Ordinance No. 510 - Signs and Outdoor Advertising. , :- '~ ~
ORDINANCE NO. 510
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROSEMEAD ENACTING REGULATIONS ~
FOR SIGNS AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD ORDAINS AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Sections 9150 through 9161 of the Rosemead
Municipal Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. New sections 9900 through 9913, as set forth
in Attachment "A" to this ordinance, are hereby enacted and
made a part of the Rosemead Municipal Code.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption
• of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published
as required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this lrlthday of December, 1979.
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MAYOR
ATTgqESn~T
• ~XJ~1ir~~a2`-
CITY CLERK
I, Ellen Poochigian, City Clerk of the City of Rosemead,
do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct
copy of that ordinance adopted by the Rosemead City Council by
the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmen Cichy, Tury and Mayor Taylor
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmen Hunter & Imperial
ABSTAIN: None
ELLEN POO HIGIAN
A
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AP.TICLii IN - LM1D USI:
// C1L\PTIR 1 - %ONINC REGULAl'IONS
YARTXX~- SIGN AND OD'1'D00R AT)VER'LIS].NG REGULATIONS .~
DICrIS:tON 1 - SICNS
9900. INTENT' AND IN'CL:RPRETA`1':CON. The regular ions contained :i.n this
Yart ar.e intended to promote the hen].th, safety and welfare of ahe~Ci.ty-by
regulating existing and proposed signs or a].1 types. The specific goals
of this Ordinance are to improve the vi.sua'l., aesthetic and economic
environment of the C:i.ty through:
'(a) Controlling Che size, type' and location of: sighs in every
zone;
(b) Prov:i.ding reasonable periods of am~r.tiration for existing
signs declared non-conforming 6y the enactment of this Part.;
(c) Creation of a plan f:or amortization and removal of signs
cahich, because o.E their s:i.ze, :Location or con::Cnict:i.on, have an
adverse effect upon the residential, economic and general aesthetic
• environmenC i.n the City; and
(d) Encouraging the upgrading of existing signs to conform
• with the requirements seC forCh hereinafter. _
9901. U1i.17INIT]:ONS. Por the purpose of this Part, words, terms and
phrases are defined, and shall. he deemed to have the meaning ascribed to
them herein,as f.ol.].ows:
(a) Ai.llboard sha.l.l. mean a sCr.uCture of any lcind or. character
erected or maintained by a State licensed outdoor adverti.si.ng company
for outdoor advert.isi.ug purposes which:
(1) Solicits puhli.c support or directs public attention to
the sale, lease, haring, or use of any objects, products,-or
services noC produced, so:1d or othe_nJ:ise avail.ab:ie on the preiiii.ses
where such aclver.C:i.sing sign :is crecterl and ma:inCainecl; or.
(2) Contains a visua]. message Co the genera:L publ.:ic concern:irg
candidates for pub]._c office, matter:; relating to elections, or any
puhl.ic service announcement.
(h) Bualdi.aa directory sign shall mean any sign whi.cPi serves the
l.:imited purpose of identifying the name, address and :Lawfu]_ use of
the premises upon which it is J.ocated and sees.f.orth no other advercisc-
ment.
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• ~~~ 3 (c) Fl~(vertca].) s:itcn shall mean a sign attached to the exter:i.or
cuall of a building :with the face urea in a vertica]. plane~to the plane of
the exterior. wa11. Such sign to be a rl_Lrectory-type find-icaC:Lng only Che
• ~ name of the business and use conducted by Che teilan C.
(d) Free-standins_s.l;n sha].7. mean any sign not attached or supported
by any other stntcCure. ~ _
(e) Freeway sha11 mean a h:ighcaay to which Che ocaners of. abutting
lands have no right m easement of access to or from their abutting
lands, and cahich is declared to such in compliance with the Streets
and Highways Code of the State of CaLi.forni.a.
(f) Roof sign shall. mean any sign erected on the roof of any building
shall be solely for the purpose of. advert:isi.ng the goods and/or services
ava:i.lable within such bu'i.7.d:ing.
(g) Sale, lease or rCnC sign shall mean any sign advertising the
prcm:ises f.or. sale, lease or rent.
