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Compton City Zoning Code

§ 30-22.4

Sign Classifications.

[Ord. #1971, § 1; Ord. #2021, § 1; Ord. #2101, § 16; Ord. #2155, § 5; Ord. #2179, § 1]
Table 30-22.A provides a list of permitted and prohibited signs by zone. Figure 30-22.1 illustrates sign types, as defined in subsection 30-22.2, which are permitted. Figure 30-22.2 illustrates sign types, as defined in subsection 30-22.2, which require a conditional use permit. Figure 30-22.3 illustrates sign types, as defined in subsection 30-22.2, which are prohibited. Signs not contained in this matrix or otherwise addressed herein shall be considered as prohibited.[1]
a. 
Exempt Signs. The following signs are exempt from the sign permit requirement of this section provided they meet the development standards contained therein:
1. 
Apartment identification signs with a maximum sign area of 12 square feet and a maximum height of four feet (if freestanding), limited to one sign per street frontage.
2. 
Civic event and public service signs with a maximum sign area of 12 square feet.
3. 
Cornerstones, memorial signs and plaques, not to exceed four square feet or four per building.
4. 
Directional and parking lot signs with a two square foot maximum sign area and four foot height limit, limited to one sign per entrance.
5. 
Holiday signs, lights, flags, banners, pennants and balloons in residential zones provided they are removed following the close of the holiday period.
6. 
Incidental signs such as credit card, trading stamp, trade association, service station informational or similar signs not exceeding one square foot each.
7. 
Neighborhood Watch signs authorized by the City not exceeding six square feet, limited to one sign per block.
8. 
Nonilluminated window signs no more than three square feet in size which identify a business, hours of operation, address and emergency information.
9. 
Notices posted by a utility or other quasi-public agency in the performance of a public duty or by any person giving due legal notice.
10. 
Official flags of government jurisdictions, except when displayed for commercial promotion.
11. 
Official notices of any court, public body or officer.
12. 
Real estate (including open house) signs, construction signs (with valid building permit) and future occupant signs restricted to one sign per street frontage, no more than six square feet in size and six feet in height in residential zones and 30 square feet in size and eight feet in height in all other zones. Signs must be removed at close of escrow, completion of construction or when the site is occupied.
13. 
Residential or commercial nameplates, street address or identification signs with a maximum sign area of one square foot located at a door, loading dock or entrance facing a public street.
14. 
Seasonal decorations for commercial uses which do not include advertising. Christmas decorations may be installed at any time during the month of November and December, and must be removed within the first week of January.
15. 
Signs within a structure not visible from the outside.
16. 
Subdivision directional signs advertising the location of a subdivision within the City when located within 100 feet of a major highway. A maximum of five such signs, no more than 50 square feet in size, shall be permitted provided the written permission of the property owners of the property where the signs are to be placed is submitted to the Department of Building and Planning prior to installation.
17. 
Transit seating signs and public information, timetables, directional and warning signs erected by a public agency or nonprofit organization.
18. 
Window price signs located on individual vehicles located within a lot licensed by the City for sale of the vehicle.
19. 
Window signs applied to the interior of the window, with maximum coverage of 25% of window area and elevated at least 42 inches above the interior floor. A maximum of two neon signs shall be permitted on any facade.
20. 
City sponsored signs and murals subject to Architectural Review Board approval.
b. 
Prohibited Signs. The following signs and/or sign structures are prohibited and are illustrated in Figure 30-22.3:[2]
1. 
Signs which by size, location, movement, content, coloring or illumination resemble or conflict with any traffic control sign or device or emergency or road equipment vehicle, or obstruct a clear view of traffic or street signs or pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
2. 
Signs on public property or which encroach into or over a public right-of-way except when authorized by the appropriate government agency.
3. 
Signs which rotate, move, glare, flash, reflect, blink or appear to do any of the foregoing or which emit sound, odor or visible matter which could serve as a distraction to drivers or pedestrians. This paragraph shall not apply to time and temperature signs or readerboards or marquees authorized by the approval of a conditional use permit.
4. 
Signs advertising an on-site activity, business, service or product no longer conducted or sold on the premises.
5. 
Signs, including roof signs, that exceed the height of the building roofline or architecturally integrated parapet wall, except for approved freestanding signs.
6. 
Signs or their support structures which obstruct any fire escape, stairway, exterior door or required exit, access, light or ventilation.
7. 
Signs that display a message or graphic representation that is lewd, indecent or otherwise offensive to public morals.
8. 
Business or advertising signs located on, or affixed to, trucks, automobiles, trailers, carts or other vehicles for the purpose of displaying such signs whether parked on public or private property. This paragraph shall not apply to permanent signs on commercial vehicles lawfully operated where such signs are inherent to the vehicle and designed for identification and not advertising.
9. 
Portable, folding, A-frame and similar signs.
10. 
Signs advertising home occupations.
11. 
Signs using colors in the fluorescent "day-glo" color spectrum.
12. 
Signs supported by trees, rocks, bridges, utility poles, dilapidated buildings, structures, fences or vehicles.
13. 
