The intent and purpose of this chapter is to accommodate and promote sign placement consistent with the character and intent of individual zoning districts through provision of minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property, public welfare and visual quality of the area. This is accomplished by regulating and controlling the number, size, design, quality of materials, construction, location, electrification and maintenance of all signs and sign structures not located within a building. This chapter is further intended to preserve and improve the appearance of the city as a place to live, and as an attraction to nonresidents who want to visit or trade. It encourages sound signing practices as an aid to business and the general public, but prevents excessive and potentially confusing signing displays. While this chapter is intended to regulate signs in various forms, structural requirements are intended to be addressed by the relative construction codes, as adopted by the city.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

As used in this chapter:

"Abandoned signs" mean any sign located on property that is vacant and unoccupied for a period of six months or more; or any sign which pertains to any occupant, business or event unrelated to the present occupant or use; or any sign in ill repair for more than thirty days, except real estate signs advertising a property for rent, lease or sale, provided that such property is, in fact, still for rent, sale or lease.

"Building official" means the officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of the city building code, as adopted by the city council or his or her duly authorized representative.

"Combination sign" means any sign incorporating any combination of the features of freestanding, projecting and roof signs.

"Directional sign" means, but not necessarily limited to, signs indicating entrances, exits, service areas, loading only, and parking area.

"Directory sign" means a sign that lists the tenants or occupants of a multiple tenant building complex, or commercial district.

"Electric sign" means any sign containing electrical wiring, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light source.

"Freestanding sign" (also "pole sign") means any sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces in or upon the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure.

"Illuminated sign" means any electric sign or other sign employing the use of lighting sources for the purpose of decorating, outlining, accentuating or brightening the sign area.

"Legal setback line" means a line established by ordinance beyond which a building may not be built. A legal setback line may be a property line.

"Marquee" means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by the building and projecting over public property.

"Monument sign" means a freestanding sign which is attached to the ground by means of a wide base.

"Multiple-building complex" means a group of structures holding two or more retail, office, or commercial uses sharing the same lot, access and/or parking facilities, or a coordinated site plan.

"Multiple-tenant building" means a single structure housing two or more retail, office, or commercial uses.

"Mural" (also "painted wall signs") means a painting on the side of a building of a landscape and/or scene depicting a scenic view, or a historical or current event along with lettering that identifies the subject of the landscape.

"Noncommercial public service sign" means a noncommercial sign devoted to religious, charitable, cultural, governmental or educational message, including, but not limited to, the advertising of events or services sponsored by the governmental agency, a school, church, civic, or fraternal organizations engaged in activities for profit.

"Nonconforming sign" means a sign which was legally installed under laws or ordinances in effect prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter or subsequent revisions, but which is in conflict with the provisions of this chapter.

"Nonstructural trim" means the molding, battens, caps, nailing strips, latticing, cutouts or letters and walkways which are attached to the sign structure.

"Off-premise sign" means a sign which advertises or promotes merchandise, service, goods, or entertainment which are sold, produced, manufactured or furnished at a place other than on the property on which the sign is located. Directional signs and public service signs shall not be considered off-premise signs.

"Painted sign" means a sign that is painted directly on any face of a building; it does not refer to a sign that is painted on a display surface other than the building itself.

"Portable sign" means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels, signs converted to A- or T-frames, menu and sandwich board signs, balloons used as signs, and/or umbrellas used for advertising.

"Projecting sign" means a sign other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.

"Projection" means the distance by which a sign extends over public property or beyond any face of the building.

"Real estate sign" means a sign erected by the owner, or his or her agent, advertising for rent, lease, or sale, a property, or directing interested parties to such property.

"Residential sign" means any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contains no commercial message, except advertising for goods or services legally offered on the premises where the sign is located, if offering such service at such location conforms with all requirements of this title.

"Roof sign" means a sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure.

"Sign" means any communication device, structure, or fixture, including the supporting structure, that identifies, advertises and/or promotes an activity, product, service place, business, or any other thing.

