(1) To exempt certain signs from permitting requirements, prohibit specific signs as listed herein, and to establish minimum standards and permitting requirements for signs neither prohibited nor allowed outright;

(2) To minimize excessive lighting in rural Clallam County along designated scenic highways;

(3) To maintain and not impede scenic views along the County’s scenic highways;

(4) To improve traffic and pedestrian safety and to minimize distractions to vehicle drivers;

(5) To minimize the potential adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property;

(6) To prevent damage and personal injury from signs improperly constructed;

(7) To ensure compliance with the Scenic Vistas Act and the Growth Management Act;

(8) To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations.

(1) “Abandoned sign” means a sign that, for a period of more than six months, no longer correctly identifies, exhorts, or advertises any person, business, lessor, lessee, owner, product or activity conducted or available on or off the premises on which the sign is located. Signage on a property which is continuously listed for sale or lease shall not be considered abandoned.

(2) “Administrator” means the Director of the Clallam County Department of Community Development or their designee.

(3) “Advertising” means to announce publicly by emphasizing a printed notice or to call public attention to desirable qualities so as to arouse a desire to buy or patronize. This also includes logos, borders, backgrounds and accents.

(4) “A-frame sign” or “sandwich board sign” means two usually hinged boards not permanently attached to the ground and generally oriented to pedestrians.

(5) “Alter” means to change the structure of a sign in height, foundation, size, weight, materials or design in a manner that would require issuance of a building permit, not merely the change of copy. This definition specifically excludes the content or message present in the sign.

(6) “Animation” means the manipulation of electronic images in order to create moving images; or a sign depicting action, motion, light, or color changes through electrical or mechanical means.

(7) “Awning” means a shelter extending from the exterior wall of a building and composed of nonrigid materials except for the supporting framework.

(8) “Backlit sign” means a sign whose face is illuminated from behind.

(9) “ Banner sign” means a flexible substrate on which copy or graphics are displayed. These signs can be mounted to a structure with a cord, rope, cable, or a similar method, or that may be supported by stakes in the ground. These signs are considered a temporary sign unless affixed to a building.

(10) “Building frontage” means the linear frontage of a building facing an abutting public or private street. When a building fronts on multiple streets, the building frontage shall be the one building front that would result in the greatest linear frontage.

(11) “Copy” means the words, logos, symbols, or message displayed on a sign.

(12) “Digital or electronic components” means changeable copy that uses illumination (LED-light emitting diodes, LCD-light crystal display, plasma display, individual light bulbs) to display or project copy.

(13) “Electronic sign” means a changeable sign that generally uses a matrix of illumination elements (such as light emitting diodes (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display, individual light bulbs, or other digital analog electronic media) capable of displaying words, symbols, figures, images, or graphics that can be electronically programmed to change automatically.

(14) “Exterior-illuminated sign” means a sign illuminated by a light source that is directed toward and shines on the face of a sign.

(15) “Facade sign” means a sign which is attached parallel to and within nine inches of the wall of a building, or vertical face of an awning or parapet which is supported by and confined within the limits of such wall, awning or parapet and which displays only one sign surface. “Facade sign” also includes signs affixed to (within nine inches at one point) or painted on an awning, canopy or roof so long as they do not extend above the primary roofline or more than eight feet from the outside edge of the building. Soft drink dispensing machines will be considered a facade sign if located within nine inches of the building.

(16) “Fade” means a mode of message transition on a digital sign accomplished by varying light intensity or color, where the first message gradually grows faint and disappears.

(17) “Feather, flutter, flag, or blade sign” means a freestanding portable sign that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground for support that resembles a sail or flag made of fabric, or nylon, or a flexible material.

(18) “Flashing sign” means a sign or a portion thereof which changes light intensity or switches on and off in a repetitive pattern at less than one-minute intervals, or uses electrical energy to provide motion or the optical illusion of motion.

(19) “Freestanding sign” means a sign which is supported by permanent uprights, pole or braces to the ground and which is not connected to a building.

