CALABASAS MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 17, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Definitions
"S"
Chapter 17.90 - Definitions
Sections:
17.90.010 - Purpose
17.90.020 - Definitions of Specialized Terms and Phrases
17.90.010 - Purpose
This Chapter provides definitions of terms and phrases used in this Development Code that
are technical or specialized, or that may not reflect common usage. If any of the definitions
in this chapter conflict with definitions in other chapters of the Municipal Code, these
definitions shall prevail for the purposes of this Development Code. If a word is not defined
in this Chapter, or other Titles of the Municipal Code, the most common dictionary definition
is assumed to be correct.
17.90.020 - Definitions of Specialized Terms and Phrases
S.
Definitions, "S." The following definitions are in alphabetical order.
Sign. Any visual device or representation (written or pictorial) used to convey
information, or to identify, announce, or otherwise direct attention to a premise,
product, service, person, organization, business, or event, and placed on,
suspended from, or in any way attached to, any structure, vehicle, or landscape
feature. The following are definitions related to signs:
Abandoned sign. A sign that identifies a business, lessor, owner, product,
service, or activity which has been discontinued on the premises for a period
of ninety days or more.
Address sign. The numeric reference of a structure or use to a street,
included as part of a wall or monument sign.
Animated or moving sign. Any sign which uses movement, lighting or
special materials to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
Awning or canopy or marquee sign. A roof-like cover that projects from
the wall of a building for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window from
the elements. A nonelectric sign that is printed on, painted on, or attached to
CALABASAS MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 17, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Definitions
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an awning, canopy, or marquee.
Balloon. An object made of an airtight material, no greater than 18 inches in
diameter at its widest point, filled with air or gas and used as a sign.
Banner. A strip of cloth, thin plastic or other flexible material on which a sign
is painted, printed, or otherwise displayed.
Bench sign. Copy painted on any portion of a bus stop bench.
Billboard or off-site sign. A sign structure advertising an establishment,
merchandise, service, or entertainment, which is not sold, produced,
manufactured, or furnished at the property on which the sign is located.
Building-mounted, or wall sign. A sign painted on or fastened to a building
wall, and which does not project more than 12 inches from the wall.
Cabinet sign (Can sign). A sign that contains all the text and/or logo
symbols within a single enclosed cabinet and may or may not be illuminated.
Canopy sign. See awning sign.
Channel letters. Three-dimensional individually cut letters or figures,
illuminated or unilluminated, affixed to a structure.
Civic event sign. A temporary sign, other than a commercial sign, posted to
advertise a civic event sponsored by a public agency, school, church, civicfraternal organization, or similar noncommercial organization.
Commercial copy or commercial message. A message displayed on a
sign which pertains primarily to the name, location, products or proposed
economic transactions of any services or activities carried on for profit or
gain.
Construction sign. A temporary sign erected on the parcel on which
construction is taking place, limited to the duration of the construction,
indicating the names of the architects, engineers, landscape architects,
contractors, or similar artisans, and the owner, financial supporters,
sponsors, and similar individuals or firms having a major role or interest with
respect to the structure or project.
CALABASAS MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 17, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Definitions
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Decorative graphics. Any graphic symbol, logo, monogram, words treated
as a graphic image or other symbolic device that identifies the specific
business, products, or services offered on the premises, or which relates to
the contents of the building-mounted sign.
Directional sign. An on-site sign which is designed and erected solely for
the purposes of directing vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic within a project.
Directory sign. A sign for listing the tenants or occupants and their suite
numbers of a structure or center.
Double-faced sign. A single structure monument sign located perpendicular
to the street.
Flag. The official flag of a government, religious group or other organization.
Flashing sign. A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light
source.
Freeway facing sign. A building mounted sign that is located (1) on a site
that directly abuts the 101 Freeway and (2) is located on the side of the
building that faces the freeway.
Illegal sign. A sign that was not established or is not being maintained in
compliance with the applicable provisions of the Los Angeles County Zoning
Code or this Chapter that applied to the sign at the time it was installed.
Illuminated sign. A sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally
or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
Inflatable sign. An object made of an airtight material, generally greater
than 18 inches in diameter at its widest point, filled with air or gas to form a
three dimensional shape and used as a sign.
