Chapter 22.48
SIGNS*
Sections:
22.48.110 Applicability of provisions.
22.48.400 Signs allowed without permit.
22.48.500 Signs requiring permit.
22.48.900 Commercial and industrial signs.
22.48.950 Commercial and industrial sign limitations.
22.48.970 Penalty for violation of Section 22.48.900(2) and (7).
*Prior ordinance history: Ords. 347, 483, 486, 517, 570, 593, 603 and 622.
22.48.100 Purpose.
Signs have an obvious impact on the character and quality of the city. As a prominent part of the scenery, they attract or repel the viewing public and affect the safety of vehicular traffic. Their suitability and appropriateness helps to set the tone of the neighborhood and the city in general. The regulations and requirements of this chapter have been established on the principle that the primary purpose of signs is to identify and direct and not to advertise.
The purpose of this chapter is to control signs in a manner which will maintain a high quality of development throughout the city and to provide minimum standards to protect life, property, and public welfare in keeping with the character of the city by regulating the size, height, design, quality of materials, construction colors, location, lighting and maintenance of all sign structures. Further, it is the intent of the city that its commercial and industrial development be in harmony with the residential community. (Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.110 Applicability of provisions.
No sign, as defined or referred to in this chapter shall be erected, installed or located, or its structure modified in any way unless it conforms with the regulations and provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.150 Policies.
The city therefore adopts the following policies:
(1) Signing in or near residential areas shall be harmonious with the materials, color and textures of residential developments;
(2) Signing throughout the city shall be restrained in character and no larger than necessary for adequate identification;
(3) The design of signs shall be consistent with the highest graphic standards and shall be considered an integral part of the overall composition and design of property and therefore shall be designed to fit harmoniously together with the building or structure to which the sign refers;
(4) Signing for an establishment within a commercial or industrial center shall be in harmony with the signing of the entire center. The signing shall be approved on the basis of an overall design plan for a commercial or industrial center. The plan shall allow for the selection from at least four colors for the letters with one consistent background color for can signs and no restriction on business logos or registered trade marks;
(5) A sign shall serve primarily to identify the business or the type of activity conducted on the same premises, or the product, service, or interest being offered for sale or lease thereon;
(6) Landscaping shall be designed such that it does not significantly impair the visibility of signs within commercial or industrial centers;
(7) All signs, sign structures and sign equipment shall be properly maintained so as not to constitute a property nuisance as set forth in Chapter 6.20 of the Cerritos Municipal Code;
(8) Graffiti on signs, structures, and sign equipment shall be removed as quickly as possible and may be removed in accordance with the regulations contained in Chapter 9.62 of the Cerritos Municipal Code. (Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.200 Definitions.
(1) “Animated sign” means any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene including signs that rotate, move, glare, flash, change, reflect, blink, or appear to do any of the foregoing.
(2) “Awning sign” means any sign painted or otherwise affixed permanently to the exterior surface of an awning. For purposes of this chapter, “awning” means an architectural appendage to a building, consisting of a noncombustible frame, either rigid or collapsible, and covered with canvas, aluminum or other type of material that may be removed and replaced.
(3) “Balloon” means a flexible nonporous material of various shapes and colors which can be inflated with air or a gas,
(4) “Banner” means a device make of flexible materials, usually cloth, paper, canvas, plastic, or similar materials which may or may not contain copy and is intended to attract attention.
(5) “Bench sign” means a sign located on a bench or similar structure on or near a public way.
(6) “Billboard” means a sign in excess of one hundred square feet designed for changing advertising copy and which is normally used for the advertisement of goods, products, or services rendered at locations other than the premises on which the sign is located.
(7) “Blade sign” means a sign with a maximum of two sides and typically constructed out of a flat material such as sheet metal, plywood or plastic and installed perpendicular to the building.
(8) “Can sign” means a sign with a structural casing, typically fabricated with sheet metal, containing on the front side a changeable plastic or glass panel accommodating the entire sign copy, which is usually illuminated internally, mounted on the exterior of a structure and protruding a maximum of eighteen inches beyond the face of the building exterior.
(9) “Civic event sign” means a sign posted to advertise or provide direction to a civic event sponsored by the city, a school, church, civic-fraternal organization or similar noncommercial organization.
(10) “Construction sign” means a sign stating the name and address of those individuals or firms directly connected with a construction project and/or the name of the owner or ultimate user.
(11) “Directional sign” means a sign intended to direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic through a commercial or industrial development and not intended for identification or advertising.
(12) “Flags” means devices generally made of flexible materials, usually cloth, paper or plastic. They may or may not contain any copy and are primarily intended to draw attention.
(13) “Flashing sign” means a sign which is illuminated and the level of illumination intermittently or suddenly increases and/or decreases.
