This article establishes regulations relating to the permitted type, size, height, placement, and design of signs for all districts. The intent of these regulations is to:

(a)

Ensure the preservation and enhancement of Colusa's unique community character and vitality within its neighborhoods and business districts;

(b)

Create a strong sense of entry into the city along the primary corridors of State Routes 20 and 20/45 and along key secondary entrances into the city;

(c)

Apply the use of signage and lighting in a manner that will enhance the aesthetic character of the community.

Sign area includes the entire face of the sign, including the surface and any framing, but not including the support structure. Individual letters on a building shall be measured by the area enclosed by a continuous line outlining the perimeter of the words, emblems, and logos. For double-faced signs with less than 18 inches between faces, only one side shall be counted as the total area. Wherever conflict occurs between this and other sections of this ordinance, the provisions of this section shall prevail.

Message Substitution. A noncommercial message of any type may be substituted in whole or in part for the message displayed on any sign for which the sign structure or mounting device is authorized pursuant to this chapter. The purpose of this requirement is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message.

(Ord. No. 518, § 3, 6-20-2017)

Signs may be installed on any real property situated in the city in accordance with this article, following approval of a minor use permit or use permit, unless exempt as provided within Section 31.03 (a). Where permits are required by sections of this ordinance, applicable fees shall be paid as established by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 518, § 3, 6-20-2017)

(a)

The following types of signs shall be allowed in all districts without a sign or use permit, as long as they are kept in good repair, are non-illuminated, and as such, do not count towards the maximum area or number of signs allowable on a site:

1.

Residential name and/or address signs, one (1) per residence not exceeding two (2) square feet in size.

2.

Home occupation signs, identifying home occupation, not exceeding two (2) square feet, and placed flat against building wall.

3.

For sale, rent or lease signs, not exceeding six (6) square feet in size for residential uses, and not exceeding 20 square feet in size for non-residential uses. One (1) sign per site street frontage may be installed, less than six (6) feet in height, and shall be removed upon sale or lease of the lot, building or unit.

4.

Portable signs, a maximum of (2) two per business or organization, not exceeding four (4) feet in height or 10 square feet per side.

5.

Temporary banner signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area, identifying the name of a new business establishment, may be installed upon submittal of an application for a permanent business sign. The temporary business sign shall be removed upon installation of the permanent identification sign.

6.

The owner or occupant of each parcel within the city, or other party with the permission of the owner and/or occupant of that parcel, may display temporary signage displaying any non-commercial message subject to the following rules:

a.

Individual signs shall be no larger than six (6) square feet;

b.

The total square footage of signage displayed under this section shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet.

c.

If temporary signs posted under this section pertain to a specific event, they shall be taken down within 5 days after the event occurs. If they are not removed by this deadline, the city may remove the signs after giving twenty-four hours' notice to the homeowner that the sign is displayed in violation of this subsection.

7.

The owner or occupant of a residential parcel may display an additional temporary sign containing any commercial or non-commercial message for up to 72 hours during the occurrence of a one-time event held at the property. The sign must be removed within 24 hours after the one-time has concluded. The city may summarily remove a sign displayed in violation of this subsection.

8.

Temporary signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area displayed by organizations holding a non-commercial special or one-time event:

a.

Posted on private property with the property owner's consent; and

b.

Posted no more than 21 calendar days before the event and removed no more than five calendar days after the event.

9.

Official flags of any state, nation, or governmental entity displayed in a manner consistent with the flag code (U.S.C.A. Title 36, Section 173 et seq.).

10.

Changes to an on-premise sign face that do not structurally alter the sign or its size provided that the changes are consistent with the standards of this section.

11.

Signs on property undergoing permitted construction, not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet each in area per side, maximum of two sides 64 square feet total, eight feet (8') in height, and set back a minimum of ten (10') feet from the property line. One such sign is permitted per street frontage site.

Such signs shall not be illuminated and shall be removed within thirty (30) days of the earliest of the following events: final building inspection approval, issuance of a valid certificate of occupancy, opening for business to the public, or expiration of the building permit.

(b)

The following types of signs shall be permitted for uses which are permitted in R-3 and R-4 districts:

1.

