Article 7 — TEMPORARY SIGNS

911.7.010 TEMPORARY SIGNS.

a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no person may erect a temporary sign except to advertise a business, industry or pursuit conducted on the premises on which the sign is erected or maintained; provided, however, that the provisions shall not apply to signs of a civic, political or religious nature or other noncommercial speech. Such signs shall not take the place of permanent signs beyond a period of ninety (90) days.

b) Except as otherwise provided and for special events, temporary signs affixed to buildings are limited to banner type signs not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area and fifty percent (50%) of the building frontage in width, allowing a minimum of twenty (20) square feet and a maximum of sixty (60) square feet of sign area for buildings at property line. An additional one (1) square foot of area will be allowed for each ten (10) feet the building is set back from the street to a maximum of one hundred (100) square feet.

c) Buildings with frontages on two (2) major streets or residential properties for lease on corner lots may display one (1) banner on each frontage.

d) Where feasible, banners shall be placed against the flat surface of the building wall beneath the roof line. In no case may banners be strung between posts, trees or in required landscaping areas.

e) The Community Development Director may approve additional signs such as flags, pennants, banners, etc., for special events such as grand openings, under new management, or inventory sales for a time limited to thirty (30) days per calendar year. Such time shall be counted as a part of the ninety (90) day limitation for all temporary signs.

f) Mylar-type balloons made of any electrically conductive material and portable-type signs are prohibited. Portable signs are those that are not permanently affixed to the ground but are self-supporting.

g) The length of flags representing governmental bodies may not exceed one-fourth (1/4) the height of the flag pole. A flag pole height shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet at property line. The height may be increased in height by one (1) foot with each one (1) foot in setback from the property line to a maximum of fifty (50) feet in height.

911.7.020 TIME LIMIT ON TEMPORARY SIGNS.

a) Except as otherwise provided, banners constructed of sturdy material may be used to advertise sales or special events for a period up to ninety (90) days during any one (1) calendar year. Extension beyond ninety (90) days is subject to CDD Director or Planning Commission approval subject to the following criteria and provided the banner is not being used to take the place of a permanent sign:

1. The extension of time will not affect the rights of adjacent property owners or tenants, or would constitute an adverse impact on them.

• 2. The banner remains whole, attractive, and is not faded or ripped.

3. The extension of time will not result in a material change in the concept or execution of the sign program as approved by Council, the Planning Commission, or other body or official.

4. There is a hardship to the applicant if the extension of time is not granted.

5. The extension of time will not be contrary to any established planning, zoning or sign policies of the Council, a commission, body or official for the particular project under consideration as determined by a review of the minutes or other records of the original approval.

911.7.030 PERMITS.

a) An annual temporary sign permit may be issued for signs that comply with the provisions of this Chapter that allows the applicant to tailor the duration and number of days under the permit to meet the particular needs of the establishment, provided the total number of days does not exceed ninety (90) calendar days per year and the application meets the requirements of this Section. A temporary sign permit may be issued for consecutive periods of time only.

b) The applicant for a temporary sign permit or an annual temporary sign permit must be the property owner or the lessee of the subject property with the approval of the property owner.

911.7.040 TRADE CONSTRUCTION SIGNS.

Construction trade signs shall be constructed of plywood or similar material and shall not exceed a total sign area of sixty-four (64) square feet. These signs may be displayed without permit at the discretion of the Community Development Director to advertise the various construction trades on a construction site. Trade construction signs shall be removed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

911.7.050 COMMERCIAL LEASING SIGNS.

a) Signs advertising commercial properties for rent or sale shall be constructed of plywood or sheet metal material and shall not exceed a total sign area of thirty-two (32) square feet for properties less than one hundred (100) feet in frontage. Properties with one hundred (100) feet or more of frontage may have a sign not to exceed sixty-four (64) square feet and may be displayed without permit at the discretion of the Community Development Director.

b) Commercial leasing signs may only be displayed when there is an available unit of space to be sold or rented and shall not be permanently attached to the property.

c) Properties having more than one (1) frontage may display a sign on each frontage.

911.7.060 REAL ESTATE SIGNS - RESIDENTIAL.

a) Real estate signs for one (1) to four (4) units shall be subject to the following criteria:

1. One (1) additional sign not to exceed twelve (12) square feet, six (6) feet high, with five (5) flags, located not less than five (5) feet from property line of the lot upon which such sign is placed, and pertaining only to the rental, lease or sale of the building or property upon which such sign is located will be permitted without the issuance of a sign permit in any of the residential zones.

One (1) additional sign not to exceed twelve (12) square feet, six (6) feet high, with five (5) flags, located not less than five (5) feet from property line of the lot upon which such sign is placed, and pertaining only to the rental, lease or sale of the building or property upon which such sign is located will be permitted without the issuance of a sign permit in any of the residential zones.

2. Six (6) unlighted directional open house signs, leading to the site of the sale, not to exceed six (6) square feet, four (4) feet high, with one (1) pennant per sign, may be placed on private property, with consent of owner, during daylight hours only, and shall be permitted without the issuance of a sign permit; provided, however, that such signs shall not be located at any location or driveway so as to interfere with the view of traffic at any intersection or driveway. Such placement of signs or pennants shall not allow the use of more than one (1) sign and one (1) pennant at any one (1) location to any one (1) real estate broker or owner.

b) A sign program for on-site and off-site directional signs for five (5) or more residential units shall be approved by the Community Development Director and shall adhere to the following guidelines, not excluding other conditions, as approved by the Community Development Director:

1. On-Site Signs.

A) On-site signs may consist of a subdivision sign plus one (1) fifteen (15) square foot flag for every fifty (50) feet of frontage to a maximum of five (5) flags for each street frontage.

