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Sign Permits

Most signs require a permit. Though certain types of signs, like window signs, painted wall signs and murals, temporary signs and banners do not require a building permit, all signs, regardless of type, must receive approval from the Planning Division.

Planning regulates the size, type and placement of the sign and Building regulates the construction details. Before installing new or replacing existing signage, check with the Planning Division for the regulations for your zone and sign type.

Types of Sign Permits

• Commercial Or Industrial Centers : Signs for businesses located within commercial or industrial centers, complexes, or buildings designed for multiple occupancy, shall be coordinated so that a consistent design theme is established and maintained.
  Per Section 19.60.100 of th eCity's Municipal Code (CVMC), "any usiness located in a commercial or industrial center that is nonconforming by virtue of the failure of the center to undergo design review pursuant to the provisions of CVMC 19.60.220 through 19.60.250, the owner or manager of said center shall submit to the City for review a coordinated sign program for the entire center, and thereafter all individual businesses shall conform any new signs as they may be constructed to the approved coordinated sign program."

• Individual Signs : Sign applications for individual businesses that are not located within commercial or industrial centers, or are within such centers and a Sign Program exists for the center, shall also be subject to review by the Zoning Administrator.
  Such individual signs must relate to the building upon which it is to be erected in terms of overall design, theme, colors, materials used, and the design elements set forth in Section 19.14.050. The individual signs must also conform to the criteria set forth by the applicable zone for the property and any relevant design standards set by a Sign Program, REdevelopment Plan, or Specific Plan that applies.

• Temporary Promotional Signs : Temporary promotional signs are permitted for any business to promote: grand openings, change of business address, change of ownership or lessee, and business anniversaries. A Temporary Sales, Sinage & Events Application Form is needed for Temporary Signs.

General Sign Design Review Principles

Please refer to CVMC Section 19.22 through 19.48 for requirements for the particular zone of the subject property and Section 19.60 for general sign criteria. Further requirements may apply if subject property is located within an approved Sectional Planning Area (SPA) or Redevelopment Project Area. Please verify requirements that apply to your particular site with planning staff.

Appeals

Any decision of the Zoning Administrator, in regard to design review, may be appealed to the design review committee within ten (10) working days after the decision is rendered. In the absence of such an appealk, the determination of the Zoning Administrator shall be final.

Building Division Review

If placement of a sign requires a Building Permit, the Building Diviison will review the plans for compliance with California Building Code requirements. As part of the Building Permit review, review by the Engineering Department is also required. Types of signs that do not typically require a Building Permit include window signs, painted wall signs and murals, temporary signs and banners. All signs, regardless of type, must receive approval from the Planning Division.

Application Information

All signs shall be submitted for approval to the Planning and Building Department, prior to installation. Four (4) sets of the plans submitted with the application shall include a site plan, architectural drawings and structural drawings. One set must be in color.

Contents Required

1. Application Form
2. Site Plan - The site plan shall include the following information:
   • North arrow and scale
• Project boundaries properly dimensioned
• Existing buildings, driveways, parking and landscape areas properly dimensioned
• Proposed and existing signs
• Proposed signs setback distance (pole and monument signs)
3. Architectural Drawings -
   • Drawings shall contain sufficient information on the architecture, colors and materials for the building on the site, as well as the proposed signs, as is necessary to determine compatibility of the sign to the building.
• Include dimensions of building frontage and facade size
4. Structural Details
5. Photograph - A photograph of the proposed sign location and any surrounding signs should be submitted if the proposed sign is to be installed in an existing shopping center.
6. Landscape and Irrigation plans shall be submitted with all freestanding pole sign permits.

Permit Fees

Plan Check & Permit Fees

Building permit fees for signs are based upon valuation. Refer to the "Building Permit Fees for Signs" calculation worksheet to determine building fees.

Engineering Department Fees

Not applicable (Review by Engineering is included in building permit fee).