SEC. 973. SIGNS IN MB-NC, MB-O, MB-CI, AND MB-H DISTRICTS.
(a) Signs or Sign Features Not Permitted. Roof signs, as defined in Section 602, wind signs, as defined in Section 602, signs on canopies, as defined in Section 136.1(b), and general
advertising signs, as defined in Section 602 are not permitted in MB-NC, MB-O, MB-CI and MB-H Districts. No sign shall have or consist of any moving, rotating, or otherwise physically
animated part, or lights that give the appearance of animation by flashing, blinking, or fluctuating, except as permitted by Section 607.1(i). All signs or sign features not otherwise
specifically regulated in this Section 973 shall be prohibited.
(b) Signs Permitted. In MB-NC, MB-O, MB-CI, and MB-H Districts the following signs other than signs exempted by Section 603, shall be the only signs permitted.
(1) Identifying Signs. Identifying signs, as defined in Section 602, shall be permitted subject to the following limitations.
(A) One sign per structure shall be permitted and such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(B) The sign may be a freestanding sign, if the building is recessed from the street property line, or may be a wall sign or a projecting sign. The existence of a freestanding
identifying sign shall preclude the erection of a freestanding business sign on the same lot.
(C) A wall or projecting sign shall be mounted on the first story level; a freestanding sign shall not exceed 15 feet in height.
(D) The sign may be non-illuminated, indirectly illuminated, or directly illuminated.
(2) Nameplates. One nameplate, as defined in Section 602, not exceeding an area of two square feet, shall be permitted for each non-commercial use.
(3) Business Signs. Business signs, as defined in Section 602, shall be permitted subject to the following limitations.
(A) Business Signs in the MB-NC-2 District.
(i) Window Signs. The total area of all window signs, as defined in Section 602, shall not exceed one-third the area of the window on or in which the signs are located. Such signs
may be non-illuminated, indirectly illuminated, or directly illuminated.
(ii) Wall Signs. The area of all wall signs shall not exceed two square feet per foot of street frontage occupied by the use measured along the wall to which the signs are attached,
or 100 square feet for each street frontage, whichever is less. The height of any wall sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest
of any residential window sill on the wall to which the sign is attached, whichever is lower. Such signs may be non-illuminated, indirectly, or directly illuminated.
(iii) Projecting Signs. The number of projecting signs shall not exceed one per business. The area of such sign, as defined in Section 602, shall not exceed 15 square feet. The
height of such sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential window sill on the wall to which the sign is
attached, whichever is lower. No part of the sign shall project more than 75 percent of the horizontal distance from the street property line to the curbline, or six feet, six inches, whichever
is less. Such signs may be non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated; or during business hours, may be directly illuminated.
(iv) Signs on Awnings and Marquees. Sign copy may be located on permitted awnings or marquees in lieu of projecting signs. The area of such sign copy, as defined in Section
601 602,1 shall not exceed 30 square feet. Such sign copy may be non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated; except that sign copy on marquees for movie theaters or places of entertainment
may be directly illuminated during business hours.
(v) Freestanding Signs and Sign Towers. One freestanding sign or sign tower per lot shall be permitted in lieu of a projecting sign, if the building or buildings are recessed from
the street property line. The existence of a freestanding business sign shall preclude the erection of a freestanding identifying sign on the same lot. The area of such freestanding sign or sign
tower, as defined in Section 602, shall not exceed 20 square feet, nor shall the height of the sign exceed 24 feet. No part of the sign shall project more than 75 percent of the horizontal
distance from the street property line to the curbline, or six feet, whichever is less. Such signs may be non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated, or, during business hours, may be directly
illuminated.
(B) Business Signs in MB-NC-3, MB-NC-S, MB-O, MB-CI, and MB-H Districts.
(i) Window Signs. The total area of all window signs, as defined in Section 602, shall not exceed one-third the area of the window on or in which the signs are located. Such signs
may be non-illuminated, indirectly illuminated, or directly illuminated.
(ii) Wall Signs. The area of all wall signs shall not exceed three square feet per foot of street frontage occupied by the use measured along the wall to which the signs are attached,
or 150 square feet for each street frontage, whichever is less. The height of any wall sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest
of any residential window sill on the wall to which the sign is attached, whichever is lower. Such signs may be non-illuminated, indirectly, or directly illuminated.
(iii) Projecting Signs. The number of projecting signs shall not exceed one per business. The area of such sign, as defined in Section 602, shall not exceed 32 square feet. The
height of the sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential window sill on the wall to which the sign is attached,
whichever is lower. No part of the sign shall project more than 75 percent of the horizontal distance from the street property line to the curbline, or six feet six inches, whichever is less.
Such signs may be non-illuminated, indirectly, or directly illuminated.
(iv) Signs on Awnings and Marquees. Sign copy may be located on permitted awnings or marquees in lieu of projecting signs. The area of such sign copy, as defined in Section
602, shall not exceed 40 square feet. Such sign copy may be non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated; except that sign copy on marquees for movie theaters or places of entertainment may
be directly illuminated during business hours.
(v) Freestanding Signs and Sign Towers. With the exception of automotive gas and service stations, which are regulated under Paragraph below, one freestanding sign or sign
tower per lot shall be permitted in lieu of a projecting sign, if the building or buildings are recessed from the street property line. The existence of a freestanding business sign shall preclude
the erection of a freestanding identifying sign on the same lot. The area of such freestanding sign or sign tower, as defined in Section 602, shall not exceed 30 square feet nor shall the height
of the sign exceed 24 feet. No part of the sign shall project more than 75 percent of the horizontal distance from the street property line to the curbline, or six feet, whichever is less. Such
signs may be non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated; or during business hours, may be directly illuminated.
(C) Special Standards for Automotive Gas and Service Stations in MB-NC-3 and MB-NC-S Districts. For automotive gas and service stations in MB-NC-3 and MB-NC-S
Districts only the following signs are permitted, subject to the standards in this subsection (C) and to all other standards in this Section 973.
(i) A maximum of two oil company signs, which shall not extend more than 10 feet above the roofline if attached to a building, or exceed the maximum height permitted for
freestanding signs in the same district is freestanding. The area of any such sign shall not exceed 180 square feet, and along each street frontage, all parts of such a sign or signs that are
within 10 feet of the street property line shall not exceed 80 square feet in area. No such sign shall project more than five feet beyond any street property line. The areas of other permanent
and temporary signs as covered in subsection (ii) below shall not be included in the calculation of the area specified in this Subparagraph.
(ii) Other permanent and temporary business signs, not to exceed 30 square feet in area for each such sign or a total of 180 square feet for all such signs on the premises. No such
sign shall extend above the roofline if attached to a building, or in any case project beyond any street property line or building setback line.
(D) Special Standards for Visual Accent Signs. In order to create visual interest, variety, and distinctive character in Mission Bay Commercial Districts the Zoning Administrator
may allow visual accent signs in MB-NC-2, MB-NC-3, MB-NC-S, MB-NC-S, MB-O, MB-CI, and MB-H Districts. Visual accent signs are business or identifying signs in the form of
projecting signs which are larger in square footage and higher in height than would normally be permitted under the limitations of this Section 970. A visual accent sign shall meet the
following standards:
(i) The sign does not exceed 40 square feet in area and 20 feet in height in MB-NC-2 Districts and 48 square feet in area and 30 feet in height in MB-NC-3, MB-NC-S, MB-O, MB-
CI, and MB-H Districts without regard to the height of the wall or the lowest residential window sill on the wall to which the sign is attached.
(ii) Such signs are a minimum of 200 feet apart.
(iii) The sign is distinctive and attractive in its design and use of materials and will make an important contribution to the visual quality and character of the street.
(iv) To the maximum extent practicable given the specific uses on the street frontage, the sign identifies major destination points or places of public assembly such as theaters and
cultural centers or public or quasi-public facilities such as parking garages.
(v) The sign identifies the name of the business, service, or other activity offered or conducted on premises or the generic type of commodities sold on the premises, rather than the
specific brand names or symbol of commodities sold on premises.
(Added by Ord. 63-91, App. 2/27/91; amended by Ord. 13-26, File No. 251099, App. 2/13/2026, Eff. 3/16/2026)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header amended; divisions (a)- (b)(3)(A)(i), (b)(3)(A)(iii)-(v), (b)(3)(B)-(B)(i), (b)(3)(B)(iii)-(v), (b)(3)(C)-(C)(i), (b)(3)(D)-(D)(i), and (b)(3)(D)(v) amended; Ord. 13-26, Eff. 3/16/2026.
CODIFICATION NOTE
1. So in Ord. 13-26.
PART IX
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT, RESIDENT TRAINING AND
PLACEMENT AND CHILD CARE