Woodside Municipal Code § 153.503 Temporary signs

It is the purpose of this subchapter to protect each person's right to freedom of speech and expression while reasonably regulating the display of identification, directional, advertising, and temporary signs to assure the following objectives:

(A) To protect the public health, safety and welfare;

(B) To preserve the natural beauty and resources of the Town and to maintain its essentially rural residential character;

(C) To maintain the attractive aesthetic quality of the Town by encouraging signs which are:

(1) Well designed, clearly legible, and visually pleasing; and

(2) Adequate but not excessive in size or design for their intended purpose;

(D) To protect the scenic amenities and corridors adjacent to the Town's roads by prohibiting the erection or construction of outdoor advertising signs or displays on either public or private property, except as provided for in this chapter;

(E) To protect office and commercial uses from the loss of visual identity resulting from poorly designed or excessive signs on nearby sites; and

(F) To identify businesses in a manner which is harmonious with an aesthetic and functional Town commercial center.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.301) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

The following signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts:

(A) Personal nameplates not exceeding one and one-half square feet in area;

(B) Announcement signs or bulletin boards for public, charitable, or religious institutions provided such signs or bulletin boards shall be located on the premises of such institution and shall not exceed 12 square feet in area;

(C) Signs advertising nonconforming businesses and industries provided such signs do not exceed 12 square feet in area; are attached flat against the wall of the building in which such nonconforming business or industry is located; and have been approved by the Architectural and Site Review Board as being in conformance with the goals of the General Plan and within the other applicable limitations of this chapter;

(D) Warning signs and signals. Such signs may be illuminated by other than reflected light when required for the public safety or convenience, subject to the approval of the Planning Director,

(E) Highway and traffic markers, road name signs, and such signs and markers as public utility companies by law may be required to display;

(F) Commemorative symbols, memorial plaques, and historical tablets when placed by organizations or historical societies and when approved by the Planning Director;

(G) Signs designating entrances, trespass, exits, or conditions of use of parking areas; providing, however, no single sign shall exceed eight square feet in area, and its location shall have been approved by the Planning Director;

(H) Directional signs for public or quasi-public uses, such as those indicating the location of rest rooms, telephones, and underground utilities; provided, however, no individual sign shall exceed two square feet in area;

(I) Signs indicating business hours, emergency telephone numbers, and credit cards and service station signs indicating gas prices; provided, however, no individual sign shall exceed one and one-half feet in area, and the total area of all such signs, at any single establishment, shall not exceed four square feet in area;

(J) Bulletin or announcement boards attached to commercial and institutional buildings for posting personal or public notices not exceeding the size limitations established for the CC District; and

(K) Flags of the United States and the State of California.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.302) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

(A) Definitions.

COMMERCIAL SIGN. A sign advertising a business, service, or goods for sale, or that encourages commercial activity.

ELECTION SIGN. A sign that advocates for or against a particular candidate or item appearing on a ballot, a sign that encourages votes in a particular election, or a sign that otherwise references the date or occurrence of an election.

TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign which is not permanently affixed to the ground or structure and intended to be displayed for a temporary period, including but not limited to, signs related to events and political causes.

(B) To maintain public safety, minimize debris from displacement of temporary signs by wind or other action, and to maintain the rural character and high aesthetic standards of the Town, temporary signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts subject to the following requirements:

(1) Temporary signs shall not exceed 24 square feet in area per printed side.

(2) Temporary signs may be freestanding or temporarily affixed to a building, structure, fence, or tree on private property. Freestanding temporary signs shall not be erected to exceed an overall height of eight feet from finished grade. A temporary sign affixed to building, structure, or fence shall not project above the height of the building, structure, or fence. Temporary signs affixed to trees on private property shall not exceed eight feet from grade.

(3) Temporary commercial signs shall not be displayed in any zoning district other than the Community Commercial (CC) or Planned Community Commercial Districts (PCCD), except as otherwise provided in this section.

(4) No temporary sign shall be placed or affixed on, or extend over public property, or be affixed to any traffic signal, street light, utility pole, utility pole guide-wire, mail box or traffic sign.

(5) No temporary sign shall be placed within the public right-of-way, except that the owner or leaseholder of any parcel adjacent to public right-of-way may display temporary signs no closer than two feet from the paved driving surface of a roadway or sidewalk within the public right-of-way along their adjoining property line. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any temporary sign within the public right-of-way that blocks normal paths of travel or constitutes a hazard in the discretion of the Town Manager may be immediately moved or removed by the Town.

