§ 20.14.40. Sign regulations.  


Latest version.
  • Table 14.A. of this Chapter identifies signs that are permitted in each zone district. In addition to the regulations contained in Table 14.A., all signs must be in conformance with all other provisions of this Title.

    Table 14.A. - Sign Regulations by Land Use Category
    Class Type Maximum
    Number
    Maximum
    Sign Area
    Maximum
    Sign Height
    Location Illumination
    Allowed
    Remarks
    _____
    A. SIGNS PERMITTED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS (R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3)
    1. Name Plate Wall or door One per occupied unit. 2 s.f. Below eave line Wall or door No Shall identify only the name and/or address of the occupant.
    2. Apartment Identification Wall or Monument One per street frontage. 12 s.f. Below eave line for wall sign and 4 ft. for monument sign. 5 ft. setback from property line. May be illuminated only in R-2 and R-3 Districts. Shall only identify the apartment complex by name and address.
    3. Institutional Signs Wall or Monument One per use. 24 s.f. Below eave line for wall sign and 4 ft. for monument sign. 10 ft. setback from front and 5 foot setback from side property line. Yes a. Name of institution only.
    b. May incorporate changeable copy.
    4. Neighborhood Identification Wall or monument 2 per major entrance. 48 s.f. 4 ft. At major entrances to project / neighborhood or residential subdivision of five or more dwelling units. Yes a. Copy limited to project / neighborhood name only.
    b. Allowed only if maintenance responsibility assigned to community association.
    5. Mobilehome Park Identification Wall or monument One per street frontage up to two per major entrance. 24 s.f. 10 ft. for wall;
    4 ft. for monument.
    10 ft. setback from property line Yes
    6. Project Identification Sign (Temp.) Freestanding (on site) 2 for subdivisions more than 5 acre, otherwise one sign. 76 s.f. 15 ft. 10 ft. setback from any street. Located on the site of the project/subdivision. No a. All signs shall be removed within 30 days after the sale/rental of the last unit in the project/subdivision.
    b. Refer to sec. 20.14.150 for regulations pertaining to off-site subdivision signs.
    7. Pedestrian Project Directory Wall or freestanding To be determined by the Community Development Director 4 s.f. 5 ft. May not be located in any required setback. Yes a. To identify tenants and provide directions to individual units.
    8. Real Estate
    a. Residential Freestanding One per residence 6 s.f. 5 ft. Within the subject property No Copy limited to the sale, rent or lease of the subject property. Refer to sec. 20.14.50.4.
    b. Subdivision, on-site Commercial Real Estate Signs and Kiosks (refer to section 20.14.100 of this Chapter)
    B. SIGNS PERMITTED FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS (DC, GC, NC)
    1. Business Identification (Single Tenant) Wall One each per street or parking frontage One s.f. of sign area per lineal foot of building fronting on a street Below eave line for wall sign May not be located in a required setback area. Yes
    Monument One per street frontage 24 s.f. in NC zone district, otherwise 32 s.f. 4 feet Shall be setback 5 ft. from property line Yes
    2. Building Identification (Multiple Tenant) Wall One per tenant per street frontage One s.f. of sign area per lineal foot of building fronting on a street; 75 s.f. maximum in NC zone district, otherwise 100 s.f. maximum Below eave line Wall or canopy Yes a. Copy shall pertain only to the name and/or address of the building.
    b. Illumination shall be reverse backlit, channel lit or indirectly illuminated.
    Monument One per street frontage Building fronting 24 s.f. in NC zone district, otherwise 32 s.f. 4 feet Shall be setback 5 ft. from property line. Yes a. Copy shall pertain only to the name and/or address of the building.
    b. Illumination shall be reverse backlit, channel lit or indirectly illuminated.
    3. Center Identification (Multiple Tenant) Wall or Monument One per each street frontage. 100 s.f. Below eave line for a wall sign; 15' for a freestanding sign and 4' for a monument sign. Shall be setback 5 ft. min. from property line. Yes a. Copy shall pertain only to the name and/or address of the center and/or tenants of the center.
    b. Planter base or landscaped area to be provided equal to 4 times the area of one face of the sign.
    4. Pedestrian Bus. Directory (Multiple Tenant) Wall or monument sign To be determined by the Planning Director. 15 s.f. 6 ft. for monument; below eave line for wall sign. May not be located in any required setback. Yes To identify tenants and provide directions to individual establishments.
    5. Name Plate Wall One per tenant. 4 s.f. Adjacent to primary entrance of each tenant. Copy limited to name and address of each tenant.
    6. Window Signs Window One per window. 25% of window area. No
    7. Institutional Signs Wall or monument One per use. 15 s.f. 4 ft. for monument; below eave line for wall sign. Not in setback. Yes
    8. High Rise Bldgs. (4 stories or more)
    a. Building Identification Wall sign Two per bldg. 300 s.f. To be determined by City Council upon recommendation of Community Development Director Above the windows of the highest floor and below the eave line. Yes a. Copy is limited to one company name and/or address per building.
    b. Company logos may be used in combination with letters.
    c. Signs shall be designed to be compatible with the architecture of the buildings.
    b. Secondary Tenant Identification Wall sign Four per bldg. 22 s.f. max. per sign. Max. letter height = 18". Below the second floor, or 20' whichever is less. Near the entrance of the tenants they identify. Yes
    c. Center or Project Monument One per street frontage. 40 s.f. 4 ft. At main entrance. Yes Shall contain only the name and/or address of the center, project and/or tenants of the center.
    9. Temporary Signs Same as Temporary Signs allowed in Commercial Districts.
    C. SIGNS (NON-OFFICE) PERMITTED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS (DC, GC, NC)
    1. Single Tenant Sites - Not part of a Center
    a. Business Identification Wall or canopy One single face sign per bldg. per street or parking lot frontage. Max. 3 signs per business. 1 s.f. of sign area per each lineal foot of bldg. fronting on a street. 75 s.f. max. sign area in NC, otherwise 100 s.f. max. In addition, 1 s.f. of sign area per each lineal foot of the bldg's rear elevation if a public entrance is provided from a rear street, alley, or parking lot, 50 s.f. max. May not project above the eave line. May be located on parapet or canopy. Yes Allowable aggregate wall sign(s) area shall exclude areas of allowed window signs.
    b. Business Identification Projecting One double face sign per frontage. 25 s.f. max. per face. May not extend beyond eave line. May only be attached to the bldg. to which the copy relates. Yes a. Authorized in lieu of a wall sign.
    b. Authorized only where no building setback is required.
    c. Business Identification Window One sign per window 30% of the glass area upon which the sign is located. Window lettering permitted on interior or exterior of glass window or door. Yes Allowable aggregate of window sign(s) area shall exclude areas of allowable wall signs.
    d. Business Identification Monument One double face sign per street frontage 24 s.f. in NC, 32 s.f. in DC and GC. 4 ft. Must not create traffic hazard at corners or driveways. Yes a. May not be located within 5 ft. of public right-of-way.
    e. Business Identification (GC only) Freestanding. One double-face sign per dev. 100 s.f. per face. 50 ft., unless a flag test or other suitable mechanism determines that a greater height is required due to vegetation or other factors that adversely detract from the 50 foot provision. Must be located in landscaped area. Yes a. Site must adjacent to an arterial street or within 1,000 ft. of a freeway centerline.
    b. Signs shall be constructed, erected, and maintained to insure integration with the surrounding environment and land uses, and shall be directed away from residential land use districts.
    c. Sign text shall be limited to the name of business, logo, and/or type of business.
    d. Signs shall be serviced by underground utility connection.
    e. Increase in height above 50 feet subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit
    f. Drive Thru Restaurants Menu board Two per site. 30 s.f. 7 ft. Shall not be located so as to be a hazard for driveway or corner radius. Yes Shall face away from the street.
    2. Multiple Tenant Sites - Shopping Centers
    a. Business Identification Wall or canopy One single face per tenant per street or parking lot frontage. Max. 2 signs per business. 1 s.f. of sign area per each lineal ft. of bldg. fronting on a street. Not to exceed 75 s.f. In addition, 1 s.f. of sign area per each lineal foot of the bldg.'s rear elevation if a public entrance is provided from a rear street or parking lot. Not to exceed 50 s.f. May not project above the eave line. May be located on parapet or canopy. Yes a. All shopping centers shall develop a coordinated sign program for all tenants and uses in accordance with the requirements of this Title.
    b. Allowable aggregate wall sign area shall exclude allowable window area(s) used for signs.
    c. A center is one in which businesses and structures are designed in an integrated and interrelated development. Such design is independent of the number of structures, lots, or parcels making up the center.
    b. Business Identification Window One sign per window 30% of the glass area upon which the sign is located. Window lettering permitted on interior or exterior of glass window or door. No, except signs constructed of neon tube letters. Allowable aggregate of window sign(s) area shall exclude areas of allowable wall signs.
