Design board chair cautions businesspeople about advertising flags

Ramona Design Review Board Chair Carole Wylie has received calls from business owners about a man who is selling large advertising flags that do not meet Ramona’s or the county’s signage requirements and cautions businesses not to purchase the flags.

The flags, which are at a few businesses, are on a pole, are about 15 to 20 feet tall and are printed to advertise businesses, Wylie said. Businesses in Ramona must adhere to the County of San Diego sign ordinance, and the Design Review Board has sign guidelines. Wylie said the county only allows banners for the grand opening of a new business or for a business under construction and in that case the height is limited to 12 feet.

The county sign ordinance states that strings of or individual banners, streamers, inflatables and pennants, generally made of cloth, paper or plastic and suspended from wires, cables or poles for the purpose of attracting attention can be permitted for the following purposes:

•A new business holding a grand opening. The permit will expire 60 days from the date of issuance.

•New construction. However, the flags, banners or pennants must be affixed to a separate standard implanted in the ground. Standards must be at least 10 feet apart and not over 12 feet high.

The Ramona Design Review Board’s guidelines prohibit the following types of signs:

•Signs that are mounted or painted on roofs,

•Signs extending over the highest point of the roof,

•Internally illuminated plastic signs,

•Back-lit signs that appear to be internally illuminated,

•Pole signs over 10 feet high,

•Portable or mobile signs,

•Signs that cover or interrupt architectural features, and

•Any sign not allowed by county zoning ordinance.