All signs within commercial districts that require a permit must comply with the sign standards for commercial districts contained in Sections 17.28.200 through 17.28.299 and with the standards contained in Section 17.28.070. In lieu of the standards provided in Sections 17.28.200 through 17.28.299, office buildings in commercial districts must comply with the standards for office district contained in Sections 17.28.300 through 17.28.399.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
Freeway oriented signs are only permitted for parcels or shopping centers with freeway frontage. They are permitted as freestanding or wall mounted signs. Freestanding signs may identify centers, multiple tenants and/or single tenants. Wall mounted signs may identify single tenants occupying an entire building and located on a parcel.
A. 
Requirements for Freestanding Freeway Oriented Signs in Commercial Districts.
1. 
Number of signs permitted:
a. 
One single tenant identification sign per parcel that is occupied entirely by one business, not located in a shopping center shall be permitted. These businesses with a freestanding freeway oriented sign are not permitted a single tenant identification monument sign along their street frontage. However, if three or more parcels join together to erect a multitenant freeway oriented sign, they each shall also be allowed a single-tenant identification monument sign along their street frontage.
b. 
One multitenant identification sign per shopping center, if the shopping center is larger than seven acres.
c. 
Two multitenant identification signs per shopping center if the center has greater than one thousand three hundred thirty feet of frontage.
2. 
Maximum sign area for each sign shall be:
a. 
Fifty square feet for single-tenant identification signs;
b. 
One hundred square feet for multitenant identification signs.
3. 
Maximum sign structure height shall be thirty feet.
4. 
A freestanding freeway oriented sign shall only be allowed as a pylon sign. Pole signs are not permitted.
5. 
A maximum of three tenants may be on a multitenant sign.
B. 
Requirements for wall mounted freeway oriented business identification signs in commercial districts are the same as Section 17.28.240.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
Freestanding shopping center identification signs are intended to identify shopping centers. Different standards have been included for shopping centers with seven acres or less and more than seven acres.
A. 
Two signs per major entrance shall be permitted and one additional sign shall be permitted at each major intersection.
B. 
Maximum sign area for each sign shall be:
1. 
Twenty square feet per sign face for centers seven acres or less;
2. 
Thirty square feet per sign face for centers more than seven acres.
C. 
Maximum sign structure height shall be:
1. 
Four feet for centers seven acres or less;
2. 
Six feet for centers more than seven acres.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
Tenant identification signs are intended to identify tenants whether or not located in shopping centers. These signs may be single-tenant or multitenant identification signs.
A. 
Requirements for Multitenant Signs in Commercial Districts. Freestanding multiple-tenant identification signs are intended to identify tenants in centers or multitenant buildings:
1. 
Maximum number of freestanding tenant identification signs (multitenant or single-tenant sign) is one per three hundred lineal feet of street frontage for the center. At least half of the tenant identification signs shall be single-tenant identification signs.
2. 
Each center shall be allowed at least one multitenant sign. However, if the center has more than one street frontage, one multitenant sign on each street frontage shall be allowed.
3. 
Maximum sign structure height shall be twelve feet.
4. 
Maximum sign area for each sign shall be one hundred square feet.
5. 
The center name may be added to multitenant signs but the total sign area for each sign, including the center name shall not exceed one hundred square feet.
6. 
The maximum number of signs per panel shall be two.
7. 
The minimum panel height shall be ten inches.
8. 
The minimum letter size shall be five inches.
B. 
Requirements for Freestanding Building or Single-tenant Identification Signs in Commercial Districts. Freestanding building or business identification signs are intended to identify single-tenants whether or not in a center, or buildings in commercial districts.
1. 
Maximum number of freestanding tenant identification signs (multi or single-tenant sign) is one per three hundred lineal feet of street frontage for the center. At least half of the tenant identification signs shall be single-tenant identification signs.
2. 
The maximum number of signs for single-tenants not located in a center shall be one sign per tenant.
3. 
Theater and gas station signs are counted as single-tenant signs in the formula calculations for determining the maximum number of permitted tenant signs for a center. These signs shall meet all the requirements for single-tenant signs, except for size and height requirements as specified in subsections (B)(4)(a) and (B)(4)(b) of this section.
4. 
The maximum area for all single-tenant identification signs or building identification signs shall be twenty-five square feet, except that:
a. 
Maximum area for theater signs shall be one hundred fifty square feet, including the area for identification of all the shows and the theater name.
b. 
Maximum area for service stations shall be fifty square feet, including the area for all fuel types, prices, and the service station name (for additional signage requirements for service stations refer to Section 17.28.260(A)).
5. 
Maximum sign structure height for all single-tenant signs and gas station signs shall be six feet, except theaters which shall be fifteen feet.
6. 
Not more than one tenant shall be identified.
7. 
If the frontage of a center is less than three hundred feet, no single-tenant identification is permitted.