"Sign area" (also "display area") means the entire area of a sign on which copy or other form of advertising is to be placed, including any background surface, material or color that forms an integral part of the display or is used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or nearest structure. Sign support structures shall not be included in the calculation of sign area. Sign area shall be based upon one side of a flat two-sided sign only (i.e., angular signs consisting of two distinctly different sign surfaces, and multisided signs shall include all sides in their calculation).

"Sign height" means the vertical distance measured from either the grade below the sign or upper surface of the nearest street curb, whichever permits the greatest sign height, to the highest point of the sign.

"Sign structure" means any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign defined in this code. A sign structure may be a single pole and may or may not be an integral part of the building.

"Structure" means that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.

"Swinging sign" means a sign that hangs by a chain, hinge, or other pivot such that it can move back and forth.

"Temporary sign" means a portable sign, banner, pennant, valance, or advertising display constructed of plastic, cloth, paper, canvas, cardboard, and/or light, nondurable materials that is displayed for a period not more than thirty days. Types of displays included in this category are grand openings, special sales, special events, and garage sale signs.

"IBC standards" mean the International Building Code Standards (also called the "building code"), as adopted by the city of Oroville.

"Up lighting" means lighting that is directed in such a manner as to shine light rays above the horizontal plane.

"Wall sign" (also "flush mounted") means any sign attached to or erected against and parallel to the wall of a building, not projecting more than twelve inches from the wall.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

The following signs are prohibited within the city of Oroville:

(1)

Signs which imitate, closely resemble, confuse or obstruct the visibility or interpretation of an official traffic sign, signal or similar device;

(2)

Signs attached to utility poles, street lights, and traffic control standard poles, except authorized road signs and temporary banners approved by the owner, or authority controlling such utility devices and the property over which the sign is placed;

(3)

Signs in a dilapidated or hazardous condition;

(4)

Abandoned signs;

(5)

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

(6)

Roof signs that are not integrated into the architecture of the building and/or exceed the maximum building height, as set forth in this title;

(7)

Signs within the clear view triangle, as defined in Section 17.84.040 OMC;

(8)

Vinyl, plastic, paper or similar flexible signage having the appearance of a temporary nature used as permanent signage, which term shall be defined as a period longer than thirty days;

(9)

Video monitor signs in areas where such sign display areas are visible from public streets (excluding alleys), except such monitors that may be located inside a window display with its screen parallel to the street;

(10)

Swinging signs larger than twelve inches high by thirty-six inches long;

(11)

Signs with loud speakers, excluding drive-up windows designed with the intent of being reasonably audible only to the occupant(s) of a vehicle for the purpose of communicating business transactions;

(12)

Beacons, strobe lights, or flashing signs which changes light intensity in a sudden transitory burst, or which switches on and off in a constant pattern in which more than one-third of the light source is on at any one time so as to create glare, extreme brightness, or reflection of light onto private or public property in the surrounding area;

(13)

Up lighting of signage, except in cases where the fixture is shielded by a roof overhang or similar structure shield from the sky. All external lighting of signs shall be downward at such an angle that only the sign is illuminated;

(14)

Electric or electronic signs that display text messages that stream across the display area in such a fashion that drivers are distracted attempting to read the entire message.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

The following signs and sign-related activities are exempt from regulation under this code:

(1)

Painting, repainting or cleaning of an advertising structure or the changing of the advertising message thereon shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a sign permit unless a structural change is made; however, such changes shall conform to the requirements of this code;

(2)

Signs of less than four square feet in sign area (for each of two sides) erected to identify name and address of residences and/or identify the address of public, commercial or industrial facilities, provided that they do not project within a city right-of-way;

(3)

Official flags, emblems, insignia of the United States, other governmental units, and flags of nationally and internationally recognized organizations;

(4)

Official and legal notices by any court, public body, persons, or officer in performance of public duty or in giving any legal notice;

(5)

Monuments or other historical markers, including, but not limited to, building plaque, cornerstone, nameplate, or similar building identification or monument;

(6)

Structures and vehicles that are primarily used for other purposes such as phone booths, delivery vehicles, trailers, goodwill containers, or other similar structures;

(7)

Murals in the form of artistic renditions that do not include advertising of businesses or political statements;

