A. Whenever used in this chapter, the following words, phrases, and terms shall have the meaning set forth in this subsection.
1. General:
SIGN means any device which gives direction to, names or attracts attention to any real or personal property that is for rent or sale or any location where such renting or sale is conducted or any service is performed, or any representation, such as a picture, writing, emblem, pennant or other device which is in the nature of an announcement, statement, direction or advertisement.
SIGN AREA means the entire area within a single continuous perimeter formed by no more than eight straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representations, emblem or any figure of similar character. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than three feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.
SIGN PERMIT means a permit issued by the Community and Economic Development Department that allows the erection, installation or placement of a sign or sign structure on property in compliance with the design standards specified within this chapter.
SIGN PROGRAM means a document submitted by a property owner of a commercial or industrial development having multi-tenant buildings, in which a set of specifications regulates the design and location of signs to identify the development and individual tenant spaces on the property.
SIGN STRUCTURE means any structure, device or part thereof used for the purpose of displaying or supporting signs.
2. Sign types:
BANNER means a graphic on a pliable material that is hung on a building by a rope, cord, cable or other means as a non-permanent attachment.
BILLBOARD means an outdoor advertising sign supported by posts or standards and braces set into the ground or attached to a building or other structure and containing advertising copy on the sign face not related to a use, structure or activity located on the same site.
BUILDING SIGN means a sign permanently attached to or projecting from a building wall where no part of the sign face extends above the roof line or parapet of the building. A permanent building sign also includes a sign painted on the exterior wall of a building.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN means a sign that provides information and direction for vehicular or pedestrian movement.
DISPLAY FACE means the surface area of a sign available for the purpose of displaying an advertising message and does not include the structural supports or lighting.
ELECTION/CAMPAIGN SIGN means a sign or placard related to the vote in a near-future election of candidates and/or issues.
FLASHING SIGN means any lighted sign that flashes, animates, scintillates, consists of “running lights”, or consists of illuminated changing information.
FREEWAY-ORIENTED ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD, means a billboard located within 200 feet of the SR-57 or SR-91 freeway right-of-way, which utilizes digital message technology on at least one (1) display face, capable of changing the static message or copy on the sign electronically, such that the alphabetic, pictographic, or symbolic informational content of which can be changed or altered on a fixed display surface composed of electronically illuminated or electronically actuated or motivated elements can be changed or altered electronically. This includes billboards with displays that must be preprogrammed to display only certain types of information (i.e., time, date, temperature) and billboards whose informational content can be changed or altered by means of computer-driven electronic impulses. This includes, without limitation, billboards also known as digital billboards or LED billboards.
FREEWAY SIGN means a freestanding, pole-type structure that is located on property so that it can be viewed from a freeway.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN means a sign that identifies a facility, complex or a development on property with a residential zone classification.
MARQUEE SIGN means a sign that is designed to allow for changeable copy or graphics, typically announcing an event, service, or special feature.
MONUMENT SIGN means a freestanding sign directly supported by a foundation, planter or pedestal base affixed to the ground. A sign on a fence or a non-building wall is a type of monument sign.
MOBILE BILLBOARDS means, to the extent not in conflict with any provision of the Vehicle Code, any mobile billboard advertising display, as defined in Vehicle Code Section 395.5, including any billboard installed upon, mounted, attached, or applied to any vehicle, non-motorized vehicle, bicycle, scooter, or trailer whose primary purpose is conveyance, transportation, or support of the billboard message surface.
OFF-SUBDIVISION DIRECTIONAL SIGN means an off-site sign providing only directional information to a subdivision, the name of the development, developer or both, and the price range of the residential subdivision offered for sale.
ON-SITE SUBDIVISION SIGN means a sign that is placed on the site of a subdivision and advertises the sale of property within the subdivision.
POLE SIGN means a freestanding sign wholly supported by poles, columns or other upright that are affixed to the ground.
PORTABLE SIGN means any sign that is not permanently affixed to the ground or to a structure that can be moved from place to place on public or private property, that is placed in such a manner as to be conspicuous from a public highway and that solicits patronage to a specific business or group of businesses. Portable signs may include, but are not limited to, inflatable devises, balloons, kites, A-frames or similar structures displayed on the ground, on a building or any vehicle.
PROJECTING SIGN means a sign installed so that it projects from and is perpendicular to a building wall.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR LEASE SIGN means a sign that advertises the real property upon which it is located is for sale, rent or lease.
ROOF SIGN means a sign attached to the roof of a building or attached to the side or projecting through the roof of a building where more than fifty percent of the sign face extends above the roofline or parapet of the building. In the case of variable or irregular roof heights, the roofline shall be the minimum height under which half the building area is covered by roof.
ROTATING SIGN means a sign that turns or revolves by mechanical or electrical means.
SERVICE STATION SIGNS mean all signs, graphics or other advertising devices associated with service stations, mini-markets or other businesses located on a site where service station activity or gasoline/motor fuel sales exist.
TEMPORARY SIGN means a sign painted on glass or placed on the inside of a building or structure so as to be viewed from the outside.
(Ord. 3287 (part), 2020; Ord. 2982, 2001)