A.   Purpose And Scope: The purpose and scope of this chapter is to eliminate potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians; encourage signs which, by their good design, are integrated with and harmonious to the buildings and sites which they occupy; encourage sign legibility through the elimination of excessive and confusing sign displays thus reducing driver attention; preserve and improve the appearance of the county as a place in which to live and to work and create an attraction to nonresidents to come to visit or trade; allow each individual business to clearly identify itself and the goods and services which they offer in such a manner as to become the hallmark of their business and of the county thus creating a distinctive appearance and enhancing the county's character as a place in which to live; safeguard and enhance property values; protect public and private investment in buildings and open space; supplement investment in buildings and open space; supplement and be a part of the regulations imposed by the county and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the county. (Ord. 2001-815-O, 12-17-2001, eff. 12-17-2001; amd. 2004 Code)

   B.   Interpretation: In interpreting and applying the provisions of this title, the sign requirements contained herein are declared to be the maximum allowable for the purpose set forth. Where this title imposes a greater restriction upon signs and the location thereof, or requires or imposes conditions other than those required or imposed by other laws, ordinances or restrictions, the provisions of this title shall control. (Ord. 2001-815-O, 12-17-2001, eff. 12-17-2001)

   A.   Conformity Of Signs: Except as provided in this title, no sign shall be erected, raised, moved, extended, enlarged or altered, except in conformity with the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.

   B.   Construction Standards: All signs hereinafter erected in the county shall comply with the current standards of the national electrical code, all provisions of this title. All component parts shall be equal to Underwriters' labeled products.

   C.   Enforcement: The building inspector shall be vested with the duty of enforcing the zoning ordinances of the county and in performance of such duty, it shall be empowered and directed to:

      1.   Issue Permits: Issue permits to construct, alter or repair signs which conform to the provisions of this title.

      2.   Determine Conformance: Ascertain that all signs, construction, and all reconstruction or modification of existing signs, are built or constructed in conformance to this title and building codes with reference thereto.

      3.   Issue Citations And Complaints: Issue citations and/or complaints against violators of the zoning laws of the county.

   D.   Inspections: The building inspector shall make inspections as needed during construction and upon the completion of construction, erection, reerection or remodeling of any sign for which a permit has been issued.

   E.   Legal Action:

      1.   Authority: The building inspector shall be empowered to institute any appropriate action or proceeding in any case where any sign is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained, or in any case where any sign is used in violation of any county ordinance, including, but not limited to, zoning ordinances, to accomplish the following purposes: a) to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use; and b) to restrain, to correct or abate such violation.

      2.   Issue Notice Of Violation: The building inspector will issue a notice of violation to the person or entity having charge, control or the benefit of any sign found by the building inspector to be unsafe or dangerous or in violation of this title.

      3.   Abate And Remove Unsafe Dangerous Sign: If an unsafe or dangerous sign is not repaired or made safe within five (5) working days after giving said notice, the inspector shall at once abate and have the sign removed. The person having charge, control or benefit of any such sign, shall pay to the county within thirty (30) calendar days after written notice is mailed to such person the costs incurred in such removal.

      4.   Abate And Remove Illegal Sign: If an illegal sign is not made conforming within thirty (30) working days after giving said notice, the inspector shall at once abate and have the sign removed. The owner or the person having charge, control or the benefit from any such sign, shall pay to the county within thirty (30) calendar days after written notice is mailed to such person the costs incurred in such removal.

      5.   Notice Of Nonmaintained Or Abandoned Sign: The building inspector shall require each nonmaintained or abandoned sign to be removed from the building or premises when such sign has not been repaired or put into use by the owner or the person having control of the premises within thirty (30) calendar days after notice of nonmaintenance or abandonment is given to the owner or the person having control of the premises.