(8)

Holiday decorations (temporary not to exceed thirty days total);

(9)

Signs not visible: signs not visible from a public street or alley;

(10)

Official sign: a sign required, authorized or permitted by law, ordinance, rule or regulation, erected or maintained by the responsible public authority, including, but not limited to, a traffic sign or signal, sign identifying a public building or use or giving directions to a building, structure, use, or area;

(11)

Warning sign: a sign erected or maintained on private property warning the public of a danger on or limiting access to the premises. Such sign is limited to a maximum dimension of two feet, a sign area of four square feet, and a height of six feet;

(12)

House or building number: house or building number limited to numerals of eight inches in height;

(13)

Signs in windows inside building;

(14)

Existing signs that encumber the title of a building in such a way that the owner of the building cannot remove the sign. Such signs shall not affect total allowable sign area for the building owner subject to the encumbrance.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

The following signs are exempt from the application, permit, and fee requirements of this chapter. These signs are required to meet all other applicable sections of this code and are subject to enforcement provisions found in Chapter 17.116 of this code.

(1)

Temporary signs, including those for the sale, rent or lease of real estate that are not within or over public property or right-of-way.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

(a)

Permits Required. Unless otherwise described in either Section 17.72.040 or 17.72.050 of this chapter as exempt, no sign shall be erected, re-erected, constructed, or altered, except as provided by any and all applicable provisions of the Oroville Municipal Code, and only after a permit for the same has been issued by the administrator. Permits for directory signs shall be issued to the person or business entity that owns the property on which the directory sign is proposed. In addition, electrical permits shall be obtained for electric signs.

(b)

Application for Permit. Application for a sign permit or variance from the regulations contained in this chapter shall be made in writing upon forms furnished by the administrator. Such application shall contain the location by street and number of proposed sign structure, as well as the name and address of the owner and the sign contractor or erector. Applications must be submitted a minimum of fourteen days prior to the date the applicant desires to install or erect a sign. The building official may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information where in his or her opinion such information is necessary to insure compliance with this code. Certain signs, including, but not limited to, signs over eight feet in height and most signs attached to buildings may require a building permit. Standard plans may be filed with the building official.

(c)

Fees. A sign permit fee shall be paid in accordance with the applicable fee schedule approved by the city council for all signs governed by this code. If a building permit is required for a sign, applicable fees shall be in addition to a sign permit fee.

(d)

Maintenance. All signs and sign support structures, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair in proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times.

(e)

Inspections. All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection, and re-inspection as may be deemed by the building official and/or administrator.

(f)

Electrical. All signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the governing electrical code, and the electrical components used shall bear the label accepted by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of the applicable building and electrical codes, as adopted by the city.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

(a)

General. Signs shall conform to the clearance and projection requirements of this section and Table 1 of this section:

Table 1

Projection of Signs

(b)

Clearance from High Voltage Power Lines. Signs shall be located not less than six feet horizontally or twelve feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors which are energized in excess of seven hundred fifty volts. The term "overhead conductors," as used in this section, means any electrical conductor, either bare or insulated, installed above the ground, except such conductors as are enclosed in iron pipe or other material covering of equal strength.

(c)

Clearance from Fire Escapes, Exits or Standpipes. No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.

(d)

Obstruction of Openings. No sign shall obstruct any openings to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by any construction code adopted by the city.

(e)

Projection Over Alleys. No sign or sign structure shall project into any public alley below a height of fourteen feet above grade and shall not project more than twelve inches where the sign structure is located fourteen to sixteen feet above grade. The sign or sign structure may project not more than thirty-six inches into the public alley where the sign or sign structure is located more than sixteen feet above grade.

(f)

Signs may project over public property or a legal setback line a distance determined by the clearance of the bottoms thereof above the level of the sidewalk or grade immediately below, as set forth in Table 2 of this section:

Table 2

Thickness of Projecting Sign

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

Table 3

Height, Area and Off-Premise Restrictions
for Freestanding, Projecting and Wall Signs
at Property Boundary

(1)

Off-premise signs are allowed provided they do not exceed the maximum signage allowed on any given property, and must be located at least two hundred feet or more apart.

