No sign, billboard, poster, pennant, flag or display unit shall be erected, displayed, established or maintained within five hundred (500) feet of any road, highway, street or public place within the boundaries of the City except as otherwise provided herein.

A.

One non-illuminated sign may be erected on each street frontage for any lot or building which serves solely to advertise the sale, lease or rental of or an offer to build to suit on the premises where the sign is located, provided the sign does not exceed six (6) square feet in area in a residential zone. This exemption is only available when all or part of the premises is actually available for the transaction advertised.

B.

Non-illuminated, off-site, portable signs directing customers to the location of an open house which is for sale are permitted, unlimited in total number, but limited to one double faced sign per corner of an intersection or on a privately owned parcel. The signs shall not exceed an area of one (1) square foot per face and shall not be more than four (4) feet high. Open house signs shall contain no individual, or individual company advertising. Prior permission shall be obtained from the property owner if the sign is to be placed on a privately owned parcel. The signs shall be removed each day after the closing of the open house. Open house signs are an exception to the rule prohibiting off-premises signs and signs on public property.

C.

The owner, occupant or resident of any property may erect and maintain without obtaining any permit one sign giving his name and address at his mailbox and one additional sign upon said property, neither of which shall be more than three (3) square feet in area.

D.

Within the scenic corridor defined by the State of California upon designation of the Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, State sign Route 9, as an Official State Scenic Highway, only those signs allowed in Subsections A, B and C or existing on-premise signs as provided for in Subsection E shall be permitted.

E.

Any existing on-premise sign lawfully established on or before the effective date of this Chapter may be maintained for a period of not to exceed three (3) months from the passage of this Chapter during which period the owner shall either remove the sign or make application for and receive a permit for the said sign under the provisions of this Chapter.

An election sign may be erected without a permit in conformity with this Section.

A.

Election sign defined. An election sign is a sign of a political nature which directly relates to a candidate or to a ballot issue in an election conducted by a governmental entity and which is erected on property within the jurisdictional boundaries of such election.

B.

Public property. No election sign shall be erected on any publicly owned or maintained property.

C.

Private property. No election sign may be placed or erected on private property without the consent of the owner or occupant in lawful possession of the property.

D.

Sign restrictions. An election sign may be erected only in accordance with the following restrictions.

1.

Illumination. No election sign may be illuminated in any manner other than by previously existing lighting fixtures normally used for illumination of the site of the sign.

2.

Freestanding or suspended signs. A freestanding or suspended sign shall not have an area exceeding six square feet and shall not be more than three-feet high.

E.

Duration and removal. An election sign shall be completely removed no later than six (6) days following the date of the election. Each election sign shall be removed by the person who erected it or by the owner of the property upon which the sign is erected.

The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of California shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.