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The following requirements and provisions shall be applicable to all sign installations as regulated by this chapter, both on-site and off-site, whether permanent or temporary.
(A) Construction and installation standards. All signs, sign structures and other components including electrical features, shall be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances and regulations previously adopted, or subsequently adopted, by the city. Those codes and ordinances shall dictate such standards as the means of structural support, allowable stresses, construction materials, wind loads, vibration resistance, seismic loads, electrical wiring and the like.
(B) Sign label. The building permit number as required by the City of Yuma Building Safety Division shall be permanently affixed to each sign installation, whether permanent or temporary, for which a building permit is required under this chapter. Any temporary signage for which no permit is required under this chapter shall be affixed with the telephone number of the sign owner. Such information shall be affixed by a weatherproof label, inscription or other permanent means, in a manner legible upon close inspection.
(C) Maintenance. Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, repainting, cleaning and other acts necessary for the maintenance of said sign. If the sign is not made to comply with adequate safety standards, the City Building Official may require its removal in accordance with the provisions of division (E) below of this chapter.
(D) Damaged or deteriorated signage. Any sign or structure which is damaged or has deteriorated to an extent that the cost of repair equals 50% or more of the replacement value of the sign if sound, shall either be rebuilt or replaced in conformance with the standards and requirements of this chapter, or be removed altogether.
(E) Sign removal. The Building Official shall cause the repair or removal of any sign that endangers the public safety, such as materially dangerous, electrically or structurally defective sign or an abandoned sign, according to the following provisions. The following provisions pertaining to notice, appeal and reoccurrence shall also apply to all signage which is temporary signage extending beyond the permitted time limits according to the criteria specified by § 154-17.03(D) of this chapter.
(1) Notice. Written notice shall be sent to the owner of the sign if it is an off-site sign, or to the owner of the premises upon which an on-site sign is situated. Such notice shall identify any hazards, defects and deficiencies of the sign or sign structure, and the specific section(s) of this chapter or other applicable building code or ordinance adopted by the city to which the violations pertain. Said notice shall further indicate what repairs or other action, if any, would correct the violation(s) as noted, and shall specify a period of 30 days for either the repair or removal to be accomplished.
(2) Appeal. The owner of the sign, or the owner of the building or property, upon which it is situated, may appeal the order of the Building Official for removal or repair, by filing a written notice with the Building Official within ten days after receipt of the notice, for final consideration by the appropriate city board. The Board of Appeals shall consider appeals pertaining to the building code; the Electrical Advisory Board shall consider appeals pertaining to the electrical code; and the Board of Adjustment shall consider appeals pertaining to removal of abandoned signage, as well as any appeals from any interpretation made by the Zoning Administrator.
(3) Emergency. Should the Building Official determine that the sign or structure causes imminent danger to the public safety, contact shall be made with the owner to require immediate removal or correction. In the event that contact cannot be made with the owner, or the owner fails to correct the danger, the Building Official shall correct the danger by ordering the sign removal. Any sign removed by the Building Official pursuant to such emergency shall be disposed of in the manner deemed appropriate by City Council, upon recommendation by the Building Official. All costs associated with removal of such sign by the city, including all incidental costs, shall be considered a debt owed to the city by the owner of the sign if it is an off-site sign, or the owner of the property if it is an on-site sign, and shall be recovered in the following manner.
(a) The Building Official shall submit a report to the City Clerk for public hearing by the City Council. Such report shall include a description of the work done, an itemized account of all expenses incurred, a legal description of the property upon which the signage is or was located, and the name(s) and address(es) of the property owner and/or sign owner, if reasonably ascertainable.
(b) The City Clerk shall cause notice of the public hearing to be posted on the property involved, published once in a newspaper of general circulation within the city, and served by certified mail to the owner of the property if it is an on-site sign, according to the names and addresses shown on the county assessment roll, and to the owner of the sign if it is an off-site sign if such name and address are reasonably ascertainable. Such notice as specified herein shall be given at least ten days prior to the hearing, and shall further specify the day, hour and place for the hearing.
