calculating the permissible sign area. Window signs shall be counted against the overall permitted sign area and number, and shall be subject to the same provisions and limitations as for wall signs.

(k) Location and Placement of Marquee and Under Marquee Signs. The location and placement of marquee signs and under marquee signs shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) A minimum vertical clearance of eight (8) feet above the sidewalk, path, public property, public right-of-way or easement shall be maintained.

(2) Signs shall not project beyond the ends or sides of the marquee.

(3) Signs placed on the face of a marquee may extend above the top of the marquee provided that this extension is not more than one-half the height of the marquee face and is below the building roofline.

(4) An under marquee sign shall not exceed ten (10) square feet in area.

(5) When marquee and under marquee signs are illuminated, the conduit and wiring that provides the source of illumination shall be concealed or screened, to the extent feasible.

(l) Location and Placement of Projecting Signs. The location and placement of projecting signs shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) A projecting sign shall not exceed ten (10) square feet in area.

(2) A minimum vertical clearance of eight (8) feet above the sidewalk, path, public property, public right-of-way or easement shall be maintained.

(3) Signs shall be placed at or below the sill of the second floor windows in a multi-story building or below the eave line of a single-story building. Projecting signs shall be permitted for a ground floor establishment only.

(4) Signs, including any structural members, shall not project more than a distance of six (6) feet from the building face. In no case shall any sign project to a distance nearer than two (2) feet from the street curb.

(5) Signs placed near the side property line or side building wall line facing two streets or rights-of-way shall be set back from the corner to maintain appropriate sight distance.

(6) When projecting signs are illuminated, the conduit and wiring that provides the source of illumination shall be concealed or screened, to the extent feasible.

(7) No projecting sign shall extend above the top level of the wall or in any other manner such that it becomes a roof sign.

(m) Location and Placement of Mansard Signs. Mansard signs shall be located on the lower two-thirds (⅔) of the roof slope and shall not project more than three (3) feet from the sloped roof face at any point. The sign ends of a mansard sign shall be designed to return and be flush with the mansard roof, so that the rear of the sign and the sign bracing are not visible.

(n) Location, Placement and Illumination of Awning Signs. The location and placement of awning signs shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) Signs may be placed on the front and sides (ends) of the valance of the awning. However, each sign placed at these locations shall be counted as one of the permitted signs for the establishment.

(2) The sign shall cover no more than fifty (50) percent of the front face area of the awning and no more than fifty (50) percent of the awning sides (ends).

(3) When awning signs are illuminated, the illumination shall be limited to the sign script and/or logo only. Illumination designed to light the entire awning is not permitted.

(4) Lettering on awning signs shall be contained in a single line limited to the awning face (valance) perpendicular to the ground below.

(o) Location and Placement of Freestanding Signs. The location and placement of freestanding signs shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) No freestanding sign shall be placed in any location that the town determines would interfere with vehicular or pedestrian safety.

(2) A freestanding sign shall not exceed eighteen (18) feet in height; and a monument sign shall not exceed five (5) feet in height. A freestanding sign on a single support pole shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in height. Shopping centers located on parcels over three (3) acres in area may have a twenty (20) foot high freestanding sign.

(3) Freestanding signs are permitted on lots or parcels that have a minimum frontage width of fifty (50) feet.

(4) Freestanding signs are permitted on lots and parcels with a minimum building setback from the property line of fifteen (15) feet, except along Ark Row (72 through 130 Main Street).

(5) No freestanding sign shall be less than four (4) feet from any other sign, building, or structure.

(6) Freestanding signs are prohibited on Lower Main Street (1 through 55 Main Street).

(p) Changeable Copy Signs. Changeable copy signs are allowed only in conjunction with non-residential uses. The maximum sign area devoted to changeable copy on any sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) square feet. Lighting shall be external indirect only. Maximum height is eight (8) feet. Mounting methods are limited to wall, window, marquee, and freestanding.

(q) Signs on Historic Buildings. Signs located on buildings designated by the town council as historical landmarks, or on buildings listed on the Local Historic Inventory of Buildings Located in Downtown Tiburon, adopted by resolution of the town council, shall be compatible with, and shall not detract from, the historic character and defining elements of the building.

