Inyo County Unincorporated, CA Zoning Ordinance

Inyo County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

75 SIGNS

§ 18.75.010 Purpose and application.

The purpose of this chapter is to control and regulate the construction, location and maintenance of all signs within the unincorporated areas of the county. The regulations in this chapter are intended to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the county's ability to at tract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions. These general provisions serve as specific development standards to be applied in addition to the basic sign provisions within each zoning district. The regulation and control of signs by this chapter is undertaken to accomplish the above objectives and not to control or regulate the content of signs.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998)

§ 18.75.030 Signs creating traffic hazards prohibited.

No sign shall be located at or near any road intersection, or any road and driveway intersection, so as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision.

No sign shall be located, constructed or lighted so as to interfere with, obstruct the view of, simulate, or be confused, with any official traffic control device. (Reference: Business and Professions Code Section 5403)

No lighted sign shall exceed the illumination standard specified in Section 21466.5 of the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998)

§ 18.75.040 Signs defacing natural features prohibited.

No sign shall be placed upon any tree or painted or drawn upon any rock or other natural feature. (Reference: Business and Professions Code Section 5403).

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998)

§ 18.75.050 Signs maintained in safe condition.

No sign shall be erected or maintained in a condition hazardous to persons or property. All signs containing electrical components shall be constructed and maintained to comply with the applicable electrical code and building code. (Reference: Business and Professions Code Section 5403.)

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998)

§ 18.75.060 Nonconforming signs.

Any sign lawfully erected and maintained prior to the effective date of this chapter (January 7, 1999), but which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, or because of a zone change after the effective date of this chapter affecting the property upon which the sign is located ceases to comply with the applicable zone district regulations, is a nonconforming sign. A sign exceeding the area or height regulations by five percent or less shall not be deemed nonconforming.

No nonconforming sign shall be altered, replaced, enlarged or reconstructed, except in such a manner as to cause the sign to conform fully to this chapter. A nonconforming sign may be maintained or the advertising copy changed without affecting its nonconforming status.

A nonconforming sign destroyed or damaged to the extent of fifty percent or greater of its value as of the date of such destruction or damage ceases to be nonconforming and shall be replaced, removed or repaired in full conformance the provisions of this title.

Each nonconforming sign, except off-premises signs, shall be removed or altered to conform to this chapter within twelve months from the effective date of this chapter (January 7, 1999) or from the date the sign becomes nonconforming.

No off-premises sign need be removed or altered to conform to this chapter if said sign was lawfully erected in compliance with state laws and local ordinances and was in existence on January 7, 1999, or was lawfully erected after January 7, 1999, the county requires such removal, in which case the county shall pay just compensation to the owner of the sign and the owner of the parcel upon which the sign is located. However, nonconforming off-premises advertising signs and billboards located within residential zone districts (RR, RR-Starlite, R-1, R-2 and R-3) shall be removed or altered to conform to this chapter within the time period set forth in Sections 5412.1 and 5412.3 of the California Business and Professions Code.

The sign owner, or owner of the parcel upon which the sign is located, may request the planning director to establish an amortization period in excess of those set forth in subsections D and E of this section if such period is insufficient to reasonably amortize the investment in the sign. Such person may also request an extension of time in which to remove or bring the sign into conformance with the requirements of this title. The procedure for filing such requests, notice and hearing shall be as prescribed in Section. The planning director shall base his/her decision as to the amortization period solely on the following factors for which the applicant has submitted information prior to the director's review:

Original cost of sign;

Date of construction and installation;

Amortization date for tax purposes;

Whether the sign would have a useful value to the owner or lessee if permitted in another location;

Residual economic value;

Cost of removal;

The degree of nonconformance;

Whether the owner or lessee is a public agency.

Any person dissatisfied with the decision of the planning director has the right of appeal pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 18.81.270 of this title.

The planning director shall give written notice to the sign owner and owner or lessee of the real property of the requirement for removal or alterations upon which the sign is located under this section.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998; Ord. 1290 § 14, 2022)

§ 18.75.070 Abandoned signs.

Any sign, other than a billboard or off-premises advertising sign, which is not functional, abandoned or which is not used for advertising purposes for a period of one hundred eighty consecutive days, shall be removed from the parcel upon which it is located by the owner of said sign, or the owner or lessee of the parcel upon which the sign is located.

