Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the following regulations shall apply to yard signs:
A. Purpose: Yard signs tend to be impermanent, flimsy, and vulnerable to the elements. Because of the tendency of yard signs to proliferate, creating litter, visual blight, and traffic safety hazards, the council hereby adopts the regulations set forth in this section. It is the purpose and intent of the council to provide minimal regulations regarding the posting, display, maintenance, and removal of yard signs in order to protect the first amendment rights of persons posting yard signs on their property while protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of the general public and maintaining the aesthetic qualities of the city.
B. General Provisions: The general provisions of article 1 of this chapter and the provisions of sections 10-4-302 through 10-4-309, 10-4-314, 10-4-315, 10-4-409, 10-4-509, and 10-4-611, of this chapter shall apply to yard signs. In addition, the following restrictions shall apply solely to yard signs:
1. No person shall maintain more than five (5) yard signs, measuring a maximum of one hundred fifty (150) square inches in area, on any one lot or site area, whichever is larger, in any single-family or multi-family residential zone. Two (2) signs placed back to back shall count as one sign.
2. No person shall maintain more than three (3) yard signs, each measuring a maximum of five (5) square feet in area, on any one lot or site area, whichever is larger, in any nonresidential zone. Two (2) signs placed back to back shall count as one sign.
3. Freestanding signs shall not exceed four feet (4') in height from the ground.
C. Voluntary Sign Approval And Distribution Permit:
1. Voluntary Sign Approval: Any person who wishes to post yard signs in the city may, at his or her option, bring a sign or signs to the building officer to review the signs for conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
2. Any person wishing to distribute more than ten (10) yard signs to property owners in the city must first apply for and receive a permit from the building official. The permit application shall contain an actual sized prototype of the sign and the name, address, and telephone number where the person may be reached by the building official or police chief or the respective deputies responsible for the enforcement of these provisions. The permit application shall be approved unless the sign does not meet the size requirements set forth in this section. The decision to grant or deny a permit shall be made within four (4) hours after submission of the application. One permit shall govern all signs of each type distributed to property owners in the city.
D. Maintenance And Removal:
1. Yard signs must be maintained, on a continuing basis, in good repair, and must be securely attached or grounded so that the yard sign will not be dislodged by the elements. Yard signs need not comply with the structural requirements pertaining to more permanent signs.
2. Yard signs specifically advertising or pertaining to an event, such as an election, must be removed within ten (10) days immediately following the event.
E. Violations: The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter regulating yard signs which may result in the conditions described in either section 3479 or 3480 of the California Civil Code is hereby deemed a public nuisance which may be abated by the city in the manner prescribed by law. If the building official, the police chief, or their authorized representatives, after inspection, find that a yard sign has been posted at a location which is in violation of this section or that a yard sign has become unsafe, insecure, or is a menace to the public safety, such official shall take action as follows:
1. If the yard sign has been posted on private property or on property owned by another public agency, such official of the city shall give forty eight (48) hours' written or oral notice to the property owner or tenant on whose property the sign has been posted, to remove, relocate, repair, or alter such sign.
2. If the sign has not been removed, relocated, repaired, or altered within such period of time, or such other further time as agreed to by such official of the city, the official may remove such sign, and the property owner or tenant responsible for the sign shall be liable to the city for the city's actual costs of removal. Such costs of removal shall be deemed a civil debt due and owing the city which may be collected by appropriate legal means.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a city official may summarily and without notice remove any yard sign posted on property owned or controlled by the city. In addition, a city official may summarily remove any yard sign which poses an immediate danger to persons or property. In addition, any yard sign, regardless of where posted, left posted after the tenth day following the event to which such sign specifically relates shall be deemed abandoned by its owner and may be summarily removed without notice. (Ord. 80-O-1775, eff. 12-5-1980; amd. Ord. 04-O-2457, eff. 11-30-2004; Ord. 05-O-2459, eff. 1-5-2005; Ord. 05-O-2476, eff. 7-5-2005; Ord. 05-O-2480, eff. 9-2-2005)