The purpose of this Division is to promote the value and impact of signs for the general public and business community while enhancing the City's various neighborhoods and protecting the safety and welfare of the public.
When used in this Division, the words, terms, and phrases defined in this section shall have the meaning and construction given herein. Other definitions which relate to this Division may also be found under Division 1, Section 19.104.080.
"Building frontage" means the horizontal length of a wall of a main building where such wall faces a street. The measurement of such length is along a line parallel to the street. Where a building is arranged to include establishments with exterior public entrances but no wall space facing a street, the horizontal dimension of 1 wall of each such establishment which faces a mall or other private way may be considered to be building frontage. Where a building abuts more than one street or abuts the same street along more than one continuous line each such line is considered a separate building frontage.
"Business frontage" means the horizontal length of a segment of building frontage which encloses a single business establishment and contains the primary public entrance to such establishment.
"Public property" means any property owned by the City and located outside of the public rights-of-way, including but not limited to parks, City Hall, civic centers, police and fire departments, senior or recreational centers, or any other city-owned or controlled real property.
"Public rights-of-way" means all streets, sidewalk, medians, and the area within 10 feet of the curb face (see drawing below) and any backing lot landscaped easement areas:
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"Sign" means any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or situated indoors and visible from outdoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event, or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination (other than illumination that highlights building features, such as exposed neon accenting building trim), or projected images. This definition does not include any supporting sign structure which in itself is not designed to attract attention.
"Sign area" means the total sign face area of all sign faces of a sign; except, for the following types of signs, the total sign area is considered to be only the area of the single largest sign face:
"Sign face" means each area or display surface of a sign, including any framing, trim, or molding, but not including any supporting sign structure which in itself is not designed to attract attention. In the case of a sign face with no definite perimeter, the boundary of the sign face is considered to be a parallelogram, triangle, or circle which encloses all portions of the sign. In the case of a three dimensional sign, the flat projection of the largest area which can be seen at one time is considered as the sign face.
"Sign face area" means the area of a plane surface defined by the boundaries of a sign face.
"Sign structure" means a structure, other than a building, upon which 1 or more signs are attached in any manner.
"Ground sign structure" means a sign structure supporting a ground sign. A ground sign structure is considered to include all attached signs.
"Canopy sign" means a sign suspended or attached beneath an eave, awning, canopy, arcade or other building overhang.
"Commercial sign" means a sign containing a message on behalf of any entity, company, or individual for the intent of making a profit.
"Display board sign" means a permanently installed panel provided for the posting of temporary advertisements or messages, and/or upon which manually changeable messages are displayed. This definition does not include electronic "scoreboard" type display boards.
"Electronic display board" means a permanently installed panel provided for the purpose of temporary advertisements or messages, upon which electronic messages are displayed with flashing or "moving" letters or symbols.
"Ground sign" means a sign affixed to a ground sign structure which is free-standing, supported from the ground, and not attached to a building.
"Monument sign" means a ground sign supported on the ground in such a manner that the bottom edge of the sign face at any point is not more than 2 feet above ground level and the top is not more than 8 feet above the ground level.
"Noncommercial sign" means any sign that is not a commercial sign.
"Off-premises (billboard) sign" means "billboard" and/ or "electronic billboard (which includes digital billboards)," as defined in Section 19.912.090 of this Code, excluding any temporary real estate open house sign, and any approved temporary sign advertising a special community benefit event.
"Projecting sign" means a sign mounted on a building wall or fascia in such a manner that 1 or more sign faces are not parallel to the building wall.
"Roof sign" means a sign extending above, through or over the roof or eave line of a building, not including a sign mounted against the lower portion of a mansard type roof.
"Temporary sign" means a sign (including pennants, banners, forced cold-air inflatables, or other objects constituting a sign as defined in this chapter) that is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time which is not permanently fixed to a building or sign structure or is made in whole or in part from materials not intended to support long-term exposure to outdoor elements, such as cardboard or paper-related products, plastics, wood, or other degradable materials.
"Wall sign" means a sign mounted flat against the wall or fascia of a building or against the lower portion of a mansard-type roof. Sign, window. "Window sign" means a sign that is applied or attached to the exterior or interior of a window or located in such manner within a building that it can be seen from the exterior of the building through the window.
