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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0285N1 i f OLDINANCE NO: 1 285 (196?• Series) AN ORDINANCE AMIENDING CHAPT11I_ 5, A11TICLE VIII OF 'THE SAN LUIS iBI"PG IV Ul*,?ICIPP.L CODE, kEGULATING SIG11TS AND BILLBGA" DS BE IT O E DA I N E D by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. That Sections 8600 through 8700.27 of Chapter 5 of Article VIII of the Luis Obispo Miunicipal Code shall be and are hereby repealed. SECTION 2. That Sections 8600 through 8600,11 of Chapter 5 of Article VIII of the .13an Luis Obispo Municipal Code are hereby enacted, to read as follows: Section 8600. Intent. Recognizing the primary importance of signs for identification and the importance of such signing to the commerce of the City of '"'an Luis Obispo, it is the intent of this Ordinance to regulate signs to minimize the adverse effects that the erection and display of such signs might have on the safety and general welfare of citizens of the City. This Ordinance further recognizes that this City is situated in an area of considerable natural beauty and that this setting, coupled with the City's historical development, has been a source of pride to its citizens as well as an attraction to many visitors each year. It is, therefore, the intent of this Ordinance to also encourage a character in keeping with the setting and the historic and cultural aspects of the City, by establishing standards and controlling the size, type and location of all new signs and by establishing the conditions by which all existing signs not conforming with the standards set forth herein shall be brought into conformity. Section 8600.1 Definitions. For the purpose of this Chapter, certain terms are defined as follows: A. Si A representation by means of words, diagrams, symbols or models situated in a p a-ce visible to the general public and intended to publicize any activity, person or thing. B. Attached Sign: A, sign painted on or attached directly to a building or part of a building. C. Free Standing Sign: A sign supported by poles, piers or other structural mem- bers, any of w is are set directly on or into the ground. 0. Temporary Si . A sign made of fabric or other light material intended to be displayed for sixty or less. E . Building Frontage: (Figure 1) 1. Lineal feet of building lasing a street and measured parallel to it; or 2. Fifty percent (509D of the total lot frontages) on dedicated street(s), whichever is the greater. F, Department: The Planning and Building Department of the City of San Luis Obispo, Section 8600.2 Measurement Standards. A. Area of a Sign: The area of a sign shall include structural or decorative frames, but not supporting me m ers and shall be measured as follows: 1. Single-faced sign: (Figure 2) (a) The area of a regular geometric shape. (b) The area within the perimeter of a regular geometric shape which could enclose a sign of irregular shape or group of shapes, letters or words. Front age 1U, 1 Fig. 1 _ Street Optional Alternative - 1,+B feet 2 S ig, n Area Fig. 2 . 2. lulti -faced sign: (a) One side of a double -faced si n. ]?1 4j f *. F rontade f � 8 a Frontage PL = Property sine it (b) Forty percent (4000 of the surface area of a sphere, cube or other three - dimensional sign. Section 860 0.3 General _..egulations. A. Location. 1116-ns may be painted on or secured to the surface of a building or erected on poles or other supports as regulated b-y tilis C.hajTcer. B. Height. No part of a sign shall exceed the height permitted by the Zoning -_+rdi- nance for the use to which it pertains, nor exceed seventy (7C) feet in any zone. C. Area. Free - standing signs shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet per side. D. Illumination. No illurninated sign shall be permitted in -1, F._ -2 or -3 D-istricts, except house i enti :ica.tion and one (1) indirectly illur_.inated sign for an apartment or office building. -2- Signs in other Districts may be illuminated. No sign shall be constructed in such a way that any light bulb or filament is visible from the front of the sign or from beyond the property line, excepting those signs indicating time and temperature. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit signs of neon tubing or similar self - illuminating material of equiva- lent or less intensity. E . Signs over public property. 1. Signs may extend over a sidewalk area, but not more than 2/3 of its width. Such signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in aggregate area per use on each street frontage, and shall have a clearance of not less than eight (8) feet above the ground or sidewalk. 2. Identification signs consisting of painted or cut -out letters may be attached to the sides or face of an awning or marquee. Such signs shall not exceed eight (8) inches in height, nor project more than one (1) inch in any direction from the surface of the awning or marquee. 