(a) General Regulations for Off-Site Signs. Unless otherwise specified in this Section, the following standards shall be applicable to off-site signs:
(1) Allowability of Off-Site Signs.
(A) Where Allowed. Off-site signs shall be allowed in the CG (General Commercial) and CH (Highway Commercial) land use zoning districts subject to a Conditional Use Permit.
(B) Where Prohibited. Off-site signs shall be prohibited in the Phelan/Pinon Hills Community Plan area and the Crest Forest Community Plan area.
(2) Dimensions and Area.
(A) Overall Height. The maximum height of an off-site freestanding sign shall be 35 feet. The maximum height of an off-site freestanding sign whose leading edge is not within 500 feet of a freeway right-of-way nor located within 50 feet of a railroad line shall be 25 feet.
(B) Height of Sign Face. The maximum vertical height of the face of an off-site sign shall be 25 feet.
(C) Width of Sign Face. The maximum horizontal width of the face of an off-site sign shall be 50 feet.
(D) Area. The maximum area of the face of an off-site sign shall be 500 square feet. The maximum area of the face of an off-site sign whose leading edge is not within 500 feet of a freeway right-of-way shall be 300 square feet. The area and height of a freestanding sign may be expanded by no more than ten percent for the addition of temporary embellishments, cut-outs, and other add-ons. The embellishments shall not exceed 50 square feet in area, nor add more than five feet in additional height.
(3) Construction Standards. A maximum of two steel support poles shall be allowed for an off-site freestanding sign. Steel support poles shall be required for the construction of an off-site freestanding sign required in this Chapter to have a Building Permit.
(4) Access. Off-site signs shall not obstruct an access route, including setback areas needed for emergency vehicle or personnel access.
(5) Designated Scenic Route. No off-site freestanding signs greater than 18 square feet in area shall be oriented toward a State or County Highway that has been designated as a Scenic Route by the Federal, State, or a local jurisdiction.
(6) Visibility from Freeway When Sign Not Oriented Towards Freeway. Where off-site signs are oriented towards thoroughfares other than freeways, the message displayed on the signs may be visible to the operators of vehicles from on-and-off ramps, but the message shall not be designed to be viewed by the operators of vehicles being driven on the main traveled way of the freeway.
(7) Double-faced, Back-to-Back Signs Allowed. Provisions of this Section shall not prevent the erection of double-faced, back-to-back off-site signs or V-shaped signs erected in compliance with Subdivision (1)(d) (Area), above.
(8) Minimum Spacing. Off-site signs shall maintain the following minimum spacing between the leading edge of each sign on the same side of the same street or freeway. Measurements shall be calculated from the leading edge or footing of the sign nearest to the planned right-of-way.
Sign Area | Minimum Spacing |
Sign Area | Minimum Spacing |
(A) Freeway Oriented Off-site Signs | |
0 - 500 square feet | 750 feet |
500.01 square feet and over | Not allowed |
(B) All other Off-site Signs | |
0 - 50 square feet | 50 feet |
50.01 - 100 square feet | 150 feet |
100.01 - 300 square feet | 500 feet |
300.01 square feet and over | Not allowed |
(9) Setback. The leading edge of off-site signs shall maintain the following minimum setback from the planned right-of-way:
Sign Height | Setback |
(A) Freeway oriented off-site signs | |
Any height | 3 feet |
(B) All other off-site signs | |
0 - 16 feet | 3 feet |
16.01 - 25 feet | 5 feet |
25.01 feet and over | Not allowed |
(10) State Outdoor Advertising Permit. A copy of the current valid State Outdoor Advertising Permit, where one is required by the State, shall be submitted to the Building Official before approval of a plot plan for an off-site sign, except where specific County findings are required by the State Department of Transportation before the issuance of the State Outdoor Advertising Permit. When a valid State Outdoor Advertising Permit is required by the State, it shall be submitted before issuance of a Building Permit for the construction of the sign.
(11) Illumination. Lighting of off-site signs shall comply with § 83.07.040 (Glare and Outdoor Lighting Mountain and Desert Regions).
(b) Freeway Oriented Off-Site Signs.
(1) Message Orientation. Freeway oriented off-site signs shall be erected, constructed, or maintained, to ensure that the message displayed on the signs shall be designed to be viewed by the operators of vehicles traveling on freeways.
(2) Applicable Land Use Development Standards. In addition to the provisions of this Subdivision, signs shall be subject to the provisions of the land use zoning district in which they are located.
(3) Conditional Use Permit Required. Freeway oriented off-site signs shall be allowed subject to a Conditional Use Permit.
(4) Minimum Spacing. See § 83.13.060(a)(8) (Minimum Spacing).
(5) Location and Design Standards. Unless otherwise specified in this Chapter, the location and design standards for freeway oriented off-site signs shall be as provided in the:
(A) Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code §§ 5200 et seq.).