(14) “For sale, rent, or lease sign” means a sign which advertises the sale, rent, or lease of real property.
(15) “Freestanding sign” means a sign standing on the ground, not attached to a building.
(16) “Height of sign” means the distance from the average ground level immediately surrounding the base of the sign to the top of its highest element, including any structural element.
(17) “Identification sign” means a sign which is used to identify the occupants of a building, lot or premises or the merchandise or activity available at the building, lot or premises where the sign is located.
(18) “Illuminated sign” means a sign in which an artificial source of light is used in order to make the message readable. This definition shall include internally and externally lighted signs and reflectorized, glowing, or radiating signs.
(19) “Installed” means erected, constructed, posted, painted, printed, tacked, glued, or otherwise fastened, fixed, or made visible in any manner whatsoever.
(20) “Neon sign” means any glass tube lighting in which a gas and phosphors or chemicals are used in combination to created an illuminated colored sign.
(21) “Off-premises sign” means a sign identifying a business or product at some location other than the property where the sign is displayed.
(22) “Occupancy elevation” means an exterior elevation of that portion of a building under the control of a particular occupant.
(23) “Occupant” means the persons, company, or institution owning, leasing, or otherwise maintaining occupancy of a building or a portion of a building.
(24) “Pennants” means devices generally made of flexible materials, usually cloth, paper or plastic. They may or may not contain any copy and are primarily intended to draw attention.
(25) “Planter signs” means a low-profile sign which is an integral part of a raised planter or berm and used for identification purposes only.
(26) “Political sign” means a sign advertising any candidate for public office, proposition, or other political issue.
(27) “Portable sign” means a sign which is capable of being carried or readily moved from one spot to another and which is not permanent in nature.
(28) “Public safety sign” means a sign determined by the city engineer as necessary for public safety or convenience.
(29) “Public service sign” means a temporary, noncommercial sign devoted to a religious, charitable, cultural, governmental, or educational purpose.
(30) “Roof sign” means a sign supported by or attached to or projecting through the roof of a building or higher than the eave line or parapet wall of a building.
(31) “Sign” means any physical form of visual communication which is intended to be viewed from outdoor public areas. In addition, it shall include all parts, portions, units and materials composing same, together with illumination, frame, background, structure and support and anchorage thereof. This definition shall not apply to the following:
(a) Temporary signs;
(b) Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public office;
(c) Directional, warning or informational signs authorized by federal, state or municipal authority for public safety.
(32) “Sign area” means the surface space within a single continuous perimeter containing words, letters, figures, or symbols, together with any frame or material forming an integral part of the display but excluding support structures, face of building, and incidental parts not drawing attention to the subject matter. Except for subdivision signs, any sign area on the reverse side of an allowed double faced sign shall not be included in a computation of sign area, provided that the side excluded from sign area computation is no larger than the reverse side.
(33) “Statuary” means a statue or other three dimensional structure in the form of an object that identifies, advertises, or otherwise directs attention to a product or business.
(34) “Subdivision signs” means a nonilluminated sign temporarily constructed for the purpose of advertising and directing people to a subdivision or apartment complex.
(35) “Temporary sign” means a sign constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, or other similar light-weight materials, with or without frames, and window displays, intended to be displayed for a period not to exceed thirty days.
(36) “Wall-mounted sign” means a sign mounted on an exterior facade of a building. If no alternative space is available for adequate identification, the director of community development may consider a sign mounted on a block wall or fence as a wall mounted sign, provided that the block wall or fence is an integral part of the site architecture and not simply a device for sign display.
(37) “Window” means any transparent glazed area on an occupancy elevation, excluding doors.
(38) “Window sign” means any sign, picture, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service, that is placed within twelve inches inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window. (Ord. 770 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 764 § 1, 1996; Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.300 Prohibited signs.
