18-21.060 Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones.
a. Permanent Signs. The following types of signs may be mounted, erected, installed and displayed on commercial, institutional and industrial uses in the CD, GC, MUX and IN Zones, subject to the rules stated in this section. All commercial messages shall be on site only.
1. Freestanding Signs. Freestanding sign types include pole signs, ground signs or monument signs.
(a) Pole or Ground Signs. A pole or a ground sign may be permitted if all of the following design standards are met:
(1) Frontage Requirement. The site shall have a street frontage of at least two hundred (200') feet.
(2) Number of Signs. The identification of a single use not located within a building complex will be limited to one (1) freestanding pole or ground sign. The identification of uses located within a building complex will be limited to one (1) freestanding pole or ground sign per each one thousand (1,000') feet of street frontage; provided, that complexes with multiple street frontages may be allowed one (1) secondary ground sign with a maximum height of fifteen (15') feet provided the total allowable sign area is not exceeded. No individual use located within a building complex will be permitted to have its own freestanding pole or ground sign. Off-site retail center signs may exceed this requirement.
(3) Sign Area. The total sign area of all freestanding pole or ground signs for a single building or a building complex shall not exceed that shown in Table 29. Off-site retail center signs may exceed this requirement.
(4) Sign Height. The height of a freestanding pole or ground sign shall not exceed that shown in Table 30.
|
Total Building(s) Area (s.f.) |
|
|---|---|
|
0 – 20,000 |
20 |
|
20,001 – 75,000 |
25 |
|
Over 75,000 |
30 |
|
Height Exception |
25% increase in height for signs incorporating City logo or City reference on the top section of sign – design subject to approval by the Planning Commission. |
(5) Location. Freestanding pole or ground signs shall not be placed within a corner clear zone and shall be located so as to not create a pedestrian or traffic hazard.
(6) Setback. Freestanding pole or ground signs shall be set back a minimum five (5') feet from a street or interior property line and a minimum ten (10') feet from the edge of a driveway.
(7) Readability. Freestanding pole or ground signs shall have a minimum letter size of four (4") inches. Sign copy shall not be located closer than one-half (1/2) of the letter height to the sign edge or other line of copy.
(8) Landscaping. Landscaping with automatic irrigation shall be provided at the base of the supporting structure equal to twice the area of one (1) face of the sign or seventy-five (75) square feet, whichever is greater. For example, a forty (40) square foot sign will need to provide at least eighty (80) square feet of landscaped area. The review authority may waive or modify this requirement on a case-by-case basis to take into account existing site conditions.
(9) Address. Freestanding pole or ground signs shall incorporate the street address to assist emergency response personnel in locating the site.
(b) Monument Signs. Freestanding monument signs may be permitted subject to the following design standards:
(1) Building Complexes. Limited to one (1) monument sign per each one hundred fifty (150') feet of street frontage.
(2) Frontage Requirement. No more than one (1) monument sign shall be allowed per street frontage.
(3) Sign Area. For the purposes of computing the area of a monument sign and to encourage better design, a border or frame shall not be counted as sign area provided such border or frame does not exceed an additional twenty-five (25%) percent of the sign area. The sign area of a monument sign shall not exceed that shown in Table 31:
(4) Sign Height. No monument sign including a frame, border or base shall exceed six (6') feet in height as measured from existing grade.
(5) Sign Location. A minimum distance of seventy-five (75') feet must be maintained between monument signs. The sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5') feet from a street or interior property line and a minimum of ten (10') feet from the edge of a driveway. The sign shall not be placed within a corner clear zone and shall be located as to not create a pedestrian or traffic hazard. No portion of the sign shall project over public property, vehicular easements or rights-of-way.
(6) Sign Structure. The base of a monument sign shall be designed to be an integral part of the sign design, not merely a support. The base of a monument sign shall be solid.
(7) Address. To assist emergency personnel, monument signs shall incorporate the street address. Numbers shall be a minimum of six (6") inches in height, but may not be included in the calculations for allowed maximum sign area.
(8) Readability. To ensure the readability of the sign, the minimum letter size allowed shall be four (4") inches. Sign copy shall not be located closer than half-letter height to the sign edge or other line of copy.
(9) Landscaping. Landscaping with automatic irrigation shall be provided at the base of the supporting structure equal to twice the area of one (1) face of the monument style sign or seventy-five (75) square feet, whichever is greater. For example, a forty (40) square foot monument sign would need to have at least eighty (80) square feet of landscaping area. The review authority may waive or modify this requirement on a case-by-case basis to take into account existing site conditions.