    c. Business Identification Under marquee One per entrance (double face) 6 s.f. per face Below eave line and beneath canopy or marquee with 7 ft. clearance from sidewalk level to lowest point of sign. Signs shall be uniform in color and design for all tenant identification within the center.
    d. Business Identification Monument One double face 24 s.f. in NC zone district, otherwise 32 s.f. 4 ft. Shall be setback a min. of 5 ft. from front or side property lines Yes Authorized for detached single business in structure of not less than 5,000 s.f.
    e. Center Identification Freestanding One double face per each street frontage. 75 s.f. per face Sign shall not exceed the height of the structure it identifies or 20 ft., whichever is less. Shall be located in landscaped area; not be located to be a traffic hazard. Yes a. Sign may identify center and major tenants.
    b. Vertical clearance of 10 ft. required for freestanding signs projecting over vehicular passageway.
    f. Center Identification (freeway or highway) Freestanding One double face sign per center. 125 s.f. per face 50 ft., unless a flag test or other suitable mechanism determines that a greater height is required due to vegetation or other factors that adversely detract from the 50 foot provision. Must be located in landscaped area; may not obscure another sign when viewed from a freeway or highway. Yes a. Center site must be adjacent to the right-of-way of a highway or within 1,000 feet of a freeway centerline.
    b. Signs shall be constructed, erected, and maintained to insure integration with the surrounding environment and land uses, and shall be directed away from residential land use districts.
    c. Sign text shall be limited to the name of business, logo, and/or type of business. Consolidation of multiple business names or logos shall be encouraged in order to reduce the number of signs.
    d. Signs shall be serviced by underground utility connection.
    e. Signs shall advertise only businesses that are located within 1,000 feet of a freeway centerline or adjacent to a highway.
    f. Increase in height above 50 feet subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
    g. Center Identification (all cases) Monument One double face 24 s.f. in NC zone district, otherwise 32 s.f. 4 ft. Shall be setback a minimum of 5 ft. from front or side property lines. Yes Sign may identify Center, address of Center, and major tenants.
    h. Drive Thru Restaurants Menu board Two per site. 30 s.f. 7 ft. Shall not be located so as to be a hazard for driveway or corner radius. Yes Shall face away from street.
    3. Service Station
    a. Service Station Identification Wall One per street frontage, max. 2. 10% of building face not to exceed 50 s.f. Not above eaveline or 20 ft. whichever is less. - - - - Yes a. A combination of monument and wall may be used, but no more than a total of 3 signs.
    Monument One per street frontage, max. 2. 36 s.f. per face 4 ft. b. The monument sign shall be designed to include the identity of the station. Price signs are allowed in accordance with State regulations.
    b. Special Service Signs Wall or ground One for each pump island, not to exceed a total of 4 per station. 2 s.f. per face 8 ft. No Special service signs shall be limited to such items as self serve, full serve, air, water, cashier and shall be non-illuminated.
    c. Service Station Identification Freestanding One double face sign per center. 125 s.f. per face if adjacent to a highway, or within 1,000 feet of the centerline of a freeway, otherwise 75 s.f. per face. 25 ft. Must be located in landscaped area. Yes
    d. Small Accessory Signs Wall or Pump Island N/A 2 s.f. per face 8 ft. On-site Yes a. Small accessory signs are limited to warning signs such as "No Smoking" and signs on gas pumps or islands identifying the price of fuel, brand of gas, grade of gas, and pumping instructions.
    b. Small accessory signs shall not require a sign permit.
    4. Temporary Signs
    a. Building Promotional Signs Window 1 per window 30% of the glazed area of a window. Ground floor windows only. No
    b. Construction Freestanding One single face sign per street frontage. 32 s.f. 10 ft. Located so as not to create traffic hazard or over hang public right-of-way. No a. Authorized upon the issuance of a grading or building permit.
    b. Sign shall be removed prior to certificate of occupancy.
    c. Future Facility or Tenant Freestanding, wall or window. One per street frontage or tenant. 32 s.f. per face 8 ft. Within the subject property. No Sign shall be removed upon occupancy of the building(s).
    d. Real Estate Freestanding, wall or window. One per street frontage. 32 s.f. per face 8 ft. Within the subject property. No To advertise the sale or lease of structure or grounds and not for the purpose of advertising an agency occupying the premises.
    5. Theaters
    a. Coming Attractions Display Case Wall One per screen for theaters or per stage for live theaters or cabarets. 6 s.f. 8 ft. Near main entrance. Yes a. Cases shall be mounted and shall be large enough to display one (1) six (6) s.f. poster each.
    b. Attraction Board Wall, or freestanding. One per theater, theater complex, or cabaret per street frontage. 20 s.f. plus 10 s.f. per screen or stage up to an overall maximum of 40 s.f. 25 ft. May be located in landscaped setback area; however, shall not be located so as to be a hazard for driveway or corner radius. Yes a. All attraction boards shall be building mounted unless only one of the following findings can be made:
    1) A freestanding sign is the only feasible means by which the business conducted on the premises can obtain the same degree of identification to motorists as that available to neighboring businesses that do not have such signage; or
    2) The building is set back from the street or is obscured from street view by structures or mature vegetation such that a building mounted sign cannot provide adequate signage; or
    3) The architectural style, materials, or design elements are such that a building mounted sign is not feasible or would detract from the building's appearance.
    D. SIGNS PERMITTED IN EMPLOYMENT DISTRICTS (CRC, I)
    1. Business Identification
      Single Tenant a. Same as subsection "C" SIGNS (NON-OFFICE) PERMITTED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS (DC, GC, NC).
    2. Multi-Tenant Sites
    a. Center or Project Identification Entrance Monument One per street entrance and one per major intersection. 40 s.f. per face 4 ft. Shall not be located so as to create traffic hazard for driveway or corner radius, as determined by the City Engineer. Yes a. Planter base or landscape area equal to or greater than the area of one face of a sign.
    b. Shall contain only the name of the center or project, no tenant information.
    c.  For each public secondary street with at least 150 feet of frontage, a monument sign may be permitted indicating the name and/or address of the center on site.
    b. Business Identification Wall One per street or parking lot frontage. One s.f. of sign area per each lineal foot of building frontage. May not project above eaveline. Yes a. Shall contain only the name and/or address and product of company.
    b. A sign program shall be required for developments with 3 or more tenants.
    c. Business Directory Freestanding One per street or parking lot frontage. 32 s.f. per face 8 ft. Yes a. Intended to list only the names and addresses of on-site occupants.
    b. Shall be designed as part of overall sign program.
    d. Advisory/Directional Wall or Freestanding Minimum number necessary to provide adequate information. 4 s.f. 4 ft. Minimum 5 ft. setback from property lines. Yes Copy limited to directional information such as "entrance" or "exit," but no directions to individual businesses.
    e. Business Information Window or wall sign. One per main building entrance. 4 s.f. 6 ft. At main building entrance. No Intended to provide only name, address, telephone, business hours, and emergency information for occupant.
    f. Center Identification (freeway or highway) Freestanding One double face sign per center. 125 s.f. per face 50 ft., unless a flag test or other suitable mechanism determines that a greater height is required due to vegetation or other factors that adversely detract from the 50 foot provision. Must be located in landscaped area; may not obscure another sign when viewed from a freeway or highway. Yes a. Center site must be adjacent to the right-of-way of a highway or within 1,000 feet of a freeway centerline.
    b. Signs shall be constructed, erected, and maintained to insure integration with the surrounding environment and land uses, and shall be directed away from residential land use districts.
    c. Sign text shall be limited to the name of business, logo, and/or type of business. Consolidation of multiple business names or logos shall be encouraged in order to reduce the number of signs.
    d. Signs shall be serviced by underground utility connection.
    e. Signs shall advertise only businesses that are located within 1,000 feet of a freeway centerline or adjacent to a highway.
    f. Increase in height above 50 fee or increase in square footage of sign subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit
    4. Temporary Signs, as allowed in NC, GC, DC zone districts.
    E. SIGNS PERMITTED IN THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (CF)
    1. Facility Identification
    a. Community Facility Wall, monument, or freestanding. One per street or parking lot frontage. 30 s.f. per face May not project above eave line for wall sign; 25 ft. for freestanding sign; 4 ft. for monument sign. No Intended only to identify the name and address of a public or quasi-public facility or as approved by the City Council.
    b. Public Parks Wall or Freestanding One per street or parking lot frontage. 30 s.f. per face May not project above eave line for wall sign; 4 ft. for monument sign. No Intended only to identify the name and address of a public or quasi-public facility or as approved by the City Council.

     

    Monument sign may exceed maximum height requirement if approved by the Planning Commission.

(Ord. No. 2009-1195, § 1(Exh. A), 1-12-2009; Ord. No. 2013-1263, § 1(Exh. A-4), 6-17-2013)