SECTION 3107 – SIGNS

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3107.1 General. [ ← ]  Except as otherwise provided herein, all signs placed upon or attached to any building, structure or property shall comply with this chapter and shall be installed under a valid sign permit.

   The electrical portion of the sign shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Electrical Code, and an electrical permit shall be obtained in accordance with that code.

   Plans shall be filed with the application for a permit for any sign. When required, computations shall be provided.

3107.1.1 Exempt signs. The following signs are exempt from the requirements of this code:

   1.   Signs painted on structures. However, such signs must comply with the San Francisco Planning Code, and an application shall be filed with the Department.

   2.   Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions, when such boards are located on the premises of said institutions.

   3.   Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which they are maintained, which do not exceed 15 square feet (1.39 m2) in size, and which are mounted flush to the building.

   4.   Professional occupation signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling house, and not exceeding 3 square feet (0.278 m2) in area for each occupant.

3107.1.2 Prohibitions. The following prohibitions apply to signs:

   1.   No signs shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to block any exits or required windows. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe, gutter drain, stairway or fire escape, or interfere with the function or operation of any standpipe or fire escape. No roof sign shall be located within 6 feet (1.829 m) of a standpipe outlet.

   2.   No sign shall be increased in size, altered in shape or changed by the addition of other signs or advertising matter not specifically allowed by the provisions of this code and the San Francisco Planning Code.

   3.   No wall sign shall extend across or in front of any window or other exterior opening located above the first story of a building, except as approved by the Building Official.

   4.   No wall sign erected on a wall adjacent to and facing a street, public space or yard shall project above the parapet walls.

   EXCEPTIONS:

   1.   On a building located on a corner lot, a wall sign may project a maximum of 7 feet (2.134 m) above the roof line on only one street.

   2.   On any frontage, signs not more than 10 feet (3.048 m) long for any 40-foot (12.19 m) frontage and occupying no more than 25 percent of the lot frontage may project a maximum of 7 feet (2.134 m) above the roof line.

3107.1.3 Permit number on sign. Every sign shall have the permit number clearly painted and maintained on its face or edge, and of such size and location as to be legible from the sidewalk level, ground level or an easily accessible location. Electric signs may have an approved metal tag attached to them instead of painted characters.

3107.1.4 Revocable permits. The permit for any sign over public property may be revoked. A permit granted under Chapter 1A and this chapter for a sign over public property shall not be construed to create any perpetual right but is a revocable license which may be terminated by revocation by the Board of Supervisors.

3107.1.5 Existing signs. This chapter shall not render unlawful the existence or maintenance of any sign erected or maintained by a lawful permit issued prior to the adoption of this ordinance.

   EXCEPTION: Signs for which lawful permits were issued and which, due to a sidewalk narrowing or street widening project, no longer conform to the requirements of Section 3107.3 shall be altered to conform not later than 90 days following completion of such project.

3107.2 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:

   APPROVED PLASTIC is a plastic material found to be suitable functionally for the purpose for which it is intended and which complies with the requirements of Chapter 26. For outdoor signs, the approval of the plastic shall be based upon considerations of flame spread value only. For indoor signs, the approval shall be based upon flame spread and smoke density values.

   AREA OF A SIGN is that area of exposed vertical surface which is included within a rectangle enclosing all the features of the sign. In cases of an irregular sign, it is the sum of the areas of the enclosing rectangles estimated to the nearest 5 square feet (0.465 m2).

   BUSINESS SIGN is a sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted on the premises upon which such sign is located, or to which it is affixed.

   SIGN is any structure, part thereof, or device or inscription which is located upon, attached to or painted, projected or represented on the exterior of any building or structure, including an awning, canopy, marquee or similar appendage, or affixed to the glass on the outside or inside of a window so as to be seen from the outside of the building, and which displays or includes any numeral, letter, word, model, banner, emblem, insignia, symbol, device, light, trademark or other representation used as, or in the nature of, an announcement, advertisement or designation by or of any person, firm, group, organization, place, commodity, product, service, business, profession, enterprise or industry. A sign includes the support, uprights and framework of the display.

