Commerce Municipal Code § 19.25.040 Permits

The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations designed to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, reduce confusion for the traveling public, and improve the appearance of the city by regulating and controlling the size, location, design, quality, illumination, construction, maintenance, and use of all signs and advertising displays in the City of Commerce.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

In addition to the definitions set forth in Chapter 19.45, the following definitions shall apply to the provisions of this chapter:

"Abandoned sign" means any sign that no longer advertises a business, tenant, owner, product, service, or activity on the site where the sign is displayed.

"Advertising display" means signs, banners, displays of merchandise, and sign structures used for announcements, business names, or advertising goods or products.

"Area of sign" means the entire area of the sign, enclosing all letters, symbols, pictures, or figures forming a display, with the area boundaries formed by no more than eight straight lines. Sign area includes all faces of the sign, but excludes all supports and uprights, superficial column covers, trims, and other objects attached to the sign but which do not convey a message.

"Billboard identification sign" means the sign which displays the name of the billboard sign owner and identification number.

"Billboard sign" means a sign soliciting public support or directing public attention to the sale, lease, hiring or use of any objects, products or services not associated with the property where the sign is located, as regulated by California Business and Professions Code Sections 5200—5499. For purposes of this chapter, a billboard sign shall not include a sign solely advertising the business(es) located on the premises where such sign is erected and maintained. A billboard sign may consist of either static or digital displays, as defined in this section, and may be referred to in the Commerce Municipal Code as "static billboard sign" or "digital billboard sign." See "Off-site sign."

"Construction sign" means a temporary sign stating the names of individuals or firms directly connected with the work on a building or facility under construction or alteration; a temporary sign announcing the future use of the property on which the sign is located.

"Development agreement" is the agreement entered into between an applicant or developer and the city authorizing new construction of billboard, as defined in this chapter, or replacement of a billboard, as defined in this chapter, within the city's jurisdictional boundaries.

"Digital display or sign" means the face of a billboard that is comprised of a digital or electronic face with intermittent messages.

"Director" means the director of economic development and planning.

"Flashing sign" means a sign having conspicuous and intermittent variation in lighting; a sign incorporating intermittent electrical impulses from a source of light or a light revolving in a manner that creates the illusion of flashing.

"Freestanding sign" means a sign supported from the ground by one or more poles or posts and with or without braces, including ground signs and monument signs.

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"Freeway oriented sign" means a freestanding sign designed to be visible to and provide identification for businesses from a freeway or state highway, and which exceeds the standard height or area limitations applicable to other signs in the same zone.

"Ground sign" means a sign that is completely or partially supported by a structural element and is not an integral part of a building. It includes post signs, pole signs, freestanding signs, pylon signs, detached signs, and signs attached to or painted on fences, screening walls or similar structures.

"Height of ground sign" means the vertical distance from the uppermost point of a sign to the prevailing grade directly below that point.

"Illuminated sign" means a sign designed to emit or brightly reflect artificial light, or a sign that uses a source of light to make characters or a message more readable.

"Monument sign" means a freestanding sign with a solid base, where the bottom of the sign is in contact with or close to the ground and is independent of any other structure, and where the bottom of the sign face is three feet or less above the surrounding grade, and the top of the sign frame is six feet or less than the surrounding grade.

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"New construction" means the construction of a new sign including the sign face and support structure.

"Nonilluminated sign" means a sign that is not illuminated, either internally or externally.

"Off-site sign" means a sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, industry, or other activity that is sold, offered, or conducted elsewhere than on the premises on which the sign is located. See "Billboard."

"On-site sign" means a sign that directs attention to a business, product, service, industry, or other activity that is sold, offered, or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located.

"Outdoor advertising display" means a sign, display of merchandise, or device that is placed outside of a building or is otherwise open to public view.

"Outdoor advertising structure" means a structure of any kind or character on which an outdoor advertising display is placed. See "Sign structure."

"Political campaign sign." See Commerce Municipal Code, Chapter 9.40.

"Portable sign" means a sign that can be moved, including sandwich boards, A-frames, placards, and trailer-mounted signs.

"Readerboard" or "electronic sign" means an electronic sign with lighted copy that moves, flashes, scrolls, changes color, or otherwise displays a continuous or intermittent changeable message that advertises a business, product, service, or event associated with the property on which the sign is located.

"Real estate sign" means a temporary sign relating to the rental, sale, lease, or other disposition of the real property on which the sign is located.

"Repair" means the changing or upgrading of the sign face and/or support structure to a comparable design (like for like) due to damage.

"Replacement" means the complete replacement or conversion of a static billboard sign (face and support structure as needed) with a digital billboard sign.

"Roof sign" means a sign erected or printed entirely on or above the roof.

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"Sign" means a device used for visual communication, promotion, or advertisement of the interests of a person, group, or enterprise. Signs may include an announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, insignia, or illustration.

"Sign structure" means a structure of any kind or character erected or maintained to support a sign; a physical support used exclusively as a stand, frame, or background for the support or display of signs or advertising. See "Outdoor advertising structure."

"Static sign or display" means the face of a billboard sign that has a fixed, printed face; is not digital and does not have a variable message display.

"Wall sign" means a sign that is posted, affixed, suspended, or painted on an exterior wall of a building or structure.

"Wind sign" means a sign or device that is designed with one or more streamers, banners, flags, balloons, or other objects that are intended to move when exposed to the wind.

"Window sign" means a sign or message posted, painted, affixed, or attached to a window surface.

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(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

A. No sign or advertising display shall be erected or maintained that does not comply with the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable statutes or laws.