(Ord. No. 515 N.S., § 2 (part))

The town encourages signs requiring a sign permit to employ the following principles of design:

(a) Sign Design. Should be physically compatible with the building/surroundings.

(b) Sign Colors and Materials. Should be:

(1) Physically compatible with the building/surroundings.

(2) Metal/reflective materials to be matte or non-glare surface.

(3) High quality and durable materials.

(c) Multiple-Tenant Buildings, Uniform Treatment. A uniform treatment of sign type, colors, materials, design and illumination is encouraged for shopping centers and multiple-tenant buildings. When new signs are proposed for existing buildings with multiple tenants and signs, such signs should reflect where possible the general sign type, colors, materials, design and illumination that is prominent on the building. Adoption of a sign program pursuant to section 16A.525 is highly recommended for shopping centers and multiple-tenant buildings to reduce processing time for sign permit applications and facilitate compliance with town regulations.

(d) Downtown Area Signs. The following additional principles of design are encouraged for signs located in Downtown Tiburon, and are derived from the Downtown Tiburon Design Handbook, at pages 49-55, which may be referenced on the Town of Tiburon website for further guidance.

(1) Signs should physically complement the architecture of the building or storefront.

(2) Signs should preserve the transparency of the storefront.

(Ord. No. 515 N.S., § 2 (part))

The illumination of signs from an artificial source shall be minimized to avoid light spillage, nuisance, momentary blindness or other hazard, unreasonable brightness, glare, or other annoyance, disability, or discomfort to persons within view of such light sources. Exterior lighting shall be designed to eliminate off-site spread of light through the use of hooded, low-level, low-wattage light fixtures, which cast light in a downward direction. When illumination is proposed, it shall be subject to an electrical permit. The required sign illumination standards are as follows:

(a) Sign Illumination Regulated by Type of Land Use and Sign Type. The type of sign illumination (if any) permitted is as specified in section 16A.700 et seq., and as otherwise set forth in this chapter.

(b) Allowable Illumination. All lighting shall comply with the current lighting code requirements adopted pursuant to chapter 13 of the Tiburon Municipal Code. The following types of illumination are allowable:

(1) Halo-Type Illumination. The light source is concealed behind an opaque face and the rays of illumination are projected outwards toward the edge of the sign forming a "halo" effect around the exterior of the sign. Lighting that passes through the face or individual lettering of the sign is not allowed.

(2) External, Indirect Illumination. The light source is exposed and directed toward the sign face but is shielded or concealed from view with proper shields or glass lenses to avoid glare. Examples of external illumination include gooseneck light fixtures and ground mounted light fixtures.

(3) Reflective Illumination. Illumination that is not florescent or electrically charged, but that responds to light, such as from passing vehicle headlights, by shining or glowing.

(4) Neon. Neon or other visible discharge gas may be used only on non-residential establishments and shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the sign area.

(c) Exposed Lighting. Signs using exposed light sources, including but not limited to neon tubing or visible discharge gas, may be conditionally approved such as to receive final approval only when, within sixty (60) days of commencement of operation of the lighting and sign, the director of community development finds that the light from the sign does not cause unreasonable glare or annoyance to persons of ordinary sensibility. When such condition is applied, the sign owner must immediately inform the director in writing of the commencement of operation of the lighting and sign such that the director's review may proceed expeditiously. Failure to so notify the director shall toll the commencement of the sixty (60) day review period commensurate with the delay in written notification. The director's finding as described above may be made only after a duly noticed hearing at which evidence is taken and a written decision is issued. The director of community development's inquiry shall not include consideration of the message content of the sign, and shall be restricted to the physical method of presentation (i.e. lighting) of the message.

(d) Illumination that is Prohibited. The following types of illumination are prohibited:

(1) Blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or illumination that has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.

(2) Animated or moving messages.

(3) Searchlights used for commercial advertising purposes.

(4) Internal illumination that passes through the face or lettering of a sign.

(5) Electronic (e.g. LED, LCD, and video-type).

(Ord. No. 515 N.S., § 2 (part))