The following signs and/or sign structures are prohibited:
(1) Signs or sign structures which by color, wording, or location resemble or conflict with any traffic control sign or device;
(2) Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing clear view of pedestrian and vehicular traffic;
(3) Animated signs unless otherwise permitted in this chapter;
(4) Roof signs;
(5) Statuary signs unless otherwise permitted in this chapter;
(6) Freestanding signs, except for:
(a) Subdivision signs,
(b) Construction signs,
(c) Public safety signs,
(d) Planter signs,
(e) For sale, rent, or lease signs,
(f) Political signs,
(g) Regional center identification signs,
(h) Signs as described in Section 22.48.900(8)(d);
(7) Off-premises signs, except for:
(a) Subdivision signs,
(b) Construction signs,
(c) Political signs,
(d) Civic event signs,
(e) Public service signs,
(f) Rent or lease signs;
(8) Temporary signs that identify or advertise a product or business no longer located at a premises;
(9) Bench signs;
(10) Billboards;
(11) Signs painted directly on an exterior wall, fence, fascia or parapet;
(12) Signs that display a message or graphic representation that is lewd, indecent, or otherwise offensive to public morals;
(13) Flags, banners, balloons and pennants, except when used for authorized civic events and/or as provided for in Section 22.48.400(3) and/or Section 22.48.900(2);
(14) Signs, advertisements or notices of any kind on any curb, bench, hydrant, bridge, wall, tree, sidewalk, pole or other structure in or upon any lawn, parkway, or other ground owned or controlled by the city except as follows:
(a) When authorized by the appropriate public agency;
(b) Temporary signs strictly limited to real estate open house directional signs and garage sale signs, subject to the following limitations:
(i) Signs shall not be placed in medians or other areas located between traffic lanes;
(ii) Signs shall not be placed on sidewalks, walkways or other areas designated for pedestrian circulation;
(iii) Signs shall not be placed in a location which interferes with the visibility (line-of-sight) of vehicular circulation/traffic;
(iv) Signs placed in the parkway area shall only be located between the street curb and sidewalk or within an area designated for landscape;
(v) Signs shall not be attached to any tree, pole, utility box, bus bench, trash can, fire hydrant, or other structure or street furniture located in the parkway;
(vi) Garage sale signs shall be allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m.;
(vii) Real estate open house directional signs shall be allowed only on Wednesdays between the hours of nine-thirty a.m. and one-thirty p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m.;
(viii) The top of the sign shall not exceed thirty-six inches from finish grade or above the top of the adjacent street curb;
(ix) The area of the sign shall not exceed five square feet;
(x) No part of the sign shall be placed on, or project over, areas designated for vehicle and/or pedestrian circulation, travel or movement;
(xi) Flags, pennants, streamers or balloons shall be prohibited;
(xii) On arterial streets, only two real estate open house directional signs for the same open house and only two garage sale signs for the same garage sale shall be permitted between street intersections on the same side of the street; and
(xiii) In the interior of residential tracts, only one real estate open house directional sign for the same open house shall be permitted for each directional change;
(c) Any sign in violation of any portion of this subsection may be removed or confiscated by the city;
(d) Real estate open house directional signs which are confiscated by the city and not returned to the person in violation will only be held for a period of ten days during which time an individual real estate agent or company may recover their sign at a cost of twenty dollars per sign. Real estate open house directional signs which are not recovered within ten days from the date of confiscation shall be disposed of at the discretion of the city of Cerritos;
(e) Every person violating this subsection, as it pertains to the illegal display of real estate open house directional signs, shall be guilty of an infraction. Upon a first violation, the person shall be issued an infraction citation punishable by a fine of fifty dollars. Every violation occurring thereafter within one year of the first violation shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars;
(15) Except as provided in Sections 22.48.400(9) and 22.48.900(2), window signs on each occupancy level;
(16) Signs painted, mounted or displayed on vehicles or equipment parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless the vehicle is regularly moved in the normal day-to-day operations of an on-site business. Signs painted, mounted or displayed on vehicles for sale may be permitted in zones which allow automobile sales and leasing provided the sign does not exceed two feet in height above the vehicle;
(17) Signs on awnings;
(18) Exposed neon for signs or architectural features on a building exteriors unless otherwise permitted in this chapter. (Ord. 801 § 1, 1998; Ord. 764 § 2, 1996; Ord. 725 § 1 (part), 1993; Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.400 Signs allowed without permit.