Apartment nameplates and signs identifying permitted non-residential uses; one (1) per site, not exceeding six (6) square feet in size, excepting no sign shall be within the front yard setback without approval of a minor use permit.

2.

Nonconforming signs or additional signs may be permitted only upon the approval of a major use permit.

(c)

The following types of signs shall be allowed for uses which are permitted in "C" and "M" and "M-U" districts:

1.

Only signs that pertain directly to the same and nature of the operation or service offered on the site, and subject to the following:

a.

C-N Districts: Signs which are placed parallel to the wall of the building on the site and project not more than two feet therefrom, which are at least eight (8) feet above ground or sidewalk level and extend no higher than the building main roof line or twenty-five (25) feet maximum; which do not exceed one (1) square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of site street frontage, and which do not exceed fifty (50) square feet in total sign area per site.

b.

C-G, C-H, M-U and M Districts: Signs which are attached to a building or approved structure and which extend not more than four (4) feet from the wall thereof, which are at least eight (8) feet above the ground or sidewalk level, and extend no higher than the main roof line, and in no case more than twenty-five (25) feet, do not exceed two (2) square feet of sign areas for each foot of site street frontage, and which may not exceed two hundred and forty (240) square feet in total sign area per site.

2.

Upon approval of a minor use permit in each case, and subject to all of the findings below, the following may be permitted:

a.

Free standing, temporary and pole signs;

b.

Signs extending above building roof lines, not exceeding the district height limit;

c.

Signs which exceed maximum permitted area, height, or number per site, or which vary from placement regulations, when the foregoing exceptions are found to be reasonable and necessary for freeway traffic service and similar operations.

3.

Upon approval of a major use permit in each case, and subject to all of the findings below, the following signs may be allowed:

a.

Signs which emit flashing, intermittent lighting, or moving images;

b.

Signs which advertise operations, products, or services offered off the site;

c.

Signs on vehicles, trailers, boats, storage boxes, or other similar objects, which remain stationary for more than 120 consecutive hours, and where such signs are not incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or other similar objects for conveyance of persons or property or storage of property, and where the primary purpose of the sign and vehicle or other similar object upon which the sign is attached or affixed is for advertising purposes.

d.

Other signs or forms of advertisement, which in the opinion of the planning director, do not comply with standard provisions of this article.

Required findings:

(1)

The sign(s) enhances the economic vitality of the community;

(2)

The sign area does not exceed the maximum allowable area, nor detracts from the character of the immediate neighborhood or district for the particular site where it is to be placed;

(3)

The sign(s) is consistent with the intent of this article, the policies of the general plan, and state law.

(d)

The owner of a property undergoing construction in any zone within the city may display signage not exceeding 50 square feet per street frontage and not to exceed 10 feet in height for a period of time not to exceed one (1) year and may receive annual renewals for periods of up to one (1) year each upon an approval by the planning director, provided the project remains under construction.

(e)

The provisions of this section shall not apply to traffic control, informational or directional signs placed by public agencies so authorized, nor to signs placed upon public property by, or by authorization of public agencies controlling such properties.

(Ord. No. 518, § 3, 6-20-2017)

(a)

Signs which obstruct a fire escape or other required access.

(b)

Signs which emit sound, with the exception of a permitted drive-through or menu sign.

(c)

Signs which adversely affect traffic control or safety, including signs which interfere with visibility for drivers at an intersection, public right-of-way, or driveway.

(d)

Signs which have less horizontal or vertical clearance from overhead utilities than required by state agencies.

(e)

Signs which are illegible or which have become a public nuisance due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment.

(f)

Signs which are unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained.

(g)

Signs which contain obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit matter.

(h)

Signs which violate federal, state or local laws.

(i)

Signs painted directly onto the exterior wall of a commercial or industrial building, unless 1) as a part of an artistic mural and subject to approval of a major use permit (as provided by Section 31.03.c.3 of this Code); or 2) such painted sign serves as the sole form of identification of an organization or business on its premises, as approved by the planning director.

(Ord. No. 518, § 3, 6-20-2017)

Any sign which does not conform to the provisions of this article shall be removed, relocated, replaced or otherwise made conforming, as follows:

Signs erected illegally: Within one year from the effective date of this ordinance.

(Ord. No. 518, § 3, 6-20-2017)