Wheatland Municipal Code Ch. 19.10 General and Administrative Provisions

This title shall be known as the "City of Wheatland Sign Ordinance."

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

The purpose and intent of this title are to authorize and regulate the use of signs in order to:

A. Encourage a desirable urban character consistent with the general plan;

B. Preserve and improve the appearance of the city as a place to live, work and visit;

C. Eliminate confusing, distracting or dangerous sign displays that interfere with vehicular traffic;

D. Promote commerce;

E. Provide for fair and equal treatment of sign users;

F. Promote ease of sign ordinance administration;

G. Provide for eventual elimination of nonconforming signs on a fair and equitable basis.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

Except as otherwise provided in this title, no person shall erect, construct or maintain within the city a sign or sign structure in any manner other than as provided by this title.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

The planning director and building official are authorized and directed to administer and enforce all provisions of this title.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

A. The planning director and building official or his/her authorized representative may enter at reasonable times any building, structure or premises in the city to perform any duty imposed on him or her by this title; provided, that if such building, structure or premises are occupied, he or she shall first present proper credentials and request entry; and if such building, structure or premises are unoccupied he or she shall first make reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the building, structure or premises and request entry. If such entry is refused, the planning director and building official or his or her authorized representative shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry.

B. When the planning director and building official or his or her authorized representative has first obtained a proper inspection warrant, no owner or occupant or any other person having charge, shall fail or neglect, after proper request is made, to permit entry by the planning director and building official or his or her authorized representative for the purpose of performing a duty imposed by this title.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

In order to provide for reasonable interpretations of the provisions of this title, the board of appeals is designated as the city council. Any person aggrieved by an action of the planning director/building official under this title may appeal that action to the city council by filing a notice of appeal with the city clerk within ten days of the planning director's/building official's decision.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

The following types of signs are exempt from the regulations of this title:

A. Nameplates or occupational signs not exceeding two square feet in area containing only the name, business and/or profession of the occupant of the premises or building on which the sign is displayed;

B. Bulletin boards not exceeding eight square feet in area on the premises of government buildings and places of public assembly or worship;

C. Signs not exceeding sixteen square feet relating to pending construction projects;

D. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and/or date of erection when cut into masonry, bronze or other incombustible material;

E. Traffic or other governmental and public safety signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, signs indicating the location of public telephones, and signs showing the location of public utility underground facilities.

F. Garage sale, yard sale and similar signs of a temporary nature for the advertisement of a limitedterm (no more than three days) sale event located on residential property in the city, subject to the following: a sign shall not exceed six square feet or three feet high; signs shall not be illuminated; signs shall not be posted in the public right-of-way, on street light or telephone poles, or on trees; signs may be posted only on private property with the approval or consent of the property owner or tenant; signs shall not be posted for longer than three days per event; signs shall not be posted for more than three events at the same property per calendar year; and, signs shall not be placed as to create a safety hazard.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

In each instance and under the same conditions in which this title permits any sign, a sign containing an ideological, political or other noncommercial message and constructed to the same physical dimensions and character shall be permitted.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)