Willows City Zoning Code

Signs, other than permitted projecting signs and portable signs, located on or extending over sidewalks, streets or public property.

Rotating, revolving, flashing, animated, moving, glaring, changing, reflecting, and blinking signs or signs which appear to do any of the foregoing, whether such signs are located on the exterior of the premises or on the interior for viewing from the exterior. Additionally, signs emitting audible sounds, odor or visible matter.

Billboard signs of any type.

A roof sign extending above the eave or parapet line, except when, in the opinion of the planning commission, the sign is a complementary architectural part or feature of the building.

Temporary or permanent signs on public property, except when authorized by the city council or this chapter.

Signs which advertise a business not having an active business license on file with the city.

Searchlights, balloons or other gas-filled fixtures.

Flags, banners or pennants, except to celebrate or commemorate a temporary or special event or occasion, including grand openings and special community events, and when authorized by the city for each such event or occasion.

Off-premises signs which direct attention to a business, commodity, industry, or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted elsewhere than on the premises upon which such sign is located.

Signs which purport to be, or are, an imitation of or made to resemble official traffic signs and attempt to govern traffic in public streets or rights-of-way. This does not include traffic or directional signs installed on private property to control traffic within the premises.

Signs on public property not authorized by the city council or declared exempt under WMC § 18.125.040.

Display of vehicle signs (when parked or stored on property or street for the purpose of identifying a business or advertising a product or service) in excess of eight square feet and when the vehicle is parked in the same general location (such as the same block face) for a period exceeding 72 hours.

Signs blocking doors or fire escapes.

No person shall exhibit, post, or display on any sign or wall any statement, symbol or picture of an obscene nature.

Any sign that is deemed hazardous to public health and safety by the planning commission.

Public signs and notices required or specifically authorized by law, statute, or ordinance, of any type, size or location.

Signs of governmental agencies for control of traffic or other regulatory purposes, street signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies.

Apartment or subdivision signs denoting the name of an apartment complex or subdivision when less than six square feet in area.

Signs indicating that a property is for sale, rent, or lease and which are posted for a period not exceeding 30 days. Only one such sign is permitted to face each street adjacent to the property. Such signs may be single- or double-faced, nonilluminated, and are limited to six square feet or less on property in residential zones and 32 square feet in nonresidential zones, and do not exceed eight feet in height.

Temporary signs shall not exceed four square feet total for each property in residential zones and 16 square feet total for each property in nonresidential zones, and subject to property owner's permission.

Plaques and building cornerstones.

Portable signs such as sandwich board or "A" frame signs that do not impede pedestrian traffic, block visibility or pose any unsafe condition to the public through blocking of sidewalks, paths or other public access routes. Such signs may not exceed four feet in height and two feet in width for each side. Temporary real estate open house directional signs are permitted in residential zoning districts only.

The following sign modifications shall not require a sign permit. These exceptions shall not be construed as relieving the sign owner from responsibility for sign erection and maintenance and compliance with applicable provisions of this section:

Method of Review.

Appeals. Appeals of the city manager's decision shall be to the planning commission and must be filed in writing to the city clerk within 10 calendar days of that action. Appeals of the planning commission's decision may be made to the city council by filing a written appeal with the city clerk within 10 calendar days of the commission's action and paying the fees as adopted by the city council.

No person, firm, or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, modify, or relocate any sign in the city without first obtaining a building permit for each such sign except those signs listed in WMC § 18.125.040, and/or not required by the building official.

Once approved administratively or by the planning commission and when a separate building or electrical permit is required, the applicant shall be notified and the sign permit shall not be issued until such other permits are obtained from the building department.

If the building inspector finds that any sign regulated by this chapter is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public, he/she shall give written notice to the owner and to the property owner. If such sign owner fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards set forth in this chapter within 30 days after such notice, the building inspector may cause such sign to be removed or altered at the expense of the sign owner or owner of the property upon which it is located. The building inspector may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.

Inspections. All signs for which building permits are required shall be subject to inspection by the building official or his/her authorized representative in the following manner and in compliance with WMC § 18.125.080.

All signs and sign structures, together with their braces, guys, bolts, and supporting frames, shall be maintained at all times in a state of good repair and safe condition, free from deterioration, rot, rust and loosening. The display surfaces shall be kept neatly painted or posted, shall have broken or cracked panels replaced, and shall have all sources of illumination in proper working order at all times.

All permanent freestanding signs shall not obstruct the vehicle sight visibility distance area at intersections and driveways, to the satisfaction of the public works and police departments. On sites where the existing street is not constructed to the full designated width, signs shall be located behind the ultimate property line unless otherwise approved by the planning commission and the public works department with an agreement for future removal or relocation.

All permanent freestanding signs shall incorporate the numerical address (letters minimum six inches high), or range of addresses, of the parcel or commercial center at which the sign is located. The area of the address shall not be counted in the area of the sign.

All signs shall be located on the same parcel as the subject of the sign, except as otherwise allowed by this chapter. A sign may project over an adjacent public right-of-way only when authorized by an encroachment permit as well as a sign permit.

No sign shall be erected that obstructs any fire escape, required exit, window, door, or opening required for ventilation. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe, gutter drain or fire escape.

Any sign, any part of which is 60 feet or more above the ground, shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot. Signs erected less than 60 feet shall be constructed and erected to withstand a wind pressure of 15 pounds per square foot. All signs shall be constructed to support dead loads as required in the building code or other ordinances and laws of the city.

Any advertising copy or message existing at any time which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted shall be removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building within 30 days after written notification from the city manager, and upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the city manager is authorized to cause removal of such sign and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building, sign or structure upon which such sign is displayed.

Lighting. Open, unshielded light bulbs are prohibited. Lighting shall be installed to avoid glare or reflection onto adjacent property or onto a street as to create a traffic hazard. Light sources shall be steady, stationary, shielded, and directed so as to avoid undue glare for pedestrians, motorists, and neighboring property.

Freeway-Oriented Business. The business provides a service primarily for the freeway-motoring public similar to those providing gas, food or lodging for the freeway traveler.

Maximum Distance. The parcel of land on which the business is located shall be a maximum distance of 800 feet from the centerline of the freeway at its closest point.

Additional Sign Height. Additional sign height may be necessary to allow motorists sufficient advance notice for safe freeway exit. Unobstructed vision from a distance of 1,320 feet from a freeway exit ramp shall be considered the minimum standard providing sufficient advance notice. The amount of additional height shall be determined by the planning commission.

Signs applicable to the permitted use of the property in the central commercial (CC) and the entryway (E) zoning districts shall meet the requirements identified in the City of Willows Historic Downtown and Wood Street Design Guidelines.

Content. Pole-mounted signs shall be identity signs and may include the message "open" or "open 24 hours," in the case of service station or restaurant occupancies, and the term "vacancy" or "no vacancy," in the case of motels.

Signs not applicable to the permitted use of the property may be permitted upon securing a use permit from the planning commission.

Identity Signs. Each business is allowed a collective sign total of one and one-half square feet of signage for each lineal foot of building frontage.

Signs shall be permitted on properties located in areas designated as ML (light industrial), MH (heavy manufacturing), and CG/ML/PD (general commercial/light manufacturing/planned development) as listed on Table 18.125.150-A and shall meet the following standards:

Industrial Park Identification Sign. Ground-mounted signs may be installed at major entrances to park, subject to approval by the architectural design review board, and conform to Table 18.125.150-A and the following standards:

Control any explanatory signs as necessary.

Lighting. Signs shall be stationary and be illuminated from ground level indirect sources only.

Nonconforming Signs. The owner of a nonconforming sign shall within six months of notification of nonconformity either:

Amortization.

Alterations/Removal. At such time as a nonconforming sign is altered in any way or moved, it must be brought into conformance with the provisions of this title. The term "altered" as used herein shall include, but not be limited to, any change in the structure or sign face, including changing names or colors, deleting or adding words or symbols, or changing the appearance in any way, but shall not include normal maintenance or upkeep. If a nonconforming sign is removed for any length of time for any reason other than maintenance, it shall not be reinstalled at the subject site unless it is in full compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

Signs with Modifications. Signs which received sign modifications prior to the adoption of this chapter, but which are nonconforming as to the provisions of this chapter, may continue in use under the provisions of that sign modification until any changes, expansions, or alterations other than normal maintenance and upkeep are proposed for the sign, or until such time as the sign modification expires. At the time of such expiration or change, the modification shall become null and void and such sign shall be brought into conformance with the provisions of this chapter or removed.

Use Permit or Planned Development Permit. Nonconforming signs that were permitted and installed pursuant to a conditional use permit or planned development permit, prior to the adoption of this chapter, may continue in use until changes, expansions, or alterations other than normal maintenance and upkeep are proposed for or made to such sign. At the time of such change, any such sign must be brought into conformance with the provisions of this chapter.

Alterations to Existing Development. When structural alterations, additions or remodeling with a value, as determined by the building official, of 25 percent or more of the full value of the improvements as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, or $15,000, whichever is greater, are made to the exterior of a building or to a site containing a nonconforming sign, any and all such nonconforming signs must be brought into conformance with the provisions of this chapter whether or not changes or alterations are proposed for or made to the sign, or such signs must be removed. Any owner or user of such nonconforming signs wishing to maintain such a sign in its existing condition may apply to the city manager for a permit to allow continued maintenance and use of the sign. Application shall be made within 30 days of the sign owner or user being notified of the need to bring such sign into conformance. Such permit, if granted, shall establish a specific period of time for continued use and maintenance, based upon an individual assessment of the facts and circumstances relating to the particular sign. Factors to be considered in approving or denying such a permit shall be the initial sign cost, the sign age, the value of the structural alterations to the existing development, and similar facts and circumstances. Failure to apply for a permit within the 30 days specified herein shall constitute a waiver of the right to request any longer period for maintenance or use of an existing nonconforming sign.

Annexation – Change of Zone. Any sign that becomes nonconforming after the adoption of this chapter because of annexation, zone change, or other city action shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

Planned Sign Program.

Required Findings. The planning commission may approve a planned sign program only if all of the following findings can be made in an affirmative manner:

Appeals. Appeals may be made by filing a written appeal with the city clerk within 10 calendar days of the commission's action and paying the fees as adopted by the city council.

The size, location, and design of the sign(s) are visually compatible with the scale and architectural style of the primary structures on the site and the surrounding land uses.

The signs do not exceed the standards of the district and enable motorists and pedestrians to readily identify the facility or site from a sufficient distance.

The proposed sign(s) are in substantial conformance with the design criteria in the city design guidelines.

A sign permit approval shall expire one year from its date of issuance, unless the sign has been erected within the period or a later expiration date is stated in writing at the time of approval. Prior to expiration of a sign permit, the applicant may apply to the city manager for an extension of up to one additional year. The city manager may approve extensions with or without conditions or may deny extensions of the approved sign if it is found there has been substantial change in circumstances.

A temporary sign permit shall be valid for a period of 30 days, with longer periods of time possible, up to a maximum of 90 days, if authorized by the city manager.

Effective Date. This section shall expire on July 1, 2012, unless otherwise extended or revoked.

Definition. "Licensed business" shall mean any authorized business as defined under WMC Title 5, which operates their principal business within a permanent "brick and mortar structure" located within the city limits.

Conflict. Whenever this section conflicts with any other provision of this chapter or any other city resolutions, ordinances, or regulations of the city, this section shall control while it is in effect.

Temporary Building Signs Allowed. During the effective date of this section, temporary building signs allowed by this chapter shall be allowed as follows:

Portable Signs Allowed. During the effective date of this section, portable signs (as defined in WMC § 18.125.040(7)) shall be allowed for businesses as follows:

Permit and Fee Requirements for Signs Allowed by This Temporary Sign Program. Notwithstanding WMC § 18.125.050 and § 18.125.090, Fees, during the effective date of this section: