Regulations and standards for the location, height, construction, design, size and illumination of signs and sign structures are established by this chapter to achieve the following purposes:

(1)

To protect life, health, property, public safety and public welfare;

(2)

To preserve the natural beauty of the town and to maintain its essential residential character;

(3)

To maintain the attractiveness and orderliness of the town's appearance, by encouraging signs that are well-designed and pleasing in appearance;

(4)

To protect office, commercial and light industrial sites from loss of visual prominence resulting from excessive signing on nearby sites;

(5)

To identify businesses in a manner that is most harmonious with an aesthetic and functional business district.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

(a)

No sign shall be approved for a shopping center, for any site with more than one building, or for any building with more than one tenant until a master sign program has received design review approval as described in Chapter 18.30, Design Review. A master sign program, and sign guidelines in any applicable specific plan, shall comply with all other provisions of this chapter. At the discretion of the planning commission, a master sign program may specify some or all of the following: size, material, location, design, color, lighting and construction of each sign.

(b)

All signs, except those listed in Section 18.22.030, require sign permit design review approval as prescribed in Chapter 18.30, Design Review, except that, if the zoning administrator finds that the application is for a sign which conforms to an approved master sign program, approval may be given without notice or hearing; but if the application is for a freestanding sign, authorization shall be given as described in Section 18.22.060.

(c)

For every site on which a master sign program has been adopted, the provisions contained in the master sign program shall take precedence over the signage requirements of the applicable zoning district, unless the zoning district's signage requirements are more stringent, or govern requirements not contained in the master sign program.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

Design review approval shall not be required for the following signs:

(1)

One real estate sign not more than six square feet in area and no more than eight feet above grade, advertising the sale or lease of property. The sign shall be located on the same site as the property being advertised for sale or lease, except that, on Saturdays and Sundays, between ten a.m. and seven p.m., up to three directional signs no larger than four square feet each may be located on other private property, with the permission of the property owner;

(2)

Names of buildings and dates of erection cut into a masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material, not more than four square feet in area;

(3)

Traffic or other municipal signs, railroad crossing, construction, "danger" and other such emergency or warning signs, including wording or symbols painted on public streets under town authority;

(4)

Signs directing and guiding traffic on private property and parking directional markings painted on the pavement when installed in accord with an approved parking lot plan; provided, that no individual sign exceeds four square feet in area and that not more than twenty-five percent of the area of each such sign face is used for the business or proposed name or trademark or other identification of the use of the premises upon which such sign is located;

(5)

Signs showing the location of public restrooms, telephones and underground utilities, provided that no individual sign exceeds two square feet in area;

(6)

Signs indicating business hours, emergency telephone numbers, credit cards honored, trading stamps or association memberships; provided, that no individual sign exceeds one and one-half square feet in area, and; provided, that the total area of all such signs at any establishment does not exceed four square feet;

(7)

Any sign, posting, notice or other indication placed or required by a public entity in carrying out its responsibility to protect the general health, safety and welfare of the community or as required by law;

(8)

Street signs and address numbers less than one square foot in area. Where address numbers exceed one square foot in area, they shall be treated as any other permanent building sign requiring a permit, and shall be included in a calculation of total sign area permitted under the provisions of this chapter;

(9)

Holiday lights and displays not advertising any product or sale; provided, that they are erected no sooner than forty-five days before the holiday and are not visible no later than fourteen days after the holiday;

(10)

Exterior temporary signs and other advertising devices, except floodlights, placed on an occupant's property for a maximum of thirty days to announce the opening of a new business; provided, that the total area of such temporary advertising devices does not exceed the area of permanent signing permitted under the provisions of this chapter; provided, that no such devices are located in a manner not permitted for permanent signs, and; provided, that such temporary advertising devices pose no hazard to the safe movement of traffic and do not block permanent identification signs on adjoining properties;

(11)

Temporary on-window signs advertising: benefit activities sponsored by local nonprofit organizations, products, prices, special sales and special service offers, for a maximum of thirty days per year; provided, that the total area of all such signing at any given time shall not exceed the area of permanent signing permitted under the provisions of this chapter, or twenty-five percent of the window area, whichever is more, provided that said signs are not externally or internally illuminated;

(12)

Individual gasoline price signs, the numbers and letters of which are not to exceed the minimum sizes required by California Business and Professions Code Section 13532, and the total sign area which is not to exceed thirty square feet; provided, that the total area of gasoline price signs does not exceed the area of permanent signing permitted by this chapter, and; provided, that such signs are located only in a manner permitted for permanent signs. All gasoline price signs shall be located on the site being advertised and shall not be located less than five feet from any property line;

(13)

Political and social issue signs conforming with the provisions in Section 18.22.040;

(14)

Signs advertising town-sponsored or town-endorsed events and located on public property;

(15)

Signs located on public property which comply with all the provisions of Section 18.22.050(j)(2). (Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 910, § 30, 4-21-2009)

(a)

"Political or social issue sign" means any sign which addresses:

(1)

The passage or defeat of a measure appearing on the ballot in any national, state or local election; or

(2)

The election or defeat of any candidate for any public office in a national, state or local election; or

(3)

An international, national, state or local political or social issue.

