Ordinance - 2332ORDINANCE NO.2332
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA TO AMEND CHAPTER 26,
ARTICLE VII OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO SIGNS
WHEREAS, the City's provisions regarding temporary signs were last updated in 1996
and 1999; and
WHEREAS, certain legal changes have occurred both in state and federal law that
require the City's provisions regarding temporary signs to be revised to conform to state and
federal law; and
WHEREAS, the State of California has a housing deficit, as housing production over
the last several decades has lagged behind population and job growth. (See Legislative Analyst's
Office, California's High Housing Costs: Causes and Consequences (March 27, 2015), available
at http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2015/finance/housing-costs/housing-costs.pdf.) The California
Legislature has declared the availability of housing in the state a priority of the highest order and
of vital statewide importance. The state legislature has also mandated that local governments use
the powers they have to facilitate and improve the development of housing so that all economic
segments of the community may have more access to housing. (See Government Code section
65580.); and
WHEREAS, the City of West Covina has a substantial interest in facilitating the
provision of more housing to both current and prospective residents desiring to reside in the City,
by enabling sellers and lessors of a variety of housing types, including low-income, multi -family,
single-family, and otherwise, to reach buyers more effectively, thereby increasing the
opportunities for citizens to find appropriate new and existing real estate for lease or sale.
Moreover, the California Legislature has directed the City to use its land use and other powers to
achieve this interest. The City has carefully planned through its General Plan and zoning for
adequate housing stock within the City including implementation of affordable housing projects,
but the need for additional housing stock still exists. Developers within the City continue to invest
in building new housing projects, including building single family and multi -family housing units.
In order for would-be home buyers to be made aware of these housing opportunities, home sellers,
whether developers of new housing subdivisions or sellers of existing housing, need opportunities
for off -site advertisement of these units, in order to attract the attention of buyers who may not
happen to drive by the actual housing sites; and
WHEREAS, although the City generally prohibits off -site commercial advertising, there
is a need for an exception for this rule to allow home sellers and lessors to advertise off -site, in
order to maximum the possibility of connecting would-be buyers and renters to the sellers.
Therefore, the City Council finds it necessary to allow an exception for subdividers, builders, and
developers to the no-offsite advertising rule, to allow them to advertise their housing units for sale
in areas that are most likely to be seen by would-be buyers including in the public right -way, and
on private property (with owner's consent) but no more than one sign per block. If more buyers
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
and renters see the permitted off -site advertisements, which facilitates them attaining needed
housing, then the City's exception will further the City's interest of promoting the availability of
housing within its jurisdiction. The City's exception is limited to allowing the off -site advertising
in the stated areas, because these are the areas that will be most likely to attract new buyers and
renters, while creating the least impact on aesthetics and traffic safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION NO. 1: Section 26-301 of the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-301. - Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to establish appropriate sign regulations to protect the
public health, safety, and welfare of the community. The city council has found that the regulations
here:
(a) Protect and enhance the positive image of the city and its property values,
preserve and advance the quality of life for residents of the city, and provide a pleasing aesthetic
setting for those who reside in and visit the city.
(b) Promote the use of signs that create a high quality visual environment and that
are complimentary in scale and proportion with surrounding buildings and harmonious with
surrounding neighborhoods.
(c) Ensure that signs do not proliferate to the extent that they create confusion and
visually dominate the setting in which they are located.
(d) Provide for the welfare of the local business community and the economic welfare
of the overall community by providing reasonable opportunities for the identification of businesses
and the goods and services that they offer.
(e) Ensure that signs are designed and located so as to not create a hazard to the
safety and movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
(f) Facilitate the provision of more housing to both current and prospective residents
desiring to reside in the City, by enabling sellers and lessors of a variety of housing types, including
low-income, multi -family, single-family, and otherwise, to reach buyers and renters more
effectively, thereby increasing the opportunities for citizens to find appropriate new and existing
real estate for lease or sale.
SECTION NO.2: Section 26-310.30 of the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-310.30. - Political sign.
"Political sign" is a sign that contains a political message such as a message
supporting a candidate for public office, a political party, or a position on a particular political or
ideological issue. Political signs shall be considered as temporary noncommercial signs for the
purposes of this article.
SECTION NO. 3: A new Section 26-311.50 of the West Covina Municipal Code
is hereby added to read as follows:
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
Section 26-311.50 Substitution Clause.
Whenever a sign for a commercial message is permitted by this Chapter, a
noncommercial message of any type may be substituted for the duly allowed commercial message
contained therein.
