Signage shall be subject to restrictions on total area, height, lighting, and location and manner of attachment to buildings. The restrictions may vary, depending upon whether the signage is classified as "business identification," "incidental," "special promotional," "off-premises directory," or "exempt," as described herein.
A. Business identification signage. Business identification signage is subject to the area and height restrictions described herein. For purposes of this section, business identification signage is any material containing the name and/or primary logo of a business and displayed in a manner visible from the exterior of the business site for purposes of attracting attention to that business.
1. Business identification signage is permitted on the exterior of structures in commercial and industrial zoning districts, and may be displayed on any side of a structure in those districts that:
a. Provides public access into the structure;
b. Provides a service to the public from outside the structure (such as a drive-up or walk-up window);
c. Is visible from a street that borders the site on which the structure is located;
d. Faces a parking lot shared with other businesses.
2. The total area of all business identification signage permanently affixed to any single side of a building window, wall and/or roof, the content of which is visible from the exterior of the structure, when measured as described herein, shall be limited as follows:
a. On the side of a structure which provides public access or a public service; two (2) square feet of signage for each lineal foot of the width of that particular side of the structure, up to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet, except as provided herein.
b. On any side of a structure which does not provide public access or a public service, but which otherwise qualifies for signage (as described in this section), total signage may equal thirty-five percent (35%) of the ratio described above, up to a maximum of thirty-five (35) square feet.
c. The total area of signage permitted on any side of a structure may be doubled, up to a maximum of one hundred (100) square feet, subject to issuance of an administrative use permit from the Planning Department.
d. Blade signs, which are perpendicular to a wall face, are allowed and shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Department.
B. Incidental signage. For purposes of this section, incidental signage is any signage that is not classified herein as exempt, special promotional, off-premises directory, or as a business identification sign. Incidental signage is permitted, subject to the restrictions described below:
1. The total combined area of all incidental signage that is displayed on buildings or poles on a single lot may not exceed one percent (1%) of the area of the lot on which the signs are located.
2. The area of any single incidental sign may not exceed seventy-five (75) square feet, when measured as described herein.
C. Special promotional signage. Special promotional signage consisting of balloons, flags, and similar articles is permitted, subject to the following restrictions:
1. Such signage is permitted only on properties having non-residential uses, and shall be installed totally on the property at which the advertised activity occurs.
2. Such signage shall be permitted for a maximum of thirty (30) days in any twelve month period.
3. Prior to the use of such signage, an administrative permit shall be obtained from the planning office. No fee shall be charged for the permit.
D. Off-premises directory signage. All signs which advertise or promote business or services, including the availability of real or personal property for sale, where such business, goods, services or property, as the case may be, are not found or located on the parcel of property where the sign is located. Specifically included within the definition of "off-premises directory signage" are all signs which fall within the provisions of California Civil Code Section 713. Off-premises directory signage is not permitted, except upon approval of a use permit and shall be subject to the following additional restrictions:
1. An off-premises directory shall be mounted on or adjacent to a building or use that is open to the general public.
2. The directory shall be primarily visible to pedestrians.
3. Listings shall be displayed in an orderly format.
4. Lettering for the directory shall be inscribed on similar, durable materials.
5. With regard to community resource-oriented directory signage, the area devoted to each individual listing shall not exceed 10 square feet.
6. As to any sign for which a use permit applicant can establish that such sign is governed by the provisions of California Civil Code Section 713, such sign shall be allowed to include the following information:
a. That the property is for sale, lease or exchange by the owner or his or her agent;
b. Directions to the property;
c. The owner's or agent's name; and,
d. The owner's or agent's address and telephone number.
7. As to any sign governed by the provisions of California Civil Code Section 713, aside from the fact that at least one sign which contains the above information shall be allowed for each parcel subject to a use permit application pursuant to this subsection, the parameter for approval of a use permit for such sign shall not be in any other way restricted and, in particular, the use permit may place reasonable restrictions on location, dimensions and design and may further take into consideration any adverse effect on public safety, including traffic safety.
8. As to any sign governed by the provisions of California Civil Code Section 713, the applicant for a use permit (at the applicant's discretion and subject to the requirements stated herein), after submission of a completed use permit application and payment of all required fees, may cause a sign to be erected which contains the information specified in subsection D.6., above, provided that such sign must be relocated and/or modified to comply with the requirements of the use permit that is subsequently issued. Any sign so erected must be located entirely on private property owned or controlled by the applicant, and cannot be greater than five feet (5') in height and cannot exceed 32 square feet of area. The use permit may allow signage of different parameters. The failure to comply with the provisions of this section (including the failure to relocate or modify the sign to conform to the requirements of the use permit) shall be a violation of this Title for which the owner of the property where the sign is located, as well as any other person, firm or corporation causing placement of the sign shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.00.
