Chapter 15.20
POLITICAL SIGNS*
Sections:
15.20.060 Dimensions and area.
15.20.070 Safety requirements.
* For statutory provisions on local regulation of signs, see Gov. Code §§38774 and 65850.
15.20.010 Defined.
"Political signs," as regulated in this chapter, include any sign, banner, pennant or display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, plywood or other light materials, with or without frames, which advertises or promotes any candidate for election or any political issue which will be submitted to the voters at an election. (Prior code §12-601).
15.20.020 Compliance.
Notwithstanding any other pro vision of law, political signs may be erected without a permit in the city pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (Prior code §12-602).
15.20.030 Scope.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the erection or maintenance of signs other than political signs as regulated by this chapter, provided such other signs are otherwise permitted by law. (Prior code §12-608).
15.20.040 Time restrictions.
The following time restrictions shall apply to the erection or maintenance of political signs:
A. No political sign shall be erected or maintained prior to ninety days immediately preceding the election which it advertises or promotes and it shall be removed within fourteen days after such election. Political signs erected or maintained for the purpose of a primary election shall be deemed to advertise or promote that election only.
B. When a political sign is erected or maintained on any parcel of property with the consent of the property owner, either express or implied, it shall be the duty of the owner of the property upon which the political signs are located, at times other than authorized in this chapter, to remove such signs if the person or persons who erected such sign fails to do so.
C. When a political sign is erected or maintained on any parcel of property with the consent of the property owner, either express or implied, at any time other than authorized in this chapter, and is not removed by the person or persons who erected the sign within the times specified, it shall be the duty of the property owner to remove such sign within ten days after written notice to so remove has been given to the property owner by the city.
D. The city or its authorized agents or employees shall have the right to remove from private property all political signs not authorized or permitted by this chapter. (Prior code §12-603).
15.20.050 Location.
The following location restrictions shall apply to the erection or maintenance of political signs:
A. No political sign shall be located upon a public street, alley, sidewalk, right-of-way, easement or other governmental property, or property dedicated to a public purpose: except that signs attached to a wall, fence, or building may project over such areas a distance no greater than six inches; and no political sign shall be located upon a public utility pole.
B. No political sign shall prevent or interfere with free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
C. No political sign shall be located or maintained in such a place or in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to the safety of pedestrians or vehicular traffic. The decision of the city engineer as to whether a sign constitutes such a hazard shall be conclusive. (Prior code §12-605).
15.20.060 Dimensions and area.
No political sign shall exceed eight feet in any of its dimensions or thirty-two square feet in area. (Prior code §12-604).
15.20.070 Safety requirements.
Every political sign shall be securely attached to its anchorage, and every political sign weighing in excess of fifty pounds must be approved by the building inspector as conforming to the safety requirements of the building code of the city. (.Prior code §12-606).
15.20.080 Unlawful acts.
It is unlawful for any person to erect or maintain a political sign, as defined in this chapter, other than as authorized by this chapter and for any owner or owners of real property to permit, allow, acquiesce in, sanction, or condone the erection or maintenance of a political sign on his property other than as authorized by this chapter. (Prior code §12-607).