Chapter 17.76
SIGNS
Sections:
17.76.050 Signs allowed by district.
17.76.060 Signs subject to a conditional use permit.
17.76.070 Development standards.
17.76.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the size, height, design, location, number and quality of signs in the city in order to protect the character of neighborhoods; provide a form of communication for businesses without undesirable clutter; and protect public safety and welfare by precluding signs that are visual obstructions to motorists and/or pedestrians. This chapter also encourages signs that are well designed in terms of appearance, spacing, and location. (Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.020 Application.
Except as otherwise noted in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to erect, build or relocate any sign in the city without obtaining a building permit. (Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.030 Exemptions.
The following types of signs shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
A. Temporary construction signs that identify the architects, engineers, contractors or other individuals or firms that are involved with a construction project. These signs shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area and shall be removed when construction is completed;
B. Real estate signs which identify the sale, lease or rental of property. These signs shall not exceed eight square feet. The sign shall remain only as long as some portion of the property advertised for sale remains unsold, unleased or not rented, or for a period of two years, whichever period is shorter;
C. Subdivision signs which advertise the sale of lots or residential units. There shall be no more than two signs on the site. These signs shall not exceed thirty-two square feet and shall not be allowed for more than one year;
D. Temporary off-site subdivision and real estate signs may be erected that direct prospective purchasers to a subdivision that have lots or homes for sale. These signs shall not be erected for more than four days during any one-month period. Said signs shall not exceed eight square feet;
E. Special event displays which are erected for thirty days or less per year and advertise a grand opening or community affair. Businesses offering sales shall not be considered a special event;
F. Political campaign signs which announce a candidate or political issue. These signs shall not exceed thirty-two square feet. Removal shall take place two weeks after the election;
G. Show window signs;
H. Institutional and public signs;
I. Flags, plaques, and banners;
J. Address signs;
K. Integral signs which have been built into a building when the sign has been carved into stone or fixed to the building using a metal plaque;
L. Small signs which do not exceed four square feet and are fixed flat against a building and only announce the name and occupation of the building tenant(s) or the name of the commercial enterprise located within the building;
M. Interior signs;
N. Garage Sales Signs. The signs must be removed three days after the sale is over. (Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.040 Prohibited signs.
The following signs are prohibited from being erected in the city:
A. Signs which may imitate an official traffic sign or signal;
B. Signs which may hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal;
C. Portable signs;
D. Off-premises signs, except as permitted under the provisions of this chapter. Signs which project over a public sidewalk and are less than eight feet high;
F. Signs which project over an alley and are less than fifteen feet high;
G. Flashing or rotating signs;
H. Roof-mounted signs;
I. Signs on telephone poles, utility poles, trees within the public right-of-way, street light standards, and street signs;
J. Billboards. (Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.050 Signs allowed by district.
Signs located in the following districts and that are consistent with the following provisions shall be permissible. A building permit shall be required for the construction of any sign except those located in the urban reserve; open space, recreation and public facilities; rural residential; single family residential; and multiple-family residential districts. The standards contained within this section apply to one side of the sign.
A. Urban Reserve; Open Space, Recreation and Public Facilities; and Rural Residential Districts.
1. One sign, not exceeding two square feet, containing the name and address of the resident;
2. Signs identifying the sale of products raised on the property. These signs shall not exceed thirty-two square feet;
3. A sign signifying the sale, lease or rental of the property. This sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet.
B. Single and Multiple-Family Residential Districts.
1. One sign, not exceeding two square feet, containing the name and address of the resident;
2. One externally illuminated permanent subdivision or multiple-family entrance sign. This sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet nor shall it be located in a public right-of-way. If ground-mounted, the top of the sign shall not exceed four feet in height.
C. Office District.
1. One square foot of sign area for each two square feet of linear building frontage not to exceed thirty square feet, unless the use is located on a corner in which case the sign area shall not exceed sixty square feet. These signs may be ground-mounted or wall-mounted, or a combination of both;
2. Each office building is permitted twelve square feet of sign area in addition to the allotted sign area based on building frontage;
3. Signs shall not project into a public right-of-way. If ground-mounted, the top of the sign shall not exceed four feet in height. If the sign is mounted on the building it shall be fixed flush with this structure.