(b)

No political or social issue sign shall be erected more than forty-five days prior to an election, or other event to which the sign pertains, or remain for more than five days after the election or event has taken place.

(c)

Political or social issue signs complying with the following provisions and with Sections 18.22.050 (1) to (11) do not require a sign permit or design review approval:

(1)

No political or social issue sign shall be larger than six square feet in a residential or public facility district or twenty-four square feet in a commercial, industrial or office district, and total political and social issue signing on any one property may not exceed sixteen square feet in a residential or public facility district or twenty-four square feet in a commercial, industrial or office district.

(2)

No political or social issue sign may be placed within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, street sign or traffic signal.

(3)

No political or social issue sign may overhang a public street or sidewalk.

(4)

No political or social issue sign may foreseeably be expected to interfere with, confuse, obstruct or mislead traffic.

(5)

All political signs shall be placed or fixed so as to avoid possible obstruction or injury to passersby or occupants.

(d)

It is the responsibility of the owner of the property upon which a political or social issue sign is placed to remove or adjust it when not placed in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 18.22, Signs.

Unlawful placement of political and social issue signs on public property in violation of Section 18.22.050 (10) is a nuisance, and signs so placed shall be removed summarily and disposed of by a representative of the town.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following regulations shall apply to all signs:

(1)

No sign shall be erected or maintained on the roof of a structure, or project above the eave or parapet line of a structure.

(2)

A sign that does not exceed four square feet and is not illuminated may project up to two feet out from a building. All other signs, except freestanding signs, shall be placed flat against the wall of the building or suspended from the eaves or from the ceiling of a covered walkway. No wall sign shall extend, project or protrude laterally in any manner beyond the wall of the building except as necessitated by the thickness of the sign.

(3)

Floodlights, equipment displays, blimps, balloons and objects designed to rotate or move with the wind or float in the air shall not be permitted, except that flags and banners may be permitted if design review approval is granted. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of state or other California political subdivisions may be permitted without design review approval on a flag pole for which a building permit has been issued if required by Chapter 15.02 of the municipal code.

(4)

No signs, except barber poles, shall contain visibly moving parts or simulate movement by means of fluttering, spinning or reflecting devices.

(5)

No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.

(6)

Light sources shall not create a glare or hazard on adjoining streets, properties or residential areas. Exterior light sources shall concentrate the illumination on the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or adjacent properties. To reduce glare, any internally illuminated sign greater than thirty-six square feet in area shall be designed to have an opaque background with lighted legend. No sign shall be illuminated after eleven p.m. or after business hours, whichever is later.

(7)

No sign shall be erected or maintained which has a design or lighting such that it resembles or may be mistaken for a traffic light or signal.

(8)

Portable advertising signs may not be placed upon or painted on a vehicle or a trailer if the vehicle or trailer is not normally used for delivery and/or pick-up of merchandise or service in connection with the business or service being identified by the sign, and the sign is not normally affixed to the vehicle or trailer during the performance of that business or service.

(9)

Outdoor displays of products raised higher than six feet above the ground and not screened from off-site viewing by a fence, wall or hedge, and equipment raised into a display position above the peak of the roof shall not be permitted.

(10)

No sign shall be installed in a public right-of-way, or on trees, shrubs or landscaped areas located on public property, or on fire hydrants, street signs, traffic signals, or on any wire appurtenance, or upon any fixture of the fire alarm or police system, or on any railroad trestle, public building or structure, except for the following:

(A)

Signs advertising town-sponsored or town-endorsed events and complying with Sections 18.22.050 (1) through (9), if approved by the town council and erected no more than forty-five days prior to an event and remaining no more than five days after an event.

(B)

Noncommercial, nonpolitical and nonsocial issue signs attached to lamp posts or utility poles and conforming with the following regulations:

(i)

Only one copy of a single sign may be posted on a single lamp post or utility pole.

(ii)

No sign shall be longer than fourteen inches nor wider than eleven inches.

(iii)

No sign shall be affixed with glue or any other adhesive substance except tape, or affixed in any manner that damages any structure or public property.

(iv)

Every sign must have placed in the lower right-hand corner in a legible manner a date which shall be deemed the posting date and which shall in no event be a date later than the date the sign is posted.