(2)

Limited to highway frontage and arterials.

(3)

Signs up to thirty-two sf are allowed for planned developments, day care, assisted living, or similar facilities.

(4)

Airport signage necessary for operations is exempt.

(5)

For commercial properties with fifty feet or less street frontage, area indicated shall be the maximum sign size or shall include the total calculation of all lesser size signs on the property, except that two-sided signs that are constructed at less than a forty-five degree angle shall be calculated based only on one side of the sign. Additional signage may be allowed at a one percent increase of allowed signage per foot of frontage.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

(a)

General. All signs and sign support structures shall be subject to conformance with the requirements of this title and construction codes as may be adopted by the city.

(b)

All signs and sign supports that are located within the Shoreline area, as defined by the city of Oroville Shoreline master program, must comply with Chapter 5 of the Shoreline master program.

(c)

No sign shall project over or within the public right-of-way, except authorized road signs, approved banners, projecting signs, and permitted portable signs.

(d)

Political Signs. Signs, which during a campaign, advertise a candidate for public elected office, a political party, or promote a position on a public issue, shall be removed within three days following the general election.

(e)

Projecting Signs. All supports of projecting signs shall be placed upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected to conform to the requirements specified in any and all construction codes adopted by the city.

(f)

The thickness of that portion of a projecting sign which projects over public property, exclusive of letters and trim, shall not exceed the maximum set in Table 2 of Section 17.72.080 of this chapter.

(g)

Sign area height and location shall conform to those standards contained in Table 3 of Section 17.72.090 of this chapter.

(h)

All freestanding signs are permitted only on private property in required landscape strips, building setback areas or where they are surrounded by physical barriers so as to prevent vehicles from hitting such signs.

(i)

Portable Signs. Portable signs may be erected within private property provided they meet all standards contained within this title. Additionally, portable signs shall be weighted, anchored and or restrained in such a manner to prevent injury or damage.

(j)

Portable Signs Within City Street Right-of-Way. Portable signs may be allowed to be placed within city street right-of-way by special permit, and in accordance with the following requirements:

(1)

Only one portable sign shall be permitted per business per building side facing a public street. Signs shall be no wider than thirty-six inches and no higher than forty-eight inches; however, no portable sign shall be allowed to consume more than twenty-five percent of the width of a sidewalk, or pathway if no sidewalk exists. Sign size may be limited by the administrator upon consideration of specific characteristics of the desired sign location.

(2)

Such signs shall be for commercial use only, and shall be located on the portion of the sidewalk immediately adjacent to the business applying for a permit unless no sidewalk exists, in which case, in that area that may accommodate a future sidewalk, as determined by the administrator.

(3)

Portable signs in city right-of-way advertising businesses located off Highway 97 may also be allowed by permit within fifty-feet of an intersection of a street leading to the business provided only one such off-premise sign may be allowed, and that all other provisions contained in this chapter are satisfied.

(4)

Portable signs within city right-of-way shall not be located within ten feet of each other. The administrator may invoke provisions of sign permits to reasonably allow room for such advertising; however, preference shall be given in order of application. A sign permit may be denied based on lack of appropriate space to meet the standards stated in this chapter.

(5)

Portable signs must meet clear vision requirements, as specified in Section 17.84.040 OMC which allows no site-obscuring obstruction in that area consisting of a triangular arch, two sides of which are the curblines fifteen feet in length and the third side of which is a line across the corner of the sidewalk and/or adjacent lot connecting the ends of the other two sides.

(6)

The sign shall be placed in a manner to avoid direct conflict with other permitted obstructions in the right-of-way.

(7)

The sign shall be restrained in a manner acceptable to the administrator that will prevent it from being blown over.

(8)

The permit shall not be valid without execution of an indemnity, release and hold harmless agreement, as provided by the administrator.

(9)

The administrator may add to or modify the requirements in this chapter in order to meet standards promulgated by other ordinances or construction codes of the city.