(6) Temporary signs shall not block access to, or hinder use of, areas designated for public parking.

(7) Temporary signs shall not be lighted directly and shall not be indirectly illuminated unless placed on or near a structure already providing said illumination.

(8) No temporary sign shall be placed where it will obstruct or impede traffic visibility.

(9) Temporary signs shall not be affixed to trees on public property or in the public right-of-way.

(10) Temporary signs placed on private property must have the express consent of the property owner.

(11) Election signs may not be displayed more than 90 calendar days prior to the election date or more than ten calendar days after the election date.

(12) The Town Manager or designee shall have the right to immediately remove any temporary sign posted in violation of this section on public property or in the public right-of-way.

(C) Signs advertising the sale or lease of property may be displayed only on the property for sale or lease and shall not exceed six square feet in area for each lot or parcel advertised. Signs advertising the sale or lease of more than one lot or parcel shall not exceed an aggregate of 50 square feet in area. However, no individual sign shall be larger than 12 square feet. A renewable permit valid for six months, with a maximum of a six-month extension, shall be secured from the Planning Director prior to placement; and

(D) One sign not exceeding six square feet in area may be placed on each commercial, institutional, or residential construction project authorized by a valid building permit. Such signs shall be removed upon the completion of the project, and responsibility for the maintenance and removal thereof shall be that of the property owner.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.303) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

Except as otherwise specified, all non-temporary signs in the CC District shall require the issuance of a sign permit. The design and placement of signs permitted in the CC District, and signs advertising permitted nonconforming uses in the residential districts, shall be reviewed in accordance with Sections 153.911 through 153.918 of this chapter prior to the issuance of a permit for the installation, construction, or erection of any such sign. A separate sign permit is not required for signs installed, constructed, or erected pursuant to a sign program included within an approved use permit.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.304) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2015-569, effective 1-7-16; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

The following signs shall be permitted in the Community Commercial District:

(A) A maximum of two permanent identification signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total aggregate sign area permitted for any individual site shall be calculated as follows:

(1) One and one-half square feet of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage, not to exceed a maximum area of 32 square feet; or

(2) A maximum of 13 percent of the total area of the front building elevation, not to exceed 32 square feet in area; and

(B) Any sign permitted by Section 153.502.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.305) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

The following regulations shall apply to all signs :

(A) Signs, except personal nameplates, house numbers, and all signs permitted under Section 153.502, shall be attached to a building wall suspended from the eaves or soffit or from the ceiling of a covered walkway. Such signs shall not project more than three feet from the face of the building and shall not be less than seven feet above the ground level.

(B) Signs shall not extend laterally beyond the building wall to which they are mounted, except when the Planning Commission determines that the sign is an integral part or feature of the building structure or design.

(C) Signs shall not project beyond any property line.

(D) Floodlights, flags, banners, and objects which rotate or move by wind action shall not be permitted, except for national or state flags flown with the flag of the United States of America.

(E) No sign, with the exception of barber poles, shall contain visibly moving parts or simulate movement by means of fluttering, spinning, or reflecting devices.

(F) No sign shall have blinking or flashing lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing or alternating light intensity, brightness, or color.

(G) signs may be illuminated only by a light source reflecting off the sign. The intensity of the light source shall be approved by the Planning Director.

(H) No sign shall be erected or maintained which is designed or illuminated so that it resembles or may be mistaken for a traffic light or signal.

(I) Freestanding facility identification signs outside of the Community Commercial District for open space, institutional, and quasi-public uses shall not exceed 12 square feet, and no more than two signs are permitted.

(1975 Code, § 9-2.306) (Ord. 1980-291, effective 9-11-80; Am. Ord. 1999-494, effective 3-25-99; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Am. Ord. 2017-591, effective 12-14-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

Holiday lighting and holiday displays, which do not advertise any product or sale, may be displayed on private property in any zoning district, provided they are erected no earlier than 31 days prior to the holiday and are removed no later than 14 days after the holiday.

(Ord. 2002-516, effective 12-26-02; Am. Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Ord. No. 2024-638, effective 7-25-24)

Cross reference— Penalty, § 153.999.