SEC. 16-608. SIGNS IN GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES.

   Only the following signs are permitted in the C-2, C-P-D, CBD, C-M, M-L, M-1, M-2, BRP and M-P-D zones, with or without planned development additive zones:

   (A)   The total aggregate sign area shall be as follows:

      (1)   Except as otherwise provided below, the total aggregate sign area shall not exceed two square feet for each lineal foot of building on the principal street or one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of lot frontage on the principal street, whichever is larger, provided that the maximum sign area for any individual business shall be 1,200 square feet.

      (2)   When a business has a second or third building frontage and an entrance facing a pedestrian arcade or mall, the business may have an additional ½ square foot of sign area per linear foot of building frontage facing said arcade or mall, to be used only on such frontage and subject to all other conditions contained herein, provided no other sign appears on said frontage.

      (3)   In a shopping center, businesses having no frontage on a public road, street, or highway, may provide signs as allowed in subdivision (2) above.

      (4)   The foregoing notwithstanding, a building with four or more stories shall be allowed an additional one square foot of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage on the principal street.

   (B)   Attached signs are subject to the following conditions:

      (1)   No individual sign or group of signs on one building face or canopy face of any business shall exceed 300 square feet except as provided below.

      (2)   Attached signs may exceed 300 square feet in accordance with the graph below where the major buildings have in excess of 40,000 square feet of floor area; where such building is set back more than 150 feet from the street; and where the bottom of the attached sign is at least 16 feet above the average finished grade.

      (3)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, signs on any one elevation of a building shall not exceed 10 % of the total wall surface of that elevation.

      (4)   All signs for multi-story buildings shall be located on the ground floor or in an area above the first story specifically designed to display signs, provided the bottom of any such sign is located within 15 feet of ground level. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, building or primary tenant identification signs may also be located on the uppermost story, or as provided below.

      (5)   An under canopy sign is permitted for each business, as long as the sign does not exceed five feet in length or one foot in height. Such under canopy signs may be located either perpendicular to the face of the building or parallel to the face of the building under the canopy. There shall be at least an eight-foot clearance between the bottom of the sign and the sidewalk or other pedestrian way.

      (6)   Window signs placed entirely within a building shall not cover more than 20 % of any window of the ground floor. No window signs shall be permitted above the ground floor.

      (7)   Wall signs are permitted subject to the following conditions:

         (a)   Where a single parcel or a group of abutting parcels are enclosed by a solid wall or fence along a public street, one unlighted sign may be permitted thereon.

         (b)   Sign area shall be as determined in subsection (A) above but not to exceed 50 square feet per sign.

   (C)   On-site, freestanding signs in accordance with the overall area limitations of subsection (A) above and pursuant to the following requirements:

      (1)   On-site, free-standing signs shall be located within the center 80 % of the property frontage as measured from the side property lines. On a corner lot, the 80 % may be measured from the corner to one side line or from the respective side lines and around the corner, at the option of the property owner.

      (2)   For those businesses not located in a shopping center, one on-site free-standing sign shall be permitted for any one parcel or group of abutting parcels having 300 lineal feet of continuous street frontage. One additional free-standing sign shall be permitted for parcels with more than 500 lineal feet of continuous street frontage. The second free-standing sign shall be no closer than 300 feet to the first sign, measured along the street frontage.

      (3)   In a shopping center, one free-standing sign shall be allowed for each street upon which the shopping center fronts, where each street frontage exceeds 300 lineal feet. Such signs shall be 300 feet apart.

      (4)   The height of a free-standing sign shall not exceed 24 feet except that a special use permit may allow a height of up to 32 feet for freeway-oriented businesses. The area of a free-standing sign shall not exceed 300 square feet except as provided by the size bonus figure below. In no case shall a single-faced free-standing sign exceed 50 percent of the total permitted sign area provided by the figure above.

      (5)   On-site free-standing signs shall be located in a planted, landscaped island which is at least equal in area to the sign, but need not exceed 200 square feet.

[Click here to view Size Bonus* - Free-Standing Signs.]

[Click here to view Height Bonus* - Free-Standing Signs.]

   (D)   For sale or lease signs not exceeding six square feet in area, and not more than two such signs per business.

   (E)   Subdivision directional signs, as permitted in section 16-612.

   (F)   Auxiliary signs identifying trading stamps, charge plans, promotional events or State authorized service emblems (but excluding advertising for products or other services sold on the premises) shall be permitted in locations specified in this section without regard to the area requirements specified in subsection (A). Auxiliary signs shall be limited to one sign for each auxiliary event not to exceed three square feet in area. The total area of all such auxiliary event signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area. Auxiliary signs shall be made of rigid materials such as metal, plastic or wood; paper, cardboard or cloth signs are not permitted. Auxiliary signs shall not be located on light standards.