(c) At the conclusion of the public hearing, the City Council shall confirm or deny the report, with or without any modifications as it deems appropriate, and shall determine whether the charges are to be recovered by personal obligation of the property owner. Should Council order that the charges shall be a personal obligation of the property owner and/or the sign owner, the City Attorney shall be authorized to collect the same by use of all appropriate legal remedies.
(F) Locations within right-of-way. No sign shall be located within any existing or prospective public street right-of-way as classified by the circulation element of the Yuma General Plan, nor shall any portion of a sign or sign structure overhang such right-of-way, except as provided in this code.
('80 Code, App. A, § 161) (Ord. 583, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 2193, passed 3-21-1984; Ord. 2243, passed 12-19-1984; Ord. O2005-91, passed 10-5-2005) Penalty, see § 154-999
(G) Balloons and inflatable devices. The following applies to the use of balloons and other inflatable devices used as signs.
(1) Individual balloons/inflatable devices or strings of balloons shall not be higher than the building located on the site.
(2) Individual balloons/inflatable devices or strings of balloons shall be tethered to the ground a distance from the property line equal to the balloon height.
(3) Individual balloons/inflatable devices or strings of balloons are required to be maintained solely on the property of the business for which it is advertising.
(4) Individual balloons/inflatable devices or strings or balloons are not allowed to cross into the right-of-way, whether in the air or on the ground.
(5) Individual balloons/inflatable devices or strings of balloons are not allowed to be cut loose or to blow away. The maintenance and disposal of the balloons is the responsibility of the business that they are advertising. Balloons must be removed and disposed of properly.
(6) The provision of § 154-14.02(C)(3) development standards in the AutoCenter Overlay District does not apply to balloons and inflatable devices.
('80 Code, App. A, § 161) (Ord. 583, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 2193, passed 3-21-1984; Ord. 2243, passed 12-19-1984; Ord. O2005-91, passed 10-5-2005; Ord. O2007-52, passed 10-3-2007; Ord. O2010-09, passed 2-3-2010; Ord. O2010-32, passed 7-7-2010) Penalty, see § 154-999
(A) Prohibited signs. The following types of signs shall be prohibited:
(1) Portable signs as defined by this chapter;
(2) Streamers displayed for periods exceeding 15 days;
(3) Balloons exceeding four feet in diameter;
(4) Animated, flashing or indexing signs;
(Ord. O2017-014, passed 5-3-2017)
(5) Swinging signs;
(6) Signs which rotate more than six revolutions per minute;
(7) Banners, other than for identifying a special event for a maximum period of 15 days;
(8) Any sign attached to a stand pipe or fire escape;
(9) Any sign which impedes access to any door, window or fire escape;
(10) Signs on public property, unless otherwise allowed by law;
(Ord. O2009-54, passed 10-21-2009; Ord. O2017-014, passed 5-3-2017)
(11) Any sign which facsimilates traffic control devices or emergency vehicles by reason of shape, color or other feature;
(12) Any on-site sign attached to an off-site installation which increases the existing sign face area;
(13) Any off-site sign attached to an on-site sign installation; and
(14) Any other type of signage which does not comply with the regulations and provisions of this chapter.
(B) Exempt signage. The following types of sign installations shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
(1) Flags;
(2) Government signs for street names, traffic control or other regulatory purpose of the government;
(3) Holiday decorations; and
(4) Signage located within the interior of any building or other enclosure, and not visible from any public right-of-way or adjoining property, provided, however, this provision shall not exempt such installations from the requirement for any electrical permit, such as an illuminated sign within an enclosed mall, any structural permit or other requirement of an applicable building code or other regulation adopted by the city.
(5) Temporary signs.
(a) Temporary signs are only permitted for licensed businesses that are located onsite, whose access or visibility are currently impacted by any type of undergoing active roadway construction, repair or maintenance that is immediately occurring adjacent to/or in front of the property and currently impacted by such.
(b) A temporary sign application is required to be filed with the city to determine placement of such, prior to installation.
(c) The City Administrator or designee is authorized and directed to promulgate regulations to effect this section.