B) A provision shall be made in the conditions, covenants and restrictions concerning the control of signs for the resale of units.

2. Off-Site Directional Signs.

A) Off-site directional signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet and shall be limited to one (1) sign for each location.

B) Such sign shall be displayed only during daylight hours and when the property is open for inspection.

C) Signs may not be placed on any public property and may be placed on private property only with the consent of the property owner.

D) Signs shall not be placed in street medians, tree walls and parkways, including those that have received special surface treatment, such as rock, asphalt, concrete, etc., or any other public property; nor shall any portion of the ground or right-of-way of parks, libraries, schools or other public buildings or grounds be used for such signs.

E) Directional signs staked to the ground shall not be attached to any street tree, traffic signal/information sign, utility pole or appurtenance or other structure, nor shall they be located on public property.

F) The placement of such signs shall not create any sight obstruction or safety hazard for traffic or pedestrians.

• G) The number of directional signs shall be limited to provide directional information only.

H) Placement of signs on private property must require approval of the property owner.

911.7.070 SUBDIVISION SIGNS.

Ground signs advertising a subdivision for sale, rent or lease may be permitted upon approval of the Planning Commission, subject to the following criteria:

a) Maximum area per sign to be three hundred (300) square feet.

b) Minimum distance of five hundred (500) linear feet between signs.

c) Signs to be located on subdivision parcel.

• d) A maximum of one (1) sign may be permitted for each street facing.

911.7.080 POLITICAL SIGNS.

a) Any sign designating a candidate for a political office to be voted on by the electors of Torrance is a political candidate sign. Political candidate signs may be placed on private property with the consent of the owner of the property in any use zone from the date the candidate files an official declaration of candidacy and shall be removed not later than fourteen (14) days after the election.

b) Any sign advertising a ballot issue to be voted on by the electors of Torrance is a political issue sign. Political issue signs may be placed on private property with the consent of the owner of the property in any use zone from the date the issue is authorized to be placed on the ballot by resolution of the State, county, City, school district, special district or other public entity affected thereby and shall be removed not later than fourteen (14) days after the election.

c) No permit, bond or fee shall be required to post a political sign.

d) All political signs shall be maintained in a state of security, safety and good repair and shall be subject to the design and construction specifications for temporary signs set forth in this Article. If the Director shall find that any political sign is unsafe, insecure or a menace to the public safety or fails to meet the design and construction specifications for temporary signs, the owner of such sign (or the owner of the property who has permitted such sign to be posted on his premises) shall be given written notice thereof and shall be required to remove it or alter it to comply with the standards set forth in this Article no later than twenty-four (24) hours after he is so notified. The Community Development Director may cause the sign to be removed or altered to so comply upon failure to do so by the owner within twenty-tour (24) hours; provided, however, that the Community Development Director may cause any political sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.

911.7.090 TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGNS.

Temporary window signs, in commercial areas only, shall not be governed by the sign area regulations for wall signs described in this Article. Temporary window signs shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the window area and shall not require a permit if signs meet the requirements of this Chapter. String lights and/or light tubes may not be used in windows unless previously approved as part of the building architecture. Temporary window signs shall not be permitted in residential and industrial land use areas.

911.7.100 TEMPORARY CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS SIGNS.

Temporary civic and religious signs may be used without the issuance of a permit and shall not be subject to the regulations for wall, roof, ground or projecting signs as described in this Chapter.

911.7.110 GASOLINE/SERVICE STATION SIGNS.

a) Service stations shall be allowed signs as provided in the Code requirements.

b) In addition to permanent permitted signs, price signs shall be allowed as follows: All prices shall be displayed in compliance with State requirements. Price signs must be attached to the existing ground sign. If the existing sign will not allow any attachment, a pole sign not exceeding six (6) feet in height may be used to display price signs.

• 1. Properties with one (1) street frontage may have one (1) price sign not to exceed fifteen (15) square feet, attached to a ground sign.
• 2. Properties with two (2) street frontages may have two (2) double-face, fifteen (15) square feet signs attached to ground signs.
• 3. Changeable electronic signs may be used for service station price signs without requiring Commission approval.

c) All other temporary signs are prohibited except as provided for in this Code or State regulations.

911.7.120 CAR DEALERSHIPS.

a) Car dealerships shall be allowed signs as provided in the sign code requirements.

b) Banners which are to be attached to walls shall be limited as provided in this Article except that one (1) additional banner may be allowed for the used car sales section of the car dealership property.

c) In addition, car dealerships shall be allowed to display pole banners (two (2) sided) not to exceed a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet; and one (1) fifteen (15) square foot flag per pole, to a maximum of ten (10) per property.

d) Temporary signs may be permitted for up to ninety (90) days per permit but must be removed for a minimum of ninety (90) days before another permit may be issued.

911.7.130 SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

No advertising or temporary type sign shall be placed upon any utility pole or appurtenance thereto, street light, street tree, traffic or directional/information type sign on public property, nor shall any sign be placed on public property, including sidewalks, parkways, streets, medians or any other public property, including parks, libraries, schools or other public facilities.

911.7.140 STREET BANNERS.

No persons shall erect, place, suspend, attach or maintain over any public street or other public way or place any sign or banner for any purpose whatsoever; provided, however, permits for such signs may be granted by the City Manager, and provided such signs are concerned with the announcing of a matter of general City-wide importance; but in no event shall a permit be granted which in any way promotes any individual or product. The installation shall be approved by the Community Development Director.

911.7.150 DECORATIONS.

Seasonal signs, lights and decorations with no commercial message may be displayed for one (1) continuous period not to exceed ninety (90) days per year, provided they are not prohibited signs.