§ 17.84.062. Sign permit requirements.
A.
Use Permit. Except as provided in this section, or specifically authorized by other applicable law, no person shall install, erect, alter, relocate, or replace any sign within the county without conforming to the requirements of this ordinance. A use permit for a sign is not required where the sign is legally in existence and the applicant proposes to change only the copy or the message on the sign so long as it authorized by Shasta County Code or other applicable law.
B.
The following types of signs shall be allowed in any zone district and be exempt from the use permit requirements of this section, so long as the sign complies with other applicable provisions of this section.
1.
Building Directory Signs. Wall-mounted building directory signs for pedestrian use, listing building tenants or occupants, provided that such directories do not exceed one per building, ten square feet on any single building wall, nor a height of eight feet.
2.
Directional/Directory and Safety Signs. An entrance/exit or other directional sign is allowed at each approved driveway opening provided that each sign is not larger than two square feet, not to exceed three feet high and must be compatible with the other signs on the property. Parking lot and other private traffic directional signs, including disabled access and parking signs, each not larger than five square feet and not to exceed six feet high. Such signs shall be limited to guidance of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on the premises, and shall not display any logo or name of a product, establishment, service, or any other advertising. This signage need not be deducted from the sign area otherwise permitted.
3.
Neighborhood Identification Signs. One permanent sign per neighborhood main roadway entrance containing not more than thirty-two square feet in total sign area for each sign and not to exceed six feet high shall be allowed to identify a neighborhood or other residential area comprising not less than three acres in size.
4.
Construction Signs. Two signs up to a total area for both signs of thirty-two square feet not to exceed six feet high, identifying parties involved in construction on the premises and future sales or activity for which the construction is intended. Such signage shall not include the advertisement of any products. Removal of any such signs is required before final building permit inspection.
5.
Fuel Dispenser Signs. Gasoline product signage and company or brand logos on product dispensing pumps, so long as no sign is larger than five square feet in area.
6.
Gasoline Price Signs. Gasoline price signs on freestanding signs if integral with the design of the freestanding sign.
7.
Hazard Signs. Public utility company and other signs indicating danger, the location of underground utilities, or of construction, excavation, or similar hazard, so long as the hazard exists.
8.
Holiday Decorations. Temporary holiday decorations containing no advertising copy are allowed without height limits, provided that decorations for a single holiday or season are in place for no more than sixty days per year.
9.
Interior Signs. Signs inside buildings and not visible from public property, roads, or streets or adjacent private properties, such as signs in the interior areas of shopping centers, commercial buildings, and recreational or entertainment structures.
10.
Miscellaneous Information Signs. Miscellaneous permanent information signs not to exceed six feet high, containing no advertising copy, in commercial and industrial zones, with a total sign area not to exceed four square feet at each public entrance nor a total sign area of twelve square feet (3 signs), indicating address, hours and days of operation, whether a business is open or closed, credit card information, and emergency address and telephone numbers.
11.
Noncommercial Personal Statement Signs. Temporary or permanent signs, not otherwise described in this section, which express a noncommercial, political, personal, or social statement. Such signs may be installed, constructed, erected or otherwise placed only under the following circumstances:
a.
Only one sign is permitted to face each street adjacent to the property;
b.
The sign is placed by or with the permission of the owner of the property on which the sign is located;
c.
The sign is a maximum of sixteen square feet in area when located in any residential zone district, or is a maximum of thirty-two square feet when located in any agricultural zone district, or any commercial or industrial zone district;
d.
The sign is placed at least five feet from any property line and does not exceed a height of six feet;
e.
The installation of the sign does not cause a public health or safety hazard, such as interference with drivers' sight distance on any public or private road or intersection, or on any driveway entering public or private road; and
f.
Any and all construction permits required for the placement of a sign have been obtained from the county and/or from other appropriate regulatory agencies.
g.
Nothing in this provision is intended to prohibit lawful free expression, or to regulate the content of such expression, but only to regulate the size and placement of such signs in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and to avoid incompatibility with the surrounding local neighborhood or community.
12.
Official Signs and Flags. Official federal, state, or local government flags, historical markers, and official traffic, directional guide and other informational signs, and official and legal notices issued by any court, person, or officer in performance of a public duty. Flag poles shall not exceed 50 feet in height.
13.
Prohibition Signs. "No Trespassing," "No Parking," and similar warning signs. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area.
14.
Real Estate Signs:
a.
For Sale, Rent, Lease, or Exchange Signs. Temporary signs indicating that real property is for sale, rent, lease, or exchange, where such signs are displayed on the owner's real property, or on real property owned by others with the consent of the owner(s). Only one sign is permitted to face each street adjacent to the property upon which the sign is placed. Such signs may advertise that the property is for sale, lease, rent, or exchange by the owner or his or her agent; directions to the property; the owner's or agent's name and the owner's or agent's address and telephone number. Such signs shall not exceed a total sign area of six square feet each in residential land use districts and a total sign area of thirty-two square feet each in non-residential land use districts, and the sign shall not exceed six feet in height.
b.
Model Homes. Temporary signs, banners and decorations for a model home and/or sales office within a new subdivision, provided that the total sign area of such signing for each model home does not exceed thirty-two square feet.
c.
Open House. Temporary signs or banners attracting attention to an open house, having a maximum total sign area of sixteen square feet, to be in place a maximum of eight days in any thirty-day period.
15.
Residential Identification Signs. Individual residence identification signs, including but not limited to, names of occupants, limited to a total combined sign area of two square feet, excluding street numbers and six feet in height.
16.
Street Addresses. Street address number mounted or painted on building walls or doorways.
17.
Temporary Sales and Events. Banners, signs or decorative material for a temporary sale or event, or grand opening of a new facility on the same site. Such banners, signs and materials are limited to a combined total area of one-hundred square feet per site and a maximum time of forty-five days per year.
18.
Window Signs. Temporary window signs, either painted with water-soluble paint, or constructed of paper, cloth or similar expendable material, provided the total combined sign area is not more than twenty-five percent of the total window area on the street frontage of the building, and provided that such signs are in place no longer than thirty days in any sixty day period.
19.
Under Canopy Signs. Signs placed under a canopy of a shopping center or other business, provided that such sign shall not exceed five feet in length and one foot in height. Under canopy signs shall be located perpendicular to the face of the building under the canopy, and they shall have a least an eight foot clearance between the bottom of the sign and the sidewalk or other pedestrian route.
20.
Wall Mural. Wall murals are representative or nonrepresentative art containing no lettering, numbers or logos relating to the goods or services sold by the owner of the mural. A wall mural may occupy the same wall surface with any other type company name, or logo, but these advertising messages shall have their own field and shall not physically overlap or be included within the viewing field of the mural.
21.
Public Service Informational Signs. Public service informational signs include permanent community identification signs, service organization signs and temporary community event signs used for special occasions. Temporary community event signs may be installed for a maximum of sixty days per year.
22.
On-Site Sale of Farm Products. One or more signs containing a total combined sign area of sixteen square feet advertising products for sale that have been grown on-site. One or more signs containing a total combined sign area of thirty-two square feet advertising products grown and processed on-site.
23.
Bed and Breakfast Guest Facility. One appurtenant sign not to exceed two square feet and six feet in height.
24.
Churches. One free standing sign with a total combined sign area of sixty-four square feet not exceeding thirty-two square feet for each of a maximum of two sides. The sign shall not exceed six feet in height.
(Ord. 2003-1 § 24, 2003; Ord. 2002-2 § 28 (part), 2002)