"Window sign" means a sign that is applied or attached to the exterior or interior of a window or located in such manner within a building that it can be seen from the exterior of the building through the window.
"Temporary special event sign" means any temporary sign identifying, displaying, directing, or conveying information, idea, or message related to an event or occasion occurring within the City's jurisdictional boundaries that does not invite members of the public to attend for the primary purpose of completing a commercial transaction at the site or location of the event or occasion. Without regard to the content or messaging of such signs, examples of temporary special event signs include, but are not limited to, those relating to social gatherings (without entry fee or charge for food or drink), support groups, community meetings, religious services, elections, or educational meetings.
(Ord. 1582 § 3, 2015; Ord. 1671 § 3, 2019; Ord. 1740, 8/13/2024)
A.
No sign, whether permanent or temporary, including any supporting structure and lighting thereof, shall present any hazard to the safety of pedestrian or vehicular traffic by obstructing the flow of such traffic, by obstructing the sight lines required for the safe movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, by interfering with the visibility and effectiveness of any traffic control or warning device or in any other manner.
B.
Appearance.
1.
Signs shall be designed and maintained to be compatible with the architectural design, style, and materials of the on-site building(s) to which the sign is affixed or otherwise located on the property.
2.
Signs shall utilize detail features, (i.e., arches, trim, siding, colors, rock veneer, etc.) similar to the style of the building(s) the sign is affixed or otherwise located on the property.
3.
Ground sign design and size shall be in proportion to the scale and massing of the development it identifies.
4.
Ground sign cabinets shall be architecturally integrated into the overall design of the sign structure to prevent the cabinet from appearing as an addition.
5.
Ground sign supports shall be wrapped with pole covers with design and finishes to match the on-site buildings.
6.
The location of proposed ground signs shall take into account the location of existing ground signage on adjacent properties so as not to block their visibility.
7.
Multi-tenant ground signs and wall signs with backgrounds shall maintain uniform background colors.
8.
No sign face or sign area shall be added to an existing sign unless within a permanent frame or panel indicated for such purpose on approved plans for the total sign structure.
C.
Illumination. Where lighted signs are permitted, the illumination shall be fixed, steady and directed or controlled so as to prevent glare on streets, walkways, and residential property. There shall be no blinking, twinkling, scintillation, cyclic variation, motion, or the appearance of motion in the illumination of any sign. Electronic display boards are exempt from this provision when authorized under a conditional use permit.
D.
Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in good condition and working order, to be free of graffiti, peeling paint, faded colors, and/or broken and damaged materials.
E.
Obsolete Signs. All signs shall pertain to existing businesses or services and goods offered on the premises. Any sign face no longer in compliance with this section shall be removed or covered to the satisfaction of the Director after 60 days of becoming obsolete.
F.
Signs on Public Property and in Public Rights-of-Way.
1.
General Prohibition. The placing, mounting, installing, affixing, erecting, maintaining, or displaying of any sign on public property or in public rights-of-way is prohibited, except for those temporary signs expressly permitted in subsection F(2) below, or as may be expressly authorized in a permit, license, lease, or other appropriate approval or agreement from the City.
2.
Exceptions. The following temporary signs are permitted to be displayed on public property and public rights-of-way:
a.
Official Signs. The following temporary signs associated with the City or other governmental agency are permitted:
(i)
Traffic control or traffic directional signs placed or erected by the City or another governmental agency, or placed or erected under a permit or license issued by the City or another governmental agency.
(ii)
Public notices or signs required by local, state, or federal regulations.
(iii)
Signs placed or erected by the City in furtherance of its governmental functions.
(iv)
Signs providing information about a public event. For purposes of this subsection, "public event" means an event organized by or in collaboration with the City or other governmental agency.
(v)
Banner signs advertising special community benefit events at specific locations stated below when both the event and the signs are approved by the City. The specific locations for the placement of such banner signs are:
(1)
Across Beach Boulevard on the south of the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Franklin Avenue,
(2)
Across Orangethorpe Avenue, approximately 430 feet east of its intersection with Valley View Street,
(3)
Across Orangethorpe Avenue, approximately 75 feet east of the northerly extension of Indiana Avenue,
(4)
Across La Palma Avenue, approximately 675 feet east of its intersection with Valley View Street,
(5)
Across Knott Avenue, approximately 185 feet north of Houston Street,
(6)
Across Beach Boulevard on the south of the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, and
(7)
Such other locations as approved by resolution of the City Council.
b.
