Applicability and scope.
Riverside Municipal Code § 19.620.030
in effect19.620.030 - Applicability and scope.
This chapter regulates signs, as defined herein, that are located or mounted on private property within the corporate limits of the City of Riverside, as well as signs located or mounted on public property that is owned or controlled by public entities other than the City of Riverside, and over which the City has land use or zoning authority. However, property owned by public entities other than the City, in which the City holds the present right of possession, or for which management rights have been delegated to the City, are not within the scope of this chapter. Policies for private party signs on City-owned property, on the public right-of-way, and publicly owned properties in which the City holds the present right of possession or for which management rights have been delegated to the City, are stated in Chapter 19.625 (Private Party Signs on City-Owned Property and the Public Right-of-Way). The provisions set forth in this chapter shall apply in all zoning districts of the City, except where expressly stated otherwise. No sign within the regulatory scope of this chapter shall be erected or maintained anywhere in the City except in conformity with this chapter. This chapter applies prospectively only.
For the regulatory purposes of this title, the following are not within the definition of "sign":
A. Architectural features: Decorative or architectural features of buildings (not including lettering, trademarks or moving parts);
B. Symbols embedded in architecture: Symbols of non-commercial organizations or concepts including, but not limited to, religious or political symbols, when such are permanently integrated into the structure of a permanent building that is otherwise legal; also includes foundation stones, corner stones and similar devices;
C. Personal appearance: Items or devices of personal apparel, decoration or appearance, including tattoos, makeup, wigs, costumes (but not including commercial mascots);
D. Manufacturers' marks: Marks on tangible products, that identify the marker, seller, provider or product, and that customarily remain attached to the product even after sale;
E. Fireworks and lighting displays: The legal use of fireworks, candles and artificial lighting not otherwise regulated by the title;
F. Certain insignia on vehicles and vessels: on street legal vehicles and properly licensed watercraft: license plates, license plate frames, registration insignia, non-commercial messages, messages relating to the business of which the vehicle or vessel is an instrument or tool (not including general advertising) and messages relating to the proposed sale, lease or exchange of the vehicle or vessel;
G. Grave stones, grave markers and similar devices, when used with a cemetery to indicate deceased persons buried within proximity to the marker;
H. Newsracks and newsstands;
I. Door mats, floor mats, welcoming mats and similar devices;
J. Legally placed vending machines displaying only onsite commercial or non-commercial graphics, and drive-up or walk up service facilities such as gas pumps and automated teller machines.
K. Shopping carts identifying the establishment to which they belong; and
L. Murals as defined by Section 19.620.160 of this chapter subject to compliance with Chapter 19.710, Design Review, of the Zoning Ordinance.
(Ord. 7331 §96, 2016; Ord. 7300 §2, 2015; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT19ZO_ARTVIIISIPLGEDEPR_CH19.620GESIPR_19.620.030APSCFetched: 11/1/2026