The following signs may be displayed without a sign permit, subject to the specific limitations indicated:
(1) Civic event and public service signs;
(2) Governmental or other legally required posters, notices or signs;
(3) The official flag of a government, governmental agency, public institution, religion, or other similar entity subject to compliance with the provisions of Section 23.01.030(1)(b) and the following conditions:
(a) Only one flag each, of any particular type of flag authorized under this section, shall be permitted per parcel, or per unit of development, whichever allows the least number of flags to be displayed;
(b) No flag pole shall exceed thirty-five feet in height above grade;
(c) No flag shall exceed a vertical dimension of five feet nor a horizontal dimension of eight feet;
(d) The flag pole shall be set back at least fifteen feet from any property line abutting a street, and fifty feet from all other property lines, except on residential parcels which may have a setback of ten feet from any property line providing the flag pole is fifteen feet or less in height above grade;
(e) The director of community development may recommend and the planning commission may approve flags and/or display poles to be located at grade; and which exceed or differ from the conditions prescribed in this section; provided:
(i) The flag pole does not exceed one foot in height for each two feet of setback from any property line and does not exceed one foot in height for each one foot of building height; or a maximum height of fifty feet, whichever is least,
(ii) No flag shall exceed a horizontal dimension of one-third the height of the pole and a vertical dimension of one-fifth the height of the pole; or that size flag which most closely meets these dimensions,
(iii) The size of the flag and the height of the flag pole conforms with similar flags and flag poles located on adjacent properties and conforms to similar height buildings and land uses,
(iv) The flag pole and flag shall not be used for the purpose of advertising, identifying a particular location or attracting attention,
(v) The flag pole is structurally sound and does not constitute an unsafe condition;
(f) The director of community development may recommend and the planning commission may approve flags and/or display poles to be located on the roof of buildings; and which exceed or differ from the conditions prescribed in this section, provided, that:
(i) The building or structure is in excess of thirty-five feet in height, and said building or structure and the flag location, is an integral part of a specific commercial, office or industrial development, complex or series of buildings, developed under a unified and coordinated plan,
(ii) No flag pole shall exceed twenty feet in height measured from the highest point of the roof structure; and in no instance shall the total flag pole height, measured from grade, exceed a height of twenty feet greater than the least horizontal distance between the building or structure and any property line,
(iii) No flag shall exceed a vertical dimension of five feet nor a horizontal dimension of eight feet,
(iv) The flag pole shall be set back at least ten feet from any vertical wall,
(v) The flag pole and flag shall not be used for the purpose of advertising, identifying a particular location, or attracting attention,
(vi) The flag pole is structurally sound and does not constitute an unsafe condition;
(4) Signs designating “Manager” or “Office” not exceeding one square foot in sign area;
(5) Signs identifying the owner or occupant of the property and the address, not exceeding one square foot in sign area;
(6) Construction signs subject to the following: Not more than one such sign per project and any such sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in sign area, eight feet in height or be located closer than ten feet from the property line;
(7) One sign per single-family residence painted on the curb face indicating the address of the residence subject to the following:
(a) All address numbers shall be painted in a readily accessible and visible location on the curb in front of the residence to be identified and shall correspond with the boundaries of the residential lot,
(b) No address numbers shall be painted on any curb already marked by the city for parking regulation purposes,
(c) All numerals shall be painted on a background of durable white reflective paint which shall be at least fifteen inches, but not more than eighteen inches, in width and at least four inches, but not more than six inches in height,
(d) The numerals shall be black and of a size which is proportionate to the size of the background;
(8) Holiday lights and/or decorations are subject to the following:
(a) No commercial message may be displayed as part of the lights and/or decorations; and
(b) The lights and/or decorations shall be removed within fifteen days after the holiday;
(9) Window signs on each occupancy level, including temporary signs, subject to the following:
(a) The maximum number of window signs shall be one sign per each occupancy elevation if the total window area of the occupancy elevation is two hundred fifty square feet or less and the maximum number of window signs shall be two signs per each occupancy level if the total window area of the occupancy level is greater than two hundred fifty square feet.
(b) Total sign area for said window signs shall not exceed ten percent of the available window area per occupancy level, not to exceed fifty square feet per occupancy level. (Ord. 770 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 764 §§ 3, 4, 1996: Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.500 Signs requiring permit.
(1) For signs other than those prohibited and those allowed without permit, a sign permit shall be obtained prior to sign installation. (Building permits and/or electrical permits shall also be obtained in accordance with the building and/or electrical code.)
(2) Applications for sign permits shall be submitted to the director of community development and be accompanied by the following materials:
(a) Three copies of the plan showing;
(i) Location of property on which sign is to be located,
(ii) Position of each sign and its relation to adjacent buildings or structures,
(iii) The proposed height, size, shape, color and design of each sign and supporting structure,
(iv) The name and address of the applicant and the property owner,
(v) Such other information as the director of community development may require to determine compliance with this and all other ordinances of the city,
(vi) The endorsement of either the owner of the premises or an authorized representative of the owner.
(3) The director of community development shall issue a sign permit upon determining that a proposed sign is in conformance with this chapter and other applicable requirements and standards of the city.
(4) An occupancy permit shall not be issued for a new building unless and until the director of community development determines that all signing installed meets the requirements of this chapter and that illumination is not in violation of Section 22.80.440 of this code. (Ord. 770 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.600 Political signs.
It is the intent with the enactment of this section, as amended, to impose rules regulating time restrictions on signs relating to an election event. It is further the intent with the enactment of this section, as amended, that the application of these rules shall not discriminate based on the topic or subject to be placed on or within a political sign, and in this regard, the application of these rules is akin to the application of the city’s time, place, and manner authority to regulate speech.
(1) Political signs may be displayed without a sign permit, subject to the following location, design, and duration criteria of this section:
(a) Permitted Locations.
(i) Political signs placed, erected or maintained on private property shall require prior authorization from the private property owner or tenant.
(b) Prohibited Locations.
