Chapter 17.196 SIGNS – ADVERTISING STRUCTURES

Recognizing the right and need of each individual, business, firm, or corporation to identify his place of residence, business or service, and realizing that the indiscriminate erection, location, illumination, coloring, and size, and lack of proper maintenance of signs, constitutes a significant contributing factor detrimental to the purpose and intent of this chapter. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.010].

17.196.020 Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms used herein are defined as follows:

“Balloon” means an inflatable bag or other inflatable device of any size;

“Banner” means any sign of cloth, plastic, or similar lightweight material used for advertising purposes mounted to any structure, staff, pole, line, vehicle, or framing;

“Building frontage” means the lineal extent of a building or unit along either a street or a public parking area serving the business, not including loading or service areas;

“Business identification sign” means any sign erected or maintained for the purpose of identifying a bona fide business being conducted upon the premises on which the sign is located;

“Center identification sign” means a freestanding sign structure containing the name identifying an integrated business development and may also include identification signs on which the names and nature of business only within the development are uniformly displayed;

“Commercial sign” means any sign excluding noncommercial signs;

“Doubleface sign” means a single sign with two parallel sign faces back-to-back;

“Electric sign” means an advertising structure served or energized with electrical current for purpose of illuminating or for any other purpose;

“Freestanding sign” means any permanent sign not attached to a building;

“Freeway” means a highway with respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right of easement or access to or from their abutting lands, or in respect to which such owners have only limited or restricted easement or access and which is declared to be such in compliance with the Streets and Highway Code of the State;

“Integrated development” means a development consisting of five or more interrelated business establishments, in separate units, using common driveways and on-site parking facilities;

“Light post banner” means any sign of cloth, plastic, or similar lightweight material used for advertising purposes which meets the dimensional requirements set forth in this chapter and is intended to be installed on light posts;

“Monument sign” means a low profile sign, not exceeding five feet in height, supported by a solid pedestal extending under the entire length of the sign;

“Noncommercial sign” means any sign, including political signs, not advertising a business or product for sale, whether on or off site;

“Off-site sign” means any sign, including billboards, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the premises, and only incidentally on the premises if at all;

“Pennants and flags” means small strips of cloth or plastic fabric triangularly or rectangularly shaped and a rectangular piece of fabric on poles used as advertising devices;

“Permanent reader panel” means a permanently constructed changeable copy bulletin board lighted or unlighted with detachable precut letters and figures;

“Political sign” means a sign relating to a forthcoming public election or referendum indicating the name and/or picture of an individual seeking election to a public office, or a sign pertaining to issues, or a sign pertaining to the advocating by persons, groups, or parties of the political views or policies;

“Portable sign” means any movable external sign that is not permanently secured or attached to an approved permanently established structure, support or anchor;

“Projecting sign” means any sign which is affixed or attached to, and is supported solely by, a building wall or structure, or parts thereof, and extends beyond the building wall, or structure or parts thereof, more than 12 inches and whose angle of incidence to said building wall, structure or parts thereof, is greater than 30 degrees;

“Roof sign” is any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly or partially above the roofline;

“Roofline” means the height above the eaves line on sloped roofs, and above the roof covering on flat roofs except parapet walls;

“Sign” means and includes every announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illumination, insignia, surface or space when erected or maintained in view of the general public for identification, advertisement or promotion of the interests of any business or person;

“Sign area” means the entire area within the outside border of the sign. The area of a sign having no continuous border or lacking a border shall mean the entire area within a single continuous perimeter formed by no more than eight straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representations, emblem, or any fixture or similar character, integral part of the display or used as a border excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back-to-back and are at no point more than three feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area;

“Street banner” means any pennant, streamer, flag, sign, picture, figure or other object, regardless of the material of which it is made, which is suspended or otherwise displayed over any public street, way or place, designed for decoration or advertisement;

“Street frontage” means the lineal extent of a parcel of land along a street;

“Temporary sign” means any sign constructed of, or painted on, cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, plastic, or other light material;

“Wall sign” includes all flat signs, either of solid face construction or individual letters, which are placed against the exterior wall of any building or structure and extending not more than one foot from the face of the building and having the advertisement on one face only. [Ord. 1306 § 5, 2012; Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.020].

17.196.030 Permit required.

A sign permit shall be obtained from the Community Development Department prior to the placing, erecting, moving, reconstructing, altering, or displaying of any exterior signs including change of face or copy on existing signs unless exempted by LEMC 17.196.060, and not including merely refurbishing existing signs. A building permit and/or electrical permit may also be required. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.030].

17.196.040 Procedure.

A. Application for sign approval shall be made upon forms provided by the City and shall have and be accompanied by the following information and materials:

1. Three copies of plan showing:

a. Position of sign or other advertising structure in relation to adjacent building or structures;

b. The design and size, structural details and calculations signed by a registered professional engineer, if required by the Building Official;

c. A current photograph(s) showing existing signs on the premises and adjacent property, and certifying the date on which the photographs were taken;

d. A statement showing the size and dimensions of all signs existing on the premises at the time of making such applications;

e. Such other information as the City shall deem reasonable and necessary to ensure safety of construction and compliance with the intent of this chapter.

B. Fees. Every applicant, before the granting of a permit, shall pay to the Planning Division the permit fees as established by resolution for each sign or other advertising structure regulated by this chapter.

C. Issuance of Permits. It shall be the duty of the Planning and Building Divisions, upon the filing of an application for a sign permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign or advertising structure; and if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and all other adopted laws, guidelines and ordinances of the City, they shall then issue the sign permit except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

D. Revocation of Permit. The Community Development Director is authorized and empowered to revoke any permit upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provision of this chapter, with written statement for reasons of revocation. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.040].

17.196.050 Stop orders.

The issuance of a sign permit shall not constitute a waiver of this section or any ordinance of the City, and the Building Division is authorized to stop any sign or advertising structure installation which is being carried on in violation of this title, or of any other ordinance of the City. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.050].

17.196.060 Exemptions.

A. The following nonilluminated signs shall be permitted in all districts with no permit required, subject to the limitations provided in this chapter, or as otherwise provided by State law:

1. One double-faced or two single-faced real estate signs per street frontage not exceeding six feet in area nor six feet in height pertaining to the sale or rental of the property on which displayed; provided, that such signs shall be removed at the time the property is sold or rented;

On vacant parcels larger than 20,000 square feet in area, one double-faced real estate sign per street frontage not exceeding 32 square feet in area may be placed in lieu of the smaller sign; provided, that it shall be a minimum of 15 feet from any street right-of-way or driveway and shall not exceed 10 feet in height;

2. One professional nameplate or occupational sign denoting only the name and occupation of an occupant in a commercial building or public institutional building; provided, that said sign does not exceed two square feet in area and is attached to and mounted parallel to the face of the building not exceeding one inch from the wall;

3. One nameplate, denoting only the name of occupants of a dwelling, and not exceeding two square feet in area not located closer than two feet to the property line;

4. Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing or danger signs;

5. Nonadvertising warning signs or trespassing signs on private property posted no closer than 100 feet apart not exceeding three feet in area;

6. Nonadvertising signs of public utility companies as may be required in their operations in providing services for the health and welfare of the general public, or as required by any law or regulations of the State or any agency thereof;

7. One sign per street frontage identifying the development and denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed upon work under construction; provided, however, that no such sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area nor eight feet in height;

8. Noncommercial window display signs advertising specific event. Each business may display one such sign in its window containing a maximum of four square feet in area, for not more than 30 days before the event takes place. The sign must be removed within 24 hours after the event takes place;

9. Nonadvertising displays commemorating legal holidays; providing, however, that said displays are not detrimental to public health, safety and general welfare;

10. Temporary political signs subject to the regulations in LEMC 17.196.120, Temporary political signs. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.060].

17.196.070 Nonconforming signs.

Any permanent sign legally erected and maintained at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title, although each sign does not conform to the regulations herein specified, may continue to be used. However, at the time of any change to the sign including change of face of the sign, the sign shall be removed or made to conform to the provisions of this title.

