(a) Findings. The Board hereby finds and declares: The City has a compelling need to prohibit the posting of Signs on public property in order to prevent the visual pollution caused by such Signs and the resulting contributions to urban blight. Moreover, the placement of Signs on public property causes damage to such property and, when Signs are placed on or near traffic or directional signs or similar objects, threatens the safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The rise in number, size and frequency of Signs on public property has increased visual clutter, risks to the vehicular and pedestrian traffic and damage to public property. This proliferation of Signs on public property also threatens the character and dignity of the City's distinctive appearance, streetscapes, thoroughfares, skyline and architectural features for both residents and visitors and also depletes limited public resources for street cleaning and maintenance. However, the Board is mindful of the importance of providing a forum for communication among citizens. While Lamp Posts and Utility Poles can provide such a forum, unrestricted use of Signs would interfere with the clear view of traffic safety signs and signals by motorists and with the unobstructed use of public streets and sidewalks. In addition, unrestricted use of Lamp Posts and Utility Poles would permit the placement of numerous Signs of widely ranging sizes and shapes which protrude beyond such poles, thereby creating an aesthetically displeasing clutter of objects on and over public streets and sidewalks. A limitation on the size, duration, and placement of Signs on Lamp Posts and Utility Poles will eliminate unsightly clutter, ensure traffic safety, and provide an opportunity for a greater number of Persons to communicate by this means.
(b) Prohibited Acts. Except as expressly provided in this Article, no Person, except a duly authorized public officer or employee, or a contractor with the City, the State of California, or the United States Government acting to promote the purposes of that contract, shall erect, construct or maintain, paste, paint, print, nail, tack or otherwise fasten or affix any Sign, or cause or suffer the same to be done, on any Lamp Post, Utility Pole, traffic control sign or signal, curbstone, bench, hydrant, wall, span wire, sidewalk, bridge, tree, fence, building or structure owned or controlled by the City.
(c) Exceptions for Non-Commercial Streets. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (b) of this Section, a Sign may be placed or maintained upon, or attached to, any Lamp Post or Utility Pole on a Non-Commercial Street provided that the following regulations are adhered to:
(1) No more than one copy of any Sign (i.e. no duplicates) may be placed on a single Lamp Post or a single Utility Pole at any time;
(2) The Sign shall be affixed to the Lamp Post or Utility Pole so that the shape of the Sign conforms to the shape of the Lamp Post or Utility Pole to which it is attached, and no part shall extend or be suspended beyond the face of the Lamp Post or Utility Pole;
(3) The Sign shall not be greater than 11 inches in height;
(4) The edge of the Sign which is farthest from the ground when posted shall be at a height no greater than 12 feet from the ground;
(5) The Sign shall only be affixed with tape or non-adhesive materials, such as string, twine or other non-metal banding material. The Sign shall not be affixed with staples, nails, paste, glue, or any adhesive substance other than tape, nor affixed in a manner that causes damage to the Lamp Post, Utility Pole, any structure, or any public property. The Sign shall be posted in a fashion that ensures it is firmly secured to the Lamp Post or Utility Pole, is not loose, and does not pose any hazard to pedestrians or vehicles;
(6) The Sign shall bear the Posting Date in the lower right-hand corner, legible and visible after the Sign is posted.
(d) Exceptions for Commercial Streets. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (b) of this Section, a Sign may be placed or maintained upon, or attached to, any Lamp Post or Utility Pole on a Commercial Street, provided that a Sign which is 11 inches in height or less must be posted in accordance with Section 184.57(c).
(e) Posting Period. Every Person who has posted any Sign on any Lamp Post or Utility Pole, or who has caused such posting, as permitted by Subsections (c) and (d) of this Section, shall remove such Sign and any material used to affix the Sign within 70 calendar days of the Posting Date. Provided, however, in no event shall any Sign posted for an event or an election remain posted more than 10 calendar days after the event or the election.
(f) Exclusions. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:
(1) Signs placed or maintained by the United States Government, the State of California, any department of the City, or Signs posted under the authority of the San Francisco Department of Recreation and Park, the San Francisco Port Commission, or the Department;
(2) Any object placed or maintained upon, or in front of, or attached to, or above any building or premises, either wholly within the property lines or projecting beyond the property line over the public sidewalk, regulated by the provisions of Part II, Chapter I of the San Francisco Municipal Code (Building Code);
(3) Any object affixed pursuant to Part II, Chapter IV of the San Francisco Municipal Code (Planning Code);
(4) Any object placed on a Street or sidewalk pursuant to Section 63 of Part II, Chapter VIII of the San Francisco Municipal Code (Police Code) regulating the placement of A-boards;
(5) Any object placed on a Lamp Post or Utility Pole pursuant to Section 184.78 of this Code regulating the display of banners;
(7) The distribution of newspapers and other printed material from newsracks or pedestal mounts on public sidewalks;
(8) Signs posted on kiosks or pedestal mounts designed and maintained for the posting of Signs.
(Added by Ord. 116-99, File No. 982076, App. 5/14/99; Ord. 222-06, File No. 060853, App. 8/11/2006)