B. The requirements of this chapter shall be applied in addition to any other requirements contained in this Title 19.

C. In the event of direct and irreconcilable conflict between any provisions of this chapter and any other provisions of this Title 19 or any other provisions contained in the Commerce Municipal Code, the more restrictive requirements shall govern.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

A. A sign permit shall be required prior to the placing, erecting, moving, reconstructing, altering, or displaying of any sign or advertising display in the city except for billboard signs subject to the provisions of Division 4 of this chapter. An application for a sign permit for each sign or advertising display shall be made to the community development department to first determine if the application conforms to all of the applicable provisions of this Title 19.

B. Upon approval of the community development department (if a permit is required), the applicant shall submit an application to the building department for a building permit and shall provide such information and fees as the building official may prescribe. The property owner or the authorized agent of the property owner shall make the application, and shall include the following information:

1. All signs and advertising displays shall be designed, constructed, and maintained as specified in the latest edition of the city building code.

2. The supporting members of all signs and advertising displays shall be free of any extra bracing, angle iron, guy wires, cables, etc. The supports of all signs and advertising displays placed upon or attached to buildings shall be an architectural and integral part of the building.

3. The backs of all signs and advertising displays shall be screened, encased, or otherwise covered so that no structural members are visible to the public.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

The following signs shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter:

A. Signs placed by a governmental body or public utility, including signs required to be maintained by law.

B. Flags of any nation, political subdivision, or flags identifying the business or organization on the site; provided, that not more than three flags are placed on any site.

C. Nonilluminated directional or convenience signs, not exceeding six square feet in area and four feet in height, that facilitate traffic flow and safety, such as signs that say "entrance," "exit," "caution," "parking," "one-way," etc.

D. Bulletin or announcement signs erected on the premises of churches, schools, and other public institutions, not exceeding one in number per street frontage and used solely for the purpose of stating items related to activities conducted on the premises; provided, such signs do not exceed thirty square feet in area and six feet in height above ground level.

E. Nonilluminated warning signs not exceeding two square feet in area and four feet in height, such as signs that say "no trespassing, "beware of dog," "no parking," "no soliciting," etc.

F. One name plate containing the name and/or profession of the occupant of the premises upon the building for each tenant occupant, not exceeding an area of one square foot.

G. One temporary, nonilluminated construction sign per parcel, not exceeding an area of six square feet in residential zones or thirty-two square feet in all other zones. Such signs shall be removed within seven days following removal of the property from the market.

H. One temporary, nonilluminated real estate sign per parcel, not exceeding six square feet in residential zones or thirty-two square feet in all other zones. Such signs shall be removed within seven days following removal of the property from the market.

I. Temporary (sixty days or less), noncommercial signs devoted to a religious, charitable, cultural, governmental, or educational purpose. Time and temperature signs shall be exempt from the sixty-day limitation.

J. Signs located on real property either owned in fee by the city or over which an easement for public right-of-way purposes has been acquired by the city, where such signs are placed under permit or license approved by the city council, except for billboard signs subject to the provisions of Division 4 of this chapter.

K. Murals, as defined by Section 19.45.140 of this Title 19.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

A. No sign or advertising display shall be attached to or placed upon any vehicle except those that are painted directly upon, or permanently affixed to the body of a vehicle used regularly in a business to which the sign or advertising display pertains. No vehicle shall be parked on any parking area or street for the purpose of displaying a sign or advertising display.

B. Portable signs or advertising displays are not permitted.

C. Flashing signs or advertising displays are not permitted.

D. No sign, advertising display, or portion thereof shall rotate or revolve at a speed greater than eight revolutions per minute. Flashing, rotating, or revolving signs may be permitted by the director if he finds that one or more of the following conditions and prerequisites have been met:

1. The proposed sign will be an on-site sign as defined in this chapter.

2. The proposed sign will be located in the C/M-1, M-1, or M-2 zone.

3. The proposed sign will not unreasonably cause or contribute to any unsafe traffic condition.

4. The proposed sign will not be detrimental to the property owners in the area or to the general public.

5. Because of the location of the proposed sign in relation to potential viewers and the nature of the business being advertised, motion or the appearance of motion in the sign is necessary to allow the sign to be noticed and viewed by such potential viewers.

E. Wind signs or advertising displays are not permitted, except official flags or banners announcing public events placed by government entities.

F. Signs or advertising displays that resemble or hide from view any official traffic sign, signal, or device; attempt to direct the movement of traffic; or interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are not permitted.

G. Signs or advertising displays shall not be erected so as to constitute or potentially constitute a hazard to the safe and efficient operation of vehicles upon any street, highway, or freeway. Signs or advertising displays shall not utilize any light of any color of such brilliance or be positioned so as to blind or impair the vision of drivers upon the street, highway, or freeway, nor shall any light be placed in such position as to prevent the driver of a vehicle from readily recognizing any official traffic sign, signal, or device.

H. Signs that are projected by electronic means, such as by a video projector or movie camera, are prohibited.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

A. No live animal or human being shall be used as a part of any sign or advertising display, except during authorized promotional activities and as approved by the director.

B. No sign or advertising display shall emit sound of any kind for the purpose of attracting the attention of the general public.

C. No person shall use, operate, or employ any projector, stereopticon, television, or motion picture machine in conjunction or attached to any sign or advertising display.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)

All signs and advertising displays and the ground area thereunder shall be maintained at all times in a state of good repair, free from deterioration, rot, rust, and loosening. The display surfaces of all signs and advertising displays shall be kept neatly painted or posted, and the area beneath and about the base of all signs and advertising displays shall be kept free of all weeds, rubbish, and inflammable waste materials by the owner of the sign or advertising display.

(Ord. No. 824, § 4, 10-28-2025)