      6.   Notification: Notification by the county to the owner of any sign found by the building inspector to be unsafe or dangerous or in violation of this title and where the county is contemplating removal of said sign shall be accomplished by the county utilizing written notices sent through the registered mail. (Ord. 2001-815-O, 12-17-2001, eff. 12-17-2001; amd. 2004 Code)

   F.   Right Of Appeal: Any person who has been ordered by the building inspector to alter or remove any sign, or when any sign permit has been denied, may seek a final administrative decision under 10-2-4, and appeal that decision also as set forth therein. Upon filing of said notice of appeal, the building inspector shall take no further action with regard to the removal of the sign involved until the final decision of the land use authority and appeal authority, unless the building inspector finds that the sign involved, by reason of its condition, presents an immediate and serious danger to the public, in which case, the sign shall be removed immediately as provided in this section.

No person shall install or maintain any sign in the county and in the zones listed, except as herein provided. Signs not allowed in the following subsections are specifically prohibited:

   A.   Zones Allowing Residential Uses As Conditional Or Permitted: In zones OST, A, FR, SFR, RA, RE, SF, MF and MH, which allow residences as a permitted or as a conditional use, the following signs will be allowed, and said zones shall comply with the following:

      1.   Unlit Identification Sign: One unlit identification sign will be allowed in connection with all detached single-family dwellings or approved home occupation in these zoning districts; provided, that the sign conforms to the following regulations:

         a.   Shall be located a minimum of ten feet (10') from front property lines.

         b.   Shall be limited to only one sign per site.

         c.   Shall contain no animation or lighting.

         d.   Shall not exceed twelve inches by eighteen inches (12" x 18") in size, or a total of two hundred sixteen (216) square inches.

      2.   Identification Sign: Identification sign for planned developments, multiple-family developments, and mobile home and RV parks; one sign. Said sign shall not exceed six feet (6') in height and not contain more than thirty two (32) square feet.

      3.   Temporary Sign: Temporary sign advertising or promoting the sale of a subdivision or planned development; one unlit sign to be located on the property to be developed and not to exceed six feet (6') in height with a maximum area of not more than thirty two (32) square feet.

      4.   Real Estate Signs: No more than two (2) on site signs offering the premises for sale, lease or inspection by the public shall be permitted. The total for any one sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet. (Ord. 2014-1042-O, 11-18-2014)

   B.   Commercial, Industrial, And Manufacturing Zones:

      1.   Freestanding Signs Permitted: Each parcel of property or development may have one freestanding sign. One additional freestanding sign is permitted if the property has more than five hundred feet (500') of frontage on a dedicated public street or frontage on two (2) different dedicated public streets.

      2.   Location: Freestanding signs shall be located on the property so that no portion of the sign structure projects over the property line.

      3.   Height: Freestanding signs shall not exceed twenty five feet (25') in height except for signs within five hundred feet (500') of a freeway exit which may be a maximum of fifty feet (50') in height above grade level of the sign.

      4.   Clearance: There shall be a minimum clearance of fifteen feet (15') between the ground and any part of the freestanding or projecting sign.

      5.   Size: Signs shall be limited to thirty two (32) square feet in area.

      6.   Low Profile Or Monument Signs: Low profile or monument signs located on premises will be permitted, provided the signs:

         a.   Shall be limited to a maximum of six feet (6') in height from finished grade.

         b.   Shall be limited to thirty two (32) square feet in area.

         c.   Shall be limited to only one sign per business constructed in lieu of, and not in addition to, any freestanding sign.

         d.   Shall contain no animation or lighting except for one spotlight directed at the face of the sign, and not into the air or into the face of oncoming traffic or onto adjacent property. A double face sign may be lighted in this manner from both sides or from indirect lighting located inside the sign in lieu of spotlights.

         e.   Shall contain no animation, flashing message lighting, or lighting of any kind except as may be approved in subsection B6d of this section.

      7.   Animated Signs: No flashing, message boards, nor animation shall be allowed on any freestanding sign or low profile or monument sign, on or off premises.

      8.   Wall Signs: Wall signs may be permitted; provided, that the area of any sign shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the front face of the building to which the sign is attached. Wall signs may be attached only to the front side of any building.

