§ 10.188.050   Standards by sign type.
   (A)   Wall sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Not to exceed the pitch of the roof.
      (2)   Calculation of area: One square foot of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage of being advertised.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2, PL, A and conditional uses in residential zones.
      (4)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (5)   Maximum area: 300 feet.
   (B)   Roof sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Four feet above eaves of roof, but in no case higher than the peak of the roof.
      (2)   Calculation of permitted area: One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage of business being advertised.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2, A, PL and conditional uses in residential zones.
      (4)   Sign permit needed: Yes
   (C)   Monument sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Six feet for conditional uses in residential zones. Eight feet in C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2, A and PL zones except that monument signs may be placed on a four-foot high or less landscaped mound.
      (2)   All landscaped mounds shall comply with the development standards of Chapter 10.196 (Landscaping) providing that mound slopes may not be steeper than four to one.
      (3)   Calculation of permitted area: One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage for which the sign pertains.
      (4)   Ground clearance: None.
      (5)   Permitted zones: (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2, A and PL zones).
      (6)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (7)   Monument signs are not permitted in the traffic safety sight area.
      (8)   Maximum sign area:
         (a)   Forty-eight sq. ft. in commercial and manufacturing zones.
         (b)   Twelve sq. ft. in residential zones (industrial uses).
   (D)   Directional sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Four feet.
      (2)   Maximum Area: Eight square feet.
      (3)   Calculation of permitted area with no business logo/theme: None.
      (4)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2, A and PL zones.
      (5)   Sign permit needed: Yes - (no fee permit).
   (E)   Temporary sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Not to exceed roofline of nearest building or building to which it is affixed but in no case higher than 30 feet.
      (2)   Maximum area: Three hundred square feet, actual sign area permitted is one square foot per each lineal foot of building frontage of individual business.
      (3)   Calculation of area: One-half square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage of business to which sign pertains, over and above the sign area permitted for permanent signs.
      (4)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2, A and PL.
      (5)   Sign permit needed. No.
      (6)   Calculation of area for non-profit organization: No criteria.
      (7)   Permitted time: Temporary signs may not be utilized for more than 90 days per year.
   (F)   Freestanding sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Twenty feet.
      (2)   Calculation of permitted area: One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of parcel frontage.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, M-1, M-2, and PL.
      (4)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (5)   Location: No freestanding sign may be erected closer than five feet to any property line or closer than five feet to any driveway, alley or point of ingress/egress. Freestanding signs may only be permitted in the following circumstances:
         (a)   Shopping centers with four or more individual tenants.
         (b)   Office complexes including eight or more suites.
         (c)   Any parcel with 200 or more feet of street frontage.
         (d)   As part of an overall sign program or plan.
      (6)   Maximum sign area: Two hundred sq. ft.
   (G)   Projecting sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Not to exceed roofline of wall or structure to which projecting sign is attached. (Note: Bottom of sign shall be a minimum of eight feet from ground to provide proper clearance.)
      (2)   Calculation of area: One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage of business to which sign pertains.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2 and PL except that projecting signs shall not be permitted in the Tulare Improvement Program (TIP) area.
      (4)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (5)   Location: Projecting signs may extend over public right-of-ways including public sidewalks not to exceed two-thirds of the distance from the building face to which the sign is attached to the curb face of said sidewalk.
      (6)   Maximum sign area: Fifty sq. ft.
   (H)   Canopy sign.
      (1)   Maximum height: Not to exceed the height of the underside of a canopy, awning or marquee. A minimum of eight feet of clearance must be provided from bottom of sign to ground to provide proper clearance.
      (2)   Calculation of area: One-half square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage to which the sign pertains.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, M-1, M-2 and PL.
      (4)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (5)   Location: Under canopy signs may locate over rights-of-way including sidewalks except that no part of the sign may extend beyond the canopy.
      (6)   Maximum sign area: Fifty sq. ft.
   (I)   Sandwich board sign.
      (1)   Maximum height and width: Three feet wide and four feet tall, maximum.
      (2)   Maximum area: Twelve square feet.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 D, M-1, M-2 and PL.
      (4)   Location: May be place on public sidewalk but must permit a minimum of four feet of passage area on sidewalk.
      (5)   Sign permit needed. No.
      (6)   Maximum sign area: Twelve sq. ft.
      (7)   Maximum width and height: Three feet by four feet.
   (J)   Non-commercial signage. Commercial signage is defined as any sign likely to be engaged in commerce and where the intended audience is commercial or actual or potential customers, and where the content of the message is commercial in character. Any signage which is not commercial is allowed in any zoning district, and without review by the city, with the following restrictions:
      (1)   Signs shall be placed on lots or parcels privately owned with permission of the property owner.
      (2)   The combined area of sign on any one parcel shall not exceed 32 square feet.
      (3)   Non-commercial signs shall not be attached to trees, fence posts, or utility poles, except on private property where signs may be attached to trees and fence posts with permission of the property owner.
      (4)   Signs shall not be placed in any street right-of-way or on any city owned property, or any portion thereof.
      (5)   No sign shall be erected in violation of street corner setback requirements, which are established to ensure traffic safety, nor shall any such sign interfere with pedestrian traffic.