(h) Sign shall mean any device used for visual communlcati.on or
attraction, including, but not limited to, any announcement, declaraCion,
demonstr.at:i.on, display, i1l.ustration, insi.F;nia or symbol used to advertise
or promote the interest of any person or business, together with a]..L parts;
• maCer:ials, frame and background.
(i) Si4nirea shall. mean the total.~surface area'of a sign, defined
S as Chat total area enclosed w:iCh:in a plane or sol:i.d .fi.gure created by -
enclosing the sign within :i.magi.nary ].fines :i.n such a manner as to result
in plain parallelograms for the surface area of simple two-dimensiona].
signs and solid figure cr.eaCed by plain parallelograms e:LCher. joined at
• the extremities of each plane,~or by parall.e:1 lines ;jo:i.ning Che extrc:nri.-
" ties of. each plane, or by paraale:(. lines -,joining the extremities in each
pla:i.n paral.].elogram. 'L'hi.s w:i_:Ll result in a solid figure enclosed by
p].a:Ln para].l.elograms. The surface area is to he computed by adding the
area of. each plane surface l:hat contains any v:isua]. communications as
specified :in Section 94E11(h) hereof.
(j) '1'.emPor.arp sign sh-:11 mean a s:i. yn which is nCended or desig-
nated to advertise commnniCy or c:i.v:i.c projects, construct:Lon projects,
rent, sale or lease, or matters rclat:ing Co elections, sales by merchants,
special holidays or other specia:L events ou a temporary basis. Such
temporary sign sha:11 noC be permanently a[f:i_red to a building. A17.
temporary s:i.gns must he removed w:iCl:n ten (10) clays after. CL:e conr_:Lusion
of the event cahich they advertise.
-(k) [Jal.]. s:i.gn shall. mean an}~ sign at Cached to or erected on the
exterior. wall. of a buil.d:ing or structure with the exposed face of s:Lgn
in a plane approximately petra7le]. to the plane ofthe exterior wa:La., such
s:i.gn to be of a li.m:i.ted directory type indicating only the name of the
business and the use conducted by the tenan C.
(1) Sdindow sigh shall mean any sign exposed to public view through
• ~ a windo:a or attached, painL-ed or pasCed, in eiCher permanent or temporary
form, oa~the exter:ior~or interior of: a window. window signs shall be per-
mi.Cted in any zone e:ccept res:idenE:ial, anc]•shall cover no more than F.:iEteen
(15) percenC of any w:i.ndow.
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. ~ 9902. GliNliliAL PROV.TSIONS, STANllAItDS .AND COIJ'I'SO_LS_. Signs' shall noC
he permitted in the various zones except as expressly perm:i.tted by this
{fart, and signs so permitted shall. be subject Co all standards and regu-
• lations :in this p;lrt.
(a) Nature of copy. No sign of any kind shall be permitted to
advertise or. display an unlawful act, bus:i.ncss or purpose.
(b) Illumination and movement.
(1) I1luminaC:i.on signs shall. be located, and ].:i.ght sources
shielded to prevent glare; annoyance or hazard Co fhe public or
ne:i.ghborin propert:i.es.__ ..._ _ _ _ .:. _.
(2) Signs may be internally or indi.reciay lighted.
(3) No blinking or f.tashing signs :;hal.]. be permitted in any
zone, excepC for time and temperature signs.
(c) Height of s_i_gn permitted. ^laxi.mum -height of free-stand:Lng and
roof signs in any commercial. or indust7:ial zone shall noC exceed thirty-
five (35) fee[ above grade l.eve7. of the ad=join:ing public walk.
(d) ProjecC:ing signs prohi.biCed. Signs projecting ouC ovEr the
• bui.ld~ing line: or public right-of-way are prohii~i.ted, except projecting
flag (vertical) signs.
• (e) Flag si.,;ns - 1'r.o,jecCion over right-of-way. Clearance above
grade less that eight (H) feet--no projection is permitted. Clearance
above grade over e:i.ght (S) feet--One (1) :i.nch of projection i.snerm:i.tted
fcir each additional inch of clearance, provided that no such projecL':i.on
sha1.:L exceed a distance of four (4) feet.
