Adams County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Scope. This chapter establishes regulations for all permanent and temporary signs in the county that are visible from a public right-of-way. This chapter does not apply to signs erected by the county or other government agencies or signs mandated by state or federal law.

Purpose. Signs perform an important function in identifying, promoting, and directing members of the public to businesses, events, messages, services, and other matters of public interest. It is the purpose of this chapter to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and to promote a quality visual environment by establishing reasonable standards for the size, placement, height, and other characteristics of signs placed within the county. The regulations established in this sign code are intended to protect and promote free speech, while encouraging and maintaining a consistent community and business climate. The regulations for signs have the objective to protect public safety and welfare by ensuring that signs are designed, constructed, installed, and maintained according to uniform, nondiscriminatory, and content-neutral standards that promote a high quality, comprehensive system of standards and requirements.

Permanent sign permits are a Type I project pursuant to Chapter 17.94; except that temporary signs in accordance with Section 17.66.090 are permitted without a permit, and exempt signs in accordance with Section 17.66.030 are permitted without a permit.

Signs governed by this chapter shall receive a permit from the administrator before being installed, constructed, erected, structurally altered, replaced, or relocated after the adoption of this chapter.

Permits for Multi-Business Signs. A single permit application shall be required for each group of permanent signs on a single supporting structure installed simultaneously. Thereafter, each additional permanent sign erected on the structure must have a separate permit.

Ownership of Sign Location. The applicant for a sign permit must certify that the applicant has ownership or control of the property on which the sign is to be located, or provide the signed, written consent of the property owner.

Maintenance and Repair. No sign permit shall be required for repainting, cleaning, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign. No sign permit shall be required when the change or replacement is an exact replacement of a legal conforming sign. A sign permit is required for any change to the sign’s size or sign area, modifications to the sign structure, or any change to or addition of visual effects such as illumination, motion, or animation.

The changing of the advertising copy or message on a lawfully erected, painted or printed sign, reader board, or similar sign specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.

Decorations customary for holidays and special occasions erected entirely on private property.

Flag poles except that they shall comply with the applicable height provisions of the zoning and building codes.

Gravestones and similar memorial plaques and monuments outside of public right-of-way.

Signs displaying the addresses of the property on which they are located, and which may include the name of the occupants of a residence, so long as the sign does not exceed two square feet in area per side and does not include any commercial advertising. One lot identification sign with the total area not to exceed:

Signs required by county, state, federal, or local law or regulation, and signs erected on public property or public rights-of-way by government agencies or public utilities.

Decals affixed to glass door or window panels of a building, such as would be typical to indicate membership in a business group, trade association, or credit card network.

Private driveway signs, limited to one per driveway entrance, to distinguish private access driveways from public rights-of-way.

On-premises signs warning the public of prohibited uses, such as “no trespassing,” “no soliciting,” or “no hunting,” so long as such signs do not exceed two square feet in area in residential zones, and six square feet in commercial and industrial zones.

Building Name Signs. Historic signs that (1) advertise the name of the building, year built, and/or historical references, or designated as a historic landmark, and (2) are not associated with the name of any individual business, provided they meet the standards below:

Any sign on a mobile food vendor/food truck.

Murals, except when advertising a business, product, service, or activity, that portion of said mural is regulated as a wall sign and shall require a permit.

Signs on any vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property and visible from a public right-of-way, including trailer-mounted or otherwise portable reader boards. This provision shall not prohibit signs that are painted on or magnetically attached to any vehicle operating in the normal course of business;

Signs that are an imitation of, or resemble, an official traffic sign, signal, or device that could cause confusion with any official sign, signal, or device, or that obstruct the visibility of any traffic/street sign, signal, or device;

Signs attached to utility, streetlight, and traffic-control standard poles;

Signs in a dilapidated (having peeling paint, cracks or holes, and/or loose or dangling materials) or hazardous condition;

Abandoned signs;

Signs on doors, windows, or fire escapes that restrict free ingress or egress;

Balloons and other inflated objects, with the following exception: balloons and inflatable decorations are allowed on a temporary basis on private property in residential zones for holidays and special occasions;