3. The area of any sign permitted by this paragraph shall be counted against the allowable sign area for the use to which it pertains. F . Exempt Signs. Signs required by law shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter. G. Proximity to power and telephone lines. No part of any sign shall be erected closer to any existing or proposed power or to ep one line than the distances set forth in the following table: MINIMUM' CLEARANCES OF SIGNS Fr-,OM CONDUCTORS Conductor of any type carrying less than 750 volts VERTICAL CLEAE ANCE Above sign ° 3 feet Below sign 3 feet HO1�IZONTAL CLEA11ANCE From conductors 3 feet From poles 4 feet Increase to eight (8) feet if man can wall: on sign. Increase to twelve (12) feet if man can wall: on sign. Conductor carrying more than 750 volts **8 feet Prohibited 6 feet 6 feet H. Obstructions. Signs shall not obstruct doors, windows or fire escapes. No sign shall prevent Tree ingress or egress from a fire escape or any door or window required by the Building Code. No sign .shall be attached to a standpipe, gutter, drain or fire escape: I. Traffic Safety. No sign regulated by this Ordinance shall be erected at any location where, reason of its position, it will obstruct the view of, or conflict with, any authorized traffic sign, signal or device. J. Prohibited Signs. 1. Signs which flash, move or simulate movement, except barber poles and devices which directly indicate time and temperature, except to the extent permitted by resolution or ordinance adopted by the City Council. 2. Signs within five hundred (500) feet of any existing or proposed freeway intended to be viewed primarily by persons traveling on such freeway, except when such sign is used exclusively: (a) To advertise the sale or lease of the property upon which it is located; or (b) To designate the name of the owner or ocdupant of the premises upon which it is located, or to identify such premises. 3. Signs upon any public property or any structure thereon, except as other- wise provided herein. -3- Section 8600.4 No Permit Signs. The following signs may be erected without a sign permit, in addition to signs other -. wise permitted, provided they comply with the requirements of this Chapter: 1. One (1) identification sign per dwelling unit, not exceeding one (1) square foot in area. 2'. Signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of property on which they are located. Aggregate area is not to exceed one (1) square foot for each ten (10) feet of lot frontage, up to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet. 3. Signs denoting the architect, engineer, general contractor or lending agency, when placed upon work under construction, not exceeding thirty -two (32) square feet in area for each firm. Such signs shall be removed upon occupancy of the building. 4. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and dates of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material, not to exceed twenty (20) square feet. 5. Municipal signs, legal notices, traffic or railroad crossing signs, which may be on public property. n. Signs of public utility companies indicating danger, or giving service or safety information, which may be on public property. 7. Painting or repainting of a sign or the changing of a painted or printed advertisement thereon. 8. Signs located inside an open lobby or entrance to a building in an R -4, C or V zone, and visible from the outside. 9. Regulatory signs on parking lots, not exceeding four (4) square feet each. 10. 'temporary Signs weighing less than fifty (50) pounds, and subject to the following conditions: (a) Not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area, or five (5) feet in its narrowest dimension. be: (b) Signs extending more than six (6) inches over public property must i. Approved by the Administrative Officer. U.' Consist of cloth or similar fabric. iii:. Be perforated to reduce wind resistance. iv. Have a minimum vertical clearance of twenty (20) feet. Section 8600.5 Sign Permits. A. Permit Required. Except as previously described in Section 8600.4, no person shall erect or alter any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the Department. B. Exception. An appurtenant sign, up to fifty (50) square feet in area, which complies wit-E-Hre requirements of this Chapter, may be painted directly on a building or may consist of cut out letters that do not project more than three (3) inches nor weigh more' than five (5) pounds, provided the Department is notified of the size and location in advance. C. Procedure. Application for a sign permit shall be made upon forms furnished by the Depart- ment, accompanied by scale drawings adequate to show the location, design and construction of the sign in accordance with Section 301 of the Uniform Building Code. 1. At the time of filing an application, a fee shall be paid to the Department as follows: One:-half of one per cent (1/2 of 19D of the cost of the sign. (One Dollar minimum fee.) 2. An application for an electrical permit shall be filed concurrently with an application for a sign permit when electrical work is involved. -4- 3. If the proposed sign complies with all the requirements of this Chapter, the Building Code, Electrical Code and other City Ordinances, a sign permit shall be issued by the Department. 