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Street Banner Program
Purpose
The City utilizes banners in the Downtown Banner Area to promote the following:
- Cultural facilities open to the public;
- Designated geographical districts or areas, or key gateways;
- Holiday or annual seasons;
- Marketing opportunities for the downtown;
- Similar events, activities or geographic area designations; and
- Special community events.
All banner messages must adhere to the City's Street Banner Policy and Program Guidelines.
Eligibility
Banners may be used to promote community events and events that are open to the public. The City does not allow banners to be used to promote activities or events that are not open to the public or any activity for which the City is precluded from spending public funds (such as political campaigns or religious messages).
Permit Process
Organizations must submit a completed banner application to the Economic Development Division. If approved, the application is forwarded to the Public Works Department, who will charge a fee to issue the banner encroachment permit.
Types of Banners
There are two types of banners that are open for eligible and permitted public use:
- Horizontal Street Banners which span across the street at Third and Burnell Streets, and
- Vertical Pole Banners which hang on street poles in the Downtown Napa and the Oxbow District.
Both types of banners can be utilized by the public if eligibility and program requirements are met. For more information on the two types of banners, and how to apply, please click on the desired tab below.
About the Vertical Pole Banner Program
There are two types (and sizes) of vertical banners within Downtown Napa:
- Cobra-head Light Pole banners (30 inch by 84 inch)
- Victorian Light Pole banners (18 inch by 36.5 inch)
The maximum time limit for banners on City light poles is based upon the purpose and promotional focus of the banners. Banners with general promotional messages or designated geographic areas relating to the downtown, (e.g., “Do Napa”) will not have specific time limits, but will be subject to scheduling and requests on a first-come, first-served basis. Vertical pole banners that promote a specific event or date-specific activities are limited to 30 days.
Banner Reservations and Applications
The City will consider applications for reservations for vertical street banners on a first-come-first-serve basis. You may fill out the Vertical Banner Application online.
Vertical Banner Specifications
Design Requirements
- Vertical banners on Victorian or Cobra-head poles shall meet the following requirements:
- Banner fabric shall be durable and weather resistant, to include substantial material such as cloth or canvas.
- Banners shall be two-sided with information contained on both sides.
- Banner messages should be brief, and text font size and style should be sufficient for maximum visibility; small print is ineffective.
- Banner graphics and text may look large up close, but once installed, can appear diminutive.
- Graphic elements should be incorporated into the banner design, generally representing not less than one-third of the area of banners on City light poles and one-fifth of the area of banners spanning City streets.
- New banner colors should be compatible with existing banner colors, but should differentiate from existing banners to encourage design interest.
- As a general rule, bold colored backgrounds with light-colored letters are easier to read than the reverse. Also, because banners are required to be printed on both sides, darker/bolder colored fabrics prevent text from showing through to the reverse side of the banner when banners are backlit by the sun.
- Banners on City light poles shall meet the following additional requirements:
- Banner size requirements shall be 84” tall by 30” wide for the “Cobra-style” poles and 36.5” tall by 18” wide on the “Victorian-style” poles.
Banners may not be installed without first receiving an encroachment permit from the Public Works Department.
About the Horizontal Street Banner Program
The City of Napa horizontal street banner program aims to support community events that are open to the public. Because there is only one banner location in Napa (at Third and Burnell Streets), the City encourages applicants to submit banner reservations in advance.
Banner Reservations and Applications
Reservations for a horizontal street banner are made on a first-come-first-serve basis.
****** IMPORTANT: Banners Reservations may not be made more than one year in advance of the event date. When filling out the form, please note:
- the maximum time limit for displaying a banner is 20 days;
- the banner shall be installed no more than 10 days prior to the event;
- the banner shall be removed no more than 5 days after the last day of the event; and
- an encroachment permit from the Public Works Department must also be obtained by the applicant or installer.
With the launch of the City's new website, you may access the City's online BANNER RESERVATION FORM which will allow you to submit your application electronically. Before submitting this form, please be sure to check the banner reservation calendar above to ensure the time frame for displaying your banner is available.
Horizontal Banner Specifications
At a minimum, horizontal banners spanning a City street shall meet the following requirements:
- Designed with a minimum 16-ounce canvas or other approved material.
- Contain a continuous ½ foot manila rope sewn into the edges with loops provided in the rope at each corner for the purpose of securing the banner in position.
- A reinforced hem to include at least two layers along all sides and surrounding grommets at each corner.
- Banners proposed to extend across the street shall have a metal grommet every 12 inches to 18 inches across the top and a metal grommet at each corner.
- No banner extending across the street shall exceed 4 feet in height. The typical size for a banner spanning a city street is 3 feet in height and 20 feet in length.
- Wind holes or flaps shall be provided on not less than one 6/10 of 1% of the banner area and said holes or flaps shall be not less than 6 feet in diameter. As an alternative, one 12 inches by 12 inches wind hole or flap shall be installed for every 8 square feet of a banner proposed to extend across the street.
- Banners shall be attached to overhead guy wires by using metal fasteners, spaced at intervals not exceeding 5 feet apart.