§ 21.44.600. Prohibited signs.

The following signs shall be prohibited:

A.

Unlawful Sign Projections. No sign shall project into an adjoining private property under separate ownership, or into a public right-of-way or into an established setback unless an encroachment permit has been issued by the City Engineer.

B.

Flashing Signs. No sign shall flash, shimmer or glitter, nor give the appearance of flashing, shimmering or glittering.

C.

Moving or Rotating Signs. No sign shall rotate, oscillate or otherwise move, nor give the appearance of rotating, oscillating or moving.

D.

Sound, Odor, Particulate Matter. No sign shall emit audible sound, odor or particulate matter.

E.

Unlawful Illumination.

1.

No sign illumination system shall contain or use any beacon, spot, or stroboscopic light, or reflector which is visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property.

2.

Generally, illuminated signs shall not be allowed to change color or light intensity. The exception being neon, fiber optic, or light-emitting diode (LED) light sources, which are permitted to gradually change color. Light intensity shall not be allowed to change.

3.

No floodlight shall be used which is not hooded or shielded so that the light source is not visible from any public right-of-way, adjacent property, or residential dwelling unit.

F.

Portable Signs. Portable signs are prohibited, except that a portable sign may be displayed to indicate a temporarily closed vehicular entrance or exit for purposes of public safety or convenience.

G.

Street Furniture. Signs shall not be placed on street furniture, as defined in this title.

H.

Vehicle Signs. Signs identifying a business shall not be affixed to or placed in or on vehicles parked in the public right-of-way or on private property in a manner such that the vehicle functions as a sign for the business. This regulation shall not apply to buses and taxicabs legally operating within the City limits, or to other permitted uses regulated under other titles of the Municipal Code. However, mobile billboards are prohibited in Chapter 21.54 (Billboards).

I.

Obstruction of Use or Visibility. No sign shall be located so that any portion of the sign or its supports interferes with the free use of any fire escape or exit or obstructs any required fire standpipe, stairway, door, ventilator or window; nor shall any sign be located so as to obstruct the visibility (corner cut-off areas) of vehicles or pedestrians using driveways or doorways.

J.

Interference with Utility Lines. No sign shall be located which has less horizontal or vertical clearance from utility lines than that prescribed by the rules of the Public Utilities Commission of the State.

K.

Interference with Official Traffic Control Devices. No sign shall appear in color, wording, design, location or illumination to resemble or conflict with any traffic control device.

L.

Inflatable and Air-Blown Signs. Any signs or decorations that are inflatable, such as balloons of any size or shape, and any signs that are air-blown or inflated or animated by the internal flow of air, such as signs that appear to have a waving body and appendages, are prohibited.

M.

Flag Signs. Flag signs (as defined in Section 21.15.2510) are prohibited. This includes any type of flag that functions as a sign, whether affixed to a building or not, including but not limited to those mounted on curved or flexible swivel masts and commonly referred to as "sails," "feathers," or "bow banners."

N.

Decorative flags. Flags with no intrinsic meaning (usually, but not limited to, simple flags of one or several colors, with or without a design motif), which are intended only to draw attention to a building or location, are prohibited. However, nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to prohibit any flag that constitutes a protected form of expression and is in compliance with all other applicable provisions of the Municipal Code.

O.

Streamers, pennants, balloons, and the like. All types of signs and exterior decorations that can be considered steamers, pennants, balloons, and the like shall be prohibited.

P.

Projected light signs. Any sign created by projecting light onto a surface is prohibited.

Q.

Any sign not exempted or permitted by this chapter shall be prohibited.

( ORD-13-0014 , § 19(Att. A), 2013)