(f.) YermiCS. A].1 s:igns shall be established under. a valid build:i.ng
permit in accordance with Piro and Pu:Llding code regulations.
(g) *ki:intenance. All signs shall be mainCa:ined in good condition
anti repa:Lr.`and shall j~ose no hazard to nuhlic safety sCatutes, standards
and or.d.inances. -
9903. SIGNS NO'L RI3GLLATGll ftY TIiIS Yt1R1'. .The provision in [b.is part shall
not apply to the f.ollow.ng signs except as othenaise indicated herein:
• (a) Official notices issued by any court, puhli.c body or publi.c_
of:fi.cer.
(h) Notices posted by any public o.ff.i.cer i.n performance of a oubl.ic
duty, or by any public agency, to give legal. not:i.ce.
(c) Traffic, direcC:i.onal, warning or information signs required or
authorized by law or by the federal, state or munici_paa. authority, including
directives of the public Ut.i.lities Commi.ss:i.oa.
• (d) Official signs used f.or emergency reasons.
~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~(e} 'Temporary signs displaying poli.t].cal e:LecCi_on campaign material-
.-or signs advertising community events, provided that such signs meet all size
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requirements contained :i.n this part, and further provided that such signs
are not posted more than thirty (30) days prior to the election or event
to which they pertain and are removed within two (2) caork:i.ng days thereafter.
• 9904. SIGNS PROHIBITED IN ANY %ONE. - ~ •~
(a) Signs that create a safety hazard to pedestr.:ian and vehicular
traffic.
(b) Any ground or roof sign if the proposed sign would adversely
affect access to a:i.r, light or visual corridors by adjacent resi.denti.al
property.
(c) Any .portable, folding, "A"-frame or box sign ,. or similar. signs
on rollers, casters or otherwise designed to be portable.
(d) Signs on any utility poles, traffic sign posts, traffic signals,
or signs on any parkway or sidewalk.
(e) Free-standing signs displayed from trucks, autos, trailers or
other vehicles except public buses.
(f) Revolving and/or. flashing signs.
• 9905. SIGNS IN R (RESIDENTIAL) 'LOVES. Signs i.n all R (Residentiial) zones
shall be designed and located in a manner which does not interfere with adjoining
residential uses, and which assures general aesthetic controls for a harmonious
• residential and visual environmene in the surrounding neighborhood. Those signs
permitted in R (Residential) zones shall. be:
(a) Sale, lease yr rent si ns. One (1) sign not to exceed seven (7)'
square feet in sign area.
(b) Temporary signs during construction. One (1) temporary sign,
not to exceed sixteen (l6) syuar.e feet i_n area, giving the names and
other pertinent in:Eormat.on of: the architects, contractors and engineers
of the project during any constntct:ion period. Such signs map be erected
on the date the building permit is issued, and must be removed not later
than fifteen (15) days after, notice of completion i.s filed or. occupancy
granted. -
(c) Identification s.i¢;ns.
• (1) Single and duplex dwelling structures. One (1) sign per
dwelling, not to exceed ten (10) square feet i.n area, and displaying
only the name of the property ocaner or occupant of the dwelling„ and
the address. ~.
(2) Identification signs for multiple dwelling structures. One
(1) sign noc to exceed an area of fifteen (15) square feet. Any
pylon or free-stancti.ng sign shall not- exceed a maximum height of
six (6) feet or project into a public right-of-way, nor project above
the roof line.
• {d)' Subdivision sislns: Subdivision signs for the limited purliose
' of adver.tisi.ng the er..istance and avai:labil.i.ty of new sirigle-far•.tily, duplex,
of multiple-family dwellings i.n an approved subdivision; may be erected on
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property :i.ncluded within t:hc approved subdivision. Such signs shall not
exceed a maximum size of: six (6) feet by twelve (12) feet-and an area of.
seventy-two (72) syuare fee[, nor a~ma;ti~mum height of twenty (Z O) feet
• measured from Che adjacent grade level. eo-the top of Che sign.