SECTION NO. 4: Section 26-312 (Prohibited signs), subsection (b), of the West
Covina Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
(b) Painted signs, except as permitted on windows under section 26-351, and on
construction barricades by section 26-370.
SECTION NO. 5: Section 26-312 (Prohibited signs), subsection (e), of the West
Covina Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
(e) Signs located on public property or in the public right-of-way, except as allowed
by section 26-311(c), and section 26-313, or by approval of an encroachment permit by the city
council. Public property includes, but is not limited to: public streets, alleys, medians, sidewalks,
rights -of -way, or easements. This restriction shall not apply to city or public entity signs on its
own property pursuant to section 26-311(c), or construction warning signs permitted by an
encroachment permit. Furthermore, the following shall apply:
(1) No sign shall be affixed to private improvements in the public right-of-way,
including, but not limited to utility poles, light standards, telephone poles, telephone equipment
boxes, cross -arms, traffic control devices, trees, fences, or poles supporting fences.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no sign shall prevent or interfere with
free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or shall be located or maintained
in such a place or in such a manner as to constitute an immediate hazard to the safety of or block
the path of travel of pedestrians or vehicular traffic. The determination of the city engineer or
authorized representative as to whether a sign constitutes such a hazard shall be conclusive.
SECTION NO. 6: Section 26-314 of the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-314. - Temporary noncommercial signs.
Temporary noncommercial signs, as defined in section 26-310.45, shall be permitted,
subject to the following:
(a) Signs may be placed on private property with the prior consent of the property owner.
As used here, "property owner" includes a tenant in possession.
(b) Signs on private property shall not exceed eight (8) feet in any dimension or thirty-two
(32) square feet in area.
(c) Signs on private property that are attached to a wall, fence, or building may project into
the public right-of-way up to a maximum of six (6) inches.
(d) Temporary noncommercial signs may not be placed in or on a public street, alley,
median island, sidewalk right-of-way, or easement, and such signs may not be attached to utility
poles, traffic control boxes, or other public property.
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain a temporary noncommercial sign
other than as authorized by this section, or for any owner of real property to permit, allow,
acquiesce in, sanction, or condone the erection or maintenance of a temporary noncommercial sign
on his/her property other than as authorized by this division.
(f) All temporary noncommercial signs shall be removed within ten (10) days after the
event to which they pertain by the person or entity which erected the sign, or the owner of the
property on which the sign has been erected. Signs not removed within ten (10) days shall be
removed according to the provisions of Section 26-320 below.
SECTION NO.7: Section 26-320 (Abatement of Illegal Signs), subsection (d) of
the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
(d) Temporary noncommercial signs on private property —removal or abatement
after event. Any sign which remains on private property more than ten (10) days after the event to
which it pertains in violation of section 26-314(f), may be removed by the City after giving twenty-
four (24) hours' notice to the property owner that they are in violation of this provision of the
Code. The City shall hold signs removed pursuant to this section at the City corporation yard for
thirty (30) calendar days after they are removed for pick-up by the owner. The actual cost of
removal may be imposed on the sign owner or, if the sign owner cannot be contacted, on the
property owner.
SECTION NO. 8: Section 26-372 of the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-372. — Same [Promoti
Maximum Maximum
Type of Sign Number Sign Area
(a) Banners I One (1) per
business.
One (1) s.f.
of sign area
per one (1)
foot of
building
frontage (up
to 100
square feet
maximum).
(single -face
only).
l Signs] —Not associated with a promotional event.
Maximum permit
Sign Req. Additional Requirements
Height
Below
eave line.
SEP
1. Banners shall be
maintained in good
condition.
2. Torn, faded, sagging, or
detached banners shall be
repaired or replaced.
3. Banner colors shall be
coordinated with building
colors and/or corporate
color.
4. Banners shall be
mounted flat against a
building exterior wall,
except for banners (double -
face permitted) placed on
locations other than wall
surfaces, approved in
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
advance by the Planning
Director, for a maximum of
30 days, for uses with
approved outdoor display
and more than 75,000
square feet of lot area.
(b�) Wall
No more
1. Mounted flat against
mounted
than
building exterior wall within
Display
No
allowable
Below
permanent weatherproof
,Frames (in lieu
maximum.
square
footage for
eave line.
None.
display frames
2. Copy limited to advertise
Window
Signs).
'S
window
products available on the
signs.
premises.
Maximum
1. Maybe attached (flat
vertical
against building wall) or
dimension of
detached (not within
eight (8) feet
building setbacks of
Maximum of
per face.
underlying zone; shall not
(c) Flags.
(3) three
50 feet
SAR
encroach or overhang public
flags per site.
