HomeMy WebLinkAbout95 - Regulating Signs.<
ORD11UNCE NO. 95
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITr OF COSTA MESA REDULATING CONSTRUCTION, LOCATION,
PLACEMENT, AND MAINTEWME OF BILLBOARDS., ADVERTISING SIGNS AND DEVICES AND
AWNINGS IN THE CITY OF COSTA YdESA 111D PROVIDING FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF ANX
VIOIATI0N THEREOF.
The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa does ordain as follows:
SECTION L DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Ordinance the followirg
words, when used herein, shall havr: the meaning stt.ached to them by this Sections
(a) Billboards - Azar siCn or advertisement used as an outdoor dispIV
by painting, posting or arfi_,:irC on any surface 4 pi.ctux�, Emblem, words,
figures, numerals or intcterin for t::.: purpose of making; amrthing known, adver-
tised or displayed and being remote from its point of sale.
(b) Advertiv:L g si,Yms or >3r Bras - The term "advertising signs or
devices" shall be deemed to moan structure of wW kind or character which is
erected, used, or maintained fe:r putdoor advertising purposes, upon which any
poster, bill, printing, painting or other advertisement of arty kind whatsoever
mwy be placed, including walls of buildings or structures, and moveable and
portable signs not attached to the building or the ground,
(c) Awnings - Awnings are a permanent or temporary structure attached
to, wholly supported by, a&l installed over or in front of openings, or windows
in a building and consisting of a fixed or moveable frame, with a top or sides
of canvas, light sheet metal., or other material not .intended to support a
live load,
(d) Building Line - For the purpose of this Ordinance,, a property line
shall also mean a building line whose boundaries are established by a building
line ordinance.
(e) Face of Building - is the general outer surface, not including
cornices, bay windows or other ornamentall trim, of wW main exterior wall of
a building,
ground.
(f) around Sign - is a detached sign erected upas or supported by the
(g) Projecting Sign - is a sign other than. 'a wall sign suspended from
or supported by a building or structure and prcjeating out therefrom.
(h) Roof Sign - is a sign 3re:cted upon or above a roof or parapet wall
of a building or structure,
(i) Sign - is a display— 'bot ,d. screen, structure, object or part thereof,
used to announce, declare, demonstrate, display or othendse advertise and
attract the att:entirn of the public.,
ti
(j) gall Sign - is a sign attached to or erected against the wall of a
building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately
Parallel to the plane of said wall.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance is intended to regulate the construction,
erection, alteration, repair and maintenance of all billboards, signs and
awnings and their supports in the incorporated territory of the City of Costa
Mesa.
SECTION 3. P01MITS. A building, permit shall be required for every
billboard sign and siCn str►zcture xnd a�..n3mg3 regulated by this Ordinance.
Where signs are illnuinrated by electric lighting, a separate Electrical
Permit shall be obtained as reQuL-r---1 'Jar the Electrical Code, Ordinance No. 31.
SECTION It. PLA - 11S. Two copies of plmis and specifications shall be
submitted with the appl%caai.on .for peril -t for each sign except cloth and banner
signs. Such plans shall show complete details, method of attachment or support,
location and materials to be used. Plazis for supports of all roof signs and
other signs subject to excessive stresses shall be accompanied by structural
computations.
Sufficient data shall be submitted to show that the supporting surface
and other members of an existing building to which a sign is to be attached,
are in good condition, and are adequately strong to support the load.
SECT -TON S. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. Sign frames and supporting
construction shall be designed and constructed as provided in the Uniform Building
Code as adopted by the City of Costa Masa,, Ordinance No. 31, with the following
exceptions:
(1) All portions of such structures sixty feat (601) or less
above grade shall be designed for wind pressvre of not less than 20 pounds
per square foot, provided that ground signs not exceeding thirty --five feet
(351) in height shall be designed for a wind pressure of -not less than fifteen
(15) pounds per square foot. All portions of such structures more than sixty
feet (601) above grade shall be designed for a wind pressure of not less than
thirty (30) pounds per square foot.