(i) Political signs shall be prohibited from being located on or within public property, except when placed within a residential parkway area as provided in this section. Political signs shall not be placed on property owned or controlled by the city, school district, or other government agency, except when placed within a residential parkway. For purposes of this section, parkway is defined in Chapter 20.30. Public property shall include public parks, community facilities, street medians, school campuses, and public rights-of-way. Public rights-of-way shall include any appurtenances thereto, including, but not limited to, sidewalks, walkways, landscaped areas, trees, poles, utility boxes, bus benches, trash cans, fire hydrants, or other structures or street furniture. Political signs placed in a residential parkway area shall be permitted only within residential neighborhoods adjacent to interior residential streets and shall be located between the residential street curb and sidewalk. Political signs placed, erected or maintained within a residential parkway area shall require prior authorization from the adjacent private property owner or tenant of the residential property responsible for maintaining the residential parkway area between the street curb and sidewalk where the political sign is to be located, and said adjacent private property owner or tenant may remove any political sign placed in this area of the residential parkway area that has not received the adjacent private property owner’s or tenant’s authorization. Political signs shall not be placed within parkways adjacent to arterial streets.
(ii) Political signs shall not be placed on or affixed to privately owned block walls and fences adjacent to, nor shall political signs be permitted to encroach or project over, public property owned and controlled by the city, school district, or other government agency. Privately owned block walls and fences shall include, but not be limited to, block walls and fences located along the perimeter of a residential subdivision and/or commercial, office, and industrial development.
(iii) Political signs shall not be placed in a location or area designated for pedestrian or vehicular circulation, travel, or movement, nor be placed on, or project over, any area which interferes, obstructs, or impedes visibility (line-of-sight) of vehicular circulation or traffic.
(iv) Political signs for a candidate, proposition or political issue shall be limited to one single- or double-sided sign per one hundred lineal feet of street frontage per each independently owned parcel, or one single- or double-sided sign per each independently owned parcel, whichever is greater; and said political signs shall be no closer than one hundred lineal feet to each other when two or more parcels are contiguous forming a larger commercial, office, and industrial development. Conversely, political signs for a candidate, proposition or political issue may be permitted within one hundred lineal feet only when said signs are located on separate independently owned parcels that are not part of a larger commercial, office and industrial development. Applicability, regulatory authority, and enforcement by the city of this subsection shall be limited to the number of political signs and distance between political signs, not to the content of political signs.
(c) Design Standards.
(i) Each political sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in sign area.
(ii) Flags, pennants, streamers and balloons shall be prohibited.
(d) Duration of Display. Political signs relating to an election shall be displayed and/or placed no sooner than ninety days prior to the official election date, and shall be removed within five days after the official election date.
(2) Political signs placed, erected or maintained in violation of this section shall be removed as follows:
(a) Any political sign located within a public right-of-way or on public property owned, maintained, or controlled by the city, school district, or other government agency in violation of this section shall constitute a public nuisance, and shall be deemed abandoned by its owner and may be summarily removed or confiscated by the city without notice.
(b) Any political sign located on private property in violation of this section may be immediately removed or confiscated by the city following reasonable notice to the owner.
(3) Violations of this section shall constitute a public nuisance. (Ord. 1037 § 2, 2021; Ord. 764 § 5, 1996)
22.48.700 Subdivision signs.
(1) A permit is required for constructing or maintaining any subdivision sign. The permit application shall be accompanied by a fifty-dollar filing and inspection fee and surety bond or cash deposit of four hundred dollars to guarantee removal of the sign within fifteen days after termination of the permit. A permit shall be valid for one year and may be renewed by the director of community development for subsequent one-year periods following approval of an application for renewal accompanied by a fifty-dollar reinspection fee. Criteria for approval of a new subdivision sign or renewal of an existing subdivision sign shall include:
(i) Maintaining a reasonable relationship between the total number of subdivision signs and the total number of homes for sale in the city; and
(ii) Providing for an equitable distribution of subdivision signs among competing subdivisions with consideration given to the number of homes unsold in a subdivision. A subdivision sign for an apartment complex shall not be renewed.
(2) Permits shall not be issued for the construction of any subdivision sign in excess of one hundred square feet in sign area, although renewals may be granted for subdivision signs with larger sign area. Subdivision signs shall be located no closer than twenty feet from a right-of-way, except that no such sign shall be less than five hundred feet from a freeway. No tag sign, streamers or other appurtenances shall be affixed to a subdivision sign. The owner of the sign shall maintain on the sign, in an easily visible location, his assigned permit number, the subdivision or model complex advertised, the expiration date of the permit, the name of the property owner and the name of the sign owner. All subdivision signs shall be removed immediately upon vacancy of all copy material or upon sale of all homes in the subdivision or model complex advertised, whichever is sooner. Any change of copy to advertise a different subdivision shall require a new subdivision sign permit. (Ord. 770 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.800 Residential signs.