All other nonconforming signs and advertising shall be removed within 60 days of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.070].

17.196.080 Noncommercial signs.

Noncommercial signs, including political signs, shall be allowed under any circumstance in which a commercial sign is allowed, pursuant to the same rules and regulations as are applicable to any commercial sign, and as additionally allowed pursuant to this chapter. The City shall not have the right nor the power to review, approve or disapprove the content of any such signs. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.075].

17.196.090 Removal of obsolete signs.

It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to have signs pertaining to enterprises or occupants that are no longer using a property removed or the sign copy obliterated within 30 days after the associated enterprise or occupant has vacated the premises. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.080].

17.196.100 Prohibited signs.

All signs not specifically permitted by other provisions of this chapter shall be prohibited. The following signs shall not be permitted unless specifically allowed by a specific plan, overlay district, a development agreement pursuant to Chapter 19.12 LEMC, or other section of this code:

A. Portable signs, such as freestanding or wheeled signs higher than 42 inches in height, and metallic balloons;

B. Vehicles containing advertising parked on public or private property for the primary purpose of advertising or directing attention to a permanent business;

C. Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing, moving or intermittent lighting;

D. Rotating or animated signs, or signs which contain any moving parts;

E. No signs, lights or other advertising structure shall be located in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, color or movement may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, nor shall such sign advertising structure make use of any word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic;

F. Spinners or similar advertising devices;

G. Signs which exceed the roofline or parapet to which such signs are attached;

H. Any off-site advertising, including billboards, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. This prohibition shall specifically not apply to noncommercial signs, including political signs. [Ord. 1306 § 6, 2012; Ord. 1068 § 3, 2000; Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.090].

17.196.110 Advertising on public property.

A. No person, except a public officer or City employee in the performance of his duty shall paste, post, paint or erect any flag, pennant, sign or notice of any kind or cause the same to be done upon public property, street, bridge, or sidewalk within the City and no person shall attach any item to private utility company poles without prior written approval from the utility company to which such poles belong;

B. Exceptions. Signs and banners promoting cultural, civic, patriotic or special events or activities of general public interest taking place within the City to the benefit of the entire community and authorized by the City Manager or designee, pursuant to LEMC 17.196.165. [Ord. 1306 § 7, 2012; Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.100].

17.196.120 Temporary political signs.

A. General. Political signs are permitted in a district subject to the following limitations:

1. Time Limits. No sign shall be posted more than 90 days prior to the election to which it pertains. All political signs shall be removed within seven days following the election to which they pertain;

B. Exceptions. Political signs shall be prohibited in locations listed below:

1. Public Right-of-Way. No political sign shall be posted within the street right-of-way (including, but not limited to, median islands, tract entry planters, treewells and parkways), or on any traffic-control sign, private or public utility company poles;

2. Public Facilities. No political sign shall be posted on any building or on any land owned by the City. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.110].

17.196.130 Temporary advertising for new residential developments.

This section provides the standards for the implementation of on-site and off-site subdivision signs. The purpose of these standards is to avoid adverse impacts to existing residential neighborhoods, to assist the potential customers to new residential developments, and to help reduce the aesthetic impacts on the streetscape.

A. On-Site Signs and Flags. New residential developments which offer 10 or more units for sale or lease may erect temporary on-site advertising signs subject to the following:

1. Size.

a. One sign per residential development may be located within the boundaries of the development. Such signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in area and with a total height of 20 feet above grade;

b. Additionally, up to 10 flags shall be allowed, such flags shall not exceed 15 square feet in area and with a total height of 20 feet above grade.

2. Approval Required. Signs and flags are subject to approval of a temporary sign permit by the Director. The permit shall be valid for one year. Extensions may be granted by the Director upon request of the applicant until all units are sold;

3. Bond Required. Such signs and flags are subject to a $500.00 cash bond in order to guarantee prompt removal upon expiration of the approval period, not to exceed 30 days;

B. Off-Site Directional Signs. Residential off-site directional signs, hereafter signs, shall be allowed subject to the following:

1. Scope of Regulations. Signs for the following developments shall be allowed:

a. Single-family, condominium and townhome projects within the City of Lake Elsinore with 30 lots/units or more.

b. Apartment complexes within the City of Lake Elsinore with 25 units or more.