   (K)   Freeway signs.
      (1)   Maximum height: To be established by the Planning Commission but not to exceed 100 feet measured from crown of highway (facing perpendicular to site of sign) when crown of highway is above ground level of sign, otherwise sign height is measured from ground level at the site of sign.
      (2)   Maximum area: To be established by Planning Commission but not to exceed 500 square feet.
      (3)   Calculation of area: As a guideline only two and five tenths square feet of area per lineal foot of parcel frontage facing towards highway.
      (4)   Permitted zones: C-3, C-4, M-1, M-2 and PL.
      (5)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (6)   Conditional use permit needed: Yes.
      (7)   Location: Limited to within 300 feet of Highway 99 (State Route 99) right-of-way. Freeway signs 70 feet in height or greater shall contain a City of Tulare identification. The design of the identification shall be approved by the Planning Commission.
   (L)   Off-premise signs.
      (1)   Maximum height: Determined by sign type in accordance with § 10.188.040.
      (2)   Calculation of area: Determined by sign type in accordance with § 10.188.040.
      (3)   Permitted zones: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D, M-1, M-2 and PL.
      (4)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (5)   Conditional use permit needed: Yes.
      (6)   In addition to those findings required for approval of a conditional use permit, except in the case of a freeway sign, at least one of the following findings shall apply for approval of a conditional use permit allowing an off-premise sign:
         (a)   Exceptional or extraordinary conditions apply to the site of the business being advertised which precludes the effective use of on site sign(s).
         (b)   The business being advertised is of statewide or regional significance.
      (7)   In the case of a freeway sign, co-location of two or more off-site businesses is permitted provided that the properties are within 300 feet of State Route 99.
   (M)   Off-premise subdivision signs.
      (1)   Maximum height: Sixteen feet.
      (2)   Maximum area: One hundred and twenty-eight sq. ft.
      (3)   Minimum area: Twenty-four sq. ft.
      (4)   Permitted zones: All.
      (5)   Maximum of signs: Five per subdivision.
      (6)   Sign permit needed: Yes, for each sign or group of subdivision signs.
      (7)   Additional standards:
         (a)   Written authorization of the property owner.
         (b)   Sign location must not obstruct traffic visibility.
         (c)   Site plan required.
         (d)   Sign design must be of high quality and approved by the Planning and Building Director.
         (e)   A deposit or bond shall be provided to ensure removal of the off-premise subdivision sign.
         (f)   Signs shall not be illuminated by internal or indirect lighting.
         (g)   All existing off-premise subdivision signs shall be in full compliance with their section within 60 days of the effective date of this section.
         (h)   Subdivision signs are subject to the building code and to street encroachment permit procedures of the city.
   (N)   Billboards.
      (1)   Maximum height: Not to exceed 70 feet.
      (2)   Permitted zones: M-l. M-2 and C-3.
      (3)   Sign permit needed: Yes.
      (4)   Conditional permit required: Yes.
      (5)   Design guidelines: All visible sign support columns shall be concealed with approved architectural embellishments. The materials used in the sign support embellishments shall be primarily natural stone, brick, approved masonry panels, stucco, or architectural metal.
      (6)   Location: Within 300 feet of State Route 99, south of Paige Avenue and north of Cartmill Avenue.
      (7)   Density: Billboards are to be located no closer in distance than 1000 feet apart, irrespective of ownership.
      (8)   Billboards shall not be located in, nor project over public property or public right-of-way.
      (9)   Billboards shall be set back a minimum of 500 feet from any property zoned residential.
      (10)   Billboards shall be set back 25 feet from adjacent property lines except those fronting public streets where no setback is required.
      (11)   Billboards may be illuminated provided no lighting is directed onto adjacent properties or public rights-of-way and, where applicable, have approval from the California Highway Patrol.
      (12)   Electronic message display and LED billboard signs are permitted bul must have clearance or necessary approvals in writing from Caltrans Outdoor Advertising and FAA where applicable. Electronic message rotation shall comply with Caltrans safety standards.
      (13)   The owner of LED billboard sign shall coordinate with the local authorities to display, when appropriate, emergency information important to the traveling public including, but not limited to Amber Alerts, alerts concerning terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Emergency information messages shall remain in the advertising rotation according to the protocols of the agency that issues the information.
      (14)   The owner of LED billboard sign shall provide to the City of Tulare Chief Building Official 24 hour contact information for a person who has the authority and ability to turn off the electronic sign promptly after a malfunction occurs. Any sign not properly functioning needs to be repaired to the city's satisfaction within 60 days of a written notice or be subject to CUP revocation process.
      (15)   Billboards shall have City of Tulare branding on each side that contains advertising.
   (O)   Council finds that this revised § 10.188.050 is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to § 15305 (minor alterations in land use limitations) of the state guidelines.
(1995 Code, § 10.188.050) (Ord. 18-12, passed 12-11-2018; Ord. 13-06, passed 12-3-2013; Ord. 07-11, passed 6-19-2007; Ord. 06-2028, passed - -2006; Ord. 00-1854, passed - -2000)