All signs which are not nonconforming signs and which do not conform with the provisions of this chapter, are public nuisances and shall be removed at the expense of the sign owner, and the owner and lessee of the parcel upon which the sign is located.

Any sign that exists as described in subsection A or B of this section, may be abated as rubbish and the costs of abatement recovered pursuant to the procedure set forth in Chapter 7.60 of this code. The enforcement provisions contained in this subsection shall be in addition to any other remedy provided by law.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998)

§ 18.75.080 Summary abatement of signs threatening public safety.

The county planning director, director of public works, building inspector, sheriff or their designees may abate, including by removal, without prior notice and hearing, any sign which poses an immediate threat to the safety of persons or property. Within ten days of summary abatement, the abating official shall make a good faith effort to give written notice of the abatement to the owner of such sign and the owner and lessee of the parcel upon which such sign was located. The sign owner or parcel owner or lessee shall have the right to a hearing pursuant to Section 7.60.090 of this code to determine the nature of the threat and the appropriateness of the abatement action taken.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998)

§ 18.75.090 Illumination of signs.

No sign may be illuminated by intermittent light (flashing sign).

Only billboards, monument signs and wall signs may be externally illuminated.

Business signs may be illuminated only during the hours of operation of the business to which the sign refers.

Only signs displaying a property address may be illuminated in any residential zone district (RR, RR-Starlite, R-1, R-2 and R-3).

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998; Ord. 1290 § 12, 2022)

§ 18.75.100 Sign area.

In addition to the limits on sign area imposed on various types of sign under Chapter 18.06 of this title, the following limitations on sign area shall apply in the zones designated:

The amount of signage an any lot zoned open space (OS) is permitted as follows:

Advertising or business signs collectively totaling not more than three hundred square feet in area are permitted to be placed or erected on each lot for permitted, accessory or conditional uses; no individual sign, however, shall exceed fifty square feet in area.

No more than one monument sign is permitted on each lot.

The amount of signage in any residentially zoned lot (RR, RR-Starlite, R-1, R-2 and R-3) is permitted as follows:

In any residential zone, no nameplate shall have a sign area in excess of four inches by sixteen inches.

No real estate and/or rider sign shall have a sign area in excess of nine square feet. No more than two such signs shall be placed on any lot.

In the R-3 zone, no channel letter or internally illuminated wall sign shall have a sign area in excess of twenty-five square feet. No directory sign shall have a sign area in excess of twelve square feet.

The amount of signage on any commercially zoned (CB, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5 districts) lot is permitted as follows:

Advertising or business signs collectively totaling not more than three hundred square feet in area are permitted to be placed or erected on each lot containing ten thousand square feet or less; no individual sign, however, shall exceed fifty square feet in area.

Advertising or business signs collectively totaling not more than three hundred square feet in area are permitted to be placed or erected on each lot exceeding ten thousand square feet in area at a density ratio of three hundred square feet of total collective sign area per ten thousand square feet of lot area, e.g., signs having a collective total area of four hundred fifty square feet may be erected or placed on a lot fifteen thousand square feet in area; no individual sign, however, shall exceed fifty square feet in area and the total collective area of signs upon any such a lot shall not exceed six hundred square feet.

No more than one pole sign or monument sign is permitted on each lot.

Billboards approved as a conditional use in the C-4 zone shall be allowed in addition to the amount of signage authorized under subsections (C)(1) and (2) of this section.

The amount of signage on any industrially zoned (M-1 and M-2) property is permitted as follows:

Advertising or business signs collectively totaling not more than five hundred square feet in area are permitted to be placed or erected on each lot containing ten thousand square feet or less; no individual sign, however, shall exceed one hundred square feet in area.

Advertising or business signs collectively totaling not more than five hundred square feet in area are permitted to be placed or erected on each lot exceeding ten thousand square feet in area at a density ratio of five hundred square feet of total collective sign area per ten thousand square feet of lot area, e.g., on a lot fifteen thousand square feet in area signs having a collective total area of seven hundred fifty square feet may be erected or placed; no individual sign, however, shall exceed one hundred square feet in area and the total collective area of signs upon any such a lot shall not exceed one thousand square feet.

