19.60.600 Specialty signs.
The signs described in this section are based on the legal use of the land on a particular parcel.
A. Theater Marquees. When allowed as an accessory to a legal use as a drive-in theater, a freestanding drive-in theater marquee sign shall not exceed 250 square feet in area or 25 feet in height. The sign shall maintain a 20-foot setback from all property lines. Each theater, drive-in or non-drive-in, shall be allowed to use changeable copy signs in addition to the signs permitted in the underlying zone. The area of the signs shall not exceed 60 square feet facing in any one direction, nor shall the total aggregate sign area exceed 150 square feet.
B. Service Station Price Signs. On each legally operating station selling fuels for motor vehicles, one service station price sign is allowed on each street frontage, subject to:
1. The maximum sign area shall be 15 square feet, and the sign shall not exceed five feet in any dimension. Such sign shall not be in conflict with the provisions of the City’s traffic code relating to visual clearance. The sign shall satisfy the requirements of California Business and Professions Code Section 13531, and be posted with the correct prices at all times. The signs shall be designed as a permanent structure, rigidly attached to a building, wall, or adequately anchored in the ground to resist wind pressure as specified in CVMC Title 15 in the currently adopted uniform building code. A freestanding structure shall be architecturally compatible with the building and shall not exceed a maximum height of six feet.
2. A sign may be attached to a freestanding sign if designed to be architecturally part of the sign.
3. Price signs may be displayed on the main body of a pole sign but shall not exceed 25 percent of the main sign area or 15 square feet, whichever is the least amount.
4. Notwithstanding the above provisions, no price signs otherwise required by the provisions of Business and Professions Code Section 13531 shall be placed along the following areas which have been designated on the City’s General Plan as scenic corridors or historic preservation areas: that area along East “H” Street between its intersection with Interstate 805 and its intersection with Ridgeback Road.
C. Real Estate Signs. On any parcel or separately rentable portion thereof, a sign(s) pertaining to economic transactions regarding the property (such as sale, rental, lease, exchange, etc.) is allowed, subject to the land owner’s consent and:
1. Maximum Sign Area. Commercial and industrial zones, 32 square feet; agricultural zones, 32 square feet for undeveloped acreage of one acre or more, otherwise 4.5 square feet; residential zones, 4.5 square feet.
2. Height, If Freestanding. No freestanding sign shall exceed 10 feet in height in any commercial or industrial zone or in the agricultural zone for undeveloped acreage of one acre or more. In all other zones, the maximum height shall be limited to six feet.
3. Number of Signs. Through lots shall be allowed one sign on each street. Corner lots shall be permitted one sign only.
4. Setback. Freestanding signs shall not violate the vision clearance – intersection requirements in CVMC 12.12.120 and/or the vision clearance – driveway requirements in CVMC 12.12.130.
5. Vacancy Signs. Real estate signs reflecting the vacancy status and availability of commercial or industrial space within a structure designed for multiple occupancy, whether through rental, sale or lease, shall be limited to a maximum sign area of 16 square feet. Not more than one sign may be used facing a dedicated street. The sign may be attached flat against the building or be part of a permitted freestanding sign if designed to be part of said sign and providing the total sign area does not exceed the area permitted for the freestanding sign.
6. Location. On the property to which the sign pertains, or on other private property with the consent of that property owner or as permitted in Chapter 12.50 CVMC.
7. Open House Signs – Special Rules. Off-premises temporary real estate open house signs are allowed within all residential zones subject to:
a. No more than five off-premises open house signs shall be allowed for each residential open house which occurs, except as permitted in Chapter 12.50 CVMC.
b. No more than one sign shall be allowed to be placed on any interior parcel and no more than two on a corner lot (one per street frontage).
c. Off-premises open house signs shall only be displayed during daylight hours except as permitted in Chapter 12.50 CVMC.
d. Signs shall be no larger than four square feet and shall be located at minimum of three feet from the sidewalk or 10 feet from the curb or edge of pavement, where no sidewalk exists, except as permitted in Chapter 12.50 CVMC.
e. An off-premises temporary real estate open house sign shall only be permitted in conjunction with an open house held for the resale of one single-family residence.
f. Off-premises signs advertising the sale of more than one lot or more than two dwellings constitutes a subdivision directional sign subject to the regulations outlined in subsection (E)(3) of this section.
g. Off-premises open house signs are prohibited within the public right-of-way except as permitted in Chapter 12.50 CVMC.