Temporary Special Event Signs. Temporary special event signs are permitted at the locations designated by Resolution of the City Council and shall comply with the sign standards and restrictions set forth under subsection F(3).
c.
Noncommercial Signs. Temporary noncommercial signs are permitted at the locations designated by Resolution of the City Council and shall comply with the sign standards and restrictions set forth under subsection (F)(3).
3.
Sign Standards and Restrictions. All temporary signs permitted under Sections 19.904.030(F)(2)(b) and (c) shall comply with the following standards and restrictions:
a.
Design and Size.
(i)
Temporary signs may be ground mounted and shall not exceed a maximum standing height of 36 inches measured from grade to the highest point of the sign and shall not exceed a maximum width of 24 inches measured between the outer most edges of the sign.
(ii)
Temporary sign display panels shall not be larger than 5 square feet in area.
b.
Placement. Temporary signs shall be placed in a manner that does not obstruct pedestrian movement and shall comply with the following:
(i)
Signs may not be placed on sidewalks measuring less than 60 inches in width.
(ii)
Signs shall be placed so as to maintain a minimum of 48 inches of clearance from any obstruction.
(iii)
Signs shall not obstruct pedestrian or handicap accessibility to curb ramps, buildings, emergency exits, transit stops, or parking spaces.
(iv)
Signs shall not be placed on any medians.
(v)
Signs shall not be placed projecting over, into, or within any street, alley, roadway, or highway intended for vehicular traffic.
(vi)
Signs shall not be placed, affixed, or attached to any trees, shrubbery, utility poles, traffic control signs or devices, newsracks, trash receptacles, bus stops, signs, or any other objects or structures installed or located in the public rights-of-way.
(vii)
No more than three temporary signs may be placed at any one time, and at any single location permitted by Section (F)(2)(b), by any person or entity, or in association with any person or entity, or in connection with any particular idea, message, or event.
(viii)
Temporary special event signs shall not be placed more than 45 days prior to the date of the event or occasion to which the sign pertains, and must be removed within 10 days of the event's conclusion.
(ix)
No temporary sign shall be affixed or attached to any other temporary sign, and temporary signs shall not be posted or placed in a manner that blocks or obscures the view of any other lawfully placed temporary sign.
(x)
No temporary sign shall be placed within 15 feet of any driveway.
c.
Maintenance. Temporary signs shall be kept neat, clean, and in good repair. Signs which are faded, torn, damaged or otherwise unsightly or in a state of disrepair shall be immediately replaced, repaired, or removed.
d.
Signs Projecting into Public Rights-of-Way. No temporary sign shall project over any public property or public rights-of-way except as may be expressly permitted pursuant to this code. In any outdoor areas open to the public, no portion of any sign attached to a building and extending below a height of 7 feet above ground level shall project more than 6 inches from the face of the building.
e.
Use of Government Signage. Privately placed or posted temporary signs shall not mimic or otherwise resemble an official city or governmental signs so as to create confusion or mistake.
4.
Removal of Unlawful Temporary Signs. The City may immediately remove any temporary sign violating any provision of Section 19.904.030(F). The City shall store any removed signs for a period of not less than 21 days following removal and, if identifiable, make reasonable efforts to provide notice of the removal to the party responsible for the sign(s). The responsible party may retrieve any such removed sign from the City within said 21 day period, subject to the responsible party's payment of associated administrative costs and storage fees in an amount established by resolution of the City Council. The City may destroy or otherwise dispose of temporary special event signs that are not retrieved during the 21-day storage period in any manner deemed appropriate by the City.
5.
Penalties for Violations. Any person owns or is responsible for a sign that is placed, posted, mounted, installed, affixed, erected, maintained, or displayed in violation of Section 19.904.030(F) is guilty of an infraction, and each sign shall constitute a separate and distinct violation, and every day a sign exists in violation of Section 19.904.030(F) shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. Each and every violation of Section 19.904.030(F) is punishable by an administrative citation and fine issued pursuant to Sections 1.04.030 through 1.04.310 of the Buena Park Municipal Code. The City Clerk is an authorized "citing official" for purposes of enforcing Section 19.904.030(F).
