California
multi-family rental home owners and property managers need to be educated about
appropriate ‘Signage’ for their properties.
The following is a concise list of typical signage at multi-family
buildings, rental properties, and neighborhoods.
Responsible Person (At Property)
Signage
For 4-15
unit residential properties, if the home owner does not live on-site, a sign
must be posted showing the name and address of the property "responsible
person". California Code of Regulations Title 25, Section 42 reads in
pertinent part, a supervisor, a manager, a janitor, a housekeeper, or other
responsible individual shall live upon the premises and shall have charge of
every apartment building in which there are 16 or more apartment houses, and of
every hotel in which there are 12 or even more visitor rooms, in the event that
the owner of any such apartment house does not live on the premises.
Simply one
caretaker or manager would be required for all structures under one possession
and on one adjoining tract. If the property owner does not reside upon the
premises where there are greater than four units but less than 16 units, a
notice specifying the manager’s name and address, or the name and address of
his agent accountable of the apartment building(s), should be posted in a
visible and conspicuous location on the premises.
Parking Regulations, Parking
Restriction Signs
Parking is
usually a critical component to a multi-family residential building, especially
in crowded neighborhoods, or downtown areas.
California Motor vehicle Code § 22658 authorizes removal of unauthorized
or abandoned cars from private parcels if certain conditions exists and
specific procedures are followed. One scenario permitting vehicle extraction states
that posted signage be installed, in a conspicuous and visible location, at
each entry to the residential property. The
sign must be 17” by 22” and its lettering much be in 1” tall letters. It must state
that public parking is prohibited and/or restricted and that cars will be
towed/hauled at the car owner’s expense.
The sign must state that a citation may be issued. It must also show the
telephone number of the local police department and any towing company that
will be towing the vehicles.
To learn
more about towing cars from personal/private property parking lots, look to
California Vehicle Code § 22658 which can be found at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658_2.htm.
Health Facility Signs and Diving/Swimming
Pool Signs
If the multi-family
residential property has a pool or spa, the California state regulation calls
for the following:
-
Where
No Lifeguard Service is Supplied:
-
At
least one (1) required sign posted that reads:
"WARNING -- NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY", in clearly clear letters a
minimum of 4 inches higher. (Title 22, Cal. Administrative Code, § 65539(c)).
-
At
least one (1) required sign posted that reads:
"Children Under the Age of 14 Should Not Use Pool Without and Adult
in Attendance" (Title 22, Cal. Administrative Code, § 65539(c)).
-
A
property manager must post diagrammatic illustrations of artificial respiration
where plainly apparent from the nearby pool deck. (Title 22, Cal.
Administrative Code, § 65539(d)).
-
A
property manager must post the phone number of the nearby ambulance service, fire,
police, and sheriff’s department, in addition to instructions that, if needed,
artificial respiration should be started immediately and continued until a
physician shows up or mechanical resuscitators are applied. (Title 22, Cal.
Administrative Code, § 65539(d)).
-
A
property manager must post a sign near the swimming pool entrance displaying
the maximum number of permitted occupants. The capacity for every swimming pool
is one bather for every single twenty square feet of water surface area. The signage
needs to have plainly clear letters at the very least four inches high. (Title 22,
Cal. Administrative Code, §§ 3119B.1. 3118. B. 1.2).
-
A
property manager must post a sign by the spa indicating the maximum spa
occupants. The capacity for every swimming pool is one bather for every single ten
square feet of water surface area. (Title 22, Cal. Administrative Code, §
3119B.1.1).
-
Where
diving is prohibited, a property manager must post signage with clear letters of
a minimum of four inches high that states "NO DIVING ALLOWED." (Title
22, Cal. Administrative Code, § 3119B.2).
-
If
gas chlorine is used for swimming pool disinfection, a property manager must
post signage conspicuously on the exterior side of the entry door to the
chlorine area or on the nearby wall surface location. The sign must present the proper hazard
recognition for gas chlorine, and letters a minimum of 4 inches higher stating
"DANGER: GASEOUS OXIDIZER-- CHLORINE." (Title 22, Cal. Administrative
Code, § 3119B.3).
-
If
the swimming pool does not have light fixtures complying with Part 2-9019 of
the code, a property manager must post signage with clearly legible letters a
minimum of 4 inches high should be posted in an area near each entryway to the
swimming pool location that states: "NO USE OF SWIMMING POOL ALLOWED AFTER
DARK." (Title 22, Cal. Administrative Code, § 3119B.4).
-
For
spa pools, post a preventative/precautionary sign with clearly legible letters a
minimum of 4 inches high near the entrance to a swimming pool area, having the
following language:
"CAUTION.
1. Elderly
persons, pregnant women, infants, and those with health conditions requiring
medical care should consult with a medical doctor prior to entering the spa.
2.
Unsupervised use by kids under the age of 14 is not allowed.
3. Hot water
immersion while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, drugs, medicines, or
narcotics could cause major and serious consequences and is not advised.
4. Do not
use spa alone.
5. Long
direct exposure may cause nausea, lightheadedness, or fainting." (Title
22, Cal. Administrative Code, § 3119B.5.).
Approved
signs should be preserved in a legible manner. (Title 22, Cal. Administrative
Code, § 3119B.6).
More signage
could be required under neighborhood regulations or other appropriate state
laws.