D. Residential Neighborhood Identification Signs. Permanent residential identification signs designating the name of the residential area may be located at an entrance to the residential area when homeowners’ association or maintenance district is formed to ensure the maintenance of the signs. The copy area of the sign shall not exceed 15 square feet. The sign structure shall be designed to be architecturally harmonious with the residential area. This provision does not authorize the mounting of such signs on City owned property or on public rights-of-way.
E. Tract Housing. Tract housing signs shall be allowed in any zone of the City as follows:
1. Model Homes. For each model home, signage not exceeding 12 square feet in area, eight feet in height, and two in number is allowed. Commercial speech thereon shall relate to the model on the same parcel. All such signage shall be permanently removed within 10 days of when the model home ceases to be used as a model.
2. Temporary Tract Signs. For each subdivision there may be one sign at each principal entrance to the subdivision; such sign may be indirectly illuminated, and any commercial message thereon shall relate only to the dwelling units or lots on the same premises as subdivision on which the sign is maintained. For subdivisions with five or more lots, the total combined area of all temporary tract signs may not exceed 200 square feet or 20 feet in height. For subdivisions with four or fewer lots, the total combined area of all temporary tract signs may not exceed 32 square feet, and no such sign may exceed eight feet in height. All such signs shall be permanently removed not later than 10 calendar days after the first sale of all the homes in the subdivision.
3. Subdivision Directional Signage. Signs indicating a change of direction which travelers must make to reach a subdivision located within the City may be placed on private property, with the owner’s consent, at each place where such change of direction is needed, within five miles of the subdivision. Individual signs may not exceed four and one-half square feet in area or three and one-half feet in height, and may not be illuminated. Individual signs may be single- or double-faced, or V-shaped if the angle between the two faces does not exceed 45 degrees. Commercial messages thereon shall be limited to the name of the subdivision and directional information. The Zoning Administrator may require written evidence of owner’s consent. Permits for all such signs shall expire not later than six months after issuance, but the Zoning Administrator may grant a maximum of two extensions of up to one year each, without renotification or hearing. Such signs may be displayed only until the developer has completed the sale of each unit in the development.
F. Signs for Unclassified Uses. Whenever sign standards or provisions have not been established for an unclassified use requiring the issuance of a conditional use permit, the Planning Commission may establish sign standards and provisions concurrently with the approval of the conditional use permit. However, such standards must comply with and incorporate all of the standard provisions of CVMC 19.60.050.
G. Mansard Roofs. A principal identification or multiple copy wall sign may be placed on a mansard roof subject to the following:
1. The sign shall not exceed one-half the length and width of the mansard on which it is placed;
2. The area on which the sign is placed shall be designed to accommodate the sign except when cut-out letters are used.
H. Pitched Roofs. A principal identification or multiple-copy wall sign may be placed on a pitched roof subject to:
1. The sign shall be placed on a pitched roof that slopes toward the street the establishment is oriented to;
2. No sign may be placed on the ridge of the roof;
3. No sign may project above a line drawn from the center of the street to the ridge of the roof;
4. The sign shall set back a minimum horizontal distance of three feet from the front edge of the roof;
5. The length of the sign shall not exceed one-half of the length of the roof and shall be horizontally centered;
6. The area shall not exceed two square feet per lineal foot of roof on which the sign is placed;
7. The ends of the sign shall extend back to the roof to form an enclosure.
I. Agricultural Uses. Signs for agricultural uses are allowed in any zone, subject to the following:
1. Multiple wall signs facing a dedicated street are allowed, but the total sign area of all wall signs shall not exceed one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage; in addition
2. One freestanding sign not exceeding eight square feet in sign area and 10 feet in height shall be allowed.
J. Architectural Appendages. In lieu of a freestanding or projecting sign which is otherwise allowed, a sign may be placed on an architectural appendage. Such sign may not exceed the area or alter the appearance of an appendage on which it is placed, and may not exceed the allowable area of the freestanding or projecting sign which it is replacing.
K. Temporary Noncommercial Signs During Certain Periods. In addition to signage otherwise allowed in any zone, during the period of four calendar months preceding any scheduled election and up to and including 10 calendar days following such election, temporary signs bearing noncommercial messages (including but not limited to messages on the topics of politics, religion, science, arts, philosophy, etc.) may be displayed on private property (not including private property which is also public right-of-way), without permit, subject to the owner’s consent, and also subject to:
1. In agricultural and residential zones:
b. Double-faced signs as defined in this chapter are permitted.
c. No sign shall be posted in such a manner that any portion of said sign is within five feet of the house side of the sidewalk and, if there is no sidewalk within 15 feet of said sign, then 15 feet from the house side of the street curb. Said signs must be placed at least five feet from the house side of intersecting sidewalks or if there are no sidewalks, then 15 feet from the house or back sides of intersecting curbs. Unless a further setback is required by the foregoing rules (as in the case of corner lots adjacent to intersecting streets), said signs shall be located at least five feet from side property lines except for lots located at intersections.
d. No sign shall exceed three and one-half feet in height in the front setback area, and such signs shall not exceed six feet in height in any area unless said sign is attached flush to any building. The measurement shall be taken from the ground level to the top of said sign.
f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to render a property owner liable for the posting of a sign on his or her property.
2. In commercial and industrial zones:
a. No sign may exceed 12 square feet in area. Double-faced signs as defined in this chapter may be permitted.
3. Removal. The procedure for the removal of temporary noncommercial signs is as follows:
a. Notice. The Director shall give 24 hours’ notice to the owner of the sign (if known), of the City’s intent to remove any unauthorized temporary sign bearing a noncommercial message. The notice shall specify the provision of the sign ordinance being violated, and shall inform the owner that removal charges will be assessed. The owner may, within 24 hours of receiving notice, request a hearing before the Director to appeal the decision to remove the sign. If the owner so requests, the sign shall not be removed until the hearing has been held and a final decision rendered. If the owner cannot be identified or located after reasonable effort, the sign may be treated as abandoned property and removed.
b. Appeal and Removal. In the absence of an appeal of the removal decision, the sign may be removed by the City and the reasonable cost thereof charged to the sign owner and/or persons responsible for placing the illegal sign. Such cost shall be set by resolution of City Council.
L. Informational Signs. The signs allowed by this subsection fulfill informational and directional needs.
1. Directory Signs. On buildings wherein are located several different establishments, directory signs may be located on an exterior elevation of a building if the directory is placed flat against the building at or near a building entrance or area restricted to pedestrian traffic only. The sign shall be no more than 10 square feet in area and five feet in height.
2. Directional Signs. Signs containing directional information for pedestrian and vehicular traffic may be used subject to the following:
b. No sign may exceed 10 feet in height;
c. Directional rooftop signs are prohibited except when incorporated into the design of an approved rooftop sign designed to accommodate the sign;
d. The signs shall not be attached to any light standard, flag pole, or onto any other sign except as provided herein;
e. The number and location of all directional signs shall be limited to the least number to provide ample notification.
3. Warning and Instructional Signs. Warning and instructional signs, such as “beware of dog,” “danger high voltage,” “no trespassing,” “no dumping,” etc., are allowed subject to:
a. Area: Maximum three square feet;
b. Height: If freestanding, maximum six feet;
c. Attachment: May not be attached to any light standard, flag pole, or any other freestanding sign. (Ord. 3083 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2924 § 2, 2003).