      9.   Entrance Or Exit Signs: One entrance or exit sign shall be permitted at each driveway entering or leaving the premises. Such signs shall not exceed three (3) square feet in area nor be more than six feet (6') in height from the ground.

      10.   Real Estate Signs: No more than two (2) signs offering the premises for sale, lease or inspection by the public shall be permitted; provided, that the total area of each sign does not exceed thirty two (32) square feet. Said signs may be modified to indicate that the property has been sold.

      11.   Nameplates: One permanently placed unlighted nameplate of a maximum of two (2) square feet in area shall be permitted for each business establishment.

      12.   Off Premises Signs Or Billboards: Off premises or billboard signs are prohibited. No sign shall be erected or maintained on a parcel, lot or project area other than a sign advertising the business, activity, product or service conducted on the premises where the sign is located, such as billboards. Any legally existing sign is a nonconforming use. No legally existing sign shall be erected or maintained on a parcel, lot or project area that employs flashing, intermittent, or moving light(s) such as electronic or digital display technologies of any type (LED, LCD, etc.)

      13.   Roof Signs: Roof signs shall not be permitted.

   C.   Regulations For All Zones:

      1.   Signs Not To Constitute Traffic Hazard: No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with an authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of the words "stop", "drive in", "danger", or any other words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

      2.   Awnings: Awnings shall conform to all provisions of the building code. An awning shall maintain a minimum of ten feet (10') of clearance above any sidewalk and shall have no signs affixed to the awning or its support. No awning may extend over public property.

      3.   Temporary Signs: Any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, or other light materials, with or without light frames, intended to be displayed out of doors shall be considered to be a temporary sign and shall be permitted subject to all provisions of this title for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of said sign to remove it upon the expiration of the thirty (30) day period, or it shall be removed by the county.

      4.   Maintenance: Every sign shall be kept in good condition as to maintenance and repair. The ground space within a radius of ten feet (10') from the base of any ground sign shall be kept free and clear of all weeds, rubbish and inflammable material. The building inspector shall inspect and enforce this.

      5.   Sign Removal: Signs identifying a discontinued use on the property shall be removed from the property within thirty (30) calendar days of the time the use was discontinued.

      6.   Repair Of Building Facade: A damaged building facade as the result of the removal, repair, replacement or installation of any sign shall be repaired by the property owner within thirty (30) calendar days of the time the building was damaged.

      7.   Moving To New Location: No sign erected before the adoption of this title shall be moved to a new location on the lot or building or enlarged or replaced unless it be made to comply with the provisions of this title.

      8.   Ownership: The imprint of the sign owner and sign erector of all signs shall be in plain and public view. Signs not carrying such an imprint will be presumed to be owned by the person in possession of the property on which the sign is located.

      9.   Lights And Lighted Signs:

         a.   In any zone, no spotlight, floodlight or lighted sign shall be installed in any way which will permit the rays of such sign light to penetrate beyond the property on which such light or lighted sign is located in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance.

         b.   Such sign alleged to be a nuisance by the neighboring property owners or tenants shall be subject to a public hearing before the planning commission as to the validity of the nuisance complaint. If such sign is determined to be a nuisance by the planning commission, the owner of said sign shall be required to take the appropriate corrective action as directed by the planning commission.

      10.   Political Signs: Signs relating to the nomination or election of any individual for public office or advocacy of any measure to be voted upon at any special or general election shall only be allowed under the following conditions (such signs shall not require a permit):

         a.   Any such sign shall be temporary in nature and shall be removed within ten (10) days after the date of election.

         b.   Any such sign to be placed within a residential zone shall not exceed the area of sixteen (16) square feet.

      11.   A-Frame And Moveable Freestanding Signs: Temporary A-frame signs and moveable freestanding signs shall be prohibited. This prohibition shall also apply to signs mounted upon or painted upon vehicles or trailers which are parked for extended periods of time expressly and exclusively for the purpose of calling attention to or advertising a specific business establishment or product.

(Ord. 2001-815-O, 12-17-2001, eff. 12-17-2001; amd. 2004 Code; Ord. 2022-1215, 8-2-2022)