(v)

Every person who has posted any sign on any lamp post or utility pole, or who has caused such posting, shall remove such sign within thirty days of the posting date, or, if the sign pertains to a particular event, within five days after the event.

(vi)

No sign may be placed on any wire appurtenance of a utility pole or light post.

(11)

A sign shall conform to the specific sign regulations in effect for a zoning district, specific plan, overlay district, community plan or master sign program.

Unlawful placement of signs on public property in violation of this section is a nuisance, and signs so placed shall be removed summarily and disposed of by a representative of the town.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

All applications involving freestanding signs shall be subject to review by the planning commission.

(1)

(A)

No freestanding sign shall have more than two faces. A freestanding sign may have a maximum area of one hundred square feet if a master identification sign; or forty square feet if any other freestanding sign.

(B)

No freestanding sign shall be higher than fifteen feet above ground level. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no freestanding sign shall project above the eave or parapet of the building it identifies, except that freestanding signs may be as high as the highest point of the roof if the planning commission finds that is necessary to identify the business to the traveling public.

(C)

In computing the area of a double-faced freestanding sign, only one face of the sign shall be included; provided, that the two faces are parallel and not more than eighteen inches apart at any one point.

(D)

The maximum sign areas listed in subdivision (A) of this subsection are maximum figures, and the planning commission may determine that a lesser square footage is appropriate in a particular location.

(2)

No freestanding sign shall project into a required rear yard. No freestanding sign shall project into or over a public street or thoroughfare. The minimum clearance between a freestanding sign projecting into an area used by vehicular traffic and the paved surface shall be not less than thirteen feet, six inches.

(3)

Only one freestanding sign may be permitted on any one lot.

(4)

The planning commission may authorize a freestanding sign only if the following findings can be made:

(A)

The sign is single-sided, unless the planning commission determines that a double-sided sign is beneficial to the public;

(B)

A freestanding sign is the only appropriate means by which the business conducted on the premises can have the same degree of identification to the traveling and shopping public as that available to businesses on neighboring premises;

(C)

The freestanding sign is consistent with the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 18.30, Design Review.

At its discretion, the planning commission may authorize a freestanding sign in a required front or side yard.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

Shingle signs suspended from the ceiling of a covered walkway shall not be included as part of the total allowable on-site sign area, provided the following conditions are met:

(1)

Each shingle sign will not be less than eight feet above any pedestrian walkway.

(2)

If internally illuminated, each shingle sign will contain an opaque background with lighted legend.

(3)

A master sign program has been approved by the planning commission.

(4)

No shingle sign will be larger than three square feet.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in any residential district:

(1)

One name plate, not directly lighted, and not exceeding one square foot in area, giving the name of the occupant or pertaining to a home occupation;

(2)

An identification sign pertaining to a use conducted on the site, not exceeding four square feet in area, with letters not more than six inches high, not illuminated, and not more than a maximum of four feet in height above grade;

(3)

A church bulletin board not exceeding twelve square feet in area, with letters not more than six inches high, not illuminated, which serves only to identify a church and/or to announce its services and activities, located on the site of the church;

(4)

Temporary signs in residential subdivisions in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.08, Residential Districts;

(5)

A residential neighborhood identification sign not exceeding eleven square feet in area;

(6)

Any sign listed in subsections (1) through (10) of Section 18.22.030, excluding subsection (6).

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in any professional and administrative office district:

(1)

Signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total sign area permitted for any building is the largest of:

(A)

One square foot of sign area for each foot of width of the front elevation of the building,

(B)

One-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage,

(C)

If the building is on a corner lot, one square foot of sign area for each foot of width of the front and one street side elevation of the building, except that any side elevation across the street from a residential, open space or public facility zone shall not be included,

(D)

Provided that the sign area allowed for any building shall not exceed one hundred square feet or be less than twenty square feet;

(2)

One unlighted name plate, not exceeding two square feet in area, indicating the name, profession, or service of each establishment;

(3)

Any sign listed in Section 18.22.030.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in the local shopping district:

(1)

For a building or site with more than one tenant, a master identification sign not exceeding ten square feet per tenant, and not exceeding one hundred square feet in any case;

(2)

Other signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total sign area permitted for any building is the largest of:

(A)

One square foot of sign area for each foot of building frontage,

(B)

One-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage,

(C)

If the building is on a corner lot, one square foot of sign area for each one foot of width of the front and one street side building elevation, or one-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage and one street side property line, except that any side elevation or side property line across the street from a residential, public facility or open space zone shall not be included,

(D)

Provided that the sign area allowed for any building shall not exceed one hundred square feet;

(3)

Alternatively, for buildings with more than one tenant, the total sign area for each tenant may be computed as one square foot of sign area for each front foot on the building elevation providing primary access to the use; provided, that:

(A)

The sign area allowed for any tenant may not exceed one hundred square feet, and

(B)