Billboards approved as a conditional use shall be allowed in addition to the amount of signage authorized under subsections (D)(1) and (2) of this section.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998; Ord. 1128 § 6, 2007; Ord. 1290 § 15, 2022)

§ 18.75.110 Height of signs.

In the RR, RR-Starlite Estates, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, no sign shall exceed six feet in height.

In the OS, CB, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, M-2, M-1 and P zones, no sign shall exceed twenty-five feet in height, except billboards under an approved conditional use permit.

In any zone where permitted, monument signs shall not exceed six feet in height.

In any zone where permitted, no roof sign shall extend more than four feet above the roof or cornice line of any main building on the site.

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998; Ord. 1128 § 7, 2007; Ord. 1290 § 13, 2022)

§ 18.75.120 Permitted signs by zone district.

The types of signs allowed either as permitted, permitted subject to the planning director's review or conditional uses are listed under the specified zoning district in the following table:

PERMITTED SIGNS BY ZONING DESIGNATION
Type of sign	Zoning Designation
Type of sign	OS	RR	RR-Starlite	R-1	RMH	R-2	R-3	CB	C-1	C-2	C-3	C-4	C-5	M-1	M-2	P
Animated sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	NA	P	NA	P	P	NA
Awning or canopy sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Billboard	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	NA	CUP	CUP	NA
Blade/bracket sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Business identification sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Cabinet/can sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Changeable copy sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Channel letter sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Civic event sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Combination sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	NA
Community and historical sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Contractor/construction sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Convenience sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Directory sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Electronic sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	CUP	CUP	NA
Flashing sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Future tenant sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Governmental sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Grand opening sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	P
Informational kiosk	CUP	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	P
Internally illuminated sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Memorial sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Monument sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Nameplate sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Neon sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Off-site advertising sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	CUP	CUP	NA
Off-site directional sign	CUP	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	CUP	CUP	NA
On-site directional sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Pole sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	NA	P	P	P	P	P
Political sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Portable sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	PDR	PDR	PDR	NA	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA
Projecting sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Promotional sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	NA
Real estate sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Rider sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Roof sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	NA	P	P	P	P	NA
Special event sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Tall wall sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	PDR	PDR	NA
Temporary sign	PDR	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR	PDR
Three-dimensional sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	CUP	CUP	CUP	NA	CUP	NA	CUP	CUP	NA
Time/temperature sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Vehicle sign	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Wall sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Window sign	P	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

Key:
P=Permitted Use	PDR=Planning Director Review Required	CUP=Conditional Use Permit Required	NA=Not Allowed in Zone

(Ord. 1007 § 32, 1998; Ord. 1128 § 8, 2007)

§ 18.75.130 Planning director's review.

Certain types of signs are subject to the review of the planning director as provided in Section 18.75.120:

Prior to the issuance of a building permit for any sign subject to the review of the planning director, building plans, including accurate elevations of the proposed sign and sufficient detailing of exterior materials, shall be submitted by the building inspector to the planning director to enable the director to determine whether the proposed sign is consistent with the requirements of this chapter and this section.

The planning director, in making a decision, shall be governed by the following criteria:

Sign copy is not subject to the planning director's review.

No sign shall be permitted the design or appearance which is of such unorthodox or abnormal character in relation to the surrounding properties as to be unsightly or offensive to generally accepted taste;

No illuminated sign shall be permitted which would result in light or glare to roads and properties in the vicinity that would result in a significant adverse effect on public safety or a nuisance to surrounding residences;

Approval of grand opening and special events signs shall be reserved for the bona fide establishment of new businesses and events which occur no more than twice in any twelve month period;

No sign shall be permitted to be sited on any property in a manner which would unnecessarily destroy or substantially damage the natural beauty of the area, particularly insofar as it would adversely affect values incident to ownership of land in that area; or which would unreasonably affect adversely the beauty and general enjoyment of existing residences on adjoining properties.

The planning director shall approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve issuance of the building permit for the sign. If a permit is disapproved or conditions imposed as part of the approval, a new building permit application may be submitted at any time, or the decision of the Planning Director may be appealed pursuant to Section 18.81.270 of this title.

The planning director's review is not required to change copy or to repair, maintain, or clean any existing sign.