(10)

Any sign located within the right-of-way of the city shall be considered a privilege granted by permit that may be revoked at any time for noncompliance. Any sign that is found to be noncompliant with any provision of the Oroville Municipal Code may be removed from the city right-of-way by the administrator, or any other city official, as may be authorized by the administrator, and the owner shall be notified of the removal within ten days. The owner may retrieve a confiscated sign; however, such sign shall not be relocated unless made compliant, as approved by the administrator. Additionally, as these rules may be changed from time to time, all signs within city right-of-way shall comply with such new rules.

(11)

Portable signage shall only be allowed to be placed in city right-of-way during business hours which shall be considered that time that a business is physically open and occupied by persons operating the business.

(12)

Permits for portable signage allowed under this subsection shall be valid for only one year, and must be renewed upon expiration of that time period. The administrator shall consider compliance history in deciding whether a permit may be renewed, and may place additional or different conditions on the new permit in order to remedy particular problems with the previous permit.

(k)

Wall Signs. No wall sign shall have a projection over public property or beyond a legal setback line greater than the distances specified in Table 1 of Section 17.72.080 of this chapter, nor shall extend above any adjacent parapet or roof of the supporting building.

The thickness of that portion of a wall sign that projects over public property or a legal setback line shall not exceed the maximum, as set forth in Table 2 of Section 17.72.080 of this chapter.

(l)

Marquees. Signs may be placed on, attached to, or constructed in a marquee. Such signs shall, for the purpose of determining projection, clearance, height and material, be considered a part of and meet the requirements for a marquee, as specified in the building code.

(m)

Electric Signs. Electric signs shall be constructed of noncombustible material, except as may be provided in applicable construction codes, as determined by the building official.

The enclosed shell of electric signs shall be watertight, except that service holes fitted with covers shall be provided into each compartment of such signs.

Electrical equipment used in connection with display signs shall be installed in accordance with local ordinances regulating electrical installations.

(n)

Temporary Signs. No temporary sign shall exceed one hundred square feet in area. Temporary signs of rigid material shall not exceed twenty-four square feet in area, or six feet in height, nor shall any such sign be fastened to the ground.

Temporary signs may remain in place for a period not exceeding thirty days.

Temporary cloth signs shall be supported and attached with wire rope, or material acceptable by the administrator, that shall ensure that they remain secure under windy conditions. Cloth and flexible plastic signs and panels shall be perforated over at least ten percent of their area to reduce wind resistance.

Cloth or similar signs may extend over public property. Such signs, when extended over a public street, shall maintain a minimum height clearance of twenty feet.

Cloth signs may extend across a public street only by permit and shall be subject to all related laws and ordinances.

Temporary signs, other than cloth, when eight feet or more above ground, may project not more than six inches over public property or beyond the legal setback line.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

Any sign, unless located within city right-of-way, lawfully existing under all codes and regulations prior to the adoption of this chapter may be continued and maintained as a legal nonconforming sign, provided:

(1)

No sign shall be changed in any manner that increases its noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(2)

If the sign is structurally altered or moved, its legal nonconforming status shall be void and the sign will be required to conform to the provisions of this chapter.

(3)

The sign is not hazardous or abandoned. Any abandoned sign is declared to be a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Oroville. Any sign that is partially or wholly obscured by the growth of dry vegetation or weeds, or by the presence of debris or litter also presents a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Oroville.

Any signs such as those described in this section are deemed to be a public nuisance. Any such sign shall be removed by the property owner within ten days after notice from the administrator. Legal, conforming structural supports for abandoned signs may remain, if installed with a blank sign face and supporting structures are maintained.

(4)

The burden of establishing a sign to be legally nonconforming under this section rests upon the persons, firm, or corporation claiming legal status of a sign.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).

The right to maintain any sign shall terminate and cease to exist whenever the sign is:

(1)

Damaged or destroyed beyond fifty percent. This determination shall rest with the Oroville Planning and Building Department and shall be based upon actual cost of replacing the sign;

(2)

Structurally substandard to the extent that the sign becomes a hazard or a danger to the public health, safety, and welfare;

(3)

When conditioned by permit to terminate after a specified time period.

(Ord. 714 §1(part), 2006).