Vernon City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
96 OFF-SITE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURES
§ 17.96.010 Application of chapter.
This chapter shall apply to all commercial outdoor advertising structures within the City that are not located on the same lot as the goods or services being advertised. This chapter does not apply to on-site or noncommercial outdoor advertising structures. All legally established off-site commercial outdoor advertising structures existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title that are not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter are legal nonconforming uses.
(Prior code § 26.9.1)
§ 17.96.020 Development Agreement required.
The installation, construction, modification, or replacement of any outdoor advertising structure is permitted in the I Zone and all overlay zones, with the exception of the Housing Overlay Zone, subject to the approval of a Development Agreement between the City and applicant, with appropriate standards and terms to be negotiated with the City, and complying with all other conditions imposed by this chapter.
(Prior code § 26.9.2)
§ 17.96.030 Sign dimensions.
A.
The sign face of an outdoor advertising structure shall not exceed 850 square feet in area, including the border and trim, but excluding the base or apron supports and other structural members.
B.
Cutouts and other special advertising features or additions to a sign face shall not project more than five feet above the maximum height limit.
C.
Bi-directional or double-faced signs shall be located on the same outdoor advertising structure. For parallel double-faced signs, the distance between sign faces shall not exceed eight feet.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-1)
§ 17.96.040 Structure design and materials.
Each outdoor advertising structure shall have no more than two poles, and shall be constructed of noncombustible material.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-2)
§ 17.96.050 Maximum height.
The overall height of each outdoor advertising structure shall not exceed 35 feet, exclusive of cutouts or special additions, measured from the higher of either:
A.
The finished grade of the roadway adjacent to the lot on which the outdoor advertising structure is located and from which the advertising display is to be viewed; or
B.
The finished grade of the base of the outdoor advertising structure.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-3)
§ 17.96.060 Location.
The location of the outdoor advertising structures shall be restricted as follows:
A.
An outdoor advertising structure shall not be located within any required setback area of the zone or overlay zone in which the outdoor advertising structure is located.
B.
Outdoor advertising structures shall not be located within five feet of any building or within 10 feet of any lot line.
C.
Outdoor advertising structures with digital or static displays that are located within 200 feet of the edge of the right-of-way of the I-710 freeway and are designed to be primarily viewed from the I-710 freeway are subject to the following standards:
1.
An outdoor advertising structure with a digital display that is located within 200 feet of the edge of the right-of-way of the I-710 freeway and designed primarily to be viewed from the I-710 freeway shall not be located within 500 feet of another outdoor advertising structure with a static display located on the same side of the freeway or within 1,000 feet of another outdoor advertising structure with a digital display located on the same side of the freeway and designed to be oriented toward the freeway; and
2.
An outdoor advertising structure with a static display that is located within 200 feet of the edge of the right-of-way of the I-710 freeway and designed primarily to be viewed from the I-710 freeway shall not be located within 500 feet of any another outdoor advertising structure located on the same side of the freeway and designed to be oriented toward the freeway.
D.
Outdoor advertising structures constructed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title and not oriented towards the I-710 freeway shall not be located within 2,500 feet of another outdoor advertising structure.
E.
Outdoor advertising structures existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title may not be replaced unless they are in conformity with the dimension, height, and location requirements specified herein.
F.
For purposes of this chapter, measurements shall be made along the edge of the street from which the display on the outdoor advertising structure is designed to be primarily viewed, from a line perpendicular to the centerline of that street passing through the nearest edge of the existing sign, to a line perpendicular to the centerline passing through the nearest edge of the proposed outdoor advertising structure, as shown in Figure 17.96.060 Measurement for Outdoor Advertising Structures.
 Figure 17.96.060 Measurement for Outdoor Advertising Structures |
(Prior code § 26.9.3-4)
§ 17.96.070 Prohibited outdoor advertising structures.
The following types of signs shall not be permitted:
A.
Any form of movement, animation, or the appearance of an optical illusion of movement, oscillating or rotating sign, or any other design intended to attract attention through movement or the semblance of movement of the whole or any part of the sign or any other method or device that suggests movement, except such movement of a permitted digital display associated with changing from one message to another; or
B.
Inflatable objects; or
C.
Flashing signs, containing illuminated light or other devices which are intermittently on and off, which change in intensity, or which create the illusion of flashing in any manner; or
D.
Obscene or pornographic signs.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-5)
§ 17.96.080 Safety and appearance.
A.
No outdoor advertising structure, including its supporting structure and lighting, shall present any hazard to the safety of pedestrian or vehicular traffic by obstructing the flow of such traffic, obstructing the sight lines required for the safe movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, interfering with the visibility and effectiveness of any traffic control or warning device, or in any other manner as determined by the Director.
B.
All signs shall be designed and maintained to be compatible with the design and materials used in the structure on which the sign is located.
C.
No sign face or sign area shall be added to an existing sign unless within a permanent frame or panel indicated for such purpose on approved plans for the total sign structure.
D.
All signs shall be maintained in good condition and working order, as determined by the Director, and free of graffiti, peeling paint, faded colors, and broken and damaged materials.
E.
All signs must have the sign owner's name, address and telephone number conspicuously and permanently attached on the exterior of the sign.
F.
The images on digital displays shall not change more than once every eight seconds. The images shall change instantaneously, with no special effects or video. The brightness of the sign shall be such that the difference of ambient light measurement and the operating sign light turned on to full white copy shall be no greater than 0.3 foot-candles when measured from a distance as determined in the Development Agreement.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-6)
§ 17.96.090 Political signs.
Political signs are permitted in the I Zone and all overlay zones as follows:
A.
All of the terms of this chapter apply to political signs, except that signs pertaining to a particular election do not require a Conditional Use Permit.
B.
All political signs pertaining to a particular election shall be removed within 10 days after the date of the election.
C.
The candidate, committee, or any other authorized person posting political signs shall ensure that all signs include the name, address, and the required committee identification number of the campaign or political organization, if any.
D.
If the Director finds that any political sign has been posted or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the Director may cause said sign to be removed without prior notice.
E.
Any political sign that remains posted for more than 14 days after the election to which it pertains shall be deemed abandoned.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-7)
§ 17.96.100 Continuation of nonconforming signs.
Every nonconforming outdoor advertising structure may remain in use unless and until it has been deemed to be abandoned, as described in this section. For purposes of this chapter, an outdoor advertising structure shall be deemed to have been abandoned if no copy appears on the sign for a period of at least 180 consecutive calendar days, or it is otherwise relatively clear that the sign has been forsaken or deserted; provided, however, that political signs shall be deemed abandoned as set forth in Section 17.96.090(E).
(Prior code § 26.9.3-8)
§ 17.96.110 Abandoned outdoor advertising structures.
All nonconforming outdoor advertising structures that have been abandoned shall be brought into full conformity with this chapter or be removed, without amortization or compensation. If an abandoned outdoor advertising structure is in violation of the location requirements, it shall be removed. The Director may cause any abandoned signs and any signs which constitute an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without prior notice.
(Prior code § 26.9.3-9)