(2) Structural steel members shall be not less than one-quarter inch
(1/Z") thick if irWalvanized, and Three-si-Kteenths inch (3/1611) thick if all
members including bolts ,and :Fastenings are galvanized. Bolts and rivets used in
sign structures supporting siL;ns one hundred (100) square feet in area or more,
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shall be not leas than one-half inch (1/211) in diameter. On such structinns
supporting signs less than one hundred (100) square feet in area, bolts sand
rivets shall be not less than t1wee-eights inch (3/8") in diameter,
Supports shall be designed so that all loads and reactions shall be
transmitted to the ground through the structural framework and walls of
supporting buildings or structures,
Signs eree teat on buildings or structures shall be securely attached
by means of adequa to brackcts, e:�,ans:�on bolts, through bolts or lad;
screws. No matnrl al. part, portion e ;ulpn;ent thereof or therefor shal3.
be used which ri,av } ^:!nrc da6erois bocause of vibration, corrosion, disintegration
or for alb* oth-o:- reason vt tcever. tAre other than stranded cable shall not
be considered a.<3 a .ghat e fastening, i-; cccpt for cloth and banner signs.
If saapports of an e:e.stin; strue—Au e era found to be inadequate, they
shall be adequately str wigti,ened before the sign is eructed.
SECTION 6. PftOJBcmION AND CLEARP,NCE. ?roj3cting signs zany project
over a public street, public sidewalk or building line a distance as determined
by the clearance of the bobtoms theracf above tie level of the sidewalk or grade
immediately below, as follows: For each:two feat (29) of clearance in excess
of eight: feet (89) the sign shall be alloweia to project one foot (11) provided,
however, that no structure sha.11 project to Athin two _feet (2 B) of the curb
line regea-dless of clearance above grade.
Signs p)-r,je-ct3a�, more than slag inches (611) from the face of a building
over private property used or intended to be used by tale general public, ahall
have a minimum clear -A -ria -s o." eight: feet- (8 u) abave said sidewalk or grade.
SECTION 7. SDLP -SUPPORTING SIGNS -- SIV-, LOCATION.
(a) Small s:;gna not exceeding eight (8) square feet in size and not
extending four feet .;4o) above gr:>- ad lenres may be located anywhere on the
premises, provided, however, that onl,y one s1- a shall be allo*sed for each
building site.
(b) Large signs iz excess of eight (8) s;uare feet shall not exceed
in square foot area an amo-Lint equal to ow -half (1/2) the front footage of
the property on which the same is to 'cc-, erected. Such signs shall have a
minimum ver-ticle clearanc+� of eight Pict (8 2) and shall set midwW between
the sidelines of the property, provided bnr,Tever, that an allowance of ten percent
(10%) of -the width oaf' -the property shtdll_ be allowed on either side of said midway
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point. In cases of corner lots, the n trrowest width shall be deemed to
be the frontage of said lot.
(c) Setbacks - Iarge, Self -S wport3ng Signs. Large, self-supporting
signs shall be located at lease toil feet (1Q fl) back from the front property
line, except that such signs may be a:--icted to the front property line if
the property Omer signs a written aprzemant �,Ith the City agreeing to move
such sign at his own expense irn the £,> t the 1-11ght-of way is widened.
SECTION B. PRO;iIIIiTi n LOC,AT: CF ?S. No si;ri r;hal2 project Into ar r
alley whatsoever below a he -_,ht of -feet (D1,0) above grade or more
than six Inches \6M) i_ -lion over cot? ter : not (149)
No sign sha-11 be erectod r L:sac'.: a aa1uy,;r tinct nxq portion of its
surface or supports will Interfere 3n art way -,fl+.h the -free use of any .fixe
escape, exit or standpipe, or obstruct a1 -V required ventilator, door or
stairway. No sign shall obstruct x, -tree use of wV window on the same premises.
No sign shall be erccte?:1 in !nice <; manner as to interfere with, mislead
or confuse traffic.
SECTION 9. COMBINATION SIGNS. Each portion of a sign which is subject
to more than one classification shat -L meet the .requirements for the classifica-
tions to Which such portion is subject.
SECTION 10. MAINTENANCE. Signs and sign structures shall be maintained,
at all timos in a state of good repair, ,pith all braces, bolts, clips, supporting
frame and fastenings free from deterioration,, termite infestation, rot, rust
or loosening. They shall be able to safely withstand at all times the Wind
pressure for which they Were originally designed, and in no crze lass than
fifteen pounds (15) per square foot.
