Within the CBD-SPD (C-3 zone) and the arts and entertainment district, the following sign regulations apply:
A. General requirements.
1. A sign program must be submitted with an individual project application to the design director or the preservation director and must address the following:
a. Proposed location of signage.
b. Dimensions of signage area.
c. Materials and design guidelines for sign support, structure, and illumination method.
2. Signs are prohibited above the building base (as defined in section 3, Central Core Design Guidelines, in the Central City Urban Design Guidelines adopted by Sacramento City Council Resolution No. 2009-315) except that signs for the main building tenant are allowed above the building base subject to subsections E.6 and E.7 of this section.
3. Off-street signage is prohibited.
B. Design requirements.
1. The location of signs must be only as shown on the plans approved by the design director or the preservation director.
2. Electrical signs must bear the UL label and their installation must comply with applicable building and electrical codes.
3. Exposed conduit and raceways are prohibited.
4. Conductors, transformers, and other related equipment must be concealed.
5. Sign fastenings, bolts, and clips must be galvanized iron, black iron of any type, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, or bronze.
6. Exterior letters on signs exposed to the weather must be mounted at least three-fourths of an inch from the building surface to permit dirt and water drainage.
7. Locations of openings for conduit and sleeves in sign panels of building must be indicated on drawings.
8. Installation of signage must be in accordance with the drawings approved by the design director or the preservation director. When deciding whether to approve the drawings, the design director or the preservation director (a) shall consider all of the factors relating to the proposed signage and, based on the evidence submitted, make the findings set forth in subsections E.1 through E.8 of section 15.148.1110 that apply to the signage; and (b) shall not consider the content or graphic design of messages other than to determine legality under federal or state law.
C. Allowed signage.
1. Flat-mounted wall signs.
2. Individual-letter signs (e.g., channel letters or flat cut-out letters).
3. Wall plaques.
4. Objects.
5. Window and awning signage.
6. Projecting signs.
D. Type of materials. Signage material must be weather-proof.
E. Location and size.
1. Attached signs.
a. Maximum number of flat or projecting signs: for each street-side building face, two per occupant, with a total display area not exceeding 45 square feet.
b. Maximum area of a flat sign: 3 square feet per front foot of building occupancy, not to exceed 45 square feet.
c. Maximum height of a flat sign: 3 feet.
2. Projecting signs: for each street-side building face, one per occupant.
a. Maximum area on side: 20 square feet.
b. Maximum height: 10 feet.
c. Maximum distance from building face to outer edge of sign: 4 feet.
d. Minimum height from sidewalk to bottom of sign: 8 feet.
3. Suspended signs.
a. Maximum number of suspended signs: one per occupant.
b. Maximum area of each face: 9 square feet.
c. Maximum height: 1.5 feet.
d. Minimum height from sidewalk to bottom of sign: 8 feet.
4. Awning or canopy signage. Signage on any awning or canopy must not exceed 25% of the surface area and must comply with all other applicable provisions of this article. The maximum height of the signage is 1 foot.
5. Banners.
a. Total maximum area per banner: 40 square feet.
b. Maximum number of banners: one for each building face.
c. Banners in alleys. A banner that projects above a public alley must be located at least 10 feet above the alley grade, the projecting pole mount must be at least 14 feet above alley grade, and the banner must not project more than 2 feet from the building face.
6. Special signage. Notwithstanding section 15.148.640, the following special signs are allowed if authorized by a zoning administrator's conditional-use permit issued in accordance with article XIV of this chapter: signs with exposed neon tubing, signs with flashing lights, signs with traveling lights on theater marquees or nightclubs, and functionally similar signs (excluding signs with digital-display technology).
7. Towers-attached signs. Signage on the towers of office buildings or mixed-use buildings is allowed subject to the following provisions:
a. Design. Signage must be integral in design to the architectural style of the building.
b. Number. Two signs per building, each sign with the same display and located in the upper signage area. For mixed-use buildings, two additional signs per building, each sign with the same display and located on the tower, with the area of each additional sign not exceeding 200 square feet and the total area of the two additional signs not exceeding 400 square feet. Only one sign is allowed for each building face, whether located in the upper signage area or on the tower.
c. Materials, construction, and design. Signs may be constructed of solid metal, marble, granite, ceramic tile, or other comparable materials. Examples of acceptable metal materials are chrome, brass, stainless steel, or fabricated and painted sheet metal. Plastic or wood signs are prohibited.
d. Illumination. Signs may be unilluminated or internally illuminated to create a halo backlighted effect. Internally illuminated signs must be lighted with neon tubing or lightemitting diodes (LEDs). Lighting must not produce a glare on other properties in the vicinity, and the source of the light must not be visible from adjacent property or a public street. Internally lit plastic signs are prohibited.
e. Location. A sign must be attached to, and parallel to, a building face; must not project above the building face on which it is located; and must be located in the upper signage area, except that a sign may be located outside the upper signage area if in a location approved as part of the building-design approval or in a location approved by the design director or the preservation director. When deciding whether to approve a sign location, the design director or the preservation director (i) shall consider all factors relating to the proposed sign and, based on the evidence submitted, make the findings set forth in subsections E.1 through E.8 of section 15.148.1110 that apply to the sign; and (ii) shall not consider the content or graphic design of messages other than to determine legality under federal or state law.
f. Maximum sign area. A sign located in the upper signage area must not exceed 10% of that area. The length of the sign must not exceed 25% of the length of the building face on which the sign is affixed. In a scale consistent with the two preceding sentences, the design director or the preservation director shall determine the maximum size of the following types of signs:
i. Signs located other than as specified above.
ii. Signs located on buildings with a unique or unusual architectural design.
g. If not specifically approved as part of the design approval for the building, the following types of signs require a zoning administrator's conditional-use permit issued in accordance with article XIV of this chapter:
i. Signs not located in the upper signage area.
ii. Signs constructed of materials other than marble, granite, ceramic tile, or individual solid metal letters allowed by subsection E.7.c of this section.
8. Monument Signs. Monument signs are allowed subject to the following:
a. Must not be less than 1 foot wide or more than 2.5 feet wide.
b. Must not be less than 5 feet high or more than 13 feet high.
c. Must have a total surface area on each side (including the base or similar support) not exceeding 30 square feet.
d. Must be erected with its base on the ground or on a solid-appearing support substantially equivalent in width and depth to the base.
e. May be illuminated indirectly or internally or through reverse pan-channel halo illumination.
f. Must have its outer edge at least 5 feet from property lines.
g. Must be at least 10 feet from the edge of any driveway entrance and must not obstruct the vision of motor-vehicle operators or otherwise create a hazard. The city traffic engineer may determine, based on traffic-engineering standards, whether the sign creates a hazard.
h. Must not (i) be an off-site sign or display general advertising for hire, (ii) include vinyl wraps or applique, (iii) be in a public right-of-way, or (iv) have a digital display.
i. Must be consistent with the materials, design, and architectural style of the building to which it relates.
F. Except as provided in subsection E.7.g of this section, attached signs that are subject to this section must be covered by a permit issued under article II of this chapter. (Ord. 2017-0044 § 2; Ord. 2016-0010 § 13; Ord. 2013-0021 § 62; prior code § 3.04.069)