(1) Remova:L of subd:i.visio_n s:cgns. 'Bhe.devel.oper, upon re-
ceiving approval of any subd:iv .i.ons, e;hall agree, in car:iting„ to
remove all signs from the tract within fifteen (15) days after t'he
close of escrow on the last lot on which said signs are located,
and shall grant Che City the right Co enter upon the property and
remove said signs upon the expiration of said fifteen (15) days and
failure Co have removed said signs.' The developer shall bear all
costs and liability for city removal and disposal of said signs by
posCing a bond or providing other appropriate guarantee to per- :
formance.
(2) Lighting. Subdivision signs may he lighted by iaternal
or indirect ii.ghts.
9906. SIGi~S IN COAL"4ERCIA_L AND_INDUSTRIAI. "LOiiES. All commercial and in-
dustrial zones shall have controls and limi*_at:ions placed upon sign design and
location to minimize visual d:Lscontinuity created by large numbers of. signs
spaced i.n irregular patterns. Spac:Lng, design and size requ:iremenL's are iu-
tended to promote an attractive commercial environment withouC vehicular dis-
• tractions, bisual disorder, or economic effect on surrounding properties.
Those signs permitted i.n Commercial and Industriall.ones shawl. be:
• (a) Buil.d:ing directory s:i.gas. One (1) exterior s:i.gn aC'-each
building entrance, such sign not to exceed ten (10) syuare feet in area.
(b) Exterior wall signs. Exterior caall signs may cover no more
than tcaenty-five (25) percent of any front, side or rear caall of a main
bui.l.ding or structure.
(c) Eree-standing signs.
(d) F1ag~(vertcaa),sign5. One (1) flag sign for. each structure
or building. T
(e) Roof signs.
(1) Number. 1'he number of Free-standing signs for each property
shell be determined by the number of linear fee[ the property has
• along the street from which its address :is derived. T'Iie number of-
signs shal:L be based upon the fo].l.owing formula:
Frontage (:in Leet) No. of suns
<._
0 - 100 1
101 - 200 2
201 - 300 3
301 - 400 4
In no event shall a property be entitled to more [hat five (5)
• free-standing signs.
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(2) S:i.ze_. 1'he total wren of any free-standing or roof sign
(as defined in § 9901 (f) and 9901 (g) shall not exceed•
•
7.one
Number of feet
C-1 '/.one
C-3 and CBD •r_ones
1•i-1 -none
(d) Miscellaneous si€_ns
zones as set forth i.n § 9905.
100 square feet
200 square feet
200 square feet
A11 signs permitted in the R (P.esidential)
9907. SIGNS IN TH_F. P-D AND 1'-0 TONES. All signs i.n the P-D and P-0 zones
are subject to the fol.low:ing provisions and are regulated thereby. -
P-ll zone ~ 9859
P-0 zone ss 9400
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9908. BILLBOARllS PROHIBT:TfD: PURPOSE Of P,iLLBOARD_RE_GULA'lI0?1S. Because.
billboards create visual blight, visual distraction to motorists, unsighCl.ness
and impairment of the economic env:i.ronment f:or residential. and commercial uses
throughout the Cit}', development of new bi.].].boards is expressly prohibited in
any •rone within the City of Rosemead.
9909. PULES GOVERNING BI7,LP,OA]ZDS_E..°.EC'ITU PP.IOR '1'0 DECEMBER 1, 1979. 'I'o
prov:i.de for an amortization period for existing billboards and a~term of years
for the phasing out of existing boards, all cxiating billboards shall be subject
to the amortization periods set forth in s 9934 of this code, unless, as of
December 1, 1979, such billboard ;aas: '
(ar) erected ari.th a va1.:Ld building permit or pursuant to preexisting
regulations of the County of: Los Angeles, and
(b) constructed to a face width of at least twenty-five (25) feet-
and face height of at least t~oelve (l2) feet.
The owners of billboards qualifying under both provisions (a) and (b) hereinabove
mayelect to rehabilitate their b:il:Lboards to the standards set forth i_n Sec Lion
9910 and, upon successful completion of such rehabilitation, become exernpC f:r.om
the period of amortization set forth in Section 9934 of. this code.