(20) “Grade” means the average elevation of the natural ground surface immediately below the sign before construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign; and provided, that when the elevation of the natural ground surface of a freestanding/monument sign is below the grade of the edge of the adjacent roadway, then the height of a freestanding or monument sign shall be measured from the grade at the outer edge of the roadway nearest the proposed sign location.

(21) “Grand opening sign” means a temporary sign of no more than 30 days’ duration announcing the new opening of a store or a complete change in ownership or product line sold.

(22) “Illuminated sign” means any sign illuminated in any manner by an on-site artificial light source. These signs include both exterior-illuminated and backlit signs.

(23) “Illegal sign” means any sign placed without proper approval or permits as required by any applicable zoning or building code and also any sign placed contrary to the terms of time limits of any permit, or out of compliance with any applicable code.

(24) “Legal nonconforming sign” means any sign in existence within the County on the date of adoption of Ordinance 694, codified in the year 2000, which did not conform to all applicable laws in effect on the date the sign was originally erected. Also, those signs permitted under Ordinance 694 that do not conform to the standards herein.

(25) “Marquee” means a permanent, roof-like canopy with an integral sign that extends from part or all of the building face that may or may not project over a public right-of-way.

(26) “Memorial sign” means a sign memorializing a person, event, or significance related to a site, building, or structure.

(27) “Monument sign” means a ground-related, freestanding sign which is attached to the ground or to its base on grade by a solid sign structure and which structure extends from the ground or base to the sign face at the same or greater width as the sign face. Banner signs on fences are considered a form of monument sign and are only allowed to be placed temporarily.

(28) “Multiple-business complex” means a group of structures housing at least two separate businesses or agencies operating under separate State tax numbers, or a single structure containing more than one business with separating walls and at least one outside or inside access for each business which shares a common lot, access and/or parking facility operating under separate State tax numbers.

(29) “Mural” means an outdoor wall painting on a building which consists exclusively of paint applied to the wall or to framework attached within nine inches of the wall and which contains no advertising.

(30) “Noise” means any intended or unintended sound created by the sign or its installed equipment which exceeds 40 decibels as measured from the nearest point adjacent to the property or place of business, whichever is closer.

(31) “Permanent sign” means a sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground, in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready removal or movement of the sign.

(32) “Portable sign” or “movable sign” means any sign which is not permanently affixed to the ground or a structure or building. This definition includes movable reader boards, outdoor soft drink dispensers located farther than nine inches from a building and sandwich boards that are placed so as to be seen from public rights-of-way.

(33) “Primary roofline” means the roofline under which a majority of the square footage of the business is located.

(34) “Real estate sign” means a temporary sign advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease.

(35) “Rotating sign” means a moving sign that physically revolves about an axis.

(36) “Sidewalk sign” means a moveable sign not secured or attached to the ground or surfaces upon which it is located, supported by its own frame.

(37) “Sign” means any object, device, fixture, placard, banner, structure or portion thereof, including any letters, figures, design, symbol, trademark or device that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing intended to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to attract attention to any message, activity, service, place, subject, person, firm, corporation, public performance, article, machine or merchandise or to communicate information of any kind to the public, and which is visible from any right-of-way open to the public. Lighting that highlights an architectural feature of a building and does not consist of lettering, symbols or graphics shall not be considered a sign.

(38) “Sign area” means the face of the sign, including advertising surface, backlit surface, but does not include any framing, trim or molding, or supporting structure. Sign area is measured by multiplying the maximum horizontal width by the maximum vertical width. The surface area of a sign painted on a wall, awning or roof shall be measured by multiplying the maximum width of the copy by the maximum length of the copy. Sign areas may also be calculated by measuring the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the advertising copy, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, including an awning. Supportive framework which contains no written copy or other advertising and is clearly incidental to the display itself shall not be included in sign area calculations; provided, that the sign support structure shall be the minimum necessary to support the sign. For the purpose of this chapter the total sign area of any two faced sign with parallel faces or V-type sign having an interior angle of 45 degrees or less shall be calculated as the area of the larger of the two faces or one face if equal in size. All other multiple-faced or paneled signs shall be the total area of all faces or panels combined.

(39) “Sign surface” means any surface of a sign upon which there is lettering, logos, symbols, or other advertising.

(40) “Sign height” means the vertical distance from grade to the highest point of a sign or any projection thereof.

(41) “Sign structure” means any structure that supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this chapter. A sign structure may be a pole or poles, or may be an integral part of a building. Structures that perform a separate use, such as a telephone booth, bus shelter, recycling or used goods container, etc., shall not be considered a sign structure. Sign structures shall be the minimum necessary to support the sign and shall not depict any product being advertised.

(42) “Street” means a public or private way open to the general public for the purpose of vehicular traffic, including all classes of roadways and easements.

(43) “Temporary sign” means a nonpermanent sign intended for use for a short period of time.

(44) “Under common ownership” describes a situation where one person, corporation, legal entity or related legal entities owns contiguous properties occupied by closely related businesses in which case these businesses will be considered to be one business, operating on one property for the purpose of applying this chapter (i.e., a car dealership may cover multiple contiguous parcels and have several related businesses on these parcels but shall be considered to be “under common ownership” for the purpose of interpreting the provisions of this chapter).

(45) “Vehicular signs” are signs affixed or painted on work vehicles, tractor-trailers, buses, vans or other vehicles.

(46) “Window sign” is any sign viewable through and/or affixed in any manner to a window or exterior glass that is intended to be viewable from the exterior. These signs count toward the square footage of facade signs.

(1) Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official, provided they are removed within seven days after conclusion of the subject of notification;

(2) Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, State or municipal governments or signs required by law not exceeding 200 square feet of sign area and 20 feet in height. Directional signs located within State or County right-of-way shall be administered by State standards for directional signs and, if within Clallam County right-of-way, shall be administered by the Motorist Informational Sign Ordinance, Chapter 9.21 CCC;

(3) Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones which are cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure. Plaques, tablets, or inscriptions indicating the name of a building, its date of erection, or other commemorative information, which are an integral part of the building structure or are attached flat to the face of the building, and which are not illuminated, except incidentally from light sources used for other purposes;

(4) Sculptures, murals, landscape features, fountains, mosaics, religious symbols, and design features which do not incorporate advertising or identification;

(5) The flag of a recognized government or noncommercial institution such as a school;

(6) Traffic or pedestrian control signs or signals, or signs indicating scenic or historic points of interest which are erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty;

(7) Exterior signs or displays not visible from streets or ways open to the public;

(8) “No trespassing,” “no dumping,” “no parking,” “private,” and other informational warning signs which shall not exceed four square feet in surface area and eight feet maximum height above grade;

(9) Commercial or residential address signs with lettering not exceeding 12 inches in height and newspaper boxes located within 10 feet of an existing commercial/industrial building;

(10) Signs erected in anticipation of an election (for the purpose of advertising a candidate or proposal) shall be no greater than 32 square feet in area and 10 feet in height above grade and shall be compliant with WAC 468-66-050 regarding removal;

(11) Replacement of legal nonconforming signs if not changed in height, shape, size, lighting/illumination and does not affect the structure of the sign;

(12) Painting, cleaning, refacing, or replacement of defective parts;

(13) Signs at a construction site, no more than three signs and no greater than 32 square feet each, that may identify the architect, engineers, contractors, supplies, or grant agencies involved in the construction project or announces the character of the building. Signs not permitted shall be removed 14 days after construction is complete;

(14) Signs advertising real estate for sale, rent, or lease, no greater than 32 square feet, and removed after the real estate transaction is complete;

(15) Grand opening or closing displays, such as temporary banners, flags, or balloons, are allowed to remain for a period of 14 days from setup of the display, to announce the opening of a completely new business, new management, or closing of the business;

(16) Banner signs displayed for three months as a temporary monument sign used by businesses within commercial zones. Banner signs shall not be used as permanent monument signs. Banner signs affixed to a wall shall be required to be permitted as facade signs.

(17) One feather/flutter/flag/blade sign placed per 200 feet of road frontage. If fronting two or more roads the total of the road frontages determines the number of signs allowed to be used. The sign(s) shall remain in good condition with no rips, tears, frayed edges or be sun-faded.

(18) Portable signs used to provide traffic and directional information during events or for agricultural businesses that do not block safety sight lines of motorists pulling into or out from a business or within safety sight triangles on corner lots, and are removed immediately upon conclusion of the event or the end of the harvest season.

(1) Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal, or device, or the light of an emergency or radio equipment vehicle; or which obstruct the visibility of any street sign or signal device;

(2) Signs erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the County or any other governmental agency that requires a permit under law;

(3) Signs identifying activities, products, businesses or services which have been discontinued for more than six months on the premises upon which the signs are located;

(4) Private signs on public utility poles;

(5) Any sign that interferes with safe sight distances (determined by the County Road Department) at an intersection or causes an intersection to be illuminated;

(6) Portable signs, except if placed as an exempt sign as listed in CCC 33.57.030, but that shall not block safety sight lines of motorists pulling into or out from a business or within safety sight triangles on corner lots;

(7) Signs that rotate or have a part or parts that move or revolve shall not be permitted in any zone except for the face of a clock less than six square feet in size;

(8) Signs or advertising displays consisting of clusters of posters, banners not affixed to a building wall;

(9) Banner signs that do not meet the exemption listed under CCC 33.57.030;

(10) Pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights other than holiday lights used exclusively for decorative purposes, spinners, twirlers or propellers, flashing signs, rotating or blinking lights, chasing or oscillating lights, light projections on other natural or manmade surfaces, television type video, flares, balloons, inflatable signs, bubble machines and similar devices of carnival nature, or containing elements creating sound greater than 40 decibels as measured from the nearest adjacent property or business boundary shall not be permitted in any zone;

(11) Parking of vehicles with the sole intent to remain stationary for more than three days for purposes of using the signage in or on the vehicle as advertising. Parking of registered vehicles on property with a company message is not considered intentionally advertising;

(12) Signs within the public right-of-way unless erected by Clallam County or the State of Washington. These signs are subject to removal by the Clallam County Road Department.

(1) Freestanding signs, monument signs, shall meet the following standards:

(2) Facade sign(s) shall meet the following standards:

(3) Electronic signs are prohibited outside of the Eastern Port Angeles Urban Growth Area unless displaying a numeric price per unit of a fixed item, such as the current price of gasoline at a gas station. Electronic signs may be permitted within the Eastern Urban Growth Area of Port Angeles if they meet the following standards:

(1) Limited to one unlit freestanding or facade sign;

(2) Sign shall not be illuminated or contain any electronic or digital components;

(3) Sign shall be no more than six square feet on residentially zoned property and no more than 20 square feet of signage on resource zoned property;

(4) Freestanding sign shall not exceed five feet in height above grade and no facade sign may extend above the primary roofline.

(1) A nonconforming sign shall not be altered in height, shape, size, lighting/illumination, or affect the base or support without conforming with the provisions of this chapter. No off-premises sign shall add electronic/digital components to a sign and existing electronic/digital signs shall be no greater than 0.3 foot candles above ambient light (includes day and night) and shall remain static for a minimum of 10 seconds, changing instantaneously to avoid startling flashing of lights, and shall transition without animation;

(2) A nonconforming sign may be maintained as long as the nonconformity of the sign is not increased;

(3) Properties with nonconforming signage shall only be allowed new or replacement signage requiring a permit after an equivalent number of nonconforming signs on the property are brought into conformance with standards of this chapter.

