CHAPTER 7
SIGNS
ARTICLE 4. GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS
SECTION:
§3227: Permitted Sign Area, Encroachment, Height, Number, Illumination And Movement
§3227 PERMITTED SIGN AREA, ENCROACHMENT, HEIGHT, NUMBER, ILLUMINATION AND MOVEMENT
A. Commercial And Industrial Zones:
1. One and one-half (1 1/2) square feet of sign area for every ground level linear foot of parcel frontage. No more than two-thirds (2/3) of this allowed signage to be freestanding.
2. On corner lots the maximum allowable number and square footage of on site signs are permitted for each street frontage up to two (2). Said maximum allowances, however, are not transferable either in whole or in part from one street frontage to another.
3. In no case shall the total square footage of signs on a building frontage exceed the number of linear feet in the frontage or five hundred (500) square feet, whichever is the lesser figure.
4. Signs in commercial and industrial zones shall not overhang the public right of way in excess of four feet (4’).
5. The provisions of this section do not prohibit in addition to other freestanding signs, one portable sign per parcel, subject to the following:
a. Sign area shall not exceed six (6) square feet per side and four feet (4’) in height.
b. The sign shall be removed during hours that the business is not open to the public.
c. In cases where more than one business is located on a parcel, the total number of signs under this section shall not in the aggregate exceed the following:
(1) One portable sign per fifty (50) linear feet of street frontage per parcel. When four (4) or more businesses are located on a parcel under one ownership, one portable sign per four (4) businesses shall be permitted. Except, on parcels where there is no setback between the building and the public right of way line and a freestanding or projecting sign is not feasible, one sign per business shall be allowed, not exceeding one sign per fifteen (15) linear feet of street frontage per parcel.
(2) The sign(s) allowed by this section shall be placed along the street frontage of the business; or may be oriented to parking areas, pedestrian malls or internal courts on the same parcel.
(3) Parcels with no public street frontage other than the accessway (flag lots) shall be allowed one off premises sign, regardless of the number of businesses, placed near the primary entrance to the parcel with either the approval of the owner of the property where the sign is placed or with the issuance of an encroachment permit if located within the public right of way.
d. The sign shall at all times present a designed and well maintained appearance. Notwithstanding their temporary nature, such signs shall not be made of cardboard or similar materials which exhibit a makeshift or haphazardly constructed or designed appearance.
e. Notwithstanding section 6170 of this code, signs allowed by this section may be placed within the public right of way, provided an encroachment permit has been issued by the public works department and compliance therewith is maintained. In addition:
(1) Signs in the public right of way shall be maintained free of appendages or conditions that pose a hazard to pedestrians and vehicles, and ensure visually impaired pedestrians can detect the sign safely. Supporting members should be located within the footprint of the sign to prevent tripping; any projection shall be flat and measure no more than one-half inch (0.5") in height above the sidewalk surface. Dome shaped support bases are prohibited. The sign shall not be secured to trees, hydrants, street signs, or any other infrastructure by any means. The sign shall not be illuminated.
(2) Sign placement shall provide for the safe and unobstructed movement of pedestrians and vehicles including adequate sight distance to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director and Public Works Director. The placement of signs shall maintain a minimum five foot (5’) wide clear space on any sidewalk or pedestrian path and be coordinated with other elements to provide for the public convenience, reduce hazards, and maintain an uncluttered and unobstructed appearance. Signs shall be situated so that neighboring businesses and all legal signs are visible to pedestrians and motorists.
f. Deviations from the provisions of this subsection, excluding the requirement for issuance of an encroachment permit for signs placed in the public right of way, may be allowed pursuant to the approval of a use permit.
6. Parcels under one ownership which contain four (4) or more businesses may erect a freestanding sign in addition to other permitted signs which:
a. Constitutes the single freestanding sign permitted in subsection A5 of this section.
b. Shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet. One hundred (100) square feet of the total sign area may be used for individual identification signs uniform in size, shape and lettering.
c. Shall not exceed thirty feet (30’) in height and shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet (10’) from the finished grade of the existing or future sidewalk.
d. Shall not contain "reader boards".
7. Regardless of any other provisions to this section, no sign attached to a building shall exceed the roof height of the main building on a parcel. Freestanding signs may exceed the roof height of the main building, providing the sign is thirty feet (30’) or less and subject to a site development permit.
8. Signs in commercial and industrial zones, if illuminated, shall be indirectly illuminated, i.e., shall not have directly exposed bulbs, lamps, tubes or other illumination devices. Exposed bulbs may be permitted as a design feature, as part of a Site Development or Use Permit.
9. Signs in commercial and industrial zones shall not flash, revolve, move or be animated in any way.
10. A shopping center, in addition to the signing permitted each occupant on the basis of their frontage, may have freestanding main identification signing with area equal to one- fourth (1/4) square foot for each ground floor foot of total building frontage up to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet. This signing may be a name, a roster of tenants or a combination thereof. The maximum height of this freestanding sign shall be thirty feet (30’).
