SEC. 16-607. SIGNS IN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONES.

   Only the following signs are permitted in the C-1 zone:

   (A)   The total aggregate sign area of all signs permitted pursuant to this section shall not exceed ½ square foot of sign area for each lineal foot on the principal street frontage. If two or more businesses are located upon a parcel of property, the permissible sign area shall be divided as follows: the total aggregate sign area for each business entity shall not exceed one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage on its principal street, except that a minimum of ten square feet shall be permitted for any business regardless of frontage.

   (B)   Window signs shall not cover more than 20 percent of any window.

   (C)   Attached building signs shall not project above any portion of the wall upon which they are displayed. Signs attached to the face of the canopy shall be parallel to the building and shall not project above the top of the canopy.

   (D)   Free-standing signs are not permitted.

   (E)   A sign not more than 30 inches in height attached to the fascia of a hip or gable roof overhang if such overhang is 30 inches or more and parallel to a public street.

   (F)   One unlighted sign not more than six square feet in area per side pertaining only to the sale or lease of the property or premises upon which displayed, provided that such sign shall not be located closer than ten feet to any property line.

   (G)   Subdivision signs as permitted in section 16-612.

   (H)   Nonilluminated or backlighted ground signs subject to the following conditions:

      (1)   Sign area shall be as determined in subsection (A) above, but shall not exceed a total permitted sign area of 20 square feet.

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

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

      (4)   Sign height shall not exceed 42 inches measured from the average grade within six feet of the sign.

      (5)   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 owner.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-185) (Ord. No. 1573, 1861)

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)

Sec. 16-609. FREEWAY ADJACENT DIGITAL DISPLAY BILLBOARDS.

   (A)   Before a freeway adjacent digital display billboard may be installed within the city, the applicant must first obtain a special use permit (SUP) granted in accordance with sections 16-530 to 16-553 and enter into a statutory development agreement with the city that addresses the terms and conditions of any approved freeway adjacent digital display billboard, including but not limited to message cycling, light intensity, and any annual payments, if any, to be paid to the city. Both the SUP and the development agreement are subject to the approval of the city council, following a recommendation by the commission.

   (B)   In addition to the findings required by the Oxnard City Code for granting a SUP, freeway adjacent digital display billboards approved pursuant to this section 16-609 shall be subject to the following limitations:

      (1)   Location. Freeway adjacent digital display billboards may only be erected on City of Oxnard owned property or right-of-way, in any non-residential zones located within 400 feet of the freeway right-of-way for U.S. Highway 101. The total number of freeway adjacent digital display billboards shall not exceed a total of four within the city.

      (2)   Distance from residential uses. No freeway adjacent digital display billboard may be placed at a distance of less than 100 feet from the property line of any residentially zoned parcel, as measured from the border of the digital display billboard face, or the base of the digital display billboard structure, whichever is closest to the residentially zoned parcel.

      (3)   Height. The maximum height of any freeway adjacent digital display billboard shall not exceed 55 feet as measured from the pavement level of U.S. Highway 101 to the bottom of the digital display. The maximum height to the top of the freeway adjacent digital display billboard shall not exceed 80 feet as measured from the pavement level of U.S. Highway 101.

      (4)   Size and spacing. The maximum size of each freeway adjacent digital display billboard face display area shall be 14 feet in height and 48 feet in width, with the area of each face not to exceed an overall maximum amount of 850 square feet, including border and trim. Each freeway adjacent digital display billboard shall be separated from every other freeway adjacent digital display billboard by at least 2,000 feet.

      (5)   Design. All freeway adjacent digital display billboards shall either be double faced or include covered backs or facings. All interior equipment shall be screened from public view.

      (6)   Orientation. Each freeway adjacent digital display billboard must be oriented primarily for viewing from the adjacent freeway.

      (7)   Brightness. All freeway adjacent digital display billboards will not exceed 0.3 foot-candles over ambient levels at a distance of 250 feet in any direction. Illuminance can be measured by using a foot-candle meter held at a height of approximately five feet and aimed toward a sign consistent with the sign-to-viewer distance. All freeway adjacent digital display billboards shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations concerning brightness, including, without limitation, California Building and Professions Code Section 5403(g) and California Vehicle Code Section 21466.5.