(1) To exempt certain signs from permitting requirements, prohibit specific signs as listed herein, and to establish minimum standards and permitting requirements for signs neither prohibited nor allowed outright;

(2) To minimize excessive lighting in rural Clallam County along designated scenic highways;

(3) To maintain and not impede scenic views along the County’s scenic highways;

(4) To improve traffic and pedestrian safety and to minimize distractions to vehicle drivers;

(5) To minimize the potential adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property;

(6) To prevent damage and personal injury from signs improperly constructed;

(7) To ensure compliance with the Scenic Vistas Act and the Growth Management Act;

(8) To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations.

(1) “Abandoned sign” means a sign that, for a period of more than six months, no longer correctly identifies, exhorts, or advertises any person, business, lessor, lessee, owner, product or activity conducted or available on or off the premises on which the sign is located. Signage on a property which is continuously listed for sale or lease shall not be considered abandoned.

(2) “Administrator” means the Director of the Clallam County Department of Community Development or their designee.

(3) “Advertising” means to announce publicly by emphasizing a printed notice or to call public attention to desirable qualities so as to arouse a desire to buy or patronize. This also includes logos, borders, backgrounds and accents.

(4) “A-frame sign” or “sandwich board sign” means two usually hinged boards not permanently attached to the ground and generally oriented to pedestrians.

(5) “Alter” means to change the structure of a sign in height, foundation, size, weight, materials or design in a manner that would require issuance of a building permit, not merely the change of copy. This definition specifically excludes the content or message present in the sign.

(6) “Animation” means the manipulation of electronic images in order to create moving images; or a sign depicting action, motion, light, or color changes through electrical or mechanical means.

(7) “Awning” means a shelter extending from the exterior wall of a building and composed of nonrigid materials except for the supporting framework.

(8) “Backlit sign” means a sign whose face is illuminated from behind.

(9) “ Banner sign” means a flexible substrate on which copy or graphics are displayed. These signs can be mounted to a structure with a cord, rope, cable, or a similar method, or that may be supported by stakes in the ground. These signs are considered a temporary sign unless affixed to a building.

(10) “Building frontage” means the linear frontage of a building facing an abutting public or private street. When a building fronts on multiple streets, the building frontage shall be the one building front that would result in the greatest linear frontage.

(11) “Copy” means the words, logos, symbols, or message displayed on a sign.

(12) “Digital or electronic components” means changeable copy that uses illumination (LED-light emitting diodes, LCD-light crystal display, plasma display, individual light bulbs) to display or project copy.

(13) “Electronic sign” means a changeable sign that generally uses a matrix of illumination elements (such as light emitting diodes (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display, individual light bulbs, or other digital analog electronic media) capable of displaying words, symbols, figures, images, or graphics that can be electronically programmed to change automatically.

(14) “Exterior-illuminated sign” means a sign illuminated by a light source that is directed toward and shines on the face of a sign.

(15) “Facade sign” means a sign which is attached parallel to and within nine inches of the wall of a building, or vertical face of an awning or parapet which is supported by and confined within the limits of such wall, awning or parapet and which displays only one sign surface. “Facade sign” also includes signs affixed to (within nine inches at one point) or painted on an awning, canopy or roof so long as they do not extend above the primary roofline or more than eight feet from the outside edge of the building. Soft drink dispensing machines will be considered a facade sign if located within nine inches of the building.

(16) “Fade” means a mode of message transition on a digital sign accomplished by varying light intensity or color, where the first message gradually grows faint and disappears.

(17) “Feather, flutter, flag, or blade sign” means a freestanding portable sign that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground for support that resembles a sail or flag made of fabric, or nylon, or a flexible material.

(18) “Flashing sign” means a sign or a portion thereof which changes light intensity or switches on and off in a repetitive pattern at less than one-minute intervals, or uses electrical energy to provide motion or the optical illusion of motion.

(19) “Freestanding sign” means a sign which is supported by permanent uprights, pole or braces to the ground and which is not connected to a building.

(20) “Grade” means the average elevation of the natural ground surface immediately below the sign before construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign; and provided, that when the elevation of the natural ground surface of a freestanding/monument sign is below the grade of the edge of the adjacent roadway, then the height of a freestanding or monument sign shall be measured from the grade at the outer edge of the roadway nearest the proposed sign location.

(21) “Grand opening sign” means a temporary sign of no more than 30 days’ duration announcing the new opening of a store or a complete change in ownership or product line sold.

(22) “Illuminated sign” means any sign illuminated in any manner by an on-site artificial light source. These signs include both exterior-illuminated and backlit signs.

(23) “Illegal sign” means any sign placed without proper approval or permits as required by any applicable zoning or building code and also any sign placed contrary to the terms of time limits of any permit, or out of compliance with any applicable code.

(24) “Legal nonconforming sign” means any sign in existence within the County on the date of adoption of Ordinance 694, codified in the year 2000, which did not conform to all applicable laws in effect on the date the sign was originally erected. Also, those signs permitted under Ordinance 694 that do not conform to the standards herein.

(25) “Marquee” means a permanent, roof-like canopy with an integral sign that extends from part or all of the building face that may or may not project over a public right-of-way.

(26) “Memorial sign” means a sign memorializing a person, event, or significance related to a site, building, or structure.

(27) “Monument sign” means a ground-related, freestanding sign which is attached to the ground or to its base on grade by a solid sign structure and which structure extends from the ground or base to the sign face at the same or greater width as the sign face. Banner signs on fences are considered a form of monument sign and are only allowed to be placed temporarily.

(28) “Multiple-business complex” means a group of structures housing at least two separate businesses or agencies operating under separate State tax numbers, or a single structure containing more than one business with separating walls and at least one outside or inside access for each business which shares a common lot, access and/or parking facility operating under separate State tax numbers.

(29) “Mural” means an outdoor wall painting on a building which consists exclusively of paint applied to the wall or to framework attached within nine inches of the wall and which contains no advertising.

(30) “Noise” means any intended or unintended sound created by the sign or its installed equipment which exceeds 40 decibels as measured from the nearest point adjacent to the property or place of business, whichever is closer.

(31) “Permanent sign” means a sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground, in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready removal or movement of the sign.

(32) “Portable sign” or “movable sign” means any sign which is not permanently affixed to the ground or a structure or building. This definition includes movable reader boards, outdoor soft drink dispensers located farther than nine inches from a building and sandwich boards that are placed so as to be seen from public rights-of-way.

(33) “Primary roofline” means the roofline under which a majority of the square footage of the business is located.

(34) “Real estate sign” means a temporary sign advertising real estate for sale, rent or lease.

(35) “Rotating sign” means a moving sign that physically revolves about an axis.

(36) “Sidewalk sign” means a moveable sign not secured or attached to the ground or surfaces upon which it is located, supported by its own frame.

(37) “Sign” means any object, device, fixture, placard, banner, structure or portion thereof, including any letters, figures, design, symbol, trademark or device that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing intended to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to attract attention to any message, activity, service, place, subject, person, firm, corporation, public performance, article, machine or merchandise or to communicate information of any kind to the public, and which is visible from any right-of-way open to the public. Lighting that highlights an architectural feature of a building and does not consist of lettering, symbols or graphics shall not be considered a sign.

(38) “Sign area” means the face of the sign, including advertising surface, backlit surface, but does not include any framing, trim or molding, or supporting structure. Sign area is measured by multiplying the maximum horizontal width by the maximum vertical width. The surface area of a sign painted on a wall, awning or roof shall be measured by multiplying the maximum width of the copy by the maximum length of the copy. Sign areas may also be calculated by measuring the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the advertising copy, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, including an awning. Supportive framework which contains no written copy or other advertising and is clearly incidental to the display itself shall not be included in sign area calculations; provided, that the sign support structure shall be the minimum necessary to support the sign. For the purpose of this chapter the total sign area of any two faced sign with parallel faces or V-type sign having an interior angle of 45 degrees or less shall be calculated as the area of the larger of the two faces or one face if equal in size. All other multiple-faced or paneled signs shall be the total area of all faces or panels combined.