Signs erected on trees or drawn on rocks or natural settings, except for approved signs carved in rocks;

Changing message center signs and video signs along roads/streets having a speed limit higher than forty miles per hour;

Signs that have blinking, flashing, fluttering, or moving lights or other illuminating devices that have a changing light intensity or color, except for those provided for airports;

Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors, visible particles, sounds, flames, or odors;

Signs with mirrors or other highly reflective surfaces;

Roof signs;

Signs that the public works director determines to be a safety hazard for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including signs that obstruct the sightdistance triangle at any intersection or that extend into the traveled roadway; and

Any other sign not meeting the requirements of this chapter.

Compliance With Other Applicable Codes. All signs erected or altered under this chapter must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing signs, including without limitation the provisions of the International Building Code as adopted by the county. If any provision of this code conflicts with any provision of any other zoning, building, fire, safety, or public health ordinance or code of the county, the provision that establishes the more restrictive standard shall govern.

Administrator Enforcement Authority. The administrator shall have the authority to require the repair, maintenance or removal of any sign or sign structure which has become dilapidated or represents a hazard to the safety, health or welfare of the public, at the cost of the sign and/or property owner.

Nonconforming Signs. Any sign lawfully existing under all codes and ordinances in effect when this title is enacted or amended may continue to be maintained and operated as a legal nonconforming sign so long as it remains otherwise lawful; provided, that:

Sign Maintenance. It is unlawful for any owner of record, lessor, lessee, manager, or other person having lawful possession or control over a building, structure, or parcel of land to fail to maintain any signs on the building, structure, or parcel in compliance with this chapter and the zoning provisions of this code.

Sign area for nonmonument freestanding signs shall be calculated by determining the total surface area of the sign as viewed from any single vantage point, excluding support structures.

Sign area for letters or symbols painted or mounted directly on walls or monument signs shall be calculated by measuring the smallest single rectangle which will enclose the combined letters and symbols.

Sign area for signs contained entirely within a cabinet and mounted on a wall or monument shall be calculated by measuring the entire area of the cabinet.

Sign area for temporary signs shall include all portions of the sign attached to the primary supporting structure of the sign, including material additions to the sign.

Except for exempt signs and temporary signs, all signs shall be permanently attached to a building or the ground;

All permanent signs shall be constructed of durable materials;

In addition to the sign illumination requirements of Section 17.66.080, lighting directed on or internal to any sign shall be shaded, screened or directed so the light’s intensity or brightness shall not adversely affect neighboring property or motor vehicle safety;

All signs with their supports, braces, and guy wires shall be maintained in a safe and secure manner;

No signs shall be placed in the vision clearance triangle; and

No sign shall project over any public right-of-way.

General. No temporary sign may be illuminated. Permanent signs allowed by this chapter may be nonilluminated, illuminated by internal light fixtures, halo illuminated, or have external indirect illumination, unless otherwise specified.

General Illumination Standards.

Hours of Illumination.

Table 17.66.090-1 below illustrates the types of signs that are allowed for different development/ use types in all zones. See 17.66.090-2 below for visual examples and descriptions of all building-mounted sign types.

Interpretation.

On-Premises Freestanding Signs. On-premises freestanding signs must meet the following criteria, in addition to the provisions of this chapter:

Highway Signs. This subsection permits retail and services near Interstate Highway 90 (I-90) and U.S. Route 395 (US-395) to have larger on-premises signs to inform highway travelers of their service.

Billboards. Off-premises billboard signs must meet the following criteria, in addition to the provisions of this chapter:

Building-Mounted Signs.

Prohibited Placement. Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, temporary signs are prohibited from being in the following places:

Generally.

On-Premises Temporary Signs. All on-premises temporary signs shall conform to the following:

Off-Premises Temporary Signs. The only type of off-premises private property signs permitted are directional signs; provided, that:

Temporary Signs in the Right-of-Way. Except as prohibited in subsection A of this section, temporary signs may be placed in the public right-of-way if they meet all the following standards: