Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- Citywide sign regulations for all zones.
Extracted standards
41 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Lighting
- Lighting restrictions for signs
Except for time and temperature components, signs may only be lit by stationary shielded light, by light inside the sign, or by direct neon lighting. Glare shall not impair vision or shine onto adjoining properties.
Other
- Maximum area for construction sign in commercial/industrial zones32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
In commercial or industrial zones, up to thirty-two (32) square feet in area may be displayed.
- Maximum area for construction sign in residential zones16 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
In a residential zone, up to sixteen (16) square feet may be displayed.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for construction sign6 ft
One on-site sign, not to exceed six feet in height, erected by a building contractor, subcontractor, architect or engineer while actually engaged in construction of a building.
- Maximum area for exempt flags15 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Three flags per parcel not larger than fifteen (15) square feet nor taller than twenty (20) feet.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for exempt flags20 ft
Three flags per parcel not larger than fifteen (15) square feet nor taller than twenty (20) feet.
- Maximum area for non-commercial informational signs4 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
On-site non-commercial informational or directional signs, including 'No Trespassing' and 'No Dumping' signs, up to four square feet in area and less than four feet in height.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for non-commercial informational signs4 ft
On-site non-commercial informational or directional signs, including 'No Trespassing' and 'No Dumping' signs, up to four square feet in area and less than four feet in height.
- Maximum area for one exempt sign per parcel6 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
One sign per parcel in any zone not larger than six (6) square feet and no taller than four feet (4').
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for one exempt sign per parcel4 ft
One sign per parcel in any zone not larger than six (6) square feet and no taller than four feet (4').
- Maximum area for temporary signs4 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Up to four (4) temporary signs not over four (4) square feet in size may be placed without a permit up to four (4) times per year for any address. Temporary signs may be placed for a maximum of seventy-two (72) hours on private property.
- Maximum duration for temporary signs72 hr
Temporary signs may be placed for a maximum of seventy-two (72) hours on private property.
- Sign maintenance requirement
Every sign and sign structure allowed by this section shall be continuously maintained. Signs advertising a use no longer conducted for 90 days or more shall be removed, replaced with an opaque panel or painted over.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. sign area for buildings over 20,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
In that event, no accessory sign may exceed 32 square feet.
- Maximum area for permanently mounted accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. signs16 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The maximum area shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet unless the building footprint is at least 20,000 square feet or larger. In that event, no accessory sign may exceed 32 square feet.
- Maximum area for changeable lettering50 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
A portion of the main business identification sign, or a separate sign not exceeding 25% of the main sign or 50 square feet, whichever is less, may be permitted for changeable lettering.
- Maximum changeable lettering as percentage of main sign25 pct
A portion of the main business identification sign, or a separate sign not exceeding 25% of the main sign or 50 square feet, whichever is less.
- Maximum rear entrance sign area per linear foot of rear frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.1 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000./ft
An individual business with rear parking and rear entrance shall be permitted to have one additional primary sign to be mounted to the rear wall of the business, located on parcels with a sign area not to exceed 1 square foot for each lineal foot of the rear frontage of the wall to which the sign is mounted.
- Maximum river frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street. sign area per linear foot1 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000./ft
Businesses on parcels with river frontage that have received an approved conditional use permit for their presence in the CRR Zone or are a prior legal non-conforming use shall be allowed additional combined riverfront signage not to exceed 1 square foot of signage to be shared by all businesses located on the same parcel for each lineal foot of river frontage.
- Maximum sign area for business with less than 40 ft frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.80 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
An individual business with a combined street frontage of less than forty (40) feet (business not in a business complex) may have a maximum of 80 square feet.
- Maximum sign area for business with more than 40 ft frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.2 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000./ft
For businesses with more than forty (40) foot combined street frontage, the combined allowable sign area for all such primary signs and accessory signs shall be two (2) square feet for each lineal foot of combined street frontage.
- Maximum area of any single sign200 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The maximum area of any single sign shall not exceed 200 square feet, except a maximum of 250 square feet may be granted by the Planning Commission after specific findings.
- Maximum area for time and temperature display25 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The area of the time and temperature may not be larger than twenty five (25) square feet.
- Maximum increase for time and temperature displays20 pct
The maximum sign area allowed for any sign that includes an automatic time and/or temperature display may be increased by up to 20% for the sole purpose of the time and temperature display, provided however that the area of the time and temperature may not be larger than twenty five (25) square feet.
- Maximum total sign area per linear foot of frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.2 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000./ft
The total amount of signage for all signs located at any business location shall not exceed two (2) square feet per linear foot of frontage.
- Non-conforming sign restrictions
Legal non-conforming signs may not be expanded, moved or structurally altered to extend their useful life. They may not be re-established after abandonment, removal, or after damage or destruction of more than 50% of replacement cost.
- Abandoned signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Signs, excluding on-premise signs, which do not conform to the provisions of this Article which have not been used for 180 days or more and which were placed for a business which has been discontinued 180 days or more are prohibited.
- Signs in public right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. without permission
Commercial or noncommercial signs placed, mounted or erected in the public right-of-way or on trees, utility poles, traffic signs or other public property without permission of the public entity are prohibited.
- Intensely lighted signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Any illuminated sign of such an intensity or arranged in a manner that creates glare for adjacent properties or vehicular traffic is prohibited.
- Signs that move, gyrate, flash or rotate prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
No signs are permitted that move, gyrate, flash, or rotate, except for permitted flags or signs placed for a special event that move with the wind.
- Neon lighting on support structures prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Signs, whether commercial or noncommercial in nature, that have neon lighting on their support structures are prohibited.
- Signs that make noise prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Signs that make sounds are prohibited (excluding signs with speakers for communication with customers at businesses offering a drive-through service).
- Non-current signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Signs that display commercial messages for a business that has ceased operations for ninety (90) days or more are prohibited.
- Signs with obscene content prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Signs that show any statement or symbol of an obscene or unlawful nature or depict specified sexual activities or specified anatomical parts are prohibited.
- Portable signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Portable signs are prohibited except for A-frame signs and signs placed with a special event signage permit.
- Retail cannabis signage prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
All onsite signage or advertisements for a 'Retail Cannabis Business' as defined in Section 12A-2(UU) of the City of Needles Municipal Code other than onsite signage or advertisements expressly permitted by state law are prohibited.
- Signs interfering with access prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Any sign which, because of its location, would prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, driveway, sidewalk or bike path, or obstruct an outward view from the living area of any building is prohibited.
- Signs on public property prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Placards, posters, announcements and similar signs attached to any fence, pole, tree or any other object on publicly-owned land or right-of-way except those of an official nature authorized by a city ordinance are prohibited.
- Unsafe signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Any unsafe sign as described in Section 104.17.5 (G) is prohibited.
- Signs placed without permission prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Signs placed without permission of the property owner or tenant are prohibited.
- Sign permit required
Unless specifically excluded by the Article, a sign permit is required to erect, construct or otherwise place any sign conveying a message for a commercial, industrial, private or institutional use, service or product.
From the ordinance
The total amount of signage for all signs located at any business location shall not exceed two (2) square feet per linear foot of frontage. Maximum single sign area 200 sq ft.