6.
Alternative and Cumulative Remedies. At the discretion of the citing official, a responsible party may be issued a compliance order pursuant to the procedures of Sections 1.04.250 through 1.04.310 of the Buena Park Municipal Code, and administrative costs may be assessed pursuant to Section 1.04.300. The City's removal of any sign under subsection (3) above is cumulative and supplemental to the remedies otherwise authorized in this Section to enforce this subsection. Nothing in this section is intended or shall be construed as creating a duty or obligation on the part of the City to enforce this section.
(Ord. 1441 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1671 § 4, 2019; Ord. 1698 § 3, 2021; Ord. 1740, 8/13/2024)
A.
Every sign larger than 4 square feet of surface area, erected in connection with any business within the City of Buena Park and which utilizes any non-Latin/Roman letters, symbols, or characters in 50 percent or more of its advertising message and in lettering readable from the nearest public street, shall be considered to be a "non-English language sign." Each non-English language sign shall contain thereon a generic description written in English, of the nature of such business, readable from the nearest public street.
B.
In all cases where a zoning sign permit, sign erection permit, or other sign permit is required by this Code or other law, the applicant shall submit to the City a certification, executed under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, containing an English language translation of all letters, symbols, or characters proposed to be displayed on the non-English language sign. An application for any such permit shall not be deemed to be complete unless and until the applicant has provided the certification required herein.
C.
The provisions of this section shall apply to signs meeting the criteria stated herein which are sought to be erected on or after September 6, 1989.
The following types of signs are prohibited:
A.
Any form of moving, oscillating, or rotating sign;
B.
Inflatable signs (other than forced cold-air inflatables);
C.
Portable signs, not including temporary signs which are otherwise permitted;
D.
Off-premises signs (billboards), not including billboards otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 19.912.090, and temporary signs which are otherwise permitted;
E.
Roof signs;
F.
Signs located in or upon public property or public rights-of-way, except as permitted by Section 19.904.030(F)(2).
(Ord. 1582 § 4, 2015; Ord. 1740, 8/13/2024)
Special areas exist within the City where a sign plan review by the Planning Commission shall be required prior to the issuance of any sign zoning compliance permit and the erection of any sign. The purpose of this review is to promote a sense of overall orderliness and attractiveness in the appearance of these special areas which is consistent in quality and style. The following special areas are designated for such sign plan review:
A.
Any integrated development in the commercial and industrial zones.
B.
Any property located in the ECSP zone.
1.
Special sign criteria applies under separate documentation entitled "Beach Boulevard Entertainment Corridor Specific Plan" under Section V—Development Requirements, F. General Provisions, 8. Signs. Where this document refers to the sign regulations of this Division, the sign standards for commercial zones of Chapter 19.912 shall be applied to such reference.
2.
Any deviation from the criteria of this Division and the Beach Boulevard Entertainment Corridor Specific Plan may be considered via a conditional use permit application.
C.
Any property or area that the Planning Commission may determine to require a sign plan review during an approval process.
D.
Any property located in the ACSP zone.
1.
Special sign criteria applies under separate documentation entitled "Auto Center Specific Plan" under Section VI—Development Standards. Where this document refers to the sign regulation of this Division, the sign standards for commercial zones of Chapter 19.912 shall be applied to such reference.
2.
Any deviation from the criteria of this Division and the Auto Center Specific Plan may be considered via a conditional use permit application.
E.
Any property located in the CR zone.
(Ord. 1347 § 11.C, 1997; Ord. 1382 § 19, 1998; Ord. 1441 § 1, 2003)
A.
All signs except those exempted by Section 19.904.080 shall be subject to the zoning compliance review procedure (Section 19.128.090). Any change in the face or copy appearing on any such sign, as well as the erection, alteration, or relocation of any such sign, is subject to this provision.
B.
A zoning compliance sign permit pursuant to Section 19.128.050 is required prior to the erection, alteration, or relocation of any sign subject to sign guidelines established in accordance with Section 19.904.060.
C.
The provisions of the Building Code shall be complied with prior to the erection, alteration, or relocation of any sign.