(Ord.O2010-07, passed 1-20-2010)
(6) A sign on a truck, bus, boat, trailer, car or other motorized vehicles and equipment provided the following conditions are adhered to:
(a) Primary purpose of such vehicle or equipment is not the display of signs;
(b) Such signs are magnetic, decals or painted upon an integral part of the vehicle or equipment as originally designed by the manufacturer, and do not break the silhouette of the vehicle;
(c) Vehicle/equipment is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets when applicable, and actively used in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate;
(d) Vehicles and equipment are not used primarily as static displays, advertising a product or service, not utilized as storage or shelter; and
(e) During periods of inactivity exceeding 72 hours such vehicle/equipment are not so parked or placed that the signs thereon are displayed to the public. Vehicles and equipment engaged in active construction projects and the on-premise storage of equipment and vehicles offered to the general public for rent or lease shall not be subjected to this condition.
(C) Signage for which no permits are required. Permits shall not be required for any of the following sign installations, provided, however, that such installations shall meet all other requirements of this chapter as may be applicable:
(1) Changing the copy of a sign previously designed with interchangeable panels, letters or other graphics;
(2) Cleaning, repair, repapering, repainting a previously painted sign or other maintenance, including replacement of a sign face necessitated by damage or deterioration, none of which increases the existing sign face area. No activity shall be contrary to the requirements of §§ 154-17.02(C) and § 154-17.05(D) of this chapter;
(3) The painting of any on-site signage, whether permanent or temporary, within a window of any building wall, or the installation or modification, of any merchandise display within an existing window; and
(4) Temporary signage not exceeding 32 square feet in area and six feet in height.
(Ord. O2008-06, passed 2-20-2008; Ord. O2010-32, passed 7-7-2010; Ord. O2017-014, passed 5-3-2017; Ord. O2022-044, passed 9-21-2022)
(A) Responsibilities. The administration and enforcement of these regulations shall be the responsibility of the City Zoning Administrator and the Building Official, in accordance with the customary duties and responsibilities of each official, respectively, and as further provided by this subchapter and by Article 2; § 154-02.02.
(B) Issuance of building permits.
(1) Permits required. A permit issued by the City of Yuma Building Safety Department shall be required for the installation, construction, reconstruction, alteration or replacement of all signs and sign structures as specified in the following. Failure to obtain such permit shall be considered a violation of this chapter. Approval of such permit by the city shall not eliminate any requirement to secure a permit from the State of Arizona pursuant to state law where applicable.
(a) Application. All permit applications shall be in the form prescribed by the Building Safety Department, and shall further include the information required by this subchapter.
(b) Permanent signage. A permit shall be required for all permanent sign installations as regulated by this chapter, including the painting or other attachment of any signage on the exterior of any building, wall, roof, fence or other outdoor surface as a new sign installation. In applying for such permit, the sign owner shall indicate in writing whether the sign is to be an on-site or an off-site sign installation.
(c) Temporary signage. A permit shall be required for any temporary sign installation exceeding 32 square feet in sign face area, and exceeding six feet in height, provided, however, that the installer of any temporary sign exceeding ten square feet in sign face area shall register its location, as permitted by this chapter, with the City of Yuma Department of Planning and Neighborhood Services. In applying for such a permit for temporary signage as required herein, the applicant shall indicate in writing the date by which such signage shall be removed.
(d) Electrical permits. If the sign or sign structure is to be illuminated by electrical means, a separate electrical permit shall be required in accordance with the standards and requirements of the electrical code as adopted by the city.
(2) Requirements for permit applications. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by a plan or plan(s) drawn to scale which indicate the following:
(a) Complete dimensions to illustrate the sign face area, the height of the sign structure if freestanding, or the dimensions of the wall, roof or canopy upon which mounted or painted;
(b) The total amount of sign face area already existing on the property, whether permanent or temporary, on-site and off-site, and their locations;
(c) The location of the sign installation on the property, as well as the location of all property lines, curb lines, curb cuts and sidewalks pertinent to the sign location;
(d) The method of attachment, illumination and structural support; any calculations as may be required by the Building Official shall also be included; and
(e) The exact location of the property upon which the signage is to be installed, either by address or legal description.
