(A) Permitted area of signing.
(1) The aggregate area of all permanent identification signs for any building shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of frontage of the building; provided, however, that, no single sign shall exceed 100 square feet in area.
(2) Projecting signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area per face.
(3) Read-a-boards are permanent signs and their square footage shall be included in the aggregate area for the building. The information on the read-a-board shall be regulated by § 17.064.030(I), temporary window signs.
(B) Number of permanent signs. Two signs are allowed for each place of business in each building as long as one sign is a projecting sign.
(C) Additional numbers.
(1) In addition to the number of signs permitted above, one additional identification sign may be permitted for a shopping center where there is any combination of five or more businesses on a single, commonly owned or leased parcel with common access and parking.
(2) The total area of the additional sign shall not exceed 100 square feet.
(D) Multi-sided signs.
(1) Multi-sided signs constructed with faces at any angle shall be counted as one sign per face, both as to the number and area.
(2) Other signs constructed in the form of a cylinder, sphere or similar figure, shall be considered as one sign and the total surface area shall be computed as sign area.
(3) In computing the area of double-faced signs, only one face of a sign shall be included, provided that, the two faces shall be parallel and not more than two feet apart.
(E) Height; projecting or wall sign. No part of any sign shall extend above the top level of the wall upon or in front of which it is situated.
(F) Clearances.
(1) The owner of any sign shall maintain legal clearances from communications and electrical facilities. The clearances shall be no less than those specified by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California.
(2) Any sign located in or projecting into a pedestrian right-of-way shall maintain a minimum eight-foot clearance from ground level to the lowest part of the sign, excluding vertical supports, and shall have a minimum two-foot clearance from the curb.
(3) Signs located in vehicular rights-of-way shall have a minimum clearance of 14 feet in height and may not be illuminated.
(4) No sign may project more than four feet from a building wall.
(5) Every freestanding sign shall be wholly on the property occupied by the use or uses identified or advertised and not within ten feet of any public right-of-way.
(G) Prohibited locations.
(1) No sign shall be erected in a manner that any portion of the sign or its support will interfere with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe, or obstruct any required stairway, door, ventilator or window.
(2) No sign shall be erected in such a manner that it will, or reasonably may be expected to, interfere with, obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic.
(3) No sign shall be erected upon any public street, sidewalk, parking lot or other public way or place.
(Prior Code, § 17.34.050) (Ord. 352, passed - -1973; Am. Ord. 488, passed - -1981; Am. Ord. 500, passed - -1982; Am. Ord. 515, passed - -1983)