(39) “Sign surface” means any surface of a sign upon which there is lettering, logos, symbols, or other advertising.

(40) “Sign height” means the vertical distance from grade to the highest point of a sign or any projection thereof.

(41) “Sign structure” means any structure that supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this chapter. A sign structure may be a pole or poles, or may be an integral part of a building. Structures that perform a separate use, such as a telephone booth, bus shelter, recycling or used goods container, etc., shall not be considered a sign structure. Sign structures shall be the minimum necessary to support the sign and shall not depict any product being advertised.

(42) “Street” means a public or private way open to the general public for the purpose of vehicular traffic, including all classes of roadways and easements.

(43) “Temporary sign” means a nonpermanent sign intended for use for a short period of time.

(44) “Under common ownership” describes a situation where one person, corporation, legal entity or related legal entities owns contiguous properties occupied by closely related businesses in which case these businesses will be considered to be one business, operating on one property for the purpose of applying this chapter (i.e., a car dealership may cover multiple contiguous parcels and have several related businesses on these parcels but shall be considered to be “under common ownership” for the purpose of interpreting the provisions of this chapter).

(45) “Vehicular signs” are signs affixed or painted on work vehicles, tractor-trailers, buses, vans or other vehicles.

(46) “Window sign” is any sign viewable through and/or affixed in any manner to a window or exterior glass that is intended to be viewable from the exterior. These signs count toward the square footage of facade signs.

(1) Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official, provided they are removed within seven days after conclusion of the subject of notification;

(2) Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, State or municipal governments or signs required by law not exceeding 200 square feet of sign area and 20 feet in height. Directional signs located within State or County right-of-way shall be administered by State standards for directional signs and, if within Clallam County right-of-way, shall be administered by the Motorist Informational Sign Ordinance, Chapter 9.21 CCC;

(3) Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones which are cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure. Plaques, tablets, or inscriptions indicating the name of a building, its date of erection, or other commemorative information, which are an integral part of the building structure or are attached flat to the face of the building, and which are not illuminated, except incidentally from light sources used for other purposes;

(4) Sculptures, murals, landscape features, fountains, mosaics, religious symbols, and design features which do not incorporate advertising or identification;

(5) The flag of a recognized government or noncommercial institution such as a school;

(6) Traffic or pedestrian control signs or signals, or signs indicating scenic or historic points of interest which are erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty;

(7) Exterior signs or displays not visible from streets or ways open to the public;

(8) “No trespassing,” “no dumping,” “no parking,” “private,” and other informational warning signs which shall not exceed four square feet in surface area and eight feet maximum height above grade;

(9) Commercial or residential address signs with lettering not exceeding 12 inches in height and newspaper boxes located within 10 feet of an existing commercial/industrial building;

(10) Signs erected in anticipation of an election (for the purpose of advertising a candidate or proposal) shall be no greater than 32 square feet in area and 10 feet in height above grade and shall be compliant with WAC 468-66-050 regarding removal;

(11) Replacement of legal nonconforming signs if not changed in height, shape, size, lighting/illumination and does not affect the structure of the sign;

(12) Painting, cleaning, refacing, or replacement of defective parts;

(13) Signs at a construction site, no more than three signs and no greater than 32 square feet each, that may identify the architect, engineers, contractors, supplies, or grant agencies involved in the construction project or announces the character of the building. Signs not permitted shall be removed 14 days after construction is complete;

(14) Signs advertising real estate for sale, rent, or lease, no greater than 32 square feet, and removed after the real estate transaction is complete;

(15) Grand opening or closing displays, such as temporary banners, flags, or balloons, are allowed to remain for a period of 14 days from setup of the display, to announce the opening of a completely new business, new management, or closing of the business;

(16) Banner signs displayed for three months as a temporary monument sign used by businesses within commercial zones. Banner signs shall not be used as permanent monument signs. Banner signs affixed to a wall shall be required to be permitted as facade signs.

