The sign regulations provide standards for communicating information in the environment of the city and its jurisdiction. The regulations recognize the need to protect public health, safety, and welfare; to maintain the city's attractive appearance; to provide for adequate business identification, advertising, and communication of information; and to encourage the fair enforcement of sign regulations.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

Signs shall be designed, erected, altered, moved, displayed, and maintained in accordance with the regulations set forth in this chapter, definitions in Chapter 17.03, and other applicable building codes.

A.

This chapter is not meant to repeal or interfere with enforcement of other sections of this zoning ordinance. In cases of conflicts between code sections, state, or federal regulations, the more restrictive regulations shall apply.

B.

The provisions in this chapter shall not amend or in any way interfere with other codes, rules, or regulations governing traffic signs within the city.

C.

The regulations contained in this chapter shall apply to signs outside of the public right-of-way except when expressly stated otherwise.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:

A.

Abandoned or obsolete signs.

B.

Balloon signs.

C.

Blinking, flashing, and animated signs. No flashing, blinking, or rotation lights shall be permitted for either permanent or temporary signs.

D.

Inflatable signs in the form of air-inflated objects of various shapes that are made of flexible fabric and placed on the ground or a structure.

E.

Moving signs. No sign shall be permitted any part of which moves by any mechanical means.

F.

Signs emitting sound, smoke, or odors.

G.

Signs attached or painted on trees, rocks, fences, or natural features.

H.

Signs in the right-of-way except for those placed by a public entity, approved banners on utility or light poles, projecting signs as allowed in this chapter, or other signs approved by the city with a public benefit.

I.

Signs or sign support structures that obstruct means of egress, including any fire escape, window, door opening, stairway, opening, exit, walkway, utility access, or fire department connection.

J.

Signs that interfere with any required opening for ventilation.

K.

Signs or sign structures that resemble, imitate, simulate, or conflict with traffic control signs or devices included in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which otherwise mislead or confuse persons traveling on public streets and create a traffic hazard.

L.

Signs displayed on motor vehicles, trailers, and portable storage units unless:

1.

The vehicle or storage units are functional and used for their primary purpose.

2.

The display is incidental to the use.

3.

The motor vehicle is parked in a designated parking or loading space, and the storage unit is located in a location that complies with all standards of this zoning ordinance.

M.

Signs not expressly allowed by this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

The following signs are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of this chapter.

A.

Building Identification Signs. Building identification signs not exceeding one square foot in area for residential buildings and two square feet in area for nonresidential buildings.

B.

Business Name and Address on an Entry Door. Name of a business, address information, and/or contact information displayed on an entry door, not exceeding two square feet in area.

C.

Signs Posted on a Community Bulletin Board. Signs posted on a community bulletin board shall not exceed eleven by seventeen inches.

D.

Signs located on residential property under four square feet in area, not including portable signs.

E.

Historic and Architectural Features. Historical plaques erected and maintained by non-profit organizations, building cornerstones, and date-constructed stones not exceeding four square feet in area.

F.

Street Banners. Providing that specific approval is granted under regulations established by the city council.

G.

Signs Not Readable from the Public Right-of-Way.

1.

Signs or displays located entirely inside of a building and not visible from the building's exterior.

2.

Signs intended to be readable from within a parking lot but not readable beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located or from any public right-of-way.

3.

Signs located on or within city park and recreation facilities.

H.

Governmental Signs. Any sign, posting, notice, or similar signs placed, installed, or required by law by the city, county, or a federal or state governmental agency in carrying out its responsibility to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, including, but not limited to, the following:

1.

Emergency and warning signs necessary for public safety or civil defense.

2.

Traffic signs erected and maintained by an authorized public agency.

3.

Signs required to be displayed by law.

4.

Signs directing the public to points of interest.

5.

Signs showing the location of public facilities.

I.

Works of graphic art painted or applied to building walls.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

Sign Area. Computation of the sign area shall include the combination of the writing, emblem, illustrations, or other display and any background material or color forming an integral part of the display, but not including the supporting framework. On a multi-face sign, the area is computed only from one face. Where the frame or cabinet is not in the shape of a rectangle, square, triangle, or circle, the sign face area shall be determined by calculating the area of an imaginary rectangle drawn around the frame or cabinet.