The only signs permitted in a residential area are those signs designated as allowed without permit, subdivision signs, political signs, and the following:
(1) Single Family Areas. Block wall subdivision identification signs with three dimensional letters mounted directly on the wall shall be permitted. Any illumination shall be limited to subdued spotlighting.
(2) Multifamily Areas. One identification sign mounted on a block wall with three dimensional letters installed directly on the block wall surface, with a sign area not to exceed eight square feet for each multifamily complex with from five to ten units, sixteen square feet of sign area, for each multifamily complex of from ten to thirty units, and thirty-two square feet of sign area for each multifamily complex with more than thirty units shall be permitted. Any illumination shall be limited to subdued spotlighting. (Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.900 Commercial and industrial signs.
In addition to the signs designated as allowed without permit, subdivision signs and political signs, the following signs are allowed within commercial and industrial areas, subject to the specific limitations indicated:
(1) Identification Signs. One wall-mounted identification sign for each occupancy elevation shall be permitted. The front sign shall not exceed one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of the front occupancy elevation. Side or rear signs shall not exceed one square foot of sign area for every two linear feet of the side or rear occupancy elevation. Larger sign area may be permitted for commercial buildings of three or more stories and occupancies with an unusually small proportion of frontage to square footage if the director of community development determines the additional sign area is necessary for adequate identification or harmony of signs. Industrial signs shall not exceed one hundred square feet in sign area for any occupancy frontage.
(2) Temporary Signs, Flags, Banners, Balloons and Pennants. Temporary signs, flags, banners, nonmetallic balloons twelve inches or less in diameter, and pennants use for any purpose, including grand openings and promotions may be permitted subject to the following:
(a) A maximum of five time periods per year,
(b) Each time period shall consist of a maximum of fourteen days. No more than two time periods can occur consecutively. If two promotional time periods are not consecutive, the time periods must be separated by at least fourteen days;
(c) Flags and pennants may only be used during one promotional period per calendar year;
(d) The maximum number of temporary signs or banners permitted per time period are as follows:
(i) One exterior banner on each elevation,
(ii) Four signs, including exterior banners;
(e) Total sign area for temporary signs and/or exterior banners shall not exceed the total square footage allowed for wall mounted identification signs. No individual temporary sign or banner shall exceed the size of the identification sign permitted on the front occupancy;
(f) All signs and banners must be exclusively attached to the building structure;
(g) A permit must be obtained for each time period prior to placement of temporary signs, flags, banners, pennants or balloons. Placement of all temporary signs, flags, banners, pennants and balloons shall be subject to the approval of the director of community development.
(3) Building Directory Signs. One building directory sign for a multi-occupancy building with a sign area that is not in excess of ten square feet shall be permitted The sign shall be mounted flat on a wall near the primary entrance to the building.
(4) Service Station Signs. In addition to the square footage of sign area allowed under subsection (1) of this section, service stations are permitted thirty-two square feet in total sign area for gasoline price and other information related to only credit card acceptance and state of California sign requirements. The following shall apply to the additional thirty-two square feet on sign area permitted:
(a) Two signs per pump island may be permitted on pump island canopies; provided, that the signs are either contained completely within the canopy fascias, or beneath the canopy mounted on the canopy supports and not extending beyond the canopy supports. The maximum dimensions of the sign shall not exceed three feet in width and ten feet in length and the maximum areas shall not exceed eighteen square feet.
(b) A maximum of one sign per front and side elevations of the main building.
(c) Temporary signs are permitted as provided for in subsection (2) of this section.
(d) Total number of building and canopy mounted signs shall not exceed six signs.
(e) Any portion of the additional thirty-two square feet of sign area not used as permitted cannot be used to enlarge identification signs (subsection (1) of this section) or as a planter sign.
(5) Planter Signs. Upon approval of a precise plan, planter signs shall be permitted provided that:
(a) On industrially zoned parcels and commercially zoned parcels with one or two uses, the planter sign shall not exceed four feet from top to bottom nor twelve feet from side to side nor exceed twenty-one square feet in area. The top of the sign shall not exceed seven feet in height measured from the top of the nearest street curb. The planter sign area shall not be included as part of the calculations for sign area permitted by the linear footage of the front occupancy elevation as stated in subsection (1) of this section.
(b) In commercial centers of at least three commercial uses having a combined gross floor area of at least forty-five thousand square feet and sharing common points of vehicle access, and designated as a neighborhood, community, or regional commercial or town center regional commercial use on the Cerritos Development (zoning) Map and by such designation is separated from other land uses by arterial streets, the planter sign:
(i) Shall not exceed four feet from top to bottom nor twelve feet from side to side nor exceed twenty-one square feet in area and the top of the sign shall not exceed seven feet in height as measured from the top of the nearest street curb. The planter sign may be increased to thirty-two square feet in area and the top of the sign structure shall not exceed nine feet in height, as measured from the top of the nearest street curb, if the following conditions are met:
(A) All existing planter signs must be removed from the center as well as contiguous centers and parcels that have common street frontages.
