A.

Prohibited Signs. The following signs shall not be permitted in the city:

1.

Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing, moving or intermittent lighting or resemble movement or animation. This does not include public service signs, such as time and temperature units, and the traditional barber pole signs.

2.

Signs which by color, wording, design, location or illumination resemble or conflict with any traffic-control device or with safe and efficient flow of traffic.

3.

Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing clear view of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

4.

Flags, banners and pennants, except as authorized in subsections D and E of this section.

5.

Any ground or roof sign if the proposed sign would adversely affect conforming residential development.

6.

Portable signs, except where otherwise noted.

7.

A sign advertising tobacco products which is prohibited under Section 8.60.030.

8.

Above-roof signs (signs attached to the roof, any part of which extends above the ridge line) are prohibited.

9.

Abatement of Signs Pertaining to Inoperative Activities. All signs pertaining to inoperative activities shall be removed within thirty days of closure. If all the signs are not removed within the allotted time, the signs will be removed by the city or their agent with costs to be borne by the owner or appropriate person(s).

10.

Removal of Signs. The building official may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this code. He/she shall give thirty days' notice in writing to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure or premises on which the sign is located, to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. The building official may remove a sign immediately and without notice if, in his opinion, the condition of the sign is such as to present an immediate threat to the safety of the public.

11.

Abandoned Signs. A sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises is no longer conducted on the premises. If the owner or lessee fails to remove it, the building official shall give the owner thirty days written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the building official or his duly authorized representative may remove the sign at cost to the owner.

12.

Illegal Signs. If any person who owns or leases any sign which was erected in violation of this code after the date of adoption of this chapter, fails to remove it within the time specified on a notification from the building official, then the building official shall give the owner of the building, structure or premises upon which the sign is located, thirty days' written notice to remove it. If the owner of the building, structure or premises upon which the sign is located, fails to remove the sign within said thirty days after receipt of written notice from the building official, the building official, or his duly authorized representative may remove the sign.

B.

Illumination. No sign or lighting which produces glare or light spillage or is unreasonably distracting to properly illuminate the sign shall be permitted. To determine excessive brilliance, the size of the sign, the percentage brightness of the white or light-colored portions of the sign, the distance to the public right-of-way, and the nature of the surrounding areas shall be considered. Signs shall comply with California Energy Code, CEC 140.8.

C.

Exempted Signs. The following signs, if nonilluminated, are allowed in all districts with no permit required:

1.

Religious, charitable, educational or cultural posters not exceeding six square feet in area and temporary (thirty days) in nature;

2.

Governmental or other legally required posters, notices or signs;

3.

Temporary political signs;

4.

Temporary window signs, not to exceed thirty days duration, six times a year or one hundred eighty days;

5.

Public service directional signs erected by the city;

6.

Residential identification signs and street numbers;

7.

Agricultural products;

8.

Electronic "Open/Close" sign larger than two square feet used as a window sign or if located on the exterior of a structure;

9.

Patriotic symbols (flags). Flags of the U.S. are allowed provided that in residential zones, flags must not exceed twenty-four square feet, and flagpoles must not exceed a maximum height of thirty feet measured from ground level at the base to the top of the pole. In commercial areas, flags can be up to sixty square feet, with flagpole height not exceeding forty feet. All other flag types shall require an administrative use permit but shall not exceed sixty square feet and thirty feet in height. Flags or banners with advertising copy shall not be displayed on the same flagpole which displays flags of the United States. Flags of the United States flown in commercial or industrial areas shall be displayed in accordance with the protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Stripes (Public Law 94-344 and 90-831), which includes the provision for night lighting. Any flag not meeting any one of the conditions noted above shall be considered a banner and shall be subject to regulations as such.

D.

Special Event Signing.

1.

Signing which does not meet the criteria established by this chapter may be placed for a limited period of time as a means of publicizing community or special events such as "grand opening," "new model year," or "inventory sale."

2.

Special event signing shall not remain in place for more than thirty days per year.

E.

Convenience Signs. The planning department may authorize the placement of permanent signs which are needed for public convenience or safety. Convenience signs are designed to be viewed from on-site by pedestrians or by motorists while parking their automobiles.

F.

Attraction Boards. Changeable copy signs, which include LCD, LED, and Projection to display digital content, where authorized shall not require a permit to change copy.

G.

Off-premises Signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited except as follows:

1.

Political signs;

2.

Civic event signs.

H.

Adoption of Codes. The most recently adopted editions of the Uniform Building Code and the Uniform Sign Code shall apply to the construction of signs.

I.

Construction Requirements. Except as otherwise provided herein, in this chapter, all signs shall be constructed pursuant to the requirements of the Uniform Building Code, Volume V, entitled "Sign," to the extent adopted by Chapter 15.04 of this code.

J.

Inspection and Maintenance. All signs and sign structures, together with their braces, guys, bolts and supporting frames, shall be maintained at all times in a state of good repair and safe condition, free from deterioration, rot, rust and loosening. The display surfaces shall be kept neatly painted or posted, shall have broken or cracked panels replaced, and shall have all sources of illumination in proper working order at all times.

K.

Safety Requirements. No permit for any sign shall be issued and no sign shall be constructed or maintained, which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from communications lines and energized electrical power lines than that prescribed by the laws of the State of California or rules and regulations duly promulgated by agencies thereof.

L.

Regulatory interpretations. The city shall apply this chapter in a content-neutral manner. This chapter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with free speech protections guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 2 of the California Constitution. The noncommunication aspects of all signs shall comply with the regulations and standards set forth in the title. "Noncommunicative aspects" includes regulations that do not relate to the content of the sign, including the time, place, manner, location, size, height, illumination, spacing, and orientation of signs.

(Ord. No. 860, § 1, 7-2-2024)