SECTION 11. WOOD GROUND SIGRtS. ground signs of good shall have all
members which extend into the ground protected with an approved preservative.
SECTION 12. BILLBOARDS. Billboards., for the purpose of this ordinance,
shall constitute a structure, the sire, location and construction of which
shall conform to the requirement of the Unifom &tilding Code as adopted by
Ordinance No. 31 of the City of Costa Mesa.
SECTION 13. EXISTING SIGNS. COMPT.DME. All existing billboards,
signs, awnings and advertising devices of all kinds shall be altered, changed,
revised and/or replaced to co2form with all the provisions of this Ordinance
within a period of two (2) years frorr date of the adoption hereof.
SECTION 14. SIGNS PERMITTED IN RESIDENTIAL AND DWiING MSTRICTS.
No sign shall be erected or maintained in &TW zoning district now established
or hereafter created for residential or duelling purposes except that signs
shall be permitted on properties as follows:
(a) On improved properties one unlighted or indirectly lighted
name plate, not exceeding one-half (1/2) square foot in area, indicating the
name of the occupant;
(b) On improved properties, one unlightedor indirectly lighted
identification sign not exceedirg eight (8) square feet in area for each public
utilities building, park, playground, athle}.,ic field, church, club, museum,
library, public or private school, T,.hen such uses have been properly established
under the provisions of the Land Use Ordinance No. 32, as amended;
(c) On improved or unimproved properties, warning signs, subject to
approval by the Building Inspector;
(d) On improved or unimproved properties, signs authorized by a variance
of the City Planning Commission,,
SECTION 15. BANNERS, CANVAS SIGNS OR OTHER ADVERTISING DEVICES.
(a) Ary banner, canvas sign or any advertising device not specifically
defined. in this Ordinance shall_ require a permit prior to being placed on the
property.
(b) The application for the erection of such banner, capias sign and
other advertising device not specifically covered by this Ordinance shall be
made to the Planning Commission without fee, accompanied by a written statement
and sketch showing the proposed banner, canvas sign or other advertising device
proposed to be erected.
(c) The Planning Commission shall, in granting or refusing such
application, take into consideration the size, clearance and the location
thereof, which shall conform to the requirements of this Ordinance set forth
for structural signs.
(d) The Planning Commission may attach such conditions to such permit
as to period of ti:rxe as it deems necessary for the protection of property values,
and -for the preservation of safety and for the prevention of fire hazards.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, banners, canvas
signs and other advertising devices of a temporary nature placed against the
wall of the building and not projecting therefrom shall not require a permit.
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SECTION 16. AWNINGS.
(a) Head Clearance: All awnings shall have a minimum head clearance
of seven feet (79) above sidewalk, provided, however, that awnings consisting
solely of cloth valance shall have a minimum head clearance of six feet, six
inches (6#-6M) above sidewalk;
(b) Projections No awnings shall project out from the building
or structure more than two-thirds (2/3) of the distance to the curb or curb
line provided, however, that in no event shall any awning project within
twenty-four inches (2411) of the curb or curb line.
SECTION 17. PENALTIES. Any person violating any of the provisions
of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by imprisonment in the City Jail or in the County Jail
for not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine of not to exceed Five Hundred ($500,00)
Dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 18. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force
thirty (30) days from and after its passage; and prior to the expiration of
fifteen (1,5) days from the passage thereof, this Ordinance, together with the
names of the members of the City Council voting for and against the same,
shall be published once in the Costa Mesa Globe Herald, a newspaper printed
in the City of Costa Mesa.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th d of July, 1955.
Ma e city of CostaMesa-
erg o y of CostaMesa-
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, A. C. SWARTZ, City Cleek and ex -officio Clerk of the City
Council of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby certify that at at adjourned
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, held on the
18th day of July, 1955, the foregoing Ordinance was considered section by
section and that said Ordinance was then passed and adopted as a whole by
the following vote:
AYESi Councilmen: Martin, Nelson, Smith, Te4dinkle and Pinkley
NOES: Counoilmen: None
AffiIIJT: Couneilmens None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
official owl of the City of Costa Mesa this 19th day of July, 1955.
City t,lerk and ex-ofricio U19frk of the CiV Council
of the City of Costa Mesa, Chlifornia