§ 142.1250 — Permanent Secondary Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones

§142.1250 Permanent Secondary Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones

(a) Table 142-12I identifies the type of permanent secondary signs permitted in the different sign categories. Table 142-12I Permanent Secondary Signs Type of Permanent Secondary Sign | Sign Categories A, B, and C Number and Size of Permanent Secondary Signs High-rise Building Identification wall Signs Number of Signs Permitted | Only one Sign Category A sign per facade on buildings that have a height of 100 feet or greater for building identification only Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1250(b) Establishment Identification | Permitted under certain conditions - See Section 142.1250 (c) Incidental Number of Signs Permitted | Maximum four signs permitted per ground sign structure or building wall Permitted Sign Area | Any one sign shall not exceed 6 square feet; the total area of all signs shall not exceed 10 square feet Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1250(d) Directional Number of Signs Permitted | One sign permitted at each driveway Permitted Sign Area | Each sign shall not exceed 12 square feet Permitted Height | 8 feet Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1250(e) Window Number of Signs Permitted | Permitted - See Section 142.1250(f) Permitted Sign Area | Not to exceed 30 percent of the window area. Letters Type of Permanent Secondary Sign | Sign Categories A, B, and C Number and Size of Permanent Secondary Signs may not be greater than 6 inches in average height, and logos may not exceed 16 inches in any dimension Public Utility and Safety Signs Required by Law | Permitted as required by law or ordinance - See Section 142.1250(g) Theater Lobby | Permitted - See Section 142.1250(h) Signs Required by Law to Be Visible from the Public Right-of-way | Exempt from this division provided that the signs do not exceed the minimum dimensions required by law. See Section 142.1250(i) Address Numbers Exempt from this division if the numbers meet the following criteria: Permitted sign Area | 4 square feet Maximum height of Numbers | 12 inches Address numbers that do not meet the above criteria | See Section 142.1250(j) Directories Number of Signs Permitted | One sign per entrance from a public street Permitted Sign Area | 24 square feet per sign face Maximum Permitted Height | 6 feet Additional Regulations | See Section 142.1250(k) (b) High-Rise Building Identification Wall Signs (1) In Sign Category A only, buildings in excess of 100 feet in height shall be permitted additional wall sign copy area for building identification purposes subject to the following regulations. (A) The high-rise building identification wall sign shall be placed on a building at a minimum height of 100 feet, above the uppermost row of windows, and not within 2 feet of the top of a parapet wall. (B) The high-rise building identification sign copy area shall not be included in the calculation of primary wall sign area. (C) A premises containing a building with a high-rise wall sign shall not be entitled to a roof sign. (D) High-rise wall sign area shall not be transferred from one building facade to any other building facade. (E) High-rise wall signs shall not project more than 18 inches from a building wall, nor shall they be illuminated by self-supporting light fixtures that extend more than 18 inches over a parkway. (F) The sign shall comply with area and setback requirements determined by reference to Table 142-12J. (G) The sign shall be placed in its entirety within the Building Height Measurement Category in Table 142-12J. The height of the sign is measured from the average grade of the building immediately below the sign to the uppermost point of the sign copy area. (2) Table 142-12J provides the basis for calculating the high-rise building identification wall sign copy area and the minimum distance the sign must be set back from the building edge. The permitted sign copy area is based on the height of the building and the width of the building facade at the uppermost point of the sign copy area. The required setback is based on the height of the sign. Table 142-12J High-Rise Building Identification Wall Sign Calculations Building Height Measurement Category Elevation at which uppermost point of sign copy area may be located. | Sign Area Factor For sign area, multiply the width of the building facade at the uppermost point of the sign copy area, by the factor below that corresponds to the height of the sign. | Sign Setback The minimum distance that the sign must be set back from each vertical edge of the building facade is based on the uppermost point of the sign copy area. 100 - 150 feet | 5 square feet | 5 feet 151 - 200 feet | 6 square feet | 6 feet 201 - 300 feet | 7 square feet | 7 feet 301 feet and greater | 8 square feet | 8 feet (c) Establishment identification wall signs, which identify the name or symbol of an establishment, the operation of an establishment, or the products or services available on the premises, shall not be included in the calculation of allowable primary sign area, provided that the following criteria are met: (1) The sign has non illuminated letters; (2) The sign lettering does not exceed 3 inches in average height; and (3) The sign area does not exceed 4 square feet. (d) Incidental signs that pertain to goods, products, services, or facilities that are available on the premises where the sign is located are permitted subject to the following regulations: (1) Incidental signs may be located on ground signs or on a building wall. (2) Incidental signs may not be attached perpendicularly to a wall. (3) Incidental signs are limited to the following information: (A) Trading stamps, (B) Credit cards accepted, (C) Notices of services or restrictions, and (D) Trade affiliations or public interest messages. (e) Directional signs, which are for the sole purpose of directing traffic or pedestrians, shall have at least 50 percent of the sign area used for providing direction and shall observe visibility area restrictions. (f) Permanent window signs shall be permanently affixed to the exterior window. (g) Public utility and safety signs that are required by law are exempt from this division. (h) Theater lobby signs located on the walls of lobbies that are roofed and open on one side only shall not be calculated as permitted wall sign area, if any of the following circumstances exists: (1) The sign is perpendicular to the fronting public right-of-way on the open side of the lobby; (2) The open side of the lobby does not front a public right-of-way; or (3) The sign is located within the lobby and is not intended to be visible to passing vehicular traffic. (i) Signs that are required by law to be visible from the public right-of-way are exempt from this division provided that the signs do not exceed the minimum dimensions required by law. Signs that exceed the minimum dimensions shall be subject to this division to the extent that the minimum dimensions are exceeded. Signs required by law other than public utility and safety signs that do not have specified minimum dimensions shall be subject to this division. (j) Address numbers that exceed the applicable height and area requirements from Table 142-12I shall be calculated as permitted wall sign area. (k) Directory signs, which list the names or uses in a building or on a premises, may be either primary wall signs or ground signs as permitted for the premises. Ground directory signs are subject to the minimum setbacks established by the applicable zones. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000; amended 6-19-2000 by O-18814 N.S.) (Amended 3-1-2006 by O-19468 N.S.; effective 4-1-2006.) (Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21618 N.S.; effective 5-6-2023.) (Amended 6-15-2026 by O-22109 N.S.; effective 7-15-2026.) [Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-22109 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-22109-SO.pdf ]