11. Placement of signing shall be limited to street frontages and business frontages except sign orientation to parking areas, freeways, pedestrian malls, internal courts or sign programs may be allowed subject to a site development permit.
B. R-3, General Multiple-Family Zone And P, Public Zone:
1. The total permitted sign area is one-fourth (1/4) square foot for each linear foot of the longest property frontage. In no case shall a sign exceed forty (40) square feet in total area.
2. In no case shall there be more than one sign for any one use in these zones.
3. Signs in the R-3 and P zones shall not revolve, flash, move or be animated in any way, nor shall such signs be illuminated other than by low level indirect lighting devices.
4. Freestanding signs in the R-3 and P zones shall not exceed four feet (4’) in height and shall be either of wood or masonry construction.
5. Signs in the R-3 and P zones shall not encroach into the public right of way.
6. Signs advertising home occupations shall conform to the requirements of subsection C1 of this section.
7. Signs in the R-3 and P zones which are attached to buildings shall not exceed the eaves height of the first story of the main building on any parcel.
C. R-1, Low Density Residential And R-2, Multiple-Family Residential District:
1. One sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in total area attached to the principal structure on a parcel for the purpose of identifying the occupant of the parcel or a home occupation.
2. One sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in total area attached to a curbside mailbox for the purpose of identifying the occupant of the parcel or owner of the mailbox.
3. Signs in the R-1 and R-2 zones shall not flash, revolve, move or be animated in any way, nor shall such signs be illuminated other than by low level indirect lighting devices.
4. Signs in the R-1 and R-2 zones shall not encroach into the public right of way except where attached to a curbside mailbox.
5. Signs in the R-1 and R-2 zones shall not exceed the eaves height of the first story of the principal structure on a parcel.
6. Permanent signs with messaging of an educational, religious, charitable or civic nature shall be allowed a total permitted sign area that is one-fourth (1/4) square foot for each linear foot of the longest property frontage. In no case shall a sign exceed forty (40) square feet in total area.
D. Nonconforming Signs: Signs that do not otherwise conform to the requirements of this chapter and are either necessarily temporary or unusual because of the unique character of a site, may be approved by the planning commission in the form of a use permit. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983; Ord. 1106, §5, adopted 2008; Ord. 1255, §3, adopted 2025)
§3228 DESIGN STANDARDS
In addition to meeting all criteria of Section 3227, all signs shall be consistent with the following design principles:
A. Architectural Compatibility
1. Signs shall be proportional to the building facade and located within designated sign areas that do not exceed the allowable sign area per Section 3227.
2. Signs shall use materials, colors, and shapes that match or complement the architectural style of the building.
3. Signs shall not obstruct or alter architectural features, such as cornices, columns, or decorative moldings.
B. Scale, Proportion, and Placement
1. Signs shall be in scale with the building and sized to fit within architectural sign bands, panels, or other designated areas.
2. Signs shall maintain a minimum clearance from building edges and architectural elements, ensuring visual separation from adjacent structures.
3. The outer perimeter of any sign shall not extend beyond the building feature to which it is attached.
C. Sign Quality and Installation
1. Signs shall be constructed from durable materials, including wood, metal, or comparable high-quality materials that ensure long-term integrity.
2. Temporary materials such as foam, poster board, flat plastic, or other non-durable materials are prohibited for permanent signage.
3. Plastic, plywood, or pressed board shall not be used as primary materials for permanent signs unless allowed as a temporary sign under Section 3225(k) of this Code.
D. Historic Resources and Districts
1. Signs installed on designated historic buildings or within historic districts shall be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
2. Sign materials, colors, and mounting methods shall be consistent with the historic character of the structure and surrounding district.
3. Signs shall not obscure or damage historic architectural features.
E. Non-Commercial Zones
1. Internally illuminated signs (including channel letters, marquees, or cabinet signs) are prohibited in non-commercial zones.
2. Sign bases, frames, and mounting hardware shall be constructed from materials consistent with the primary building’s architectural design.
3. Sign colors and finishes shall be non-reflective to minimize glare and visual disruption in non-commercial areas. (Ord. 1255, §3, adopted 2025)
§3229 ILLUMINATION
All signage shall comply with standards designed to minimize light pollution by controlling the amount, direction, and intensity of artificial lighting to preserve the visibility of the night sky, including the following:
A. Lighting for signs shall not create a hazardous glare for pedestrians or vehicles either in a public street or on any private premises.
B. Illuminated signs shall be turned off or dimmed in brightness from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM unless the business operates during those hours.
C. The light source, whether internal to the sign or external, shall be shielded from view. This requirement is not intended to preclude the use of diffused exposed neon, LED, or similar features.
D. Sign illumination for externally illuminated signs shall utilize focused light fixtures that do not allow light or glare to shine above the horizontal plane of the top of the sign and to limit direct illumination of any object other than the sign or onto any public right-of-way or adjoining property.
E. Each sign shall be designed so that illumination does not exceed one hundred luxes (ten foot-candles) measured at a distance of ten feet from the sign.
1. If illumination of monument signs is desired, then external illumination or halo lighting is preferred. (Ord. 1255, §3, adopted 2025)