2. Number of Signs. Each subdivision shall be allowed a maximum of five individual signs to lead the potential customers to a particular development.

3. Sign Standards. Each individual sign shall contain only the name of the development and an arrow indicating direction.

4. Location of Signs.

a. These signs shall be permitted along any of the following streets as classified in the General Plan Circulation Element: urban arterial, major, secondary, collector, and split-level roadway.

(1) Signs placed on public right-of-way shall require an encroachment permit.

(2) CalTrans permit shall be obtained for signs along Highway 74.

b. Signs shall be located at least 500 feet away from any other sign, unless it is determined by the Director that a closer spacing will better accomplish the intent of this section. Signs on different sides of the same intersection are exempt from this requirement.

5. Procedures for Sign Approval.

a. Director and City Engineer approval is required for sign locations.

b. Director approval is required prior to placing an individual sign on an approved sign location; furthermore, his/her approval is required prior to replacing an individual sign with a new one.

c. Permits for individual signs shall not be issued prior to issuance of first building permit for construction of that project.

d. Signs shall be allowed until the subdivision is sold out and signs shall be removed in 30 days.

6. Violation and Removal.

a. Any sign placed contrary to the provisions of this title may be removed by the City and the cost of removal shall be deducted from said deposit. Additional costs incurred by the City resulting from the removal of illegal signs shall be charged to the developer.

b. There shall be no additions, tag signs, flags, streamers, devices, display boards, or appurtenances added to the sign as originally approved.

c. No other directional signing, such as posters or trailer signs, shall be used.

d. All nonconforming subdivision directional signs associated with the subdivision in question must be removed prior to the issuance of a new individual sign permit for that subdivision. [Amended during 2008 recodification; Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.120].

17.196.140 Off-site directional signs.

A. Off-site directional signs for the location of residential open houses, and garage sales are permitted subject to the following:

1. Signs may only be posted on weekends between 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, on legal holidays between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.;

2. Signs shall not be posted within the public right-of-way. Signs may not be posted in median islands, on utility poles, light standards, traffic signals, and street trees;

3. There shall be no more than one sign per direction of traffic at any intersection;

4. Signs shall be at least 1,000 feet apart, except at intersections;

5. Maximum area of directional signs shall not exceed three square feet nor shall any sign be erected in excess of four feet in height;

6. Signs shall be posted on private property.

B. Signs in violation of this section may be subject to removal and disposition without notice or warning. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.130].

17.196.150 Temporary advertising for developments other than new residential developments.

Temporary advertising for new developments other than residential projects shall be permitted subject to the following:

A. One freestanding sign per development may be erected. Such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area, nor 10 feet in height. Larger signs may be permitted subject to approval of a use permit, pursuant to LEMC 17.415.070;

B. One wall sign per building may be displayed. Such signs shall not exceed one square foot per lineal foot of building frontage; provided, however, that no sign shall exceed 50 square feet;

C. Signs shall not be displayed for more than one year. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.140].

17.196.160 Temporary signs.

Temporary signs such as pennants, banners, flags, nonmetallic inflatable devices, balloons, and movable signs shall be permitted for promotional purposes subject to the following regulations:

A. All temporary signs shall require a permit and shall be subject to the review and approval of the Planning Division;

B. Pennants, banners, flags, nonmetallic inflatable (small or large) devices (balloons), and movable signs shall be displayed only at the location where the promotion occurs;

C. The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per occurrence period shall be two sign types;

D. The display of temporary signs for promotional purposes shall be subject to the following additional regulations:

1. Pennants and Flags.

a. Pennants and/or flags on strings and flags on poles shall be allowed for a maximum of 30 consecutive days per occurrence period, six times per calendar year. No more than two occurrence periods shall be combined at any one time. Each occurrence period shall be separated by at least 14 consecutive days if not combined;

b. Flags on poles shall be limited to 10 flags per occurrence period. Each flag shall not exceed 15 square feet in area;

c. The height of pennants and/or flags on strings and flags on poles shall not exceed 20 feet above grade;

d. Pennants and/or flags shall be kept in good condition at all times.