(B) A gasoline service station which is a part of a commercial center may be allowed to maintain one planter sign, not to exceed twenty-one square feet in sign area, and not to exceed four feet from top to bottom, twelve feet from side to side and seven feet in height, in addition to the planter sign(s) permitted for the center.
(ii) One planter sign shall be permitted adjacent to each arterial street on which the center faces.
(iii) The square footage of planter signs for commercial centers shall not be included in the calculations for identifications signs as described in subsection (1) of this section.
(c) All planter signs permitted by the foregoing paragraphs shall meet the following requirements:
(i) The containing planter area shall be at least double the sign area.
(ii) The supporting structure of the sign above finished grade shall be no greater than one foot in height;
(iii) The part of the sign closes to any property line or the ultimate street right-of-way shall be setback at least eight feet from the property line or sixteen feet from the street curb, whichever is greater.
(iv) Illumination may be from any source either external or internal to the sign.
(v) Planter retaining walls, if provided, shall not exceed two and one-half feet in height above the finished grade and the planter sign shall not protrude beyond such wall. Berm slopes shall not be steeper than three to one.
(6) Regional Center Identification Signs. Upon approval of a precise plan by the planning commission and city council, regional centers of at least seventy-five acres in area which abut a freeway and where at least thirty-five percent of the square footage in the center is retail commercial shall be permitted to erect a single regional center identification sign which is consistent with the following:
(a) The sign shall not exceed fifty feet in height;
(b) The sign shall be perpendicular to the freeway. The sign shall be set back at least five feet, but not more than fifty feet, from the freeway right-of-way, and at least three hundred fifty feet from any arterial or secondary street;
(c) The fixed copy sign area shall not exceed seven hundred fifty square feet per sign face with a maximum of two faces and shall not exceed thirty feet from top to bottom or side to side;
(d) The architectural design and treatment of the sign and all component parts shall be approved as a part of a precise plan and meet all of the policies set forth in Section 22.48.150. The precise plan application shall include a line-of-sight and glare study.
(7) Automobile Dealership Signs.
(a) In addition to subsection (2) of this section, automobile dealerships may be permitted the following:
(i) Three additional promotional periods shall be permitted per calendar year.
(ii) Nonmetallic balloons twelve inches or less in diameter and a maximum of two exterior banner signs per dealership may be allowed without a permit on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only on legal holidays if the holiday is on a Thursday or Monday. The height of the balloons shall not exceed forty feet above grade. The maximum sign area for a banner sign allowed without a permit on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on legal holidays if the holiday is on a Thursday or a Monday is forty square feet.
(iii) Only one inflatable object such as a balloon larger than twelve inches in diameter, an inflatable statuary, or a hot air balloon may be allowed four times per year and must be included as part of a permitted promotional period pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
(iv) Inflatable statuary, hot air balloons or any other inflatable object shall not exceed seventy-five feet in height above grade.
(b) In addition to the square footage of sign area allowed in Section 22.48.400(10), automobile dealerships may be permitted forty square feet of window sign area provided that:
(i) The sign(s) is attached to the inside of a window;
(ii) The sign(s) does not exceed eight feet in height above the exterior grade adjacent to the window; and
(iii) The sign(s) is not legible from a public right-ofway.
(c) In addition to the square footage of sign area allowed under subsection (1) of this section, automobile dealerships may be permitted twenty-one square feet of sign area for on-site directional signs for sales, service, parts and other information related to directing customer traffic. The following shall apply to the additional twenty-one square feet of sign area permitted:
(i) The maximum dimensions of a sign shall not exceed two feet in width and four feet in length and the maximum area shall not exceed six square feet. The height of the sign shall not exceed three feet above grade unless it is attached to a building.
(ii) A maximum of two signs shall be permitted per driveway accessing a public street.
(iii) The signs shall be setback at least eight feet from the property line or sixteen feet from the street curb, whichever is greater.
(d) In addition to the regional identification sign regulations contained in subsection (6) of this section, the sign height may be increased to seventy feet and/or have in addition to the fixed copy area an electronic changeable message display providing:
(i) The sign structure is perpendicular to the freeway and the sign is set back at least fifteen feet, but not more than fifty feet, from the freeway right-of-way, and at least five hundred feet from any arterial or secondary street and at least five hundred feet from another regional identification sign;
(ii) The face of the electronic message display does not exceed one thousand two hundred twenty-five square feet per face with a maximum of two faces and does not exceed thirty-five feet from top to bottom or thirty-five feet from side to side;
(iii) The height of the electronic message display portion of the sign does not exceed sixty-five feet;
(iv) The face of the electronic message display does not rotate or move;
(v) The intensity of the lighting and the level of glare produced by the electronic message display lighting shall be subject to the approval of the director of community development;
(vi) All state requirements and regulations for the installation of electronic message displays are met; and
(vii) The architectural design and treatment of the sign and all component parts shall be approved as a part of a precise plan and meet all of the policies set forth in Section 22.48.150. The precise plan application shall include a line-of-sight and glare study.
