“Abandoned sign” means any sign remaining in place or not maintained for a period of 90 days which no longer advertises or identifies an ongoing establishment, product, or service available on the premises where the display is located.

“Accessory use,” in the context of this chapter, means a sign which is an accessory to, and clearly incidental to, the principal use on the same or adjoining parcel, lot, or property. In the context of commercial messages on signs, it means an on-site sign.

“Air activated signs” means those signs which are inflated or inflatable, as well as those which are activated by wind or forced air or gas.

“Animated sign” means any sign which is designed and constructed to call attention, or to give its message, through a sequence of progressive changes in lighting, or of parts, including flashing, rotating or revolving signs.

“Approved sign” means a sign for which a sign permit application has been received in accordance with CVMC 19.60.700 and approved by the City.

“Area,” when used in reference to the size of a sign, means the area of the sign face or display, expressed in square feet.

“Auxiliary sign” means any sign whose primary function is to direct, inform, instruct or warn by stating objective facts about which there can be no meaningful debate. Examples: accessible parking, all deliveries in back, hours of operation, danger high voltage, etc.

“Background area” means an area in one continuous plane, and not interrupted by architectural features, lines or colors, upon which a sign’s copy is applied.

“Balloon” means any rubber, plastic, Mylar or other material capable of being inflated with air or other gas.

“Banner” means a strip of cloth, fabric, nonrigid paper, plastic or similar flexible material, on which is displayed sign copy. Banners are typically hung or suspended from fences, walls, or posts or poles.

“Billboard” means a permanent structure sign, located on private property, on which is displayed off-site commercial messages, as well as any permanent structure which is a principal use (as opposed to an accessory use) of the property on which it is built, on which messages are displayed. A billboard may be freestanding or attached to other structures.

“Building frontage” means the total width of the elevation of a building that fronts on a private or public right-of-way or the building elevation along which the main entrance exits. For the purposes of calculating permitted sign area, every building has only one building frontage. For corner buildings or through lots the larger width shall be used in calculating permitted sign area. If more than one establishment or occupancy is located in a single building, then such area shall be limited to that portion which is occupied by each individual establishment or occupancy.

“Canopy sign” means visual display attached to the underside of a projecting canopy or marquee protruding over public or private sidewalks or rights-of-way.

“Changeable copy sign” means a sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or surface of the sign.

“Commercial mascot” means humans or animals used as advertising devices for commercial establishments, typically by the holding or wearing of insignia, masks or costumes associated with the commercial establishment. Includes sign twirlers, sign clowns, etc.

“Commercial sign” means any sign, wording, logo, picture, transparency, mechanical device or other representation that is intended to attract attention to a commercial or industrial business, occupancy, product, good, service or other commercial or industrial activity for a commercial or industrial purpose.

“Commercial zone” means one of the following types of zones: C-O, C-B, C-N, C-C, C-V, C-T, I-R, I-L, or I.

“Construction sign” means a sign erected and maintained within a construction project, typically used to identify those individuals or businesses directly connected with the construction project and information regarding direction, price or terms.

“Development sign” means a freestanding sign listing the architect, landscape architect, engineer, planner, contractor, or other person or firm participating in the development, construction or financing of the project on the site on which the sign is located.

“Directional sign” means a sign located adjacent to a driveway or mounted on a building designed to guide or direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic to uses on the same site.

“Director” means the City of Chula Vista Director of Development Services, or such Director’s designee.

“Directory sign” means a sign listing the name and location of the tenants, departments or establishments of a building or shopping complex.

“Electronic message board sign” means a sign with a fixed or changing display composed of a series of lights, light emitting diodes (LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD) or functionally similar devices.

“Erect” (verb) means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix to or upon any surface.

“Establishment” means a legal, nonresidential use of land to conduct a commercial or noncommercial activity. By way of example and not limitation, “establishment” includes stores, offices, churches, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, etc. Does not include home-based occupations or hobbies.

“Expired sign” means a sign whose message refers to an event or a particular date, and such date or event is more than 10 days in the past.

