87.0725 Primary Signs. — Yucaipa Zoning Code

(a) Primary Signs

The following primary signs are permitted in any land use district.

(1) Primary Civic Signs
(A) Primary civic signs which serve to identify a community are permitted in any land use district subject to a Land Use Compliance Review by the Building Official and the following.
(B) Primary civic signs shall have a maximum area of 100 square feet and a maximum height of 15 feet, except that in those districts where accessory business signs are not permitted, primary civic signs shall have a maximum area of 32 square feet and a maximum height of 12 feet. In those districts where accessory business signs are permitted, the maximum height and area for a primary civic sign shall be the same as the permitted accessory business sign, unless otherwise specified by this chapter.
(b) Temporary Primary Signs

The following signs shall be permitted in any land use district on a temporary basis, subject to the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit, as follows.

(1) Temporary Primary Directional Signs
(A) These directional signs are for each residential development project.
(B) Where no approved Sign Location Plan exists, temporary primary directional signs for each residential

development project or approved increment or phase thereof will be permitted subject to the issuance of a Temporary Use Permit and subject to the following.

(I) A maximum of four signs not within the boundaries of the residential development project shall be permitted, with a maximum area of 32 square feet per sign.
(II) A maximum of three signs are permitted within the boundaries of the residential development project. These signs are to be located as follows: one at the entrance and one at the exit of the residential development project, and one at the sales office site.
(III) Signs allowed by this subsection may only state the name of the development, directions, and distance to the development, type of financing, price range, and the developer’s telephone number.
(IV) Each sign location will be considered as an individual site.
(V) Each sign shall be located at least 500 feet away from any other sign, unless it is determined by the Director of the Department of Planning that a closer spacing will better accomplish the intent of this section.
(VI) Such signs may be located in front, side, or rear yards, but may not be located closer than five feet from the edge of the planned right-of-way.
(C) Sign Location Plan

In areas where a Sign Location Plan has been approved, temporary directional primary signs shall be incorporated into sign structures designed to accommodate identifications of more than one residential development project, or approved increments thereof.

Such temporary primary directional signs shall comply with the following.

(I) The site of each sign structure must be shown on an approved Sign Location Plan.
(II) Each sign structure shall be constructed in accordance with elevations shown on an approved Sign Location Plan.
(III) Each individual sign structure shall have no more than 100 square feet of total sign area. The average sign area for all signs approved by the Sign Location Plan shall be 64 square feet or less.
(IV) New sign structures shall be located no closer than 500 feet from any existing sign structure.
(V) Any one face of a sign structure shall include no more than one panel per residential development.
(VI) In addition to the above requirements, a maximum of two separate primary signs may be individually approved per residential development as an amendment to the Sign Location Plan. Each sign shall be subject to the same design and location standards specified by subsection 87.0725(b)(2)(B).

(VII) All nonconforming signs on the proposed site shall be removed prior to the approval of a Sign Location Plan. (VIII) Where such alternate advertising displays are proposed to be placed within County road rights-of-way, City transportation encroachment permits shall be obtained prior to approval of the Sign Location Plan.

(IX) An approved Sign Location Plan may also approve the use of flags or other alternate advertising displays both on site and off site, provided the conditions of approval specify the type, maximum area, maximum height, maximum number, minimum spacing, time limitation, and maintenance requirements for such alternate advertising displays.

(X) Temporary Use Permits issued for such primary signs and sign structures constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section may receive up to four annual renewals and time extensions or until all lots within subdivisions or units within a residential development using the sign structure have been sold, whichever occurs first.

(c) Electronic Messaging Center Billboard
(1) General Definitions

For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A) “Billboard” has the same meaning as those advertising displays defined in California Business and Professions Code Section 5202.

(B) “Electronic Messaging Center Billboard” means an internally or externally illuminated billboard that utilizes digital message technology capable of instantaneously changing the static message or copy on the sign electronically.

(2) Total Number of Electronic Messaging Center Billboards Permitted; New Billboards Prohibited.

The total number of Electronic Messaging Center Billboards permitted on privately-owned properties within the City shall be three (3). No other Billboards shall be permitted on such properties in the City.

(3) Site Limitations

Electronic Messaging Center Billboards constructed or otherwise located within the City of Yucaipa shall be subject to the following site limitations:

(A) An Electronic Messaging Center Billboard shall be located within 300 feet of either edge of the right-of-way of California Interstate Highway 10, and within 750 feet of an existing freeway interchange and ramp.