2. Wall Signs. The following specific design standards shall apply to wall signs:
(a) Sign Area. The maximum size of a wall sign, including a logo, shall be two (2) square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of primary tenant frontage and one-half (1/2) additional square foot for each linear foot of secondary tenant frontage or ten (10%) percent of the area of the building façade on which the sign is mounted or painted, including the area of windows, doors and recesses, whichever is less. The total area of all signs on a primary frontage shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet and total area of all signs on a secondary frontage shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet. Wall signs for second story tenants shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet. Frontage is computed on an individual basis in multi-tenant buildings. Building frontage shall be measured along that side of the building for which the sign is proposed.
(b) Sign Copy and Readability. Wall signs shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) lines of copy. The maximum letter height and/or sign face height shall be measured as the combination of both lines of copy, including the space between or the distance between the top of the sign face and the bottom of the sign face. To ensure the readability of the sign, the minimum letter size allowed shall be four (4") inches. Sign copy shall not be located closer than one-half (1/2) of the letter height to the sign edge or other line of copy.
(c) Location. The top of the sign shall not project above the intersection of the wall and roof or parapet line. Wall signs shall be limited to two (2) sides of a building.
(d) Projection. A wall sign shall not project more than twelve (12") inches from the surface to which it is attached.
3. Projecting, Canopy or Suspended Signs. The following specific design standards shall apply to projecting, overhead and suspended signs:
(a) Sign Area. A projecting sign shall not exceed thirty (30) square feet. Signs that are suspended from a canopy or other roof structure over the sidewalk or building entrance shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet. Projecting, canopy, and/or suspended signs shall count towards the maximum allowable sign area.
(b) Number of Signs. Only one (1) sign per use is allowed and shall only be allowed if the wall it is projecting from does not have any wall signs. (Exception: If a canopy is over the entrance to a use, a projecting sign may be allowed under the canopy at each entrance provided such sign does not exceed eight (8) square feet and the total projecting signage for the use does not exceed thirty (30) square feet).
(c) Sign Clearance. The bottom of any projecting sign shall be at least eight (8') feet above the walkway.
(d) Horizontal Distance. The minimum horizontal clearance between a sign and the curb line shall be two (2') feet. The maximum projection over a public sidewalk shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the width of a public sidewalk below or six (6') feet, whichever is less. Any projection over a public right-of-way shall require an encroachment permit.
4. Window Signs. The following specific design standards shall apply to window signs:
(a) Sign Area. Permanent window signs shall not occupy more than fifteen (15%) percent of the total window area. Window sign area shall count towards the maximum allowable sign area.
(b) Sign Location. Signs shall be allowed only on windows located on the ground level and second story of a structure frontage.
(c) Sign Materials. Signs shall consist of individual letters, logos or symbols applied on, stenciled on or etched into the glass surface; however, neon signs with transparent backgrounds may be hung inside the window glass.
5. Directional Signs. Directional signs shall be no more than three (3') feet high and three (3) square feet. They are not limited by number or location.
6. Awning Signs. The following specific design standards apply to awning signs:
(a) Signs on awnings are limited to ground level or second story occupancies only.
(b) Awnings or awning signs shall not be internally illuminated. Direct exterior lighting may be allowed.
7. A-Frame Signs (also T-Frame Type Signs). The following specific standards apply to A-frame and other portable signs:
(a) Sign Area. An A-frame sign must not exceed six (6) square feet in area on each side.
(b) Timing. A-frame signs must be removed at the end of each business day.
(c) Location. A-frame signs must be located at ground level on site of the business and located as closely as possible to the building face so as to leave the maximum available clear area for pedestrian traffic. Signs may not be located in the City street right-of-way, they cannot block the sidewalk or interfere with traffic, either pedestrian or vehicular, and they must be anchored or weighted to keep them safely in place.
(d) Number of Signs. One (1) per business.
8. Feather Banners. Feather banners authorized by this section are in addition to the maximum allowable signage which is otherwise permitted. Feather banners shall be maintained in good condition at all times, without faded, frayed or torn fabric. The following specific standards apply to feather banners:
(a) Location. Feather banners may only be installed on private property and shall not extend over the public right-of-way. Minimum spacing between feather banners shall be eight (8') feet. Signs shall not create a traffic sight obstruction or other pedestrian or traffic hazard and shall comply with applicable engineering design standards.
(b) Height. Maximum height for feather banners shall be the lesser of fifteen (15') feet or the height of the building.
(c) Number of Signs. Two (2) per business.
(d) Illumination. Feather banners may not be illuminated.
9. Commercial Mascots. Commercial mascots authorized by this section are in addition to the maximum allowable signage which is otherwise permitted. The following specific standards apply to commercial mascots:
(a) Private Property. No more than one (1) commercial mascot may be allowed on private property per business location only within commercial zones.
(b) Public Property. On public sidewalk areas during the daytime hours between sunrise and sunset, as specified by the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) data. Commercial mascots may not interfere with public ingress or egress or free use of sidewalks or public right-of-way. In order to serve the City’s interests in traffic flow and safety, persons displaying signs on public sidewalks must give at least three (3') feet width clearance for pedestrians to pass by. Persons holding signs may not block the view within the clear corner area. No more than one (1) commercial mascot shall be allowed to occupy a street intersection corner area. No more than one (1) commercial mascot shall be allowed for each business and the business must be within three hundred (300') feet from the location where the commercial mascot is performing. A ten (10') foot minimum separation shall be maintained between commercial mascots. The total sign area displayed shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet. Sign display exhibits involving airborne signage shall not be permitted.
(c) Illumination. Commercial mascots shall not utilize any form of illumination or lighting.
10. Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs. Tourist-oriented directional signs are allowed in all zones subject to a use permit from the Planning Commission and subject to the following requirements:
(a) The signs shall be smaller in size, each not exceeding five (5) square feet in area.
(b) The signs shall be nonilluminated in order to be compatible with their generally rural surroundings.
(c) The signs shall be hand crafted, generally made of wood or other natural materials.
(d) The signs shall be subject to the issuance of an encroachment permit.
11. Off-Site Retail Center Signs. Additional off-site freestanding signs for providing improved visibility for retail centers located within five hundred (500') feet of the retail center premises off-site may be allowed in all zones subject to a use permit from the Planning Commission and subject to the following requirements:
(a) Maximum size, height and design of signs shall comply with Tables 29 and 30 of this chapter.
(b) Property owner shall approve of the sign. This shall include a covenant on the property, that includes the City, that can transfer ownership and long term maintenance of the sign. An agreement or other system shall be provided to ensure proper maintenance of the sign and any accompanying landscaping.
(c) Prior to installation, a bond or other financial security approved by the Director shall be posted with the City for the total cost of removal and disposal of the sign if it becomes nonconforming in accordance with Section 18-21.110.
(d) The sign may only identify the retail center and related businesses that occupy the retail center which it is intended to identify except for minor identification of events to be held at the retail center or to identify City and other public events that may be approved by the Director.
(e) If the sign is located near Highway 53, within Caltrans jurisdictional area, the sign review and installation shall be subject to the provisions of the Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code Sections 5200 through 5486), and no sign permit shall be issued until after any necessary permit has been issued by the Director of Transportation of the State of California or his/her authorized agent.
12. Message Center Signs. Message center signs may be approved in all mixed-use and nonresidential zones subject to design review approval and subject to certain performance standards. Message center signs may also be approved with a use permit issued by the Planning Commission in any residential zone, also subject to the certain performance standards as provided as follows:
(a) If the sign includes any illuminated features it shall comply with the following standards:
(1) The lighting shall not shine onto a street in such a way as to threaten to cause distractions or glare for passing motorists.
(2) All light sources shall be directed or covered with a translucent cover or other suitable measure to prevent the actual source of the lighting (such as the filament of an incandescent bulb) from being visible from another lot or a street.
(3) In residential zones, the sign shall incorporate measures to minimize the production of glare that is perceptible beyond the property line of the lot on which the operation is situated, through the use of shielding, luminaire reflectors or other suitable measures minimizing the intensity of lighting. No more than one-half (1/2) footcandle of light from lighting or signs shall fall upon any residentially used lot between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(b) If the sign contains any digital display it shall comply with the following standards:
(1) The message displayed shall be static and nonanimated and shall remain fixed for a minimum of ten (10) seconds. Fading or dissolving images are permitted.
(2) It shall not display any message that moves, appears to move, scrolls, or changes in intensity during the fixed display period.
(3) The transition time between changes in the sign face or message shall be less than one (1) second.
(4) It must be equipped with brightness controls which shall be used to reduce the intensity of the light based on outside ambient light levels.
(5) It shall include an automatic shut-off system in case of failure.
(6) The digital LED display shall not have lighting that would compete with or distract from traffic signal lighting. (Ord. #248-2020, S2 (Exh. A))