“Flag” means a piece of cloth or bunting varying in size, color and design, used as a symbol, standard, signal or emblem.

“Flashing sign” means any sign that is designed and constructed to call attention, or to give its message, through a sequence of changes in color or intensity of illumination.

“Freestanding sign” means a sign, including a billboard or pole sign, which is self-supporting in a fixed location and not attached to a building.

“Frontage” shall be considered that side of a lot or property fronting on a public right-of-way or other circulation area open to the general public such as a dedicated street, exclusive of alleys.

“General advertising” means the business of renting or otherwise providing display space to commercial advertisers located other than the place where the advertising will be displayed.

“Governmental signs” means those signs by which a governmental entity provides notice to the public. Such signs typically indicate traffic rules, directions and distances, and notices of public hearings, etc.

“Ground or monument sign” means a low-profile freestanding sign erected with its base on the ground.

“Hand held sign” means a sign that is held by or otherwise mounted on a person or animal.

“Identification sign” means a sign which serves to identify the name, address and lawful use of the premises upon which the sign is located. Includes signs indicating the name of residents on residential uses.

“Illegal sign” means: (a) any sign originally erected or installed without first complying with all structural, locational, design, building, and electrical regulations in effect at the time of its construction or installation; (b) any sign that is not maintained, or is not used to identify or advertise an ongoing establishment, occupancy, product, good or service available on the site of the sign for more than 90 days; (c) any unsafe sign; (d) any legal nonconforming sign that has not been removed following the expiration of the 15-year amortization period provided for in this chapter; (e) any sign that is in violation of the provisions of this chapter; and (f) any sign that is in violation of Chapter 12.50 CVMC.

“Informational sign” means any sign displayed on private property, the purpose of which is to state a fact or attribute of that property which is of interest to the general public, such as the location of the restroom, the hours of operation, a security protection notice and similar facts, and which sign does not exceed an area of two square feet.

“Land owner’s consent” means the consent or permission of the owner of land for the display of a sign thereon. For purposes of this definition, land owner means the holder of the legal title to the property and all parties and persons holding a present right to possession, control or use of the property. In the case of personal property to which a sign is attached, the land owner’s consent means the permission of the owner of such personal property.

“Legal nonconforming sign” means a sign that was originally erected or installed in compliance with all structural, locational, design, building, and electrical regulations at the time of its erection or installation, but which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter.

“Legally required signs” means those signs which are required to be placed or displayed, by a body of law other than this chapter. By way of example only, such signs typically include notices of eviction or condemnation, notice of change of ownership, etc.

“Logo” means a trademark or symbol identifying the establishment, commercial or industrial service provided on the site. Logos shall be considered signs for the purposes of this chapter.

“Marquee sign” means any permanent architectural canopy projecting over the entrance to an establishment, and any signage or message display thereon.

“Monument or ground sign” means a low-profile freestanding sign erected with its base on the ground.

“Multiple establishment sign” means a sign upon which more than one establishment is displayed.

“Multisided sign” means signs constructed back-to-back, with faces in approximately parallel planes (such as on both sides of a single panel or V shape, provided the angle between the two faces does not exceed 45 degrees), which shall count as only one sign, both as to number and area, i.e., only one side need be counted. Every other sign having multiple sides or faces, including a sign constructed in the form of a cylinder or sphere or similar figure, shall be limited in total area as provided herein.

“Noncommercial sign” means a sign which does not name, advertise or call attention to a commercial or industrial establishment, commodity, product, good, service or other commercial or industrial activity for a commercial or industrial purpose.

“Noncommercial speech” or “noncommercial message” or “noncommercial sign” means a sign message which is not commercial in nature. Such messages typically relate to debatable matters of public concern, such as, by way of example and not limitation, advocacy on politics, religion, arts, science, philosophy, commentary on governmental policy, etc.

“Off-site sign” means a commercial sign not located on the site of the establishment or entity indicated or advertised by the sign, or a commercial sign advertising a commodity, good, product, service or other commercial or industrial activity which originates on a site other than where the sign is maintained. The on-site/off-site distinction applies only to commercial message signs.

