This section describes the requirements applied to the construction, maintenance, and removal of signs within the city.
A. Construction of Signs. Every sign and all parts, portions, and materials thereof shall be manufactured, assembled, and erected in compliance with all applicable state, federal, and city laws and regulations, including the locally adopted Building Code. All signs shall comply with the following criteria:
1. All transformers, equipment, programmers, and other related items shall be screened and/or painted to match the building or shall be concealed within the sign.
2. All permanent signs shall be constructed of quality, low-maintenance materials such as metal, concrete, natural stone, glass, and acrylics. Techniques shall be incorporated during construction to reduce fading and damage caused by exposure to sunlight or degradation due to other elements.
3. All freestanding signs that incorporate lighting shall have underground utility service.
4. All temporary signs and banners shall be made of a material designed to maintain an attractive appearance for as long as the sign is displayed.
B. Maintenance of Signs. Every sign and all parts, portions, and materials thereof shall be maintained and kept in proper repair. The display surface of all signs shall be kept clean, neatly painted, and free from rust and corrosion. Any cracked, broken surfaces, malfunctioning lights, missing sign copy, or other non-maintained or damaged portions of a sign shall be repaired or replaced within thirty (30) days following notification by the city. Noncompliance with such a request will constitute a nuisance condition and zoning violation and will be enforced as such.
C. Interference with Motorist's or Pedestrian's Vision.
1. No sign shall be located in a manner which may obstruct or interfere with the view of a traffic signal or other traffic regulatory signs. No sign shall, as determined by the Public Works Director, be so located as to create a hazard to the life or property of any person using the public right-of-way.
2. Any required landscaping may be trimmed as needed to provide maximum visibility of the sign or signs.
3. Signs shall not be located within the clear vision triangle.
D. Clearance from Public Utility Facilities. The person erecting a sign and the owner of the premises shall maintain any legally required clearance from communications and electric facilities. A sign may not be constructed, erected, installed, maintained, or repaired in any manner that conflicts with a rule, regulation, or order of the California Public Utilities Commission pertaining to the construction, operation, and maintenance of public utilities facilities.
E. Determination and Measurement of Sign Area.
2. General area calculation. Generally, the area of a sign shall be measured as the overall length of the sign multiplied by the overall height of each segment of copy or logo exclusive of background.
3. Void Rule. When the sign is composed of individual letters applied to the building without a distinctive background (e.g., channel letters), the area of the sign shall be measured as seventy-five percent (75%) of the area of the sign copy (height of the letters multiplied by the length of each line of letters, e.g., length x height x seventy-five percent (75%)). This practice of taking seventy-five percent (75%) of the area shall be known as the void rule. See Figure 17.52.090-1 (Sign Area).
4. Awning or canopy signs. Sign copy which is applied to an awning or canopy shall be computed at one hundred percent (100%) of the area within a single rectangle enveloping the sign copy. See Figure 17.52.090-2 (Awning or Canopy Sign Area).
5. Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs are to be computed as total height by the total length of the sign for one (1) side for double-faced signs, excluding framework of separate single wood post or masonry column and single wood or masonry beam. The base of a monument sign is not part of the sign when made of wood, stucco, or masonry. See Figure 17.52.090-3 (Freestanding Sign Area).
a. Freestanding signs that are spread with two (2) faces (e.g., marquee sign) shall be computed as the greater of the area of one (1) side or the projected area of two (2) sides.
b. Freestanding signs that are spread with three (3) faces shall be computed as the greater of the area of one (1) side or the projected area of two (2) sides or three (3) sides.
c. Freestanding signs that are four (4)-sided shall be computed as the greater of the area of two (2) sides or the projected area of two (2) sides.
Freestanding sign area (shaded region only)
6. Three (3)-dimensional objects. Where a sign consists of one (1) or more three (3)-dimensional objects (e.g., balls, cubes, clusters of objects, sculptures, or statue-like trademarks), the sign area shall be measured at its maximum projection upon a vertical plane, as viewed from a position in the public right-of-way which produces the largest visual projection. See Figure 17.52.090-4 (Area of Three (3)-Dimensional Objects).
F. Measurement of Sign Height. Sign height shall be measured from the uppermost part of the sign used in determining the area of the sign to the lowest elevation at the base of the sign.
G. Setback and Spacing of Freestanding Signs.
1. The minimum setback distance for freestanding signs shall be measured from the back of the public right-of-way or side of a driveway, unless an encroachment permit is granted. All freestanding signs shall be located outside of the public right-of-way and any required clear vision triangle.
2. The minimum spacing distance between permanent freestanding signs, excluding on-site directory signs, shall be fifty (50) feet. The designated approving authority will review a proposed sign location on a case-by-case basis to ensure the sign is located outside the required clear vision triangle and does not otherwise inhibit motorist safety.
H. Sign Removal or Replacement. An owner of property on which a sign was constructed, painted, installed or maintained in conformance with a permit under this chapter, but for which the permit has lapsed or become void, shall forthwith remove the sign without additional notice or action from the city. When a sign is removed or replaced, all brackets, poles, and other structural elements that support the sign shall also be removed. Affected building surfaces shall be restored to match the adjacent portion of the structure. This requirement does not apply to routine maintenance. (Ord. 2010-02 § 1 (part), 2010)