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An update of the City’s Sign Ordinance is under way focusing on signage in the Downtown Sign Zone and the City’s Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts. The City Council considered staff recommendations for the Sign Code Update on January 12, February 2, March 2, 2010, March 23, 2010 and May 4, 2010, and gave directions regarding specific aspects of the Draft Preferred Strategy for updating the Sign Ordinance.
On June 22, 2010 the City Council approved the first of several ordinances implementing changes to San Jose’s sign regulations consistent with the Preferred Strategy for the Sign Code Update. The approved ordinance addresses the following sign issues: 1) Freeway Signs for large shopping centers; 2) Architectural Sign Clusters for large parcels; 3) Projecting Vertical Signs, Fin Signs and Arcade signs in the Downtown Sign Zone; 4) the San Pedro Square Sign Zone; and 5) Signs with On-Site Commercial Messages. This Ordinance No. 28754 became effective and has been incorporated into the Sign Ordinance .
On December 13, 2011, the City Council approved the second ordinance implementing changes to the Sign Ordinance consistent with the Preferred Strategy. The Draft Ordinance would be in effect on February 10, 2012 and will be incorporated into the Sign Ordinance.
This ordinance a) Creates and establishes a three (3) year Pilot Program in the Stevens Creek Urban Village Signage Area and an Oakridge/Blossom Hill Urban Village Signage Area to allow for programmable electronic signs as components of freestanding signs on properties characterized by existing large-scale commercial development, (b) Amend the minimum height requirement for buildings as relates to skyline signs and eliminate restrictions on skyline or roof signs adjacent to a park; (c) Increase the allowed area and allowable display height for fin signs, and allow greater flexibility for their location; and (d) Increase the allowable signage area for freeway signs, and provide greater flexibility for the use of height exceptions to address grade differential.
Staff is continuing to work on additional Sign Ordinance amendments implementing the Preferred Strategy. A third ordinance is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the City Council in March 2012. Comments or questions regarding these proposed changes should be addressed to rich.buikema@sanjoseca.gov
City Council Direction Regarding the Sign Code Update as of May 4, 2010 |
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The City Council considered staff recommendations for the Sign Code Update on January 12, February 2, March 2, 2010, March 23, 2010 and May 4, 2010, and gave the following direction regarding specific aspects of the Draft Preferred Strategy for updating the Sign Ordinance:
Proposed Minor Sign Ordinance Amendments for the Downtown Sign Zone.
- Allow flat-mounted attached signs on buildings adjacent to a freeway to be display higher than 30 feet above grade.
- Identify additional provisions for temporary signage to accommodate art or other temporary displays.
- Explore creation of a San Pedro Square Sign zone with regulations that reflect the area’s unique character.
- Retain current sign area regulations: 2.5 sq. ft. per linear ft. of occupancy frontage. (Skyline signs, roof signs and marquees are allowed in addition to this signage.)
- Allow fin signs to project above the top of a building. Allow vertical projecting signs to extend higher and lower on a building (between 15 ft. and 70 ft. above grade) and allow to project above the top of a building.
- Allow small animated sign components as part of a larger sign.
- Allow “architectural roof signs” as an integral element of the design of a 1 or 2 story building.
- Make the Downtown Sign Zone coterminous with the Downtown Core Area.
Proposed Minor Sign Ordinance Amendments for Specific Areas or Citywide.
- Allow skyline signs or roof signs on buildings 80 feet or more in height. Allow skyline signs on buildings 50 feet or more in height.
- Increase the allowed area of fin signs from 10 ft. to 20 ft. Increase the maximum display height from 12 ft. to 20 ft.and eliminate requirement that fin signs be located near an entrance.
- Allow large parcels to integrate signage with architectural landscape features such as a wall or fountain.
- Allow greater flexibility in the number of signs allow for a multi-tenant occupancy.
- Allow greater flexibility for relocating attached historic signs.
- Eliminate restrictions on skyline or roof signs visible from a park or creek.
- Staff was directed to return with provisions to allow temporary A-frame signs on public sidewalks in all Neighborhood Business Districts and with a mechanism to more proactively enforce regulations for temporary signs.
Supergraphic Signs in the North San Jose and Edenvale Industrial Areas and in the Airport Sign Zone.
- Explore regulations allowing large, temporary banner/supergraphic signs limited to on-site or non-commercial messages in the North San Jose and Edenvale Industrial areas and in the Airport Sign Zone.
Supergraphic Signs in the Downtown Sign Zone.
- Supergraphic Signs On Blank Walls. Allow supergraphic signs on the blank walls of buildings (not covering windows or doors) in the Downtown Sign Zone subject to a maximum sign area of 5,000 square feet. Consider increasing the proposed number of signs allowed at any one time to something greater than the 5-sign maximum proposed by staff, and consider a longer sign display period than the proposed 60-day maximum. Exempt large public assembly venues from the limitations on the number and duration of signs. Limit signs to on-site or non-commercial messages only. Within 24 months of the effective date of the ordinance, return to the Council for reconsideration of the maximum number of signs allowed at any one time.