2. Banners.

a. Banners shall be allowed a maximum of 30 consecutive days per occurrence period, four times per calendar year. Each occurrence period shall be separated by at least 30 consecutive days;

b. Only one banner shall be permitted per building and/or tenant space;

c. Banner sign area shall not exceed 50 square feet;

d. Banners shall be attached to the building or canopy parallel to the building face. No portion of any banner shall project more than six inches from the face of the building or canopy to which it is attached;

e. Banner shall be kept in good condition at all times.

3. Small inflatable nonmetallic devices (balloons):

a. Balloons 12 inches or less in diameter may be allowed without a temporary sign permit on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and on legal holidays if the holiday is on a Thursday or Monday;

b. The height of the balloons shall not exceed 45 feet above grade.

4. Large inflatable nonmetallic devices (balloons):

a. Balloons greater than 12 inches in diameter such as inflatable statuary, or a hot air balloon may be allowed with a temporary permit a maximum of 30 consecutive days per occurrence period, four times per calendar year. Each occurrence period shall be separated by 30 consecutive days and must be included as part of a permitted promotional period;

b. The height of the balloons shall not exceed 55 feet above grade;

c. Balloon shall be allowed only on private property;

d. Balloon shall be placed so as not to impede pedestrian and vehicular traffic;

e. Balloon shall be properly secured to the ground or a structure to withstand extreme wind conditions;

f. Balloon shall be kept in good condition at all times;

g. Only one balloon shall be permitted per building or tenant space.

E. Movable signs defined as sandwich boards, made of wood, plastic, or metal which may contain commercial information may be allowed with a sign permit reviewed and approved by the Planning Division on a yearly basis subject to the following additional regulations:

1. Only one movable sign shall be permitted per tenant space;

2. Sign area shall not exceed 30 inches wide and 42 inches high and have no more than two faces;

3. Sign must be placed so as not to impede pedestrian and vehicular traffic;

4. Sign shall be allowed only on private property;

5. Sign shall be displayed only during operating business hours;

6. Sign shall be kept in good condition at all times.

F. Temporary window signs may be allowed without a temporary sign permit subject to the following regulations:

1. Sign area shall not exceed 25 percent of the window area;

2. Holiday window decorations shall be permitted. The duration for the decoration of the window shall be limited to a period not exceeding six weeks prior to the holiday and two weeks following the holiday. [Ord. 1306 § 8, 2012; Ord. 1068 § 3, 2000; Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.150].

17.196.165 Temporary street banners, light pole banners and flags.

Street banners and light pole banners and flags that are used for promoting cultural, civic, patriotic or special events or activities of general public interest taking place within the City shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:

A. Street banners, light pole banners and flags shall not be used for political or commercial advertising, except that logos and trademarks of sponsoring organizations shall be permitted. The total area of logos and trademarks shall be limited to 25 percent of each banner’s or flag’s area.

B. Graphic/text design is required on both sides of each banner or flag.

C. No person shall install any street banner, light pole banner and/or flag without a permit submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in LEMC 17.196.040. A separate permit shall be required for each location; provided, however, that all banners and flags installed in one City block or in multiple contiguous City blocks, by one permittee, shall be deemed to be at the same location.

D. Permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and shall be valid for a term not to exceed 30 days. City-sponsored and City co-sponsored events shall have approval priority over other events located within the City of Lake Elsinore.

E. Banners and flags shall not obstruct the public’s view of traffic signals, street signs, or any other regulatory, directional, or other City-approved signs, in any way.

F. Banners and flags shall not be displayed for more than 30 days prior to the beginning of the event.

G. All banners and flags shall be removed by the applicant within 48 hours after the conclusion of the event that the banners and flags are promoting or of the end of the approved banner or flag display period, whichever occurs first.

H. All parts of street banners shall be maintained at a minimum height of 14 feet above the sidewalk or 16 feet above the roadway.

