Guadalupe City Zoning Code
SIGN REGULATIONS
§ 154.140 PURPOSE.
This subchapter is intended to regulate signs in order to promote the general welfare of the community, to protect property values, to preserve the beauty and character of the town, and to promote the public safety, welfare, convenience, and enjoyment of travel within the town.
(Zoning Code, Art. V Part I)
§ 154.141 APPLICABILITY.
(A) A sign permit shall be required before the erection, re-erection, construction, maintenance, or location of all signs regulated by this subchapter.
(B) The Zoning Administrator shall issue a sign permit only if the proposed sign, construction, alteration, re-erection, maintenance, and location of the sign complies with provisions of this regulation.
(C) Where there is a conflict between the provisions of this subchapter and provisions of other regulations of the town, the more restrictive regulations shall apply.
(Zoning Code, Art. V Part I)
§ 154.142 GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(A) The source of illumination shall be screened so as not to be visible from any adjacent property or streets.
(B) Signs shall be located at least five feet from any property lines.
(C) All freestanding signs shall be installed with landscaped areas at the base having a minimum area of two square feet for each square foot of sign area and consistent with the landscaping requirements of this subchapter.
(D) Non-public signs shall not encroach on public property, public easements, or public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized by the Town Council by a conditional use permit.
(E) Non-conforming signs as defined by this subchapter may be continued in use with reasonable repair and maintenance. Any such sign which is damaged by natural or human-made causes or vandalized must be restored within 90 days from date of damage or shall be removed at the owner’s expense.
(Zoning Code, Art. V Part I) (Ord. 2002-05, passed 4-25-2002)
§ 154.143 SIGN STANDARDS.
(A) Single -family dwellings shall be permitted one non-illuminated sign, not exceeding three square feet in area, for names and addresses of its occupants.
(B) Home occupations shall be permitted one non-illuminated wall or fascia mounted sign not to exceed 12 square feet in area.
(C) Public facility identification signs shall be permitted in any zoning district. Such signs are limited to one per property, may be illuminated and shall not exceed 24 square feet in area. Maximum height of these signs shall not exceed eight feet. This section pertains to signs identifying churches, schools, parks, public and private recreational facilities, hospitals, public institutions, and other public facilities.
(D) For multi-family uses, not more than two signs per lot, not exceeding 24 square feet in total sign area, nor eight feet in height for freestanding signs, containing names and addresses of the land or building shall be permitted.
(E) For C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, and PAD zones, business identification signs for individual businesses not within a center shall not exceed a cumulative total of 100 square feet per property. Such signs may be wall or fascia mounted or freestanding. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 12 feet. There shall be not more than one freestanding sign per street frontage of property.
(F) For C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, and PAD zones consisting of three or more businesses associated by common agreement or common ownership with common parking facilities shall be permitted as follows:
(1) One freestanding center identification sign shall be permitted per street frontage not exceeding a maximum sign area of 50 square feet and a height of 12 feet maximum.
(2) Business identification signs for individual businesses within a center shall not exceed 24 square feet per business. Such signs shall be wall or fascia mounted.
(G) Temporary signs shall be permitted in the C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, and PAD zones for a maximum of 30 consecutive days.
(Zoning Code, Art. V Part II)
§ 154.144 SIGN CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT.
(A) Construction specifications. All signs shall comply with the provisions of the Uniform Building and Sign Codes.
(B) Sign maintenance and enforcement.
(1) Each sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good condition, including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other maintenance required.
(2) The Zoning Administrator shall require compliance or removal of any sign determined by the Town Council to be in violation of this section.
(3) The Zoning Administrator shall remove or cause to be removed any abandoned, dangerous, defective, illegal, prohibited, or non-conforming sign subject to removal which has not been removed within the time specified. Notice shall be mailed to the property owner as shown on the latest tax assessment roll or given to the occupant on the property or their representative upon which the sign is located. Any person having an interest in the sign may appeal the determination within ten days after the date of mailing the notice. The appeal shall be heard by the Council at its next scheduled meeting.
(Zoning Code, Art. V Part III)
§ 154.145 SIGN PERMITS AND FEES.
(A) Fees for signs.
(1) A sign permit shall be secured prior to the installation of any signs according to the following (except billboard signs which are controlled by §§ 154.147 and 154.148): there shall be a minimum charge of $100 for up to two signs and $200 for three or more signs. This fee is in addition to the fee for a building permit.
(2) These sign permit fees shall be doubled in the event that any sign is installed prior to the issuance of a sign permit.
(B) Signs not requiring sign permits.
(1) No sign permit shall be required for non-illuminated signs under three square feet used for residential purposes.
(2) No sign permit shall be required for temporary signs and real estate signs which are not greater than six square feet in area.
(3) No sign permit shall be required for temporary political signs.