(8) ADP-2 Cerritos Towne Center Retail Signs. Retail centers of at least five retail uses having a combined gross floor area of at least four hundred thousand square feet, sharing common points of vehicle access, located in ADP-2 may be permitted the following:
(a) Uses located on an interior courtyard or plaza area, excluding uses located on corridors leading to the courtyard or plaza area, which are substantially screened from parking lot areas and public rights-of-way, may be allowed the following subject to the approval of the director of community development:
(i) One blade sign or one statuary sign providing:
(A) The blade sign shall not exceed four square feet of sign area per sign face.
(B) The statuary sign does not exceed two feet in height, three feet in length, one foot in width and five cubic feet.
(C) The sign does not extend more than thirty inches beyond the face of the building exterior.
(D) The lowest portion of the sign is at least eight feet above the ground.
(ii) Neon signs and/or neon lighting which delineates the design features of the building; provided, that the signs or lighting shall be compatible with the architectural appearance of the building. The glare created by neon signs and/or neon lighting shall not adversely impact any residential use.
(iii) The square footage of sign area permitted in this subsection shall not be calculated as part of the permitted wall mounted identification sign area.
(b) One courtyard or plaza area archway entrance sign may be allowed subject to the following:
(i) The archway structure shall not exceed twenty-six feet in height and thirty-five feet in width.
(ii) The structure shall only contain signs for uses located on an interior courtyard or plaza area.
(iii) The total sign area shall not exceed one hundred eighty square feet.
(iv) Signs shall not be places on or along the support columns.
(v) Exposed neon tubing shall not be permitted.
(vi) The design and location of the archway sign shall be approved by the director of community development.
(c) Directory signs may be allowed subject to the following:
(i) A maximum of three directory signs per retail center.
(ii) The sign structures shall not exceed seven feet in height and four feet in width on any side of the structure.
(iii) The design and location of all directory signs shall be approved by the director of community development.
(d) Retail center planter signs permitted on arterial streets adjacent to the center may be replaced with identification signs subject to the following:
(i) A maximum of two identification signs may be located adjacent to Towne Center Drive providing:
(A) The sign structure does not exceed twenty feet in height as measured from the top of the nearest street curb;
(B) The width of the sign structure does not exceed ten feet;
(C) The sign structure is located at least thirty feet from the street curb. An area of at least four feet adjacent to the sign structure must be landscaped;
(D) Sign faces do not exceed two per sign structure and shall be perpendicular to the street;
(E) Sign area does not exceed sixty square feet per sign face;
(F) A maximum of five uses are identified per sign face.
(ii) The design and location of all identifications signs shall be subject to the approval of the director of community development.
(9) For sale, rent, or lease signs subject to the following:
(a) A permit is required prior to placement of any such sign or signs on a parcel, subject to the approval of the director of community development;
(b) The design and appearance of the sign shall be in harmony with the design and appearance of the structures on the parcel;
(c) Only one such sign shall be displayed per four hundred feet of street frontage of the property to which it refers;
(d) No such signs shall be closer than one hundred feet to each other and shall not exceed twelve square feet in sign area and eight feet in height as measured from the top of the nearest street curb;
(e) Any such sign shall be placed at least five feet inside any property line and at least twenty feet from a property corner adjacent to the intersection of two public streets; and
(f) Any such sign or signs shall not be illuminated. (Ord. 982 § 1, 2013; Ord. 770 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. 725 § 1 (part), 1993; Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.950 Commercial and industrial sign limitations.
All wall mounted signs for commercial or industrial uses shall conform to the following restrictions:
(1) No sign shall project further than eighteen inches from a building.
(2) Signs on an occupancy elevation facing an adjacent residential area and not separated by a street or a substantial parking area shall conform to the permitted sign uses designated for the facing residential area. (Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)
22.48.970 Penalty for violation of Section 22.48.900(2) and (7).
Every person violating Section 22.48.900(2) and (7) shall be guilty of an infraction. Upon a first violation the person shall receive a warning citation and have five days from the date of the citation to cure the violation. Upon failure to cure the violation or upon the second violation occurring within one year of the first violation the person shall be issued an infraction citation punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars. Every violation occurring after the second violation within one year of the first violation shall be punishable by a fine of two hundred dollars. If the person has failed to cure the violation within five days from the receipt of an infraction citation, each separate day or portion thereof following which any such violation occurs or continues constitutes a separate offense. (Ord. 720 § 1 (part), 1993)