16.75.060 General sign provisions.
A. Sign Message. Any permitted sign may contain, in lieu of any other message or copy, any lawful noncommercial message, so long as the sign complies with the size, height, area, location, and other requirements of this division.
B. Sign Area. Sign area for all sign types is measured as follows:
1. The area of painted signs, individual letter signs, and other indirectly illuminated signs shall be calculated on the basis of the smallest rectangle, circle or spherical figure that will enclose the entire copy area of the sign. Any such calculation shall include the areas between letters and lines, as well as the areas of any devices, illuminated or nonilluminated, which are intended to attract attention.
2. Only one side of a double-faced or three-faced sign shall be included;
3. Four or more faced signs, spherical, free-form, sculptural or other nonplanar sign area is measured as fifty percent of the sum of the areas using only the four vertical sides of the smallest four-sided polyhedron that will encompass the sign structure, as shown in Figure 16.75.060(B). Signs with greater than four polyhedron faces are prohibited.
Figure 16.75.060(B). Clarifying sign area measurement
C. Sign Illumination. Illumination from or upon any sign shall be shaded, shielded, directed or reduced so as to avoid undue brightness, glare or reflection of light on private or public property in the surrounding area, and so as to avoid unreasonably distracting pedestrians or motorists. “Undue brightness” is illumination in excess of that which is reasonably necessary to make the sign reasonably visible to the average person on an adjacent street. Illumination, if used, shall be what is known as white or yellow and shall not be blinking, fluctuating or moving. Light rays shall shine only upon the sign or upon the property within the premises and shall not spill over the property lines, in any direction, except by indirect reflection.
D. Sign Structure and Installation.
1. Structural Requirements. The structure and erection of signs or flag poles within the city shall be governed by the city’s adopted Building Code. Compliance with the Building Code shall be a prerequisite to issuance of a sign permit under this code.
2. Electrical Requirements. Electrical requirements for signs within the city shall be governed by the National Electrical Code. Compliance with the National Electrical Code shall be required by every sign utilizing electrical energy as a prerequisite to issuance of a sign permit under this code.
E. Sign Maintenance and Inspection.
1. Maintenance. All signs, including signs heretofore installed, shall be constantly maintained in a state of security, safety, appearance and repair. If any sign is found not to be so maintained or is insecurely fastened or otherwise dangerous, it shall be the duty of the owner and/or occupant of the premises on which the sign is fastened to repair or remove the sign within five days after receiving notice from the administrator. Where a sign is determined to be an immediate hazard by the administrator, the sign is subject to immediate repair or removal. The premises surrounding a freestanding sign shall be free and clear of rubbish and landscaping area maintained in a tidy manner.
2. Inspection. All sign users shall permit the periodic inspection of their signs by the city upon city request. (Ord. 1454 §2 (part), 2015).