I. The length of street banners shall not exceed 20 feet and their height shall not exceed three feet. Street banners shall include semicircular wind holes.

J. All proposed light pole banners shall be a maximum three feet wide and five feet high. All parts of light pole banners shall be maintained at a minimum height of eight feet above the sidewalk.

K. No permits shall be issued for banners or flags on streets where adjoining land use is primarily residential.

L. Applications for banners and/or flags proposed to be attached to any private property (e.g., buildings) shall be accompanied by an affidavit from the property owner authorizing the use of private property.

M. The applicant must obtain permission to attach banners and/or flags to any public utility maintained light pole or other utility pole and shall provide evidence of such permission to the City prior to the issuance of the temporary permit.

N. The applicant must obtain an encroachment permit issued by Caltrans in order to attach banners and/or flags within the public right-of-way of any State highway and shall provide evidence of such permit to the City prior to the issuance of the temporary sign permit.

O. Banners and flags shall be inspected frequently by the permittee for any deterioration, damage or tears to the banner, associated hardware, or the approved pole. If any deterioration, damage or tears exist, the banner and/or flag and all its attachments shall be removed immediately by the permittee at no cost to the City.

P. Unless waived or modified by the City Manager, applicant shall submit proof of personal injury and property damages insurance of the combined limits of $1,000,000. Such insurance shall provide coverage and be placed with a company with a rating approved by the City Attorney. The City and its officers, agents and employees shall be named as additional insureds on said policy and the City shall be provided with a certificate of insurance evidencing this fact. Both the applicant and any independent contractors shall also provide copies of their workers’ compensation certificates for all employees.

Q. The applicant shall also agree to indemnify the City, its officers and employees from any claim or liability.

R. Banners and flags may be subject to a $500.00 cash bond in order to guarantee prompt removal upon expiration of the approval period.

S. The City of Lake Elsinore is not responsible for the disappearance of or damage to banners and/or flags from any cause including but not limited to wind, weather, theft or vandalism.

T. All fees associated with the installation, maintenance and removal of banners and flags shall be the responsibility of the applicant and/or permittee. [Ord. 1306 § 9, 2012].

17.196.170 Signs in residential zones.

The following regulations shall apply to all signs and outdoor advertising structures in residential zones, except as provided in 17.196.060, Exemptions.

A. For other than single-family detached residential, developments on lots less than 100 feet in width may be permitted one wall sign containing a maximum area of 10 square feet;

B. Large scale developments having more than 12 units and a lot width greater than 100 feet and nonresidential developments with a lot width greater than 100 feet may be permitted one sign per street frontage containing no more than one square foot per each 10 feet of linear lot frontage and shall not exceed 32 square feet. Such signs may be freestanding or wall signs;

C. All signs shall harmonize with the scale and design of the development and if lighted shall be indirectly lighted;

D. Freestanding signs shall have an overall maximum height of 42 inches above grade. Such sign shall not extend out from the furthest projection of the main building more than five feet on any side or front yard;

E. A wall sign shall be fastened parallel to the surface of the main building and may be placed at a height not greater than two-thirds of the height of the building surface upon which it is located. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.160].

17.196.180 Signs in commercial districts.

The following regulations shall apply to all signs and outdoor advertising structures in the C-O, C-1, C-M, and C-P districts:

A. No sign shall be permitted that does not pertain directly to an approved business conducted on the premises, except as provided in LEMC 17.196.060, Exemptions;

B. All signs, except those provided for in LEMC 17.196.160, Temporary signs, shall be permanent in nature and shall be consistent with and reflect the architectural design of the building with which they are associated, and shall incorporate unifying features such as materials;

C. The total sign area permitted per building frontage shall not exceed one square foot per lineal foot of building frontage on which the sign is located subject to the following:

1. Building frontage may not be combined to permit a larger sign on any one building frontage;

2. Signs shall be attached to the building or canopy, parallel to the building face. No portion of any sign or its supporting structure may project more than six inches from the face of the building or structure to which it is attached;

