This Chapter is provided to achieve the purposes of the General Plan, this Ordinance, and all other Land Use Ordinances, and to achieve the following additional purposes:

1. To provide for the identification of businesses, sites and buildings.
   
2. To provide a convenient method of public communication without unnecessary clutter.
   
3. To avoid confusion of allowed signs with required traffic signs and other regulatory and public safety signs.
   
4. To minimize any adverse effects of signs and associated lighting on adjacent properties.

1. No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or structurally altered except in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter.
   
2. This Chapter shall apply to all signs, but does not apply to any signs located within the interior of any buildings or structures, or hand-held placards and other similar devices traditionally used for public protest and the non-commercial exercise of free speech.
   
3. Sign text, statement, symbol, picture, graphics, and message may be changed and modified by the owner (and do not constitute a structural sign alteration) provided such changes do not constitute a public hazard or nuisance and are not of an obscene nature
   
4. Unless an Exempt Sign, as identified by Table 19-4, no sign shall be erected, enlarged, or structurally altered unless a valid Land Use Application has been approved by the Land Use Authority, as applicable, and a valid Building Permit has been issued by the Building Official, as applicable.
   
5. No part of any sign shall be permitted within three (3) feet any road or street right-of way or utility easement and all signs must maintain necessary clearances from underground or overhead power transmission lines, as required by the electrical power provider.
   
6. No sign, or part thereof, shall be permitted to interfere with the use of fire protection appliances; including hydrants, standpipes, automatic fire sprinkler connections, and similar fire protection and suppression equipment. No sign or sign structure shall obstruct any fire lane.
   
7. No sign, or part thereof, shall imitate or resemble a public safety sign or device including any lights, emblems, or text that resembles public warning or public safety lights or signs.
   
8. No sign shall be permitted in any clear view area, and no sign shall create any traffic or pedestrian hazard. (See Section 1625).

In compliance with the Building Code, as adopted, and as applicable, no new sign and no existing sign shall be erected, enlarged, or structurally altered unless a valid Building Permit application has been approved.

1. The Building Official, or designee, shall inspect, or re-inspect, any sign for which a Building Permit has been issued and an inspection is required. Such inspections shall ensure that all signs are in conformance with this Ordinance and Building Code, as adopted.
   
2. The expiration date for all Building Permits required for signs shall be as provided by the Building Code, as adopted.

1. All signs shall comply with the Building Code, as adopted, and as applicable.
   
2. No sign involving any electrical components, wiring or connections shall be erected or installed, except by a licensed and bonded electrical contractor or sign contractor.
   
3. All Land Use Applications for any sign shall demonstrate conformance with the applicable provisions of the Building Code, as adopted and as applicable.

1. Consistent with Chapter 7, the Zoning Administrator is authorized as the Land Use Authority for Permitted P-1 Sign Applications.
   
2. Consistent with Chapter 7, the Commission is authorized as the Land Use Authority for Permitted P-2 Sign Applications.
   
3. Consistent with Chapter 8, the Council is authorized as the Land Use Authority for Conditional Sign Applications.

1. The minimum requirements for approval and findings and standards for approval of a Permitted P-1 Sign Application shall be as provided by Chapter 7 herein and Chapter 4, Administrative Manual.
   
2. The minimum requirements for approval and findings and standards for approval of a Permitted P-2 Sign Application shall be as provided by Chapter 7 herein and Chapter 4, Administrative Manual.
   
3. The minimum requirements for approval and findings and standards for approval of a Conditional Sign Application shall be as provided by Chapter 8 herein and Chapter 5, Administrative Manual.

All signs allowed within the City are identified in Table 19-1, Allowed Signs.

In addition to the sign requirements provided in Table 19-1, Allowed Signs, the following sign lighting requirements are provided to achieve the purposes of this Chapter and this Ordinance.

1. Externally illuminated signs are permitted as follows:
   
   1. All externally lit signs shall be illuminated with steady, fully shielded light sources aimed directly onto the sign. Light bulbs or lighting tubes used for illuminating a sign shall not be visible from any location.
      
2. Internally illuminated signs are permitted as follows:
   
   1. Individual back-lit letters that are silhouetted against an illuminated wall.
      
   2. Individual letters with translucent faces, containing soft lighting elements inside each letter.
      
   3. Metal-faced box signs with cutout letters and soft-glow fluorescent tubes.
      
   4. Metal-faced box signs with steady or changeable copy complying with the requirements of Section 1912(3) and 1912(4).
      
3. Lighting:
   
   1. No lighting or illumination associated with any sign shall constitute a safety hazard or be considered an annoyance to surrounding properties.
      
   2. The intensity of lighting shall not exceed that necessary to illuminate a sign from the closest adjacent public right-of-way.
      
   3. No light source shall be directed toward any adjacent property.
      
   4. All light sources shall be fully shielded or hooded.
      
4. Changeable Copy Signs and Electronic Message Centers may be installed as a part of an allowed sign but shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the Sign Face Area.

All signs allowed within the City are identified in Table 19-1, Allowed Signs, or Table 19-4, Exempt Signs. All other signs are hereby declared to be Prohibited Signs including, but not limited to, the following signs:

1. All off-premise signs designed or intended to direct attention to a business, product, or service that is not sold, offered, or existing on the property where the sign is located, including all billboards.
   
2. All signs in violation of any provision of this Ordinance.
   
3. All signs in violation of any requirements or conditions of approval including all Temporary Signs established for longer than ninety (90) calendar days,
   
4. Signs on any City-owned property, except signs maintained by the City.
   
5. All signs erected, enlarged, or structurally altered without receiving the necessary approval(s).
   
6. Signs placed on private property without the approval of the owner.
   
7. Any sign, or part thereof, resembling a public safety or warning sign or device including any lights, emblems, or text that resembles a public safety vehicle or lights.
   
8. All signs having intermittent, pulsating, or flashing illumination, animated or moving parts, rotating or simulating movement by any means of fluttering, spinning or reflection devices or that emits sound.
   
9. Any sign located in a clear view area (See Section 1625).
   
10. All signs that obstruct free ingress to or egress from required door, window, fire escape or other required exit.
    
11. Signs attached to any fences, utility poles, trees, shrubs, or other natural objects, unless specifically provided for by law including no trespassing and no hunting.
    
12. All signs constituting a hazard to public health, welfare, or safety.
    
13. All roof-mounted signs.
    
14. All signs providing a lighting source that is exposed or directly visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property.
    
15. Any sign, statement, symbol or picture of an obscene nature.

Table 19-1 
ALLOWED SIGNS

Notes:

Maximum Sign Height. The height from the highest point of the structure to the lowest point of the finished or natural grade, immediately adjacent to the structure. No ground shall be bermed, or other earthwork provided, that would have the effect to exceed the maximum allowed sign structure height.

Maximum Sign Area, The area of the sign calculated by multiplying the highest point of the sign by the longest length of the sign and including all text, insignia, logo, or other advertising or identification materials.

Table 19-2
MAXIMUM ALLOWED SIZE OF FREE-STANDING PYLON SIGNS

Table 19-3
MAXIMUM ALLOWED SIZE OF FREE-STANDING MOUMNET SIGNS

Table 19-4
EXEMPT SIGNS