- Supergraphic Signs In Lieu of Skyline Signs. Allow supergraphic signs on buildings in the Downtown Sign Zone that are less than 75% occupied in lieu of allowed skyline signs. Allow such signs to cover windows of unoccupied building space (provided the windows are located above the 50-foot fire rescue height) and limit signs to on-site or non-commercial messages. Reduce the minimum building height required to qualify for such a supergraphic sign to something less than the 15 stories proposed by staff.
Electronic Digital Signs for Large Ground-Floor Spaces in the Downtown.
- Allow one attached digital sign component for each ground floor occupancy frontage of 100+ linear feet (to a maximum of two signs); or one attached sign for any ground floor occupancy with a total frontage of 150+ linear feet on two or more streets. Allow the area of the digital sign component to be up to 50 square feet and up to 50% of the total sign area. Allow on-site or non-commercial messages only. Develop parameters to address driver distraction and sensitive uses.
- Provide a sign exception that allows the digital sign component to exceed 50% of the total sign area if the sign achieves specific criteria intended to reflect a high quality of design. Include a presumption that the exception should not be granted to emphasize the importance of the criteria.
Electronic Digital Signs for Assembly Uses.
- Allow digital signs for assembly uses with a maximum building occupancy of 500 or more. Link sign area to size of assembly use. Develop regulations to address traffic safety and compatibility with sensitive uses. Allow on-site or non-commercial messages only.
- Explore options for allowing off-site messages for very large assembly uses.
Electronic Digital Signs for Specific Commercial Areas (Stevens Creek Boulevard Signage Area, Capitol Expressway Auto Mall Signage Area, Proposed Blossom Hill Road Signage Area).
- Establish a 3-year pilot program to allow digital sign components on freestanding signs within a subarea of the Stevens Creek Boulevard Signage Area. Explore ways to allow signs for large auto dealerships with narrow frontages. Allow digital sign component to comprise up to 60% of the total area of a sign. Allow on-site or non-commercial messages only. Develop regulations to address traffic safety and compatibility with sensitive uses.
- Continue to explore provisions for digital signs in the Capitol Expressway Auto Mall Signage Area, the proposed Blossom Hill Signage Area, along Capitol Corridor near Eastridge and in other appropriate commercial areas.
Freeway Signs.
- Allow freeway signs for shopping centers of 15 acres or more in size that are located within 200 feet of a freeway.
- Eliminate existing restriction on signs facing freeways.
- Revise the recommended height limit of 60 feet to ensure that the height regulations take into consideration the elevation of the adjacent freeway.
- Allow a maximum sign area of 400 square feet. Allow a digital sign component to comprise up to 60% of the total sign area.
- Develop regulations to address traffic safety and compatibility with sensitive uses.
- Allow on-site or non-commercial messages only.
- Explore the ability to have off-site messages for nearby large businesses.
- Explore alternatives for a design review process with a community meeting for freeway signs that exceed the height and area parameters.
Billboards.
- Retain the existing billboard ban.
- Explore revisions to current regulations for the relocation of existing legal non-conforming billboards to ensure that they allow for and encourage relocation of billboards from residential areas to more appropriate commercial locations.
- Explore measures to ensure better maintenance of existing billboards.
Internet Visual Preference Survey Results |
Following is a summary of the community outreach meetings for the Sign Code Update held by the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement over a period of five months beginning in March 2009.
Phase IV Community Meetings
Meetings were held on July 8 & 9, 2009 to seek input on alternative signage strategies for billboards and supergraphics in the downtown, freeway signs for large shopping centers and digital (LED) signs.
Phase III Community Meetings
Meetings were held on June 3 and 4, 2009 to seek additional community feedback regarding billboards, supergraphics and other signage in the downtown; freeways signs for large shopping centers; and digital (LED) signs.
Phase II Community Meetings
Community meetings were held on June 3 and 4, 2009 and staff met with various Neighborhood Action Coalition (NAC) groups throughout the month of June. These meetings sought community feedback regarding billboards, supergraphics and other signage in the downtown; freeways signs for large shopping centers; and digital (LED) signs.
Phase I Community Meetings
Meetings were held on March 25 and 26, 2009 to discuss the issues that should be addressed in the Sign Code Update.
Sign Ordinance (PDF) 625k 
The current copy of Title 23 of the San Jose Municipal Code. This version incorporates all ordinances amending Title 23 of the code through No.28754 effective July 23, 2010.
Amendments
A list of amendments to Title 23 of the San Jose Municipal Code since December 6, 2002.
Proposed Amendments
A list of proposed amendments to Title 23 of the San Jose Municipal Code
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