      (8)   Display cycle. A freeway adjacent digital display billboard may show a series of still images, each displayed for at least eight seconds. The still images may not move or present the appearance of motion and may not use flashing or blinking lights or any other means not providing constant illumination. Transition or blank screen time between one still image and the next may not exceed one second.

      (9)   Compliance with law. The owner of the freeway adjacent digital display billboard must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (23 U.S.C. Section 131), the Outdoor Advertising Act (California Business and Professions Code Section 5200 et seq.), and this Article IX, when constructing, operating, improving, maintaining, repairing, and removing the freeway adjacent digital display billboard.

      (10)   Required finding of public benefit. In approving a development agreement for any freeway adjacent digital display billboard, the city council must find that the development agreement will confer substantial public benefit to the city and to the general public. Such public benefits may include, without limitation, the removal of legal non-conforming billboards, advertising of city events and public service announcements, and/or annual financial contributions to the city.

      (11)   Required findings. In addition to the finding required for granting a SUP under section 16-531, in approving a special use permit for a freeway adjacent digital display billboard, the decision maker must also find that it:

         (a)   Complies with the requirements of this section 16-609 and this chapter;

         (b)   Will not create a significant traffic or other public safety hazard;

         (c)   Will be of appropriate size, scale, and design for the area in which it will be located; and

         (d)   Will be of high quality in appearance, design, and construction, and will be subject to conditions, as appropriate, governing its design and operation.

(Ord. 3023)

DIVISION 4. SIGN REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL ZONES

SEC. 16-610. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.

   (A)   General requirements and limitations for signs in all zones, except freeway adjacent digital display billboards which are governed exclusively by section 16-609, are as follows:

      (1)   A sign shall not flash, scintillate, move, change color, appear to change color or change intensity, or contain any part or attachment which does the same; provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to public service time and temperature signs in commercial and industrial zones.

      (2)   (a)   Banners, pennants, flags and captive balloons are not permitted except pursuant to a temporary use permit as authorized by the director for a period not to exceed one month for grand opening purposes.

         (b)   Grand opening purposes allow promotional signs or devices displayed only when an existing permanent business changes ownership or a new permanent business opens. Grand opening purposes arise only within three months of the issuance of a city business license.

      (3)   Except as otherwise provided herein, portable or movable signs are not permitted, and paper, cloth or similar temporary signs are not permitted on the exterior of any building unless placed within a glass showcase or permanent framed area designed for that purpose.

      (4)   Flood lighting used for illumination of any sign is permitted only when such lighting is installed on private property and is hooded or shielded so that the light source is not visible from the public streets, alleys, or highways of any residentially zoned property.

      (5)   The director shall permit one double-faced permanent directional sign per vehicular entrance, provided such signs do not exceed three square feet in area each, in addition to signs permitted elsewhere in this article, if such signs are needed for traffic safety.

      (6)   Two construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area each are permitted on a parcel of property, providing that such signs are located and regulated in accordance with this chapter.

      (7)   Where the public convenience and necessity require, the commission may grant a special use permit allowing identification signs along major thoroughfares entering the city within 1,000 feet of the city boundary showing the name of the city and the names of nonprofit, civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, provided the overall size of the sign, including all riders, is not larger than 50 square feet.

      (8)   No sign shall be permitted in or over a public street right-of-way except that signs constructed on the face of a building that is located on the property line and parallel to a public street may project over such right-of-way a maximum of 12 inches.

      (9)   Roof signs are not permitted in any zone.

      (10)   Any attached sign which projects over a public right-of-way or any driveway or walkway shall have a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet above said right-of-way, driveway or walkway.

      (11)   No attached sign or wall sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building face, canopy face or wall upon which it is displayed.

      (12)   No illuminated signs shall be permitted within 100 feet of and facing residentially zoned property.

      (13)   In addition to any signs permitted by other sections of this article, gasoline service stations may be permitted the following signs:

         (a)   A red, yellow or green availability flag;

         (b)   Gasoline price panels on gasoline pumps provided that the panels do not exceed 8 inches by 12 inches in size; and

         (c)   Not more than two signs which are either a portable, ground-mounted or landscaped monument type sign. The total combined sign area for all such signs shall not exceed 80 square feet. Such signs shall be used exclusively for displaying grades of motor fuel, prices and hours of operation. No such sign shall have a greater width than five feet or a greater height than five feet as measured from the ground.

         (d)   The signs referred to in subsection (c) above shall be made of weather-resistant materials and not of paper, cloth or similar materials. The permitted portable ground-mounted, or landscaped ground monument sign shall not be located so as to create an obstruction to traffic visibility, shall be adequately anchored or supported to prevent overturning, and shall not be located upon or within any public right-of-way. A ground-mounted or monument sign requires building permit approval.

   (B)   Signs permitted by this section shall not be included in determining the total allowable sign area permitted by this article, nor shall permits be required for such signs.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-187) (Ord. No. 1573, 1633, 1861, 1945, 3023)

SEC. 16-611. NONCONFORMING SIGNS; ABATEMENT REQUIRED; TERMS OF ABATEMENT.

   (A)   The purpose of this section is to provide for the continuity of display property rights in existing nonconforming advertising signs by continuing in effect the former abatement removal requirement applicable to nonconforming advertising signs erected or displayed prior to May 10, 1968. This section is intended to preserve the existing display property rights in other nonconforming advertising signs by ensuring full return of investment to owners or lessees who are required by this article to conform or remove advertising signs in the future. The abatement procedure of this section has been considered by the commission and the city council at public hearings, and both bodies find the classification and methods of this section to be reasonable after weighing and considering the public interest to be served with the private property rights to be affected.

   (B)   Every owner or lessee of a nonconforming advertising sign shall terminate the nonconformity of the sign within the following terms of abatement:

      (1)   Banners, pennants, flags, captive balloons, and similar portable, moveable or temporary signs not treated by section 16-610 shall be removed within six months.

      (2)   Signs with nonconforming attachments or parts which are not integral parts of the sign structure or message (e.g., flashing beacons, flashing arrows, wind activated devices, and similar attachments or parts) shall be brought into conformance with the article within six months.

      (3)   Any nonconforming sign erected or displayed prior to May 10, 1968, shall be conformed to the requirements of this article or shall be removed by May 10, 1978.

      (4)   Other nonconforming signs shall be conformed to the requirements of this article or removed by April 1, 1992.

   (C)   (1)   The commission may grant the owner or lessee of a nonconforming sign permission to abate the nonconformity within an extended period greater than that limited by this section; provided, however, the extended abatement period shall not exceed 15 years in any case. Applications for extended sign abatement shall be made and granted by special use permit. The commission, in establishing the extended abatement period, shall consider the depreciation schedule initially computed or calculated and actually employed for the purpose of taxation by the owner or lessee during the display life of the sign.

      (2)   The following criteria shall also be considered in the consideration of any application for a special use permit or an appeal therefrom:

         (a)   Cost of the sign structure;

         (b)   The age of the sign in place and the date of its construction;

         (c)   Secondary meaning of the sign;

         (d)   The degree of the sign's deviation from the standards of this article;

         (e)   Encroachment and potential hazard to safety; and

         (f)   The remaining economic value of the sign.

   (D)   A nonconforming sign shall not be structurally altered, reconstructed, expanded in area or moved unless it conforms to the requirements of this article, nor shall a damaged, nonconforming sign be repaired without conformance to this article if the cost of repair exceeds 50 percent of the sign's depreciated book value immediately prior to damage. Sign panels of nonconforming signs may be replaced, repainted or changed in copy, provided that a permit is issued by the building official. Such replacement or change will not be used as justification to prolong a nonconforming sign as provided in subsections (B) or (C) above.

   (E)   Cessation of a nonconforming sign's use or purpose exceeding 30 days, regardless of the owner's or lessee’s intent not to abandon or of intent to resume the sign's use or purpose, shall require the sign's conformance or removal; provided, however, that damage or destruction due to an act of God or cessation required by a public agency (other than for financial problems of the business) shall not require a sign's removal or conformance under this section.

(`64 Code, Sec. 34-188) (Ord. No. 1673)