3107.3 Height, projection, and location.

   Height, projection and location of all signs shall be as specified in Article 6 of the San Francisco Planning Code. No sign shall project past the curbline of any street, alley or public way.

   The minimum vertical clearance of signs over public sidewalks shall be 10 feet (3.048 m). Additionally, signs or portions within the outer one- third of a sidewalk shall have 12-foot (3.658 m) clearance, and when within 2 feet (0.61 m) of the curbline shall have 14-foot (4.267 m) clearance.

   Roof signs shall be not less than 5 feet (1.524 m) above the roof. Supports shall be spaced at least 6 feet (1.829 m) apart.

3107.4 Design.

   The design shall make allowances for the effects of corrosion and lack of maintenance.

   No anchor or support of any sign shall be connected to, or suspended by, an unbraced parapet wall, unless such wall is designed in accordance with the requirements for parapet walls specified in Chapter 16.

   Fasteners and braces shall be of noncombustible construction, except that stringers for attachment of roof signs may be of 6-inch (152.4 mm) minimum dimension redwood or approved preservative-treated lumber.

3107.5 Construction.

3107.5.1 General. All signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials except that approved plastics may be used in sign facings as described in Section 3107.5.2. All ferrous metal and all fastenings used in construction or installation, excluding stainless steel, shall be hot-dipped galvanized, porcelain-enameled or otherwise protected in an approved manner against corrosion.

   Aluminum may only be used for minor internal members, such as stiffeners and closures, and for sign faces and nonstructural trim. The minimum thickness shall be 0.0299 inch (0.76 mm).

   Steel shapes or plates used for primary support shall be not less than 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) in thickness. Sheet metal formed integrally with the sign face or used as cabinet cover shall be not less than 0.0239 inch (24 gauge). Secondary support members not formed integrally with the design face shall be not less than 0.1046 (12 gauge) inch.

   The minimum material thickness requirements in this section pertain to the base metal before application of protective covering and need not apply to signs located inside a building.

3107.5.2 Plastics. Where plastics are included in a sign, the application to install a sign shall set forth the manufacturer’s trade name, or the common name of the plastic material to be used in the sign, thickness of plastic, aspect ratio, corrugation type, if any, and span. The plastic employed in the signs shall be identified as set forth in Chapter 26 with the manufacturer’s trade name, or with the common name of the plastic material.

   Plastic sign facing shall conform to the provisions of this section. Plastic sign faces, formed or flat, letters and decorations shall be of sufficient thickness or so formed or supported that they will withstand all loads required by this code.

   Plastic facing shall be mounted in a metal frame. Proper provision shall be made for the difference in thermal expansion between plastic members and the frame.

3107.5.3 Electric plastic signs. Every electric sign containing approved plastics shall comply with the minimum requirements set forth in the Standard for Electric Signs, UL No. 48. The attachment of Underwriters Laboratories label, or other approved laboratory per the Electrical Code, shall be sufficient proof that a sign has complied with the requirements of the Electrical Code.

3107.5.4 Wood-faced signs. Projecting signs with wood facing or backing are permitted on any building.

   Plywood used for signs shall be exterior grade and not less than 5/8-inch (15.88 mm) thickness. Lumber shall be not less than 1-inch (25.4 mm) nominal and shall be finished to provide a weather- resistant finish.

3107.6 Ground signs.

3107.6.1 Height. The maximum height of a ground sign constructed with wood supports shall be 30 feet (9.14 m), as measured from the top of the sign to the sidewalk in front of the sign or the existing ground under the sign, whichever is higher.

3107.6.2 Design and construction. The design and construction of wood signs shall comply with Chapters 16 and 23 of this code. All wood within 12 inches of the ground shall be pressure-treated wood.

3107.7 Removal of business signs. It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any business sign to remain posted more than 180 days after the activity for which the business sign has been posted has ceased operation on the premises if such person (1) owns, leases or rents the property on which the sign is posted, or (2) owns or operates such business, service, industry or other activity.