Signs painted on building exteriors (excluding windows and awnings) or on panels attached to building exteriors.
14. 
Billboards and off-site advertising displays other than those located in a B-O Zone.
15. 
Pole signs.
16. 
Signs not specifically authorized by this section.
[2]
Editor's Note: The figure referred to herein may be found at the end of this subsection.
c. 
Existing Signs. Within 120 days from the date of adoption of this section, the City shall commence a program to inventory and identify signs which were illegal, abandoned or nonconforming pursuant to prior ordinances and signs which became nonconforming due to the enactment of this section. Thereafter, the City shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with Section 5491.1 of the California Business and Professions Code to determine whether there is a continuing need for these regulations to apply to existing signage.
d. 
Illegal Signs. Signs or advertising displays which were erected without first complying with all ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of erection or which have been abandoned or are inadequately maintained or have exceeded an authorized amortization period shall be considered illegal signs and shall be subject to abatement in accordance with subsection 30-22.8.
e. 
Nonconforming signs. A legally established sign which fails to conform to the provisions of this section shall be considered legally nonconforming. Legally nonconforming signs shall be regulated as follows:
1. 
A legally nonconforming sign may continue in use, provided that it is not:
(a) 
Structurally altered so as to extend its useful life;
(b) 
Expanded, moved or relocated; or
(c) 
Reestablished after damage or destruction exceeding 50% of the replacement cost of the sign.
2. 
Sign copy and sign faces may be changed on legally nonconforming signs when no change in location or structural alteration is proposed.
3. 
The existence of a legally nonconforming freestanding or wall sign shall not prevent the installation of another conforming sign provided that total combined signage will not exceed the maximum permitted for the site.
4. 
Any legally nonconforming sign may be required to be brought into conformance with this section in conjunction with a Community Redevelopment Agency project or approval of a sign program or conditional use permit.
5. 
All legally nonconforming signs are subject to all requirements of this section regarding safety, maintenance and repair.
6. 
Signs which are legally nonconforming shall either be removed or brought into conformance with the requirements of the Code within three years from the date the City Council completes its hearing and confirms that there is a continuing need for the enactment of this section. The amortization period for nonconforming signs may be extended through the approval of a conditional use permit by the Planning Commission in accordance with subsection 30-22.5d.
Table 30-22A
Signs Permitted By Zone
Sign Type
R-A
R-L
R-M
R-H
C-L
C-M
M-L
M-H
B-O
A-Frame
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Address
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
X
Audio
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Balloons (small helium filled)
X
X
X
X
T
T
T
T
X
Banner
X
X
X
X
T
T
T
T
X
Bench
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Billboard
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
P
Business Identification
S
S
S
S
P
P
P
P
X
Canopy (Awning)
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Center Identification
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Construction
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
X
Directional
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
X
Directory
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Emergency
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
X
Facade (Wall)
S
S
S
S
P
P
P
P
X
Flag (National)
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
X
Flags (Spinners, Festoons, etc.)
X
X
X
X
T
T
T
T
X
Flashing
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ground
S
S
S
S
P
P
P
P
X
Holiday Decorations
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
X
Incidental
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
X
Inflatable
X
X
X
X
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
X
Kiosk
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Marquee
X
X
X
X
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
X
Menu
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Monument
S
S
S
S
P
P
P
P
X
Mural
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Painted-on
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Pennant (Spinners, Festoons, etc.)
X
X
X
X
T
T
T
T
X
Pole
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Political Election
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
X
Portable
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Projecting
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Pylon
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Real Estate
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
X
Roof
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Rotating
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Supergraphic
X
X
X
X
X
X
CUP
CUP
X
Temporary
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
X
Time & Temperature
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Under Canopy
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
Vehicle
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Wall (Facade)
S
S
S
S
P
P
P
P
X
Window
X
X
X
X
E
E
E
E
X
Notes:
E = Exempt
P = Permitted
CUP = Conditional Use Permit
T = Temporary
X = Prohibited
S =Special Purposes
030--IMG-02.tif
Figure 30-22.1: Sign Type Illustrations: Permitted Signs
030--IMG-03.tif
Figure 30-22.1: Sign Type Illustrations: Permitted Signs
030--IMG-04.tif
Figure 30-22.1: Sign Type Illustrations: Permitted Signs
030--IMG-05.tif
Figure 30-22.1: Sign Type Illustrations: Permitted Signs
030--IMG-06.tif
Figure 30-22.2: Sign Type Illustrations: Signs Requiring a Conditional Use Permit
030--IMG-07.tif
Figure 30-22.3: Sign Type Illustrations: Prohibited Signs
030--IMG-08.tif
Figure 30-22.3: Sign Type Illustrations: Prohibited Signs
[1]
Editor's Note: The figures and tables referred to herein may be found at the end of this subsection.