The signs must be located on the building elevation providing primary access to and leased by the tenant, except that no more than two major tenants may have a total of one hundred square feet of signing on any two elevations, provided that any sign facing a residential, public facility or open space district shall not be larger than fifty square feet;

(4)

Any sign listed in Section 18.22.030.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

Refer to the approved master sign programs for Town Center and the Village for specific sign regulations applying to these shopping centers. In the event that those regulations do not address particular sign applications, the following underlying regulations shall apply:

(1)

For a building or site with more than one tenant, a master identification sign not exceeding ten square feet per tenant, and not exceeding one hundred square feet in any case;

(2)

Other signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total sign area permitted for any building is the largest of:

(A)

One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage,

(B)

One-half square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of lot frontage,

(C)

If the building is on a corner lot, one square foot of sign area for each foot of width of the building front and one street side elevation, or one-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage and one street side property line, except that any side elevation or side property line across the street from a residential, public facility or open space zone shall not be included,

(D)

Provided that the sign area allowed on any building shall not exceed two hundred square feet;

(E)

The signs shall be located on a building elevation providing access and leased by the tenant.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in the highway commercial district:

(1)

For a building or site with more than one tenant, a master identification sign not exceeding ten square feet per tenant, and not exceeding one hundred square feet in any case;

(2)

Other signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total sign area permitted for any building is the largest of:

(A)

One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage,

(B)

One-half square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of lot frontage,

(C)

If the building is on a corner lot, one square foot of sign area for each foot of width of the building front and one street side elevation, or one-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage and one street side property line, except that any side elevation or side property line across the street from a residential, public facility or open space zone shall not be included,

(D)

Provided that the sign area allowed on any building shall not exceed one hundred fifty square feet;

(3)

Alternatively, for buildings with more than one tenant, the total sign area for each tenant may be computed as one square foot of sign area for each front foot on the building elevation providing primary access to the use; provided, that:

(A)

The sign area allowed for any tenant may not exceed one hundred fifty square feet, and

(B)

The signs are located on the building elevation providing primary access and leased by the tenant;

(4)

Any sign listed in Section 18.22.030.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in the commercial service district:

(1)

For a building or site with more than one tenant, a master identification sign not exceeding ten square feet per tenant, and not exceeding one hundred square feet in any case;

(2)

Other signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total sign area permitted for any building is the largest of:

(A)

One square foot of sign area for each foot of building frontage,

(B)

One-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage,

(C)

If the building is on a corner lot, one square foot of sign area for each foot of width of the front and one street side elevation, or one-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage and one street side property line, except that any side elevation or side property line across the street from a residential, public facility, or open space zone shall not be included,

(D)

Provided that the sign area allowed on any building shall not exceed one hundred fifty square feet;

(3)

Alternatively, for buildings with more than one tenant, the total sign area for each tenant may be computed as one square foot of sign area for each front foot on the building elevation providing primary access to the use; provided, that:

(A)

The sign area allowed for any tenant may not exceed one hundred fifty square feet, and

(B)

The signs located on the building elevation provide primary access and are leased by the tenant;

(4)

Any sign listed in Section 18.22.030.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in the light industrial district:

(1)

For a building or site with more than one tenant, a master identification sign not exceeding ten square feet per tenant, and not exceeding one hundred square feet in any case;

(2)

Other signs pertaining to a use conducted on the site. The total sign area permitted for any building is the largest of:

(A)

One square foot of sign area for each foot of building frontage,

(B)

One-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage,

(C)

If the building is on a corner lot, one square foot of sign area for each foot of width of the building front and one street side elevation, or one-half square foot of sign area for each foot of lot frontage and one street side property line, except that any side elevation or side property line across the street from a residential, public facility, or open space zone shall not be included,

(D)

Provided that the sign area allowed on any building shall not exceed one hundred fifty square feet;

(3)

Alternatively, for buildings with more than one tenant, the total sign area for each tenant may be computed as one square foot of sign area for each front foot on the building elevation providing primary access to the use, provided that:

(A)

The sign area allowed for any tenant may not exceed one hundred fifty square feet, and

(B)

The signs must be located on the building elevation providing primary access and leased by the tenant;

(4)

Any sign listed in Section 18.22.030.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

The following signs may be permitted in the public and semipublic facilities district:

(1)

An identification sign not exceeding thirty square feet in area and, if freestanding, not exceeding six feet in height, in a location specified as a condition of the use permit;

(2)

Any sign listed in Section 18.22.030 that is necessary and appropriate to the nature of the public use conducted on the site.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)

No installation of new signs, nor modifications to existing signs, shall take place on any multitenant site where an illegal or nonconforming sign remains in use.

(Ord. 785 § 3(b) (part), 1994)