(B) Code of Regulations, Title 4 (Business Regulations), Chapter 4 (Directional and Other Official Signs and Notices).
(6) Activities Exempt from Permit Requirements. The changing of a message or customary maintenance of a legally existing sign structure as defined in § 2270 (Customary Maintenance) of the Code of Regulations, Title 4 (Business Regulations), Chapter 1 (Outdoor Advertising General) shall not require a Use Permit in compliance with this Subdivision.
(7) Location Standards. In addition to other applicable Federal, State, and local requirements, freeway oriented off-site signs shall not be constructed until a permit has been issued by the Building Official in compliance with the following:
(A) Location in Established Business Area.
(I) Freeway oriented off-site freestanding signs shall be located where allowed within an established business area, which shall mean an area within 1,000 feet, measured in any direction, from the leading edge of the nearest edge of a commercial or industrial activity or structure, and that is located in a commercial or industrial land use zoning district. For purposes of calculating the 1,000-foot measurement, the freeway right-of-way shall be excluded.
(II) The area of a commercial or an industrial activity shall be presumed to be that portion of a parcel lying within a single rectangle that encloses improvements, storage areas, and parking areas related to that commercial or industrial activity. This activity includes accessory and primary land uses that are both directly and traditionally related to a commercial or industrial land use, but does not include infrastructure or access improvements (e.g., driveways, railways, power lines, etc.).
(B) Sign Separation Requirement. Freeway oriented off-site signs shall be not be placed within 750 feet from another freeway oriented off-site sign on the same side of the freeway. If a particular land use zoning district specifies a more restrictive spacing, then the more restrictive spacing shall prevail.
(c) Freeway Oriented Directional Signs.
(1) Location and Design Standards. Freeway oriented directional signs shall be located and designed in compliance with the:
(A) Outdoor Advertising Act (Business and Professions Code §§ 5200 et seq.).
(B) Code of Regulations, Title 4 (Business Regulations), Chapter 4 (Directional and Other Official Signs and Notices).
(2) Message. The message on directional signs shall be limited to the identification of an attraction or activity and directional information useful to the traveler in locating the corresponding attraction or activity.
(3) State Outdoor Advertising Permit. A copy of the current valid State Outdoor Advertising Permit, where it is required by the State, shall be submitted to the Building Official before approval of a plot plan for a freeway oriented directional sign, except where specific County findings are required by the State Department of Transportation before the issuance of State Outdoor Advertising Permit. When a valid State Outdoor Advertising Permit is required by the State, it shall be submitted before issuance of a Building Permit for the construction of the sign.
(d) Additional Off-Site Signs. The following off-site signs are allowed in addition to those specified within individual land use zoning districts:
(1) Off-Site Permanent Civic Signs. Signs that serve to identify a community shall be allowed in all land use zoning districts subject to the following:
(A) In land use zoning districts where off-site business signs are allowed, the maximum height and area for a off-site civic sign shall be the same as the allowed on-site business sign, unless otherwise specified by this Chapter.
(B) In land use districts where off-site signs are not allowed, signs shall have a maximum area of 100 square feet and a maximum height of 15 feet, except in those land use zoning districts where on-site signs are not allowed.
(C) In land use districts where off-site signs are not allowed, off-site civic signs shall have a maximum area of 32 square feet and a maximum height of 12 feet.
(D) Off-site civic signs shall only display the name, surname, and/or slogan of the city or community.
(2) Off-Site Business Directional Signs. Off-site business directional signs are signs that direct attention to, or otherwise pertain to, a commodity or service that is sold, produced, conducted or offered by a nonresidential land use type not located on the same site where the sign is located but is within 50 are miles of the business or establishment being identified. Off-site business directional signs are allowed in all land use zoning districts subject to the following restrictions:
(A) Off-site business directional signs shall not be allowed when an on-site business sign will serve to adequately identify the establishment.
(B) Off-site business directional signs shall not be located within 50 feet of another off-site sign.
(C) In those nonresidential land use zoning districts where on-site business signs are not allowed, off-site business directional signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area nor ten feet in height.
(D) In those land use zoning districts where on-site business signs are allowed, off-site business directional signs shall not exceed 64 square feet in area, nor 15 feet in height or the signs shall conform to the size and height provided for on-site business signs within the land use zoning district, whichever is smaller.
(E) Whenever an off-site business directional sign is used, there shall be a one square foot reduction of allowed sign area for on-site business signs for the establishment for each square foot of sign area in the business directional sign.
(F) If an off-site business directional sign is oriented towards a State Highway or freeway, the sign shall also comply with the provisions of § 83.13.060(c) (Freeway Oriented Directional Signs), above.
(Ord. 4011, passed - -2007; Am. Ord. 4298, passed - -2016)