8. 
Automotive service stations shall be allowed one price sign per frontage to include all fuel types and/or prices.
C. 
Requirements for Freestanding Tenant Identification Signs at Automobile and Truck Dealerships. Free-standing tenant identification signs are intended to identify automobile and truck dealerships in commercial districts and shall comply with the following provisions. For purposes of this subsection, a "dealership site" means an automobile sales business on one or more contiguous legal of land, selling one or more brand names under the management of a single business name:
1. 
The maximum number of freestanding tenant identification signs (multi or single-tenant sign) is one per street frontage. A reasonable separation distance between multiple signs shall be as determined by the director of planning at the time of approval.
2. 
The maximum area for freestanding tenant identification signs or building identification signs shall be seventy-two square feet (including the area for all makes of vehicles and the dealership name).
3. 
The maximum sign structure height for all freestanding tenant identification signs shall be eight feet.
4. 
The maximum sign structures width for all freestanding tenant identification signs shall be twelve feet.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1; Ord. 05-06 § 8; Ord. 06-06 § 6(M))
Wall mounted business identification signs are intended to provide identification for the individual businesses located in buildings with two stories or less in commercial districts.
A. 
Maximum number of signs shall be one per frontage for each tenant.
B. 
Maximum area of signs shall also not exceed one square foot of sign area per linear foot of business frontage.
C. 
Building identification signs are only permitted if no tenant identification signs are placed on the building.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1; Ord. 10-07 § 22; Ord. 14-01 § 25)
A. 
Requirements for Wall Mounted Primary Tenant or Building Identification Signs for Buildings With Three Stories or More in Commercial Districts. Wall mounted building identification signs are intended to provide identification for buildings with three stories or more. This type of signage is usually used by the primary tenant in an office building.
1. 
General Requirements.
a. 
Maximum number of signs shall be two per building.
b. 
Maximum letter height and sign area shall be determined by subsection C of this section, size requirements.
c. 
The two permitted signs shall be placed on different building elevations.
d. 
Both signs shall have the same copy, and only a single line of copy.
e. 
The elevation plans for the development plan shall show the locations and dimensions of the signs.
2. 
Design Requirements.
a. 
They shall complement and add to the aesthetics of the materials of the building.
b. 
They may be illuminated. However, in order to reduce the visual impact of illuminated signs on surrounding residential districts, lighting of signs to produce a silhouette effect is encouraged. Signs internally illuminated are preferred over exterior illumination.
c. 
To avoid the appearance of crowding a sign into a sign placement area, the sign copy shall:
i. 
Occupy not more than sixty percent of the height of the sign placement area;
ii. 
Not more than eighty percent of the width of the sign placement area; and
iii. 
No part of the sign can be located within the extreme left or right ten percent of the width of the sign placement area.
3. 
Location Requirements.
a. 
In high-rise buildings, signs shall be placed between the windows of the highest floor of the building and the eave line.
b. 
In designs with articulated roofs, signs shall be integrated visually with the architectural features such as windows, projections and articulating elements.
B. 
Requirements for Wall Mounted Secondary Tenant Business Identification Signs for Buildings With Three Stories or More in Commercial Districts. Wall mounted secondary tenant business identification signs are intended to provide identification for the secondary tenants in office buildings with three stories or more.
1. 
General Requirements.
a. 
Maximum number of signs shall be one per building elevation. Buildings between three and five stories are permitted two such signs per elevation, provided that the signs:
i. 
Are not located on any elevation in vertical (stacked) alignment;
ii. 
Are separated by at least forty percent of the width of the subject elevation.
b. 
Maximum letter height and sign area shall be determined by subsection C of this section.
c. 
Maximum of four secondary tenant signs shall be permitted per building.
d. 
If retail shops with exterior doors are located on the ground level of an office building, the sign regulations for wall mounted business identification signs in commercial districts (Section 17.28.240) shall apply to the ground level shops.
2. 
Location Requirements.
a. 
They shall be located below the second floor, except that if the building has a two-story lobby, the signs are permitted only between the second and third floors above such lobby.
b. 
They shall be located at or adjacent to the entrance of the building or in a position to be seen by pedestrians and by those in nearby parking areas and on-site circulation drives.
C. 
Size Requirements.
1. 
The recommended sign area, maximum letter and symbol height for primary tenant or building identification signs for buildings three stories or higher is summarized in Table 17.28.250A.
Table 17.28.250A
Sign Area—Maximum Letter and Symbol Height for Building Identification Signs for Primary Tenants or Building Identification Signs for Buildings Three Stories or Higher
Number of Building Stories
Maximum Letter Height
Maximum Symbol Height
Square Footage Area of Sign Per Elevation
3
2′10″
4′6″
175
4
3′0″
4′10″
200
5
3′4″
5′4″
225
6
3′9″
6′0″
250
7+
4′2″
6′8″
275
2. 
Recommended sign area, maximum letter, and symbol height for secondary tenant signs for buildings three stories or higher is summarized in Table 17.28.250B.
Table 17.28.250B
Sign Area—Maximum Letter and Symbol Height for Secondary Tenant Signs for Buildings Three Stories or Higher
Number of Building Stories
Maximum Letter Height
Maximum Symbol Height
Square Footage Area of Sign Per Elevation
3—4
10″
16″
30
5—6
12″
19″
35
7+
14″
22″
40
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
A. 
Miscellaneous Service Station Signs.
1. 
Special service signs on pump islands shall be illuminated only by the canopy lighting.
2. 
Logo Boxes on Canopies. Two logo boxes located on the canopy shall be allowed per gas station. Each log box shall not exceed four square feet.
B. 
Fast Food Menu Signs.
1. 
Maximum number of signs shall be two signs per tenant.
2. 
Maximum area shall be thirty-two square feet per sign.
3. 
Maximum structure height shall be six feet.
4. 
They may be internally illuminated.
5. 
They may utilize changeable copy.
C. 
Institutional Uses.
1. 
Maximum number of signs shall be one freestanding or one wall sign per street frontage.
2. 
The standards for freestanding single tenant and wall mounted business identification signs in Sections 17.28.230(B) and 17.28.240, respectively shall be followed.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
Projecting signs are an alternative form of signage for identification of businesses. They are only permitted for a shopping center if uniformly used in the shopping center and if approved through a sign program.
A. 
Maximum number of signs shall be one per tenant.
B. 
Maximum area of signs shall be four square feet.
C. 
Minimum distance between projecting signs shall be twenty feet.
D. 
Ground clearance shall be a minimum of eight feet.
E. 
Projection shall be a maximum of four feet and shall not encroach into the public right-of-way.
F. 
Must be attached to a permanent canopy or building.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
Under canopy signs are primarily pedestrian oriented and provide additional identification for businesses in commercial centers.
A. 
Maximum number of signs shall be one per customer entrance.
B. 
Maximum area of signs shall be four square feet.
C. 
Ground clearance shall be a minimum of eight feet.
D. 
Must be attached to a permanent canopy or building.
E. 
They shall be illuminated only with the lighting from the canopy.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
Awning signs are intended to provide identification to individual businesses, and can be pedestrian or auto-mobile oriented. They are only permitted for a shopping center if uniformly used in the shopping center or for a single tenant if the tenant is occupying an entire site and is not located in a shopping center.
A. 
The area of the sign shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the area of the awning that the sign is placed on.
B. 
Ground clearance shall be a minimum of eight feet.
C. 
The total area of signage permitted for the face of the building shall not be exceeded for the combination of the wall sign(s) and awning(s).
D. 
The area of the sign on awnings is calculated by multiplying the height of the highest letter by the length of the lettering on the awning.
E. 
Awning signs shall be located on the bottom twelve inches of the flap (valance) or on end panels of angled, curved or box awnings.
F. 
Letter height shall not exceed eight inches.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1)
The purpose of directory and directional signs are to guide the movement of vehicles and pedestrians once they are on the site or center. They are not intended to advertise the tenants or products.
A. 
Requirements for Pedestrian On-Site Directory Signs in Commercial Districts. On-site directory signs are intended to provide information to the patrons of a building once they have arrived near the entrance of the building.
1. 
Maximum number of signs shall be one per multitenant building per frontage.
2. 
Maximum area of each sign shall be three square feet.
3. 
Maximum height of sign shall be seven feet, if freestanding.
4. 
They shall be located in pedestrian activity and movement areas.
5. 
They shall contain only the name and address of the activities/businesses on-site.
6. 
They may be illuminated.
B. 
Requirements for Freestanding On-Site Directional Signs for Individual Sites in Commercial Districts. These signs are intended to provide direction to automobiles once they have arrived at the site.
1. 
Maximum area of sign shall be three square feet.
2. 
Maximum sign structure height shall be three feet.
3. 
They shall only include letters, logos and arrows. Logos shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the overall sign area.
4. 
They shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way and private driveways of a center where practical.
5. 
They shall only be visible from the site they are intended to identify.
6. 
They may be illuminated.
C. 
Requirements for Freestanding On-Site Directional Signs for Centers in Commercial Districts. These signs are intended to provide directions to automobiles to the different businesses on the site.
1. 
Maximum area of sign shall be thirty square feet.
2. 
Maximum sign structure height shall be seven feet.
3. 
They shall only include letters, logos and arrows. Logos shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the overall sign area.
4. 
They shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way and private driveways of a center where practical.
5. 
They shall only be visible from the site they are intended to identify.
6. 
They may be illuminated.
(Ord. 98-10 § 1; Ord. 02-11 § 3(H); Ord. 07-15 § 8)