E. Exempt signage. The following signage is exempt from limitations on height or area, and shall not be included in area calculations for business identification or incidental signage:
1. Signage displayed in the "feature windows" of the traditional recessed foyer of a theater.
2. Signage displayed without benefit of any special structure, frame or other mounting equipment.
a. Exempt signage includes paper price signs taped or hung without frames in windows, and signage written in washable paint on windows.
b. Signage not exempt from area and height restrictions includes identification or incidental messages displayed from banners, A-frame (sandwich board) structures, and other relatively durable structures or frames used primarily to display continuously changing messages, whether mounted on a building or other structure, or placed elsewhere on the lot.
F. Measured area of signage. The measured area of a sign shall be as follows:
1. The measured area of a sign shall be the collective area required to encompass the entire visual display, including all words and graphics, from top to bottom and side to side.
2. For double-sided signs such as projecting signs and freestanding signs, the area of the reverse or second side shall not be included in calculations of total area of signage displayed.
G. Other building signage requirements. The manner in which signage is displayed on a building shall be as follows:
1. Signs attached to a wall shall be flat against the wall or designed as part of an architectural feature.
2. No portion of a sign attached to a roof shall project higher than the highest elevation of the side of the structure to which the sign is attached.
3. Projecting signs placed below the roof line shall be attached to the building in accordance with the height and setback regulations of the Uniform Sign Code and other regulation specified by this Title.
4. No portion of a sign shall project beyond the dripline of the structure excepting blade signs as approved by the Planning Department.
H. Non-building signage requirements. Freestanding signs are permitted subject to the following restrictions, except as noted herein:
1. Pole signs are not permitted. Non-conforming pole signs shall be subject to the regulations contained in Chapter 17.03.
2. For the area within the eight-block downtown Gridley area bounded by Spruce Street, Sycamore Street, Vermont Street and the railroad tracks, one ground or monument sign is permitted per parcel, provided such signs meet the following requirements:
a. Maximum area does not exceed twenty (20) square feet.
b. Maximum height above the surface to which the sign is attached does not exceed three (3) feet.
3. Only one freestanding business identification sign may be located on any one parcel. The maximum permitted area of any sign shall be sixty (60) square feet.
4. The maximum area for any one incidental sign shall be 50 square feet. The combined area of all incidental signage that is displayed on buildings and/or freestanding signs on a single lot may not exceed 1% of the area of the lot on which the signs are located.
5. No portion of a freestanding sign may encroach upon required parking space in a manner which restricts use of the space for parking.
6. All and any part of a freestanding sign must be located behind the public right-of-way and in accordance with the adopted Uniform Sign Code.
7. Landscaping shall be provided around the base of any freestanding sign.
8. Monument signs shall not exceed eight feet in height, as measured from the base of curb, including the base, except for signs located on properties abutting State Route 99. Signs located on properties which abut State Route 99 shall not exceed twelve feet in height, as measured from the base of curb, including the base.
I. Lighting of signage. For all signage, illumination is permitted, subject to the following restrictions:
1. No flashing lighting is permitted.
2. Monument signs abutting State Route 99 and the portion of Spruce Street and Sycamore Street from Highway 99 to Haskell Street may be internally illuminated; all other freestanding (including monument) signs shall be illuminated by exterior lighting; halo illumination is acceptable.
3. Monument signs containing changeable copy (electronic) displays are allowed only along the portion of Spruce Street from Highway 99 to Haskell Street on parcels zoned Public Quasi Public (POP), provided the following standards are met:
a. The parcel is not adjacent to residential land uses;
b. The electronic message display shall be incorporated into a high quality decorative structure compatible with the architectural design of the building(s) on the site;
c. No more than one electronic message display shall be permitted on a site. The electronic message display may be single-faced or double-faced;
d. The electronic message display shall be an electronic LED (Light Emitting Diode) screen;
e. The message shall not flash on and off. A message shall remain fixed for a minimum of eight (8) seconds. Fading in or out, or scrolling of text shall be permitted as transitions;
f. The electronic message display shall be maintained in good operating condition and external appearance at all times;
g. The electronic message display shall not result in unacceptable light intensity and glare impacting surrounding property;
h. The electronic message display component of the sign structure shall not exceed 1/3 of the total sign area per sign face;
i. The sign must meet all other requirements of Section 17.72.060 for signs.
J. Political signage. Political signs may be posted in all zoning districts, subject to the following restrictions:
1. Such signs may not be posted until three (3) months before an election and must be removed within ten (10) days after the election.
2. Such signs shall be no larger than thirty-two (32) square feet and no higher than five (5) feet.
3. Signs displayed within the sight distance area described in Gridley Municipal Code Section 17.72.040B. may not exceed three (3) feet in height.
4. Signs consistent with the above specifications may be posted within the public right-of-way behind a curb or sidewalk.
(Ord. 823-2016 § 24 (part), 2016)