(B) No Electronic Messaging Center Billboard shall be located within 500 feet of any other Billboard or Electronic Messaging Center Billboard located on the same side of the freeway or within 1,000 feet of any other Billboard or Electronic Messaging Center Billboard located on the opposite side of the freeway.

(4) Review Process

No Electronic Messaging Center Billboard shall be constructed, erected, or operated without first obtaining a conditional use permit pursuant to the procedure, notice and hearing requirements specified in Section 83.030120 of the Yucaipa Development Code, and shall include the following information with the application materials for the Conditional Use Permit:

(A) Flag test for the Electronic Messaging Center Billboard, which shall be conducted according to the following protocol:

(I) A Flag or object no smaller than thirty-two (32) square feet shall be lifted vertically in the location of the proposed Electronic Messaging Center Billboard, starting at a height of twenty-five (25) feet (measured from the bottom of the object).

(II) City personnel shall observe whether the object is visible at a height of twenty-five (25) feet (measured from the bottom of the object). If the object is not visible, it shall be raised in ten-foot (10') increments until it is visible from one (1) direction at a distance of three-tenths (3/10) of one (1) mile from sign location. The height at which the object becomes visible shall establish the maximum height to the bottom of the Electronic Message Center Billboard’s display screen.

(III) A detailed report shall be presented to City personnel documenting with photos, dimensions and text of the observations of the Flag test.

(5) Design and Performance Requirements

Any Electronic Messaging Center Billboard approved within the City shall be subject to the following design and performance requirements:

(A) Electronic Messaging Center billboards shall comply with all applicable location, distance, size, operational, permit or licensing, and/or other requirements or limits imposed by Federal, State or local law, including, without limitation, the California Outdoor Advertising Act, California Business and Professions Code Section 5200 et seq., and its implementing regulations, including applicable amendments thereto. To the extent a conflict arises between any provisions of this section and applicable Federal, State or local law, unless otherwise preempted, local law shall control.

(B) The permitted height of an Electronic Message Center Billboard shall be determined through the Conditional Use Permit Review process and shall be limited to the maximum height necessary to ensure adequate visibility of the display from Interstate 10 as established through the Flag Test set forth in paragraph (c)(4)(A) of this Section, however in no event shall an Electronic Message Center Billboard exceed seventy-five (75) feet in height, as measured from lowest finished grade adjacent to any portion of the base of the structure to the top of the billboard structure.

t necessary to ensure adequate visibility of the display from Interstate 10 as established through the Flag Test set forth in paragraph (c)(4)(A) of this Section, however in no event shall an Electronic Message Center Billboard exceed seventy-five (75) feet in height, as measured from lowest finished grade adjacent to any portion of the base of the structure to the top of the billboard structure.

(C) The maximum intensity of light output produced by an Electronic Messaging Center Billboard display shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candles above the ambient light level at any time, as measured using a foot-candle meter at a distance of 250 feet, and shall otherwise comply with Section 5403(g) of the Outdoor Advertising Act and Section 21466.5 of the California Vehicle Code. Automatic dimmers shall be installed and operational on all Electronic Messaging Center Billboards to adjust the light output in accordance with the above standards.

(D) Electronic Messaging Center Billboards displays shall contain still or static messages or images only, and no part of the sign structure or image being displayed may move or present the appearance or optical illusion of movement, or include flashing, blinking, or traveling lighting, the varying of light intensity, or any other means not providing constant illumination. Each static message or image shall be displayed for a minimum of eight (8) consecutive seconds before changing, and the transition or blank screen time between one display message and the next shall not exceed one (1) second.

(E) An Electronic Messaging Center Billboard shall have no more than two (2) display screen faces and each display screen shall be oriented primarily for viewing from Interstate 10, and directed away from any residentially zoned property to the maximum extent feasible.

(F) The area of each Electronic Messaging Center Billboard display screen face, including framing and trim for the screen, shall not exceed 680 square feet, with maximum dimensions of any display screen not exceeding fifty (50) feet wide by twenty (20) feet high.

(G) An Electronic Messaging Center Billboard shall feature a decorative base structure approved by City. Structures design elements may include the use of the City of Yucaipa logo, and community motifs that enhance design of the Electronic Message Center Billboard structure, and shall incorporate a top and base treatment to the Electronic Message Center Billboard structure.

(H) Electronic Messaging Center Billboard owners and/or operators shall make space available for the display of emergency messaging in accordance with local, regional, and/or State protocols.

(Amended by Ord. 168 § 2, 1997; Ord. 378 § 2, 2019; Ord. 401 § 3, 2023; Ord. 439 § 6, 2023)