(Zoning Code, Art. V Part IV) (Ord. 99-01, passed 2-11-1999; Ord. O2020.16, passed 4-23-2020)
§ 154.146 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BILLBOARD SIGN. A structure on which is portrayed information which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment, or product not necessarily related to the other uses existing on the premises upon which the structure is located. A sign shall be classified as a BILLBOARD unless its advertising area is entirely devoted to identifying the business operating on the premises or to a product that is manufactured on the premises. The fact that a product is merely sold on the premises is not sufficient cause for the sign classification to be deleted from the billboard sign category.
DIGITAL BILLBOARD. A billboard utilizes digital message technology capable of changing the message or copy on the sign electronically, such that the alphabetic, pictographic, or symbolic informational content can be changed or altered electronically on a fixed display surface composed of electronically illuminated or electronically actuated or motivated elements. This includes billboards with displays that have been pre-programmed to display only certain types of information (i.e., time, date, temperature), and billboards whose informational content can be changed or altered by means of computer-driven electronic impulses.
SIGN, AREA OF. The area in square feet of the smallest regular geometric figures, or combination of regular geometric figures, which figure or figures entirely enclose both the copy and facing, including embellishments, ornamentations, or moldings of the sign and its face or faces.
(Ord. 99-02, passed 2-11-1999; Ord. O2023.01, passed 4-27-2023)
§ 154.147 BILLBOARD SIGNS.
(A) Billboard signs are not a permissible use as a matter of right in any zoning district in the town.
(B) No billboard sign shall be located within 1,500 feet of another billboard sign as measured from any part of the billboard to the nearest point of any other billboard.
(C) No billboard sign shall be located within 400 feet of a public park, public cemetery, or place of worship.
(D) Billboard signs may be allowed as a conditional use in any commercial or industrial district in the town providing that the Town Council makes the determination that the billboard will not be detrimental to the value of the surrounding property and will be in harmony with the existing structures in the area.
(E) The granting or denial of a conditional use permit for a billboard sign rests solely with the discretion of the Town Council. The Council’s decision on any particular application shall set no precedence whatsoever. Each case shall be examined on its own merits.
(F) If the Council elects to grant such a conditional use permit, it shall include provisions the Council deems appropriate including, but not limited to, such matters as size, number of facings, and duration. However, in no case shall the permit be less restrictive than the requirements of state law currently set forth in A.R.S. §§ 28-7902 et seq.
(G) Any use permit application for a billboard sign shall conform to the following development standards:
(1) Seventy-five feet in height if located within 300 feet of the right-of-way line of an existing freeway, and a maximum of 672 square feet in sign face area. These billboards shall be oriented only towards the freeway and may be double-faced or “V” shaped, thus doubling the allowed sign face area, provided the “V” shape is designed so that there is no greater than 54 inches between faces at the apex and the angle between the faces of the sign is no greater than 45 degrees.
(2) Thirty feet in height if located greater than 300 feet from an existing freeway and 300 square feet in sign face area. These billboards shall not be located within 200 feet of the property line of any parcel of land which is zoned to a category allowing for single-family residential use even though the zoning categories applicable to such parcels may allow additional uses. These billboards shall not be located within 500 feet of the property line of any public park, public cemetery, or place of worship.
(H) Use permit applications for new digital billboards and conversion to digital billboards shall only be considered if:
(1) Network time shall be made available on all digital sign faces to federal, state, and local public safety agencies for emergency messaging. Such messages shall override all copy for one hour and shall then be displayed for no fewer than eight seconds in every minute as long as needed.
(2) From 11:00 p.m. until sunrise all billboard illumination shall be extinguished, and all billboards shall be equipped with an automatic devise to assure compliance. These illumination requirements shall not be applicable to the display of any amber alert or other governmental emergencies, or for other emergent situations as determined by the Town Manager. Further, in the event of an electronic malfunction the sign shall be shut off until repairs have been made to restore the electronic messaging system.
(3) Minimal display time shall not change message more than once every eight seconds.
(I) No such conditional use permit shall be considered without first holding a public hearing and giving proper notice.
(J) All billboard signs erected or posted in the town shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes and in conformance with this section, at all times. All billboard signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building, or other structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure.
(K) All billboard signs and the premises surrounding them shall be maintained by the owner thereof in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition, free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish, weeds and overgrown grass.
(Ord. 99-02, passed 2-11-1999; Ord. O2023.01, passed 4-27-2023)
§ 154.148 FEES FOR BILLBOARD SIGNS.
In addition to any application fees, variance fees, building permit fees, and any other fees that may be required, there shall be a minimum conditional use permit fee of $5,000 or $5 per square foot of sign area, whichever is greater.
(Ord. 99-02, passed 2-11-1999; Ord. O2020.19, passed 4-23-2020; Ord. O2023.01, passed 4-27-2023)