“On-site sign” means any commercial sign which directs attention to a commercial or industrial occupancy, establishment, commodity, good, product, service or other commercial or industrial activity conducted, sold or offered upon the site where the sign is maintained. The on-site/off-site distinction applies only to commercial message signs. For purposes of this chapter, all signs with noncommercial speech messages shall be deemed to be “on-site,” regardless of location.

“Pennant” means any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, string, stick or pole whether individually or in a series, designed to move in the wind and draw attention to a sign, place, product and/or event.

“Permanent sign” means any sign which is intended to be and is so constructed as to be of lasting and enduring condition, remaining unchanged in character, condition (beyond normal wear and tear) and position and in a permanent manner affixed to the ground, wall or building.

“Pole sign” means a sign which is supported by one or more columns, uprights or braces in or upon the ground.

“Portable sign” means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or another permanent structure, or a sign capable of being transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels, signs converted to A- or T-frames, menu and sandwich board signs.

“Principal identification sign” means an establishment sign used to identify only the name of the establishment and the principal product or service.

“Principal use” in the context of this chapter means that a sign is a principal, as opposed to an accessory, use on the parcel or lot where it is located, or proposed to be located.

“Professional sign” means a sign indicating the name or names and occupation or occupations of a professional person or group of associated professional persons occupying the premises.

“Projecting sign” means a sign that is mounted on and at an angle to the face of the wall of the building to which it is attached.

“Real estate sign” means a sign indicating that real property is available for sale, exchange, rent or lease. Such signs typically state that real property, or any interest therein, is for sale or exchange, or for lease or rent for a period longer than one week, and the names and contact information for persons involved in such economic transaction.

“Rear wall sign” means a wall sign placed on a building wall that is parallel to the front wall of a building, but located on the opposite, furthest end of the building.

“Roof line” means the upper edge of any building wall or parapet, or ridge line. If a building has both a parapet and a ridge line, the lower of the two will be considered the “roof line.”

“Roof sign” is a sign upon, on or above the roof line of a roof or parapet of any building or structure.

“Safety codes” means those codes which have been duly adopted by the City, and which are currently in effect, which regulate matters of safe development and construction, such as, by way of example and not limitation, grading, mechanical, building, electrical and plumbing codes.

“Search lights” means focused light producers designed to project a moving beam of light into the night sky for the purpose of attracting attention to an event or location. Search lights are considered signs.

“Sensitive zones” means agricultural, residential estate, R-1, R-2, R-3 and MHP zones.

“Side wall sign” means a wall sign placed on a building wall that is generally perpendicular to the front wall of a building.

“Sign” is any device, fixture, placard or structure, including its component parts, which draws attention to an object, product, place, activity, opinion, person, institution, organization, or place of business, or which identifies or promotes the interests of any person and which is to be viewed from any public street, road, highway, right-of-way or parking area. However, the following are not within the definition of a “sign” for regulatory purposes of this chapter:

“Site” means the location of a sign. In the case of legal parcels containing only one legal use, that parcel is the site. For parcels containing more than one legal use, the site is the portion of the parcel on which each use is located.

Streamer. See “pennant.”

“Street address sign” means a wall sign placed on the side of the building parallel to the front property line or main entrance, or parallel to the public right-of-way solely for the purpose of providing the street address for the site.

“Temporary public right-of-way sign permit” means the official self-adhesive serialized stickers, which contain the City logo and appropriate calendar year, issued by the City under Chapter 12.50 CVMC.

“Temporary sign” is any sign constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a limited period of time not to exceed 60 days.

“Unsafe sign” means a sign posing an immediate peril or reasonably foreseeable threat of injury or damage to persons or property on account of the condition of the physical structure of the sign or its mounting mechanism.

“Wall sign” is a sign, including a painted sign, attached to, painted on, or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the plane of such wall.

“Window sign” means a sign that is painted on either the outside or inside surface of the glazed area (including glazed doors), and any sign that is posted or affixed to the inside surface of the glazed area, or is located in such a manner as to be visible through the glazed area. (Ord. 3544 § 1, 2023; Ord. 3083 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2924 § 2, 2003).