D. Neighborhood Commercial District.
1. One and one-half square feet of sign area for each two square feet of linear building frontage not to exceed forty-five square feet, unless the use is located on a corner in which case the sign area shall not exceed ninety square feet. Where the frontage is on more than one street, only the signs computed using the frontage of that street shall face that street.
2. These signs may be ground-mounted or wall-mounted, or a combination of both. Ground-mounted signs shall not exceed four feet in height.
3. Each commercial building is permitted two square feet of sign area for each foot of building frontage not to exceed a maximum of fifty square feet. These signs shall be fixed flush with the structure.
4. Pole signs are prohibited in this district.
E. General Commercial and Service Commercial Districts. Freestanding signs, subject to the following regulations:
1. All freestanding signs shall comply with the design guidelines contained in the Kerman general plan, land use element.
2. One freestanding sign shall be permitted for each parcel of land that fronts onto a public street. Each freestanding sign shall not exceed ten feet in height and sixty square feet except as provided for in subsection (E)(4) of this section.
3. Freestanding signs shall not be permitted in Design District No. 1.
4. Each shopping center will be allowed one freestanding sign for each portion of the shopping center parcel that fronts onto a public street. Said freestanding sign shall not exceed twenty-five feet in height and one hundred fifty square feet in area. The design and location of each shopping center sign shall be reviewed and approved by the planning commission.
5. The signs may contain thereon only the name of the building, occupants or groups thereof and the principal product or service of business, occupants or groups, with the exception that information related to gasoline prices, which service stations are required by law to display, may also be contained on a freestanding sign.
6. Flashing time and temperature signs shall be permitted. No other freestanding sign shall be blinking, flashing, rotating or animated. Lights used to illuminate the sign shall be installed to concentrate the illumination on the sign or advertising structure and to minimize glare upon a public street or adjacent property.
7. Signs shall not project within two feet of curb.
F. On-premises wall signs, projecting double-faced signs, and under-marquee signs, subject to the following regulations:
1. On-premises wall signs, projecting double-faced signs and under-marquee signs may project over public property or into a required yard area subject to the following restrictions:
a. The height of any projecting sign shall not be less than eight feet;
b. The sign shall not extend further than two feet from the curb line of the street.
2. On-premises signs shall not exceed the maximum building height permitted by the district in which they are located.
3. On-premises wall signs and projecting double-signs shall not extend more than three feet above the wall, facade, parapet or eaves of the building on which they are located.
G. Light and General Industrial Districts.
1. Signs shall be permitted only for the purposes of providing direction for vehicles and pedestrians and for identifying the name and address of a business and the principal product or services offered.
2. The design of signs shall be architecturally integrated with the design of the building on the same site.
3. No flashing, rotating or animated signs (except time and temperature signs) shall be permitted.
4. Freestanding signs shall not exceed the height of the buildings on the site on which they are located.
5. One freestanding sign shall be permitted on each street frontage of a lot.
6. The following signs are expressly prohibited: changeable copy signs, projecting or fin signs, roof signs, and outdoor advertising structures (billboards). (Ord. 94-05 §1, 1994; Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.060 Signs subject to a conditional use permit.
The following signs shall require a conditional use permit:
A. Murals;
B. Service organization and church directory signs and city identification signs, or monuments situated in any district that is located along a public road that enters Kerman. (Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.070 Development standards.
A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter all signs shall be constructed pursuant to the regulations of the Uniform Building Code.
B. Lighting for externally illuminated signs shall be so arranged so that the light is not directly visible from the public right-of-way or adjacent property. (Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).
17.76.080 Other provisions.
A. Except for signs described in subsection B of this section, any sign which was erected legally prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section shall be deemed a nonconforming use. Maintenance of the sign shall be allowed but not alterations which could increase its nonconforming status.
B. Nonconforming signs at a site where the use is discontinued for a period of ninety days or more shall be removed prior to occupancy of a new use. Any new signs erected by the new occupant shall comply with the current sign standards of the zoning district in which the property is located. (Ord. 95-04 §2, 1995: Ord. 90-02 §2(part), 1990).