4. Sign permits shall become void if not used within six (6) months from the date of issue. Section 8600.6 Signs requiring permits. Provided a sign permit is first obtained from the Department, signs may be erected in: the Districts designated on the Zoning Niap of the City of San Luis Obispo, in addition to those described in Section 8600.4, as follows: The total sign area permitted on a lot may be divided among two or more signs, except where one sign is specifically stipulated. A. Signs in R -1, r -2 and R -3 Di stricts. 1. Twenty -five (25) square feet on the premises of a public, charitable or religious institution. 2. One sign directing attention to a new subdivision, located not less than one hundred (100) feet from any occupied residence, not exceeding one hundred (100) square feet. If a new subdivision is accessible from more than one major street, a second sign similar to the above may be erected, but not on the same street. Such signs shall be removed within three (3) months of completion of the subdivision or cessation of construction, or. upon sale of the last unit, whichever occurs first. 3. Fifteen (15) square feet for an office building or multiple family dwelling. B. Signs in R -4 Districts. 1. Signs permitted in R -1, R -2 and R -3 Districts. 2. Two hundred (200) square feet for a hotel or motel. 3. Twenty (20) square feet for any other use first permitted in the R -4 District, as indicated in the Zoning Ordinance. C. Signs in C -1 and C -2 Districts. 1. Signs permitted in R Districts. 2. For any non - residential use or building, one hundred (100) square feet, plus two (2) square feet per foot of building frontage over twenty -five (25) feet, up to a maximum area of two hundred (200) square feet. 3. A shopping center, containing five (5) or more stores, may have one shopping center sign calculated in accordance with the previous paragraph, plus signs on each store, based on their individual frontages as follows: (a) In C -1 Districts: Twenty -five (25) square feet, plus one square foot per foot of building frontage over twenty -five (25) feet, up to a maximum area of one hundred (100) square feet. (b) In C -2 and subsequent Districts: Area permitted by Paragraph 2. 4. In addition to Paragraph 2, signs may be placed on the side or rear of a building adjoining a parking lot, but not exceeding ten (10) square feet per occupancy; such signs shall indicate the name of the business, product and /or directional infor- mation only. 5. Additional signs for uses above the first floor of a building may be erected, provided the area allowed in Paragraph 2 is not exceeded by more than twenty percent (209D per floor. 6. Signs may be installed on a flat roof or parapet (area included in Paragraph 2), provided they comply with the following requirements: (a) Shall not project over the public right of way more than twelve (12) square feet, nor more than 2/3 of the width of the sidewalk. (b) Shall not exceed a maximum height of ten (10) feet. -5- (c) No more than one roof sign for each place of business for each street frontage (d) Access to all parts of the roof must be provided by unobstructed access ways, at least three (3) feet wide, located to the satisfaction of the San Luis Obispo City Fire Marshal. 7. Changeable copy to advertise programs may be shown on the sides and front of theater and auditorium marquees. D. Signs in C -3 and M Districts. 1. Signs permitted in C-1 and C-2 Districts. 2. Signs not exceeding three hundred (300) square feet which do not pertain to the premises on which they are located; such signs shall not be closer than three hundred (300) feet, nor closer to a street than any building within one hundred (100) feet of such sign. 3. One hundred (100) square feet of roof sign, in addition to the sign area permitted by Paragraph 1. Section 8600.7 removal of Signs. A . Non - conforming signs. There are hereby declared to be the following time periods within which signs which do not conform to the requirements of this Chapter shall be altered, removed, or otherwise made to comply: 1. Signs painted on buildings, walls or fences. (Remove or paint over to match adjoining area.) 5 years 2. Signs other than those in Paragraph 1 above, for which permits were issued in the last two (2) years. 