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Sign Ordinance in South San Francisco
City of South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.360.004 Prohibited Signs
The following signs shall not be permitted, erected or maintained within the City of South San Francisco:
G. Off-Premises Signs. To the extent allowed by law, with the exception of off-premises signs legally in existence at the time of adoption of this chapter or permitted pursuant to a relocation agreement under Section 20.360.002(A) and a Sign Permit under Section 20.360.009, off-premises signs are prohibited. Messages placed on transit benches or shelters sponsored or contracted by the transit agency pursuant to a contract and with its consent are exempted from this prohibition. Legally established off-premises signs are subject to the nonconforming sign provisions of Section 20.360.012 ("Nonconforming Signs").
I. Portable Signs, as defined by Section 20.360.015(BB), are prohibited.
L. on Public Property. No person shall paint, mark, or write on, or post or otherwise affix any handbill or sign to or upon any public property, including, but not limited to, sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, curbstone, street lamp post, hydrant, street median, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard, post, railroad crossing, electric light or power or telephone or telegraph pole, or wire appurtenance thereof, or upon any fixture of the fire alarm or police communications system, or upon any lighting system, public bridge, public building or wall, drinking fountain, street sign, or traffic sign or any other public place, except:
1. Signs or handbills posted by a public officer or public employee in the performance of a public duty;
2. Signs that are required or authorized by law;
3. Messages placed on transit shelters sponsored or contracted by the applicable transit agency pursuant to a contract with the transit agency and with its consent; and
4. A sign, banner, or other similar display that meets all of the following criteria, as determined by the City Manager or designee:
a. Is located within the Downtown area or along El Camino Real;
b. Is no greater than 24 square feet;
c. Is affixed to an electric light, power, or telephone/telegraph pole or other stationary fixture and the display is placed at least eight feet above the ground;
d. Is displayed for no more than 30 days in any calendar year;
e. Is made of high quality, weather-proof, durable material; and
f. Promotes any of the following types of events: (i) public programs or educational activities held in the City that are open to the public and serve the community in a non-discriminatory way, (ii) events that encourage tourism in the City, (iii) events that promote the culture and/or history of the City.
5. A sign, banner, or other similar display that is constructed by the City, paid for out of City funds, and posted by a City employee within the scope of his or her City employment.
Section 20.360.015 Definitions
Unless otherwise specifically provided, the terms used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
BB. Portable Sign. Any sign over six square feet in size designed to be easily transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs made as A-frames or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way. This definition expressly excludes hand-held signs and signs affixed to vehicles that are less than six square feet in size.
Section 20.360.014 Enforcement, Liability, and Penalty
Liability for Damages. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed as relieving or limiting in any way the responsibility or liability of any person erecting or owning any sign for personal injury or property damage resulting from the placing of such signs, or resulting from the negligence or willful acts of such persons, their agents, employees or workers in the construction, maintenance, repair or removal of any sign. Nor shall this chapter be construed as imposing upon the City, or its officers, or employees any responsibility or liability by reason of the approval of any signs, materials or devices under the provisions of this chapter.
B. It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer to enforce the provisions of this Ordinance; referrals may be made by the Planning Division, Building Division or Police Department.
C. If the Code Enforcement Officer finds any sign not complying with the regulations of this Ordinance, written notice shall be given to the sign owner and to the property owner. The notice shall specify the time period within which compli-ance must be achieved. If the sign owner or the property owner fails to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth after such notice, the Code Enforcement Officer may cause such sign to be removed, or altered to comply, at the expense of the sign owner or owner of the property upon which it is located.
D. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer, Director of Public Works or Police Department may have removed without prior notice any sign which is an immediate threat to persons or property or which is located on public property in violation of this Chapter. Once such a sign is removed the Code Enforcement Officer shall immediately attempt to notify the owner of the sign, if ascertainable. If the sign is not retrieved within 15 days after removal, it shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the City.
E. for Violation. Any person violating a provision of this chapter or failing to comply with a mandatory requirement of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, such person shall be punished as set forth in Chapter 1.24 ("General ") of the South San Francisco