Institutional sign. A sign identifying the premises of a church, school,
hospital, rest home, or similar institutional facility.
Kiosk. A free standing structure erected on a foundation and designed to
provide advertising space for a group of buildings in a shopping center.
Logo sign. An established trademark identifying the use of a structure.
CALABASAS MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 17, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Definitions
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Marquee sign. A sign designed to have changeable copy. Marquee signs
may be a freestanding sign or a wall sign.
Menu board. A permanently mounted sign displaying the bill of fare for a
drive-through restaurant.
Monument sign. A freestanding sign where the base of the sign structure is
on the ground or a maximum of 12 inches above the adjacent grade or base
of the sign.
Monument sign. A free-standing sign permanently affixed to the ground by
a solid base or by supports so that the sign face, in its entirety, is situated a
above and between the outermost edges of the supporting base or support
structures, and so that the open space, if any, beneath the sign face is not
greater than one-fifth the overall sign height.
Non-appurtenant sign. Any sign which does not relate to, or which relates
only incidentally to, the occupant of the site or the principal business
conducted within the structure.
Noncommercial copy. A message that does not include commercial copy.
Nonconforming sign. Ad advertising structure or sign which was lawfully
erected and maintained prior to the adoption of this Zoning Ordinance, and
which has subsequently come under the requirements of this Zoning
Ordinance, but does not now completely comply.
Open/closed sign. An "open" or "closed" window sign.
Open house sign. A temporary sign posted to indicate a salesperson is
available to represent the property subject to sale, lease, or rent.
Pedestrian sign. An identification and/or directional sign designed and
located primarily to inform pedestrians. These signs are usually mounted or
suspended from the underside of an eave or canopy, perpendicular to an
adjacent store front.
Pennants, streamers and flags. Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or
similar nonrigid material used for advertising purposes attached to any
structure, staff, pole, line, framing, or vehicle, not including noncommercial
CALABASAS MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 17, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
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flags.
Pole sign. A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole, multiple poles or
other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is more than five feet
above the base of the sign or above the ground. A sign with a design
incorporating a support structure of greater than twenty-four inches in width
shall be not considered a pole sign.
Pole sign. Any free-standing sign that is not a monument sign.
Political sign. A temporary sign directly associated with national, state, or
local elections.
Price sign. A sign limited to the name or identification of items or products
for sale on the premises, and the price of the items or products.
Projecting sign. Any sign which is attached to a wall and which projects
horizontally from a structure or building face or wall by more than twelve
inches.
Promotional sign. A temporary sign which serves to promote the sale of
new products, new management, new hours of operation, a new service, or
to promote a special sale.
Reader board sign. A sign that is designed so that message elements or
sign copy may be readily changed through the use of individual letters or
characters, separate panels, or electrical messages.
Real estate sign. A temporary sign that relates to the sale, lease, or rental of
property or buildings, or to construction activities on a site.
Roof sign. A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building, or which is
dependent upon a building for support, and which projects above the highest
point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel,
gable, or hip roof, or the deck line of a building with a mansard roof.
Sign area. The area in square feet determined by drawing a line around the
outer perimeter of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display,
together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background
of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure
against which it is placed.
CALABASAS MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 17, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Definitions
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Sign copy. The information content of a sign, including text, illustrations,
logos and trademarks.
Sign face. The visible portions of a sign including all characters and
symbols, but not supporting structures.
Sign height. The vertical distance from average curb height to the top of the
sign including the support structure and any design elements.
Sign Program. A coordinated program of one or more signs for an individual
building or building complexes.
Temporary sign. Any sign intended to be displayed for a limited period of
time and capable of being viewed from any public right-of-way, parking area
or neighboring property. A temporary sign is any sign constructed of cloth,
canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, posterboard or other light
materials, with or without frames, and mounted in a nonpermanent manner.
Vehicle-mounted or trailer-mounted sign. Any sign placed or maintained
on a stationary automobile, truck, trailer or any other motor-driven vehicle.
Wall sign. See definition for building-mounted sign.
Window sign. A sign posted, painted, placed, or affixed in or on a window
exposed to public view. An interior sign that faces a window exposed to
public view and is located within three feet of the window is also a window
sign.