Maximum
right-of-way or adjacent
horizontal
properties).
dimension of
2. Torn, faded, sagging, or
twelve (12)
detached banners shall be
feet.
repaired or replaced.
1. Shall not impede traffic
(d) Hand-held
One (1) per
Five (5) s.f.
or pedestrian circulation, or
Signs.
business.
per face.
None.
obstruct visibility in parking
areas, driveways, and on
public streets.
1. Permitted for a
maximum of 30 days per
Eight (8) s.f.
calendar year.
(e) Portable
One (1) per
per face
Four (4)
2. Shall not encroach or
(A -Frame)
business.
(double -face
feet high.
SEP
overhang public right -of -
Signs.
permitted).
way or adjacent properties,
and shall not block any
sidewalk, driveway, or
parking area.
(f) Pole-
Maximum
1. Torn, faded, sagging, or
mounted
35 feet.
detached banners shall be
Vertical
Two (2) per
24 s.f. per
None.
repaired or replaced.
Banners (only
light pole.
face.
Minimum
2. Maximum horizontal
for uses with
vertical
dimension of three (3) feet
approved
clearance
and a maximum vertical
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
i outdoor
display and
more than
75,000 square
feet of lot
area).
of 14.5
feet above
ground
level.
dimension of eight (8) feet.
3. Must be attached to
parking lot pole.
(g) Small
Balloons (only
1. Damaged or deflated
for uses with
Individual
Maximum
balloon displays shall be
approved
balloons may
95 feet
promptly repaired, replaced
outdoor
No
not be more
above
None.
or removed from the
display and
maximum.
than 36
ground
premises attached to
more than
inches in any
level.
merchandise displays or to
75,000 square
dimension.
building exterior.
feet of lot
area).
(h) Pennants
(only for uses
Each
with approved
pennant shall
1. Connected to parking lot
outdoor
No
be no larger
light standards.
display and
more than
maximum.
than 3 feet
None.
None.
2 Spaced no closer than 40
75,000 square
by 4 feet per
feet on center.
feet of lot
face.
area).
SECTION NO. 9: Section 26-381 of the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-381. - Signs in residential zones.
Maximu
Maximu
Maximu
Additional
Type of
Permi
Sign Class
m
m Sign
m Sign
Location
Requirement
Sip
g
t Re .
q
Number
Area
Height
s
Wording
One (1)
limited to
One (1)
s.f
name and
(a) Nameplate.
per
(single-
None.
address of
residence
face
the occupant
mot.
only).
of the
premises.
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
1. Permitted
flags are
those of a
government,
government
agency,
(b) Flags,
1.
1. Below
public
institution,
Nonpromotiona
Attached.
eave line.
5 feet to
nonprofit
1(for
Three (3)
None.
any
SAR
agency, or
promotional
per site.
property
similar
signs, see Sec.
2•
2. 25
line
26-383(f)).
Detached
feet.
entity.
2. Torn,
faded,
sagging, or
detached
banners shall
be repaired
or replaced.
1. Five
1. Wall
(5) s.f.
sign
per unit,
attached
up to
to main
max. 40
building.
One (1)
s.f.
per site
(single-
2. Wall
(1.), or
face
(1. or 2.)
(c) Multiple-
sign
only)
BelowMajor
eave line.
Family
attached
entrance
SAR
Identification
to a free-
2. 40 s.f.
standing
One (1)
(single-
(3.) six
wall or
per
face
(6) feet.
fence.
frontage
only).
(2. or 3.)
3. 40 s.f.
Detached
per face
(double -
face
permitted
CA 16-02
Temporary Signs
for
detached
signs).
(d) Includes nonresidential uses allowed with a conditional use permit, e.g.
Institutional.
church, school, child-care facilities, adult -care facilities, public utilities,
etc. —see sections 26-341 through 26-342.
SECTION NO. 10: That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance
and shall cause the same to be published as required by law.
SECTION NO. 11: This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30)
days from and after the date of its passage.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED
APP OVED vTO FORM:
"I _�� &14vj—
KAnberly ifil Barlow
City Attorney
Mayor
TTESST
Jam._ 1
Nickolas S. Ise is
City _Clerk
I, NICKOLAS S. LEWIS, City Clerk of the City of West Covina, California, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 2332 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular
meeting of the City Council on the 6tr' day of February, 2018. That thereafter said Ordinance was duly
adopted and duly adopted and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 6 h day of March,
2018 by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES: Toma, Warshaw, Wu
NOES: Johnson, Spence
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None - -
c:
Nickolai-SA--e ..r _
City Clerk-
_