The types of signs listed in this section shall be subject to the limitations provided herein and shall be exempt from the requirements for obtaining a zoning sign permit or zoning compliance review as called for in Section 19.904.070, and from the sign regulations of Chapters 19.908 through 19.916.
A.
Public Signs, Warnings, and Notices.
1.
Traffic and regulatory signs posted by the City, legal notices, railroad crossing, or warning signs,
2.
Warning or trespass signs on private property. Each sign face area shall not be more than 2 square feet. Such signs shall be spaced at least 100 feet apart unless a closer spacing is approved by the Director,
3.
Public utility signs containing only warning or service information.
B.
Directional Signs. Signs, for purposes of identifying entrances to and exits from an establishment, or giving other directional or warning information to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, shall be subject to the following limitations:
1.
Free-standing signs shall be not more than 8 feet in height. Height and location of directional signs attached to a building shall be subject to the approval of the Director.
2.
Each sign face area shall be not more than 4 square feet, unless a larger sign is approved by the Director for safety and traffic control purposes.
3.
No other type of information shall be included except each entrance sign may contain, within not more than 25 percent of the sign face area, a logo or other identification of the establishment served.
C.
Memorial Signs and Cornerstones. Memorial signs or tablets, cut into stone or formed of permanently installed incombustible material. Only the name of the building or site, and/or date shall be shown.
D.
Residential Directory Signs. Directory sign for a residential building or group of buildings provided such sign does not face a street and is no greater than 4 square feet in area.
E.
Professional Signs. Nameplate or identification sign for a professional establishment, attached to a commercial or institutional building. Each sign face area shall be not more than 4 square feet.
F.
Bulletin Boards. Bulletin board for a public, charitable, or religious institution and located on the premises of the institution. There shall be only 1 such exterior bulletin board on each such premises. The sign area of such bulletin board shall be not more than 20 square feet.
G.
Window Signs. Temporary window signs on the premises of a nonresidential use, advertising special items or events. The total sign face area of such signs on each window shall not exceed 20 percent of the area for each window. No such sign shall remain longer than 30 days.
H.
Construction Signs. Temporary signs on construction projects or development sites identifying the owners, major tenants, architects, engineers, or contractors. Each such sign shall be neatly painted and not over 32 square feet in sign area.
I.
Real Estate Signs.
1.
Temporary signs advertising property for sale, lease, or rental, located on the property offered, subject to the following limitations:
a.
8-foot maximum height above grade.
b.
Residential Property. No more than one sign on each property offered except that a property which maintains a second street frontage on a major, primary, or secondary highway shall be permitted one additional sign; the maximum area of each sign shall be not more than six square feet.
c.
Nonresidential Property.
(i)
Where the total lineal street frontage is not more than one hundred twenty feet: Not more than one sign per street frontage; the maximum sign area of each sign shall be twenty square feet.
(ii)
Where the total lineal street frontage is in excess of one hundred twenty lineal feet: Not more than one sign per street frontage; the maximum sign area of each sign shall be thirty-two square feet.
d.
No sign shall be directly or indirectly illuminated.
e.
All such signs shall be removed either when escrow is closed or a transaction is otherwise completed, or when the property is removed from the market.
2.
Open House Signing.
a.
On-Site Signing:
(i)
Numerical Limitation: Not more than four pennants of not more than three square feet each.
(ii)
Such pennants shall be permitted to be placed on the property where the open house is held. No such pennants shall be placed in center medians, over fences, or in areas not deemed permitted by this subsection.
(iii)
Such pennants are permitted only during periods when either the property owner or sales agent is present and are further subject to the following day and time restrictions:
(iv)
One sign indicating that an open house is presently occurring shall be permitted in the front or side yard setback of the property being offered.
J.
Permissible Temporary Signs. Temporary signs in compliance with Section 19.904.030(F)(2).
(Ord. 1671 § 6, 2019; Ord. 1740, 8/13/2024)
Temporary signs advertising the sale of lots in a land subdivision may be located within the subdivision subject to the following limitations:
A.
Not more than two sign structures in each subdivision, with not more than two sign faces per structure. Each sign face shall not be more than sixty square feet.
B.
All such signs and structures shall be removed no later than twelve months after all required permits for such signs are issued.
C.
Cash bond in the amount of five hundred dollars for each sign structure shall be deposited with the City's Finance Director, such deposit to guarantee removal of the signs.