10 years 3. All other signs. 7 years 4. The above periods shall start on the date that a sign becomes nonconform- ing, either by reason of the adoption of this Chapter or by subsequent annexation to the City or amendment of this Chapter. The Department shall prepare a list of non - conforming signs and notify owners or occupants of affected properties six (6) months before the above time periods expire. Failure to receive notification shall not absolve the owner of a non - conforming sign from responsibility for complying with the requirements of this Section. B. Obsolete or unsafe signs. 1. Any sign, including its supporting structure, which no longer identifies the current occupant or products currently sold, or which otherwise fails to serve its original purpose, shall be deemed a public nuisance and shall be removed by the owner of the property upon thirty (30) days written notice by the Department. 2. Any sign that, in the opinion of the Department, is unsafe or insecure shall be deemed a nuisance and shall be corrected or removed, together with any supporting structures, by the owner of the property upon which the sign is located, within thirty (30) days after notice, in writing, by the Department. 3. After thirty (30) days, the Department may cause such sign to be removed, and the cost of such removal shall become a lien against the property. 4. The Department may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and apply the cost as a lien against the property. Section 8600.8 Maintenance of Signs . It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a sign to maintain it in a safe and secure condition at all times and to repaint it when necessary. 10 Section 8600.9 Construction of Signs In determining compliance with the following requirements, the Department shall refer to the Uniform Building Code adopted by the City of San Luis Obispo. A . The construction of signs and their supports shall be adequate to carry all loads designated by the Building Code. B. Any sign, any part of which is stay (60) feet or more above the ground, shall be capable of withstanding a wind pressure of thirty (30) pounds per square foot. Signs lower than sixty (60) feet shall be capable of withstanding a wind pressure of fifteen (15) pounds per square foot. C. Electrical signs shall be subject to the provisions of the City and State Electrical Code. D. Signs and supporting structures shall be constructed of incombustible materials in Fire Zone No. 1. E. Temporary signs weighing in excess of fifty (50) pounds must be approved by the Department as conforming to safety requirements of the Building Code. EXCEPTIONS; 1. The faces of signs may be of approved plastics as defined in the Uniform Building Code. 2. Wood may be used as structural trim if it does not exceed ten percent (109D of the total sign area. 3. A sign of approved combustible material may be erected if it does not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area and is not closer than ten (10) feet to any other combustible material. Section 8600.10 Authority to Enforce. The Department is hereby given authority to administer and enforce all provisions of this Chapter. Section 8600.11 Appeal to the City Council. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Department may, within ten (10) days after receipt of such decision, appeal in writing to the City Council, which shall consider such appeal at its next regular meeting. SECTION 3. No person shall violate any provision, or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this Ordinance. Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a mis - demeanor and punishable in accordance with Section 1200 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. In addition to the penalties hereinabove provided, any conditions caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be summarily abated as such by the City, and each day such conditions continue shall be regarded as a new and separate offense. SECTION S. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. -7- SECTION 5. This Ordinance, together with the ayes and noes, shall be published once in full, at least three days before its final passage, in the Telegram - Tribune, a news- paper published and circulated in said City, and the same shall go into effect at the expiration of thirty days after its said final passage. I N T R O D U C E D A N D PA S S E D T O P 1 =_ I N T this 1st day of June, 1964 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Miss Margaret McNeil, R. L. Graves, Jr., Donald Q. Miller NOES: Clell W. Whelchel, Clay P. Davidson ABSENT None MAYOR ATTEST: vote : ATTEST: r CITY CLEPuC FINALLY PASSED this 6th day of July, 1964, by the following roll call AYES: R. L. Graves, Jr., Miss Margaret McNeil, Donald Q. Miller NOES: Clay P. Davidson, Clell W. Whelchel ABSENT: None rd Mw