9910. STANDARDS FOT2 REFIAR:CLI'1'Al"CON OF EYIST_ING BII:LEOARDS. A11 bi11.-
boards existing as of December 1, 1979 shall be rehabil:i.tated to the Foll.owi.ng
standards on or before December 31, 1980.
(a) Aesthet:i.c Standards.
•
(1) Face ca:idth: 25 feet But in no event to exceed
the dimensions in existence
(2) Face height: 12 feet on December 1, 1979.
(3) BotCom edge: Not less than fifteen (15) feet from the
ground. .
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(b) Structural SCaudards.
(l.) A11 supports shah be of metal structure, free-standing
• systems, and shawl. not be attached to or supporCed by~the roof or
sides of any structure.
("L) No billboard shall project onto any portion of the
public right-of.-way.
(3) The reerr of any s:inKle face board shall have a solid
back of metal and shall remain painted and in good repair at all
times or shall have a second conforming face for advertising display.
(4) The name or insignia of the owner of each b:ill.board shall
he displayed on the front of each b:i:ilboard.
(5) All Uillboards shall be maintained in good condition and
repair and shall pose no hazard to public safety.
9911. ~ EFFECT OP CONFOR.ff.TY" TO STANDARDS OF 5 9910.
(a) Billboards not in conformity ca'ith the standards of 9910 on or
before December 31, 1978 shall be subject to the amortization terms set
forth in Sect:i,on 9934 of: this code.
• (h) Billboards conforming to the standards of. Section 9910 on
December 31, 1980 shall be exempted from the amortization provisions of:
Section 9934 of this code.
9912. REPLACEPII:NT OR AL'1'EI2ATIODt OF A NONCONFORMING-SIGN.
(a) A nonconform:Lng sign may be replaced only by a conforming sign.
Alteration of a nonconforming e;i_g,n shall be permitted only to decrease or
abate the nonconformity. Nothing in this section shall preclude repair
for normal maintenance of: a sign.
(b) No signs may be added to an occupancy wil-h a nonconforming s:i.gn
unless all signs associated caith such occupancy are made conforming.
991.3. PROCEDURE FOR RIiMOV:1:NG NONCON['OR.*IING SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS. upon
determina Lion by the ll:irectdr. of Planning that a particular use, structure, or
sign is nonconforming, the following procedure shall be employed:
• (a) Notice. Notice shall be directed, in writing, [o the ocnter
of the subject property and the leasee, if known, that a public hear:i.ng
will be held before the Commission to determine if said use, structure or.
sign :i.s nonconforming and there:f.ore cons:i_derc:d a public_ nuisance, injurious
to neighboring properties and to the health and caelfare and environment of.
the City. Said notice shall be mailed not less that ten (10) days before
the public hearing. In the case of a nonconforming sign, the notice shall
be di.r.ected to the owner of the s:ip.,n, if knci~nt, anc3 to the owner of the
land.
• (b) Procedure at hearing. The procedure to be employed by the
Commission and rights of appeal. therefrom shall be as set forth i.n s 9826,
et. seq. hereof.
. ~" ~ (c) decision. II the Conun;ission-finds that the use, structure or
s:Lgn doe s. not conform to the nrov;i.s.i.ons of this code, and that the period
• of conCinuation of such use, struc:tur.e oc sign has expired, the Commission
shall order repair, aa.teration, correction or removal of such structure,
sign or use within CL:ir.ty (30) clays of mailing a copy of its decision Co`
- the owners. -
(d) If the owner of the land, lessen, the owner of the sign or
structure, or other responsib7.e party fails or refuses to repair, correct;
demolish or discontinue a use, sign or. ;aructure dnc:Lared to be nonconforming
and a nuisance pursuant to subsecC:i.on (a) and (c) hereof, and such correction,
repair, discontinuance, or demolition is not performed within thirty (30)
days of the mailing of the notice seC forth in subsection (c) hereof, the
City may order such coorlc be done by, and the costs therefor, assessed -.
against the owner of the land and becoming a lien on such property by
operation of law.
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