D. Businesses in an integrated development shall comply with a uniform sign program approved by the Planning Commission;

E. In addition to the above, businesses in a separate building and occupying at least 100 feet on one street may be permitted a freestanding sign subject to the following:

1. Sign area per street frontage shall not exceed 20 square feet per 100 lineal feet of the street frontage on which the sign is located; provided, however, that no one sign shall exceed 60 square feet;

2. Maximum height of freestanding signs shall not exceed six feet above the public sidewalk;

3. Signs shall reflect the architectural design of the building with which they are associated, and shall incorporate unifying features such as materials;

4. No portion of any sign or supporting structure shall be located closer than five feet to any property line, nor be located in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic;

5. No sign is permitted far frontages on local residential streets;

6. All freestanding signs shall include the address of the business in numerals and/or letters at least six inches high. Addresses shall not be obscured by landscaping or other obstructions;

7. All freestanding signs shall be located in a planter area not less than 50 square feet in area and with a minimum width of five feet.

F. In addition to the above, one center identification sign per street frontage is permitted for integrated developments of five or more separate units subject to the following:

1. The sign shall not exceed 30 square feet per 100 lineal feet of street frontage on which the sign is located; provided, however, that the maximum sign area shall not exceed 320 square feet per sign;

2. No sign shall exceed the height of the building with which it is associated;

3. Signs shall reflect the architectural design of the building with which they are associated, and shall incorporate unifying features such as materials;

5. No sign is permitted for frontages on local residential streets;

6. All freestanding signs shall include the address of the center in numerals and/or letters at least six inches high. Addresses shall not be obscured by landscaping or other obstructions;

7. All freestanding signs shall be located in a planter area not less than 100 square feet in area with a minimum width of five feet;

8. All freestanding center identification signs shall be subject to the review and approval of the Planning Commission subject to the provisions of LEMC 17.415.050.

G. Businesses not located in integrated developments of five or more units and located on a parcel with at least 100 lineal feet of street frontage on one arterial street shall be permitted one freestanding building identification sign per street frontage subject to the same requirements in subsection (E) of this section;

H. Small suspended or projecting signs may be permitted in addition to provisions of subsections (C), (E), (F) and (G) of this section, subject to the following:

1. A maximum of one such sign per building frontage is permitted; provided, that it is perpendicular to the main face of the building and suspended from a canopy or projects not more than three feet from the building face, and a maximum of one to two inches in thickness;

2. Signs shall not exceed two square feet in area and shall have a minimum ground clearance of eight feet;

3. All such signs shall be nonenergized and nonelectrical.

I. Freeway Identification Signs. Signs oriented to freeway traffic shall be permitted subject to the following limitations:

1. Properties containing such signs shall be adjacent to a freeway or a freeway ramp;

2. Businesses are permitted a wall sign facing the freeway subject to the limitations of subsection (C) of this section;

3. Individual businesses and integrated developments of five or more units with at least 150 feet of freeway frontage may be permitted a freestanding freeway identification sign subject to the following:

a. Total sign area shall not exceed 30 square feet per 100 lineal feet of freeway frontage; provided, however, that the maximum sign area shall not exceed 150 square feet;

b. No sign shall exceed 45 feet in height;

c. All freestanding signs shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission subject to the provisions of LEMC 17.415.050;

d. Said business must be a freeway-oriented business, as determined by the Planning Commission;

e. Said business must be easily accessible to a freeway ramp, as determined by the Planning Commission;

f. Said sign shall not block another freeway-oriented freestanding sign. The applicant shall be responsible for providing the Planning Commission with evidence to assure satisfactory compliance with this requirement;

g. Said sign shall be located in a planter area not less than 100 feet with one dimension being at least five feet.

J. Temporary window signs, including signs painted on windows, shall be permitted subject to the following:

1. They shall be permitted only inside a window of the business to which such sign pertains;

2. Total area occupied by said sign shall not screen the view of the inside of said tenant space;

3. Signs shall be displayed in a neat and orderly manner and shall not contain any words, symbols or pictures that may be offensive to the general public;

K. Signs for gasoline dispensing establishments shall comply with the provisions of LEMC 17.196.210. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.170].