(17) One feather/flutter/flag/blade sign placed per 200 feet of road frontage. If fronting two or more roads the total of the road frontages determines the number of signs allowed to be used. The sign(s) shall remain in good condition with no rips, tears, frayed edges or be sun-faded.

(18) Portable signs used to provide traffic and directional information during events or for agricultural businesses that do not block safety sight lines of motorists pulling into or out from a business or within safety sight triangles on corner lots, and are removed immediately upon conclusion of the event or the end of the harvest season.

(1) Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal, or device, or the light of an emergency or radio equipment vehicle; or which obstruct the visibility of any street sign or signal device;

(2) Signs erected, altered or relocated without a permit issued by the County or any other governmental agency that requires a permit under law;

(3) Signs identifying activities, products, businesses or services which have been discontinued for more than six months on the premises upon which the signs are located;

(4) Private signs on public utility poles;

(5) Any sign that interferes with safe sight distances (determined by the County Road Department) at an intersection or causes an intersection to be illuminated;

(6) Portable signs, except if placed as an exempt sign as listed in CCC 33.57.030, but that shall not block safety sight lines of motorists pulling into or out from a business or within safety sight triangles on corner lots;

(7) Signs that rotate or have a part or parts that move or revolve shall not be permitted in any zone except for the face of a clock less than six square feet in size;

(8) Signs or advertising displays consisting of clusters of posters, banners not affixed to a building wall;

(9) Banner signs that do not meet the exemption listed under CCC 33.57.030;

(10) Pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of lights other than holiday lights used exclusively for decorative purposes, spinners, twirlers or propellers, flashing signs, rotating or blinking lights, chasing or oscillating lights, light projections on other natural or manmade surfaces, television type video, flares, balloons, inflatable signs, bubble machines and similar devices of carnival nature, or containing elements creating sound greater than 40 decibels as measured from the nearest adjacent property or business boundary shall not be permitted in any zone;

(11) Parking of vehicles with the sole intent to remain stationary for more than three days for purposes of using the signage in or on the vehicle as advertising. Parking of registered vehicles on property with a company message is not considered intentionally advertising;

(12) Signs within the public right-of-way unless erected by Clallam County or the State of Washington. These signs are subject to removal by the Clallam County Road Department.

(1) Freestanding signs, monument signs, shall meet the following standards:

(2) Facade sign(s) shall meet the following standards:

(3) Electronic signs are prohibited outside of the Eastern Port Angeles Urban Growth Area unless displaying a numeric price per unit of a fixed item, such as the current price of gasoline at a gas station. Electronic signs may be permitted within the Eastern Urban Growth Area of Port Angeles if they meet the following standards:

(1) Limited to one unlit freestanding or facade sign;

(2) Sign shall not be illuminated or contain any electronic or digital components;

(3) Sign shall be no more than six square feet on residentially zoned property and no more than 20 square feet of signage on resource zoned property;

(4) Freestanding sign shall not exceed five feet in height above grade and no facade sign may extend above the primary roofline.

(1) A nonconforming sign shall not be altered in height, shape, size, lighting/illumination, or affect the base or support without conforming with the provisions of this chapter. No off-premises sign shall add electronic/digital components to a sign and existing electronic/digital signs shall be no greater than 0.3 foot candles above ambient light (includes day and night) and shall remain static for a minimum of 10 seconds, changing instantaneously to avoid startling flashing of lights, and shall transition without animation;

(2) A nonconforming sign may be maintained as long as the nonconformity of the sign is not increased;

(3) Properties with nonconforming signage shall only be allowed new or replacement signage requiring a permit after an equivalent number of nonconforming signs on the property are brought into conformance with standards of this chapter.