(C) Fees.
(1) Permit fee. Prior to the issuance of any permit for a sign installation, the Building Safety Department shall collect a permit fee in the amount specified by current adopted building code.
(a) Such fee shall be based on the total valuation of the sign and sign structure, whether or not made locally, as calculated according to the building valuation data maintained by the Building Safety Department. The building valuation data include the unit cost per square foot sign face area for illuminated and nonilluminated signage.
(b) For any addition to an existing sign or sign structure, the valuation shall be based upon the square footage of the sign face area to be added.
(2) Plan check fee. In addition to the permit fee, a plan check fee shall be collected by the Building Safety Department in the amount of 65% of the permit fee. The plan check fee shall be required at the time that a permit is applied for and plans are submitted, and shall be paid whether or not a permit is issued.
(3) Investigation fees. Should there begin any work for which a permit is required by this chapter, and no permit has been issued, the Building Safety Department shall conduct a special investigation prior to issuing any permit for such work. The investigation fee shall equal, and be in addition to, the permit fee.
(a) In addition, the party performing work shall be subject to the penal provisions of this chapter, well as the applicable provisions of any other code or ordinance adopted by the city.
(b) A re-inspection fee shall be assessed when the work for which the inspection is called is not complete, or when corrections previously noted have not been made. Such fee shall be $15 and shall be collected by the Building Safety Department prior to conducting any further re-inspections.
(D) Variances. Variances may be granted by the appropriate city board as specified herein, to allow relief from the design standards specified by this chapter. However, no relief shall be granted to permit the erection of signs which are prohibited by § 154-17.06(A) of this chapter.
(1) Requests for variances from the design criteria of this chapter, such as, but not limited to, the size, height, location, spacing and number of signs, as well as the requirements pertaining to the manner of keeping, shall be considered by the City of Yuma Hearing Officer. Such variance requests, as well as any appeal from an interpretation made by the Zoning Administrator, shall be considered in accordance with the requirements and criteria of Article 2; § 154-02.02 of this chapter. However, since it is the intent of this chapter to secure the gradual and eventual elimination, rather than expansion, of nonconforming signs and sign structures, the Hearing Officer shall not grant any variance to increase the degree of nonconformity for any existing signage.
(2) Requests for variances from the structural or mechanical requirements of any building code as may be adopted by the city, or any appeal from an interpretation made by the Building Official, shall be considered by the appropriate board, such as the Board of Appeals or the Building Advisory Board, in accordance with their adopted procedures.
('80 Code, App. A, § 161) (Ord. 583, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 2193, passed 3-21-1984; Ord. 2243, passed 12-19-1984; Ord. O2010-09, passed 2-3-2010; Ord. O2010-32, passed 7-7-2010; Ord. O2022- 044, passed 9-21-2022)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to violate, or cause the violation of, any provision of this article. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions in this article shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than ten days or both fine and imprisonment. If a violation of any provision of this article constitutes an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public, each separate day or part thereof during which such violation of this article occurs or continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as herein provided.
(Ord. O2016-028, passed 10-5-2016)
The principal purpose of the outdoor lighting regulations is to create standards for outdoor lighting which do not conflict with the reasonable use and enjoyment of property within the city and with astronomical observations. It is the intention of this subchapter to encourage the conservation of energy while increasing night-time safety, utility, security and productivity, through regulation of the types, kinds, construction, installation and use of outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices, lighting practices and systems. The provisions of Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 49 - The Environment, Chapter 7 - Light Pollution, shall be followed to uphold the “Dark Sky” goals of reducing waste, glare, light trespass, interference of artificial light, and effects on wildlife; therefor increasing safety, and the visibility of the night sky.
('80 Code, App. A, § 180) (Ord. 583, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 2396, passed 3-2-1988; Ord. O2010-32, passed 7-7-2010; Ord. O2024-034, passed 10-16-2024)
(A) Definitions:
FOOTCANDLE, AND LUMEN. The footcandle and lumen measure light, although in different ways for different lighting situations. Light output is measured in lumens. The number of lumens measures the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source. It gauges the brightness of the light. The footcandle measures how much light falls upon a certain spot.
FULLY SHIELDED. That fixtures are shielded in such a manner that light rays emitted by the fixture either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted.
LIGHT TRESPASS. A condition in which artificial light emitted from a luminaire on one property, not inclusive of light incidentally scattered or reflected from adjacent surfaces, is directed in such a manner that the light source is visible from any other property.
PARTIALLY SHIELDED. That fixtures are shielded in such a manner that the bottom edge of the shield is below the plane of the centerline of the lamp reducing light above the horizontal.
(B) Top-mounted. Outdoor advertising sign lighting fixtures used to illuminate an outdoor advertising sign shall be mounted on the top of the sign structure. All such fixtures shall comply with the shielding requirements noted in this section.
(C) Bottom-mounted (ground-mounted, up-lighting, feature-lighting). An outdoor advertising sign illuminated by any type of bottom-mounted outdoor lighting system or fixture, which is installed at or on the ground or the lower portion of any outdoor advertising sign or fixture shall be prohibited unless said lighting fixture is shielded to confine the light to the sign face. All such fixtures with lighting which is directed upwards shall be placed so that the angle of the lamp shall not be greater than forty-five degrees (45°) measured from a horizontal plane to a line projected through the center of the lamp.
(D) Mercury vapor. Mercury vapor lamps and fixtures are prohibited for use as outdoor lighting.
(E) Searchlights. Prohibited.
(F) Recreational facilities. Public or private recreational facilities, which are illuminated with outdoor lighting fixtures conforming to these regulations may operate any time with such illumination. Outdoor recreational facilities not conforming to these regulations shall not be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. except to conclude a specific recreational or sporting event or any other similar activity conducted at or in the facility which was in progress under such illumination; prior to 11:00 p.m.
(G) Outdoor advertising off-site signs. The electrical illumination of outdoor advertising off-site signs including those internally illuminated, is prohibited between the hours of 12:00 a.m. midnight and sunrise.
(H) Flagpoles. Outdoor lighting fixtures used to illuminate a flagpole shall be mounted on the top of the flagpole structure and adhere to the shielding requirements outlined in this section. In cases where it is impossible to light a flagpole structure from the top, bottom-mounted lights shall be connected to a timer which extinguishes all but the minimal light source necessary to illuminate the flag between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and sunrise.
(I) The maximum light pole height in 12 feet when within 25 feet of a residential use.
(J) Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Low Pressure Sodium are the preferred light sources to minimize undesirable light emissions to neighboring properties and the night sky.
(K) Metal halide lighting used primarily for display purposes shall not be used for security lighting after 11:00 p.m. Metal halide lamps shall be installed only in enclosed luminaries. These lamp fixtures shall be “filtered”, a glass, acrylic or translucent enclosure of the light source (quartz glass does not meet this requirement) and this lighting requires full shielding.
(L) Outdoor advertising signs of the type constructed of translucent materials and wholly illuminated from within, do not require shielding. Dark backgrounds with light lettering and warm white and natural lamps are preferred to minimize detrimental effects.
(M) For purposes of this subchapter, quartz lamps shall not be considered an incandescent light source.
(N) LED lighting must be 3,000K (Kelvin corrected color temperature (CCT)) or less for all commercial uses.
(O) Any light source of 70 watts (700 lumens) or equivalent does not require shielding.
(P) Neon, argon, and other noble gas glass tube lighting does not require shielding.
(Q) High Pressure Sodium, low pressure sodium, and quartz halogen lighting requires full shielding.
(R) Light trespass is prohibited, except for fixtures exempted from this chapter or from shielding requirements in this section.
('80 Code, App. A, § 180) (Ord. 583, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 2396, passed 3-2-1988; Ord. O2024-034, passed 10-16-2024) Penalty, see § 154-999
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