   (G)   Off-site advertising signs with no digital displays, also known as outdoor advertising signs, where conditionally permitted by this Article IX, may be approved, subject to the requirements below. This subsection (G) does not apply to freeway adjacent digital display billboards, which are governed by section 16-609.

      (1)   The maximum height of any portion of an off-site sign shall be 32 feet along any major thoroughfare or highway, except for areas adjacent to residential neighborhoods. In those areas and in any other location, the maximum height shall be 24 feet. All heights shall be measured from adjacent street grade.

      (2)   The maximum size of advertising panels shall be 12 feet by 25 feet and shall not exceed 300 square feet per face.

      (3)   No off-site sign shall be located closer than 1,000 feet from any other off-site sign or public park.

      (4)   No off-site sign shall be located within 1,000 feet of any street or route designated as a scenic highway in the general plan; provided, however, that one advertising structure may be permitted on Assessor’s Parcel No. 149-0-021-13, subject to approval of a special use permit.

      (5)   No off-site sign shall be permitted in the coastal zone.

      (6)   No off-site sign shall be permitted within 300 feet of any structure or property designated as a cultural or historic landmark or a site of historic or cultural interest or significance.

      (7)   No off-site sign shall be permitted within 500 feet of any residentially zoned property.

      (8)   All lighting shall be shielded from view from any public right-of-way, park, or residentially zoned property and shall not spill over beyond the sign face.

      (9)   The commission may impose additional conditions on a special use permit, including, but not limited to, internal lighting, landscaping, and reductions in size or height.

      (10)   No portion of any off-site sign shall be closer than 30 feet to any public street, right-of- way, or publicly owned property.

      (11)   Signs may be illuminated only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and midnight.

      (12)   All outdoor advertising structures shall utilize a painted or architecturally treated monopole support structure.

      (13)   Outdoor advertising which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter shall be considered for acquisition by the city, subject to such State and federal regulations as may apply.

   (H)   Ground signs subject to the following conditions:

      (1)   Sign area shall be determined as set out in subsection (A) above, but shall not exceed a total sign area of 50 square feet.

      (2)   For businesses not located in a shopping center, one ground sign shall be permitted for any parcel having 100 feet of contiguous street frontage or greater.

      (3)   For businesses located in a shopping center, one ground sign shall be permitted for each street frontage on different streets if each frontage is 100 lineal feet or greater.

      (4)   Ground signs shall be located within the center 80 percent of the property frontage as measured from the side property lines. On a corner lot, the 80 percent may be measured with the corner representing the center of the property, at the option of the property owner.

      (5)   For any one parcel or group of abutting parcels permitted a free-standing sign, a ground sign may be permitted in lieu of but not in addition to the free-standing sign, unless the ground sign is located on a street frontage of 500 lineal feet or more and separated by 150 feet or more from the free-standing sign.

      (6)   Sign height shall not exceed 42 inches except that a sign not exceeding six feet in height shall be permitted if located 35 feet or more from the center of a curb return at any street intersection or intersection of a private drive, alley or street.

   (I)   In the M-L zone, the following provisions shall apply in addition to the other requirements of this article:

      (1)   Only such signs as serve to identify a use or group of uses permitted by this chapter shall be allowed;

      (2)   Signs on the walls of buildings shall not be placed 20 feet or more above the adjacent finished grade elevations;

      (3)   Monument or ground signs and freestanding signs shall be set back from the public right-of-way a minimum of ten feet;

      (4)   All signs shall be approved as part of the special use permit to assure architectural conformance;

      (5)   Billboards or off-site signs are not permitted; and

      (6)   Pole signs which are not architecturally similar to the main structure are not permitted.

   (J)   (1)   As part of a special use permit for master planned commercial and industrial projects, the commission may approve master sign programs that include sign types and configurations not otherwise permitted by this chapter, provided the projects involve mixed uses or several buildings in a planned development zone or master-planned environments, or development in specific plan areas.

      (2)   In approving a master sign program that includes unique or alternative advertising forms, the commission shall find that:

         (a)   The project subject to the master sign program has been approved subject to a specific plan, development plan, planned development permit, or special use permit;

         (b)   The amount of sign area does not exceed that which would be allowed by this chapter and otherwise meets the intent of the sign provisions of this chapter;

         (c)   The type and appearance of the proposed signs is consistent with the design guidelines or architectural character of the development; and

         (d)   The master sign program provides for a unique and unified sign program that cannot be accommodated through strict application of the provisions of this chapter.

   (K)   Freeway adjacent digital display billboards shall be permitted as provided in section 16-609.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-186) (Ord. No. 1573, 1861, 1867, 2152, 2408, 2687, 3023)