17.196.190 Signs in the Central Business District (CBD).

Regulations for the CBD shall be per the Downtown Design Review Guidelines/Standards. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.180].

17.196.200 Signs in the industrial districts.

The following regulations shall apply to all signs and outdoor advertising structures in the M district:

A. No sign shall be permitted that does not pertain directly to an approved business conducted on the premises;

C. The total sign area permitted per building frontage shall not exceed one square foot on which the sign is located subject to the following:

1. Maximum size of any sign shall be 100 square feet;

2. Building frontages may not be combined to permit a larger sign on any one building frontage;

3. Signs shall be attached to the building or canopy, parallel to the building face. No portion of any sign or its supporting structure may project more than six inches from the face of the building or structure nor exceed three inches in thickness, to which it is attached;

D. Business in an integrated development shall comply with a uniform sign program approved by the Planning Commission;

E. In addition to the above, businesses in a separate building and occupying the entire building area on a parcel with a street frontage of at least 100 feet on one street may be permitted a freestanding monument sign subject to the following:

2. Maximum height of the sign shall not exceed four feet in height;

3. No portion of any sign or supporting structure shall be located closer than five feet to any property line, not be located in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic;

4. No sign is permitted for frontages on local residential streets;

5. All freestanding signs shall include the address of the business in numerals and/or letters at least six inches high. Addresses shall not be obstructed by landscaping or other obstructions;

6. All freestanding signs shall be located in a planter area not less than 50 square feet in area and with a minimum width of five feet;

F. In addition to the above, one center identification sign per street frontage is permitted for integrated developments of five or more separate units subject to the same regulations stipulated in subsection (E) of this section;

G. Freeway Identification Signs. Individual businesses and integrated developments may be permitted a wall sign facing the freeway subject to the limitations of subsection (C) of this section;

H. Signs for gasoline dispensing establishments shall comply with the provisions of LEMC 17.196.210. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.190].

17.196.210 Signs for gasoline dispensing establishments.

The following regulations shall apply to all signs and advertising structures for service stations, including mini-markets or similar associated uses:

A. One freestanding sign per street frontage may be permitted subject to the following:

1. Sign area shall not exceed 20 square feet per 100 lineal feet of street frontage, plus 24 square feet. Price signing shall be included within this sign area;

2. Maximum height of the sign shall not exceed six feet above the adjacent public sidewalk;

3. Signs shall reflect the architectural design of the building with which they are associated and shall incorporate unifying features such as materials;

4. Street frontages may not be combined to permit a larger sign on any frontage;

5. All freestanding signs shall include the address of the business in numerals and/or letters at least six inches high. Addresses shall not be obstructed by landscaping or other obstructions;

6. All freestanding signs shall be located in a planter area not less than 50 square feet in area and with a minimum of five feet.

B. The total sign area of all wall signs per building frontage shall not exceed one square foot per lineal foot of building frontage on which the sign is located;

C. Signs above pumps and pump islands shall be limited to directions for use of pumps and payments, or other signs required by State regulations, and sign area shall not exceed a total of 10 square feet per pump island;

D. Window signs, including signs painted on windows shall be permitted subject to the following:

1. They shall be permitted only inside a window of the business to which such signs pertain;

2. Total area occupied by said sign shall not screen the view of the inside of said tenant space;

3. Signs shall be displayed in a neat and orderly manner and shall not contain any words, symbols or pictures that may be offensive to the general public;

E. Temporary advertising signs may be permitted subject to the provisions of LEMC 17.196.160, Temporary signs. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.200].

17.196.220 Signs in open space and recreational districts.

Except as provided in LEMC 17.196.060, Exemptions, all signs in open space and recreational districts shall be subject to review and approval of the Planning Commission, which shall consider the special circumstances of these zones, including special hazards and overlay districts which may be associated with them. Generally, the regulations set forth in LEMC 17.196.180, Signs in commercial districts, shall be used as guidelines for signs in these districts. [Ord. 937, 1992. Code 1987 § 17.94.210].