B.

Height. Height shall be measured from average ground level, excluding any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for locating the sign to the highest point of the sign or support structure, whichever is taller.

C.

Projection. Any building sign extending more than six inches from the wall to which it is attached shall allow a minimum of ten feet of clearance from the average ground level, as measured in Subsection 17.09.050.B of this section.

D.

Setback. The setback of a sign is measured from the property line to the line projected to the ground plane of the nearest portion of the sign.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

Table 17.09.A Permitted Signs indicates the permitted sign types by each zoning district. Additional design standards and restrictions apply as may be indicated in this chapter. The letters indicate the following:

A.

"P" means that the sign type is permitted for all uses in the district.

B.

"P(L)" means that the sign type is permitted but limited to principal non-residential and multi-unit dwelling uses, listed in Section 17.04.110 Land Use Matrix.

C.

A blank cell means the sign type is not permitted in the district.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

The guidelines in this section address issues related to sign compatibility, legibility, placement, color, and illumination. They are intended to complement the standards of this chapter and to guide quality visual environments.

A.

Illumination of Signs. Lighted signs facing and on property adjacent to or across a street or alley from a residential district shall not be backlit and shall be no closer than twenty feet from the nearest residential district boundary.

B.

Attached Sign Electrical Raceways and Conduits. Electrical transformer boxes and raceways should be concealed from public view. If a raceway cannot be mounted internally behind the finished exterior wall, the exposed metal surfaces of the raceway should be finished to match the background wall or integrated into the overall sign design.

C.

Wall Signs.

1.

A wall sign shall not extend more than two feet from the wall to which it is attached.

2.

A wall sign may not extend beyond the corner of the wall to which it is attached except where attached to another wall sign. However, it may extend to provide for the attachment.

3.

A wall sign may not extend beyond its building's roof line.

4.

A wall sign in the DC district attached to a building on its front property line may encroach upon public right-of-way by no more than eighteen inches. Such a wall sign shall provide a minimum clearance of eight and one-half feet.

D.

Projecting Signs.

1.

Within the DC district, a projecting sign may come within five feet from the vertical plane of the inside curb line.

2.

Projecting signs must minimize visible support structures, including guy wires, cables, turnbuckles, angle iron, or other similar external structures.

E.

Pole Signs.

1.

No electronic information sign shall be programmed in a way that suggests or resembles a traffic control device, such as a traffic signal.

F.

Banner and Flag Signs. Banner and flag signs count against the attached wall sign area permitted on the premise.

G.

Business and Industrial Centers. In addition to its total permitted sign area in this chapter, each premise identified by the city as a shopping center, business, or industrial park may have one additional detached sign located at the vehicle entrance, subject to the following conditions:

1.

The maximum area for the sign shall be one hundred square feet.

2.

No sign shall be within one hundred fifty feet of any other detached sign on the same or adjacent premises.

3.

Each sign shall be subject to all other regulations for detached signs or graphics set forth in this chapter.

H.

Driveway Signs. Driveway signs in the PI, CC, GC, BP, LI, and GI districts, in addition to the total permitted sign area in this chapter related to detached sign regulations to direct internal traffic, identify parking areas, or supply other information, given that driveway signs are:

1.

No larger than three square feet per face.

2.

If building mounted, no higher than eight feet from grade.

3.

If freestanding, no higher than three feet from grade.

4.

A maximum of one at each driveway or drive-through lane.

I.

Additional Signs at Entrances. In addition to its total permitted sign area in this chapter related to detached sign regulations, each property in the PI, CC, GC, BP, LI, and GI district may have one non-illuminated sign with a maximum size of twelve square feet within twenty feet of a public right-of-way that provides access to the property. Such sign shall be a monument or ground sign with a maximum height of four feet.

J.

Vision-Clearance Area. No sign may project into or be placed within any sign distance triangles on a property.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

This section ensures that portable signs do not distract the traveling public by eliminating the aesthetic blight and litter caused by portable signs.

A.

Sign Types. The following signs types are classified as portable signs:

1.

A-Frame or Upright Signs. In the DC district, an A-frame sign can be placed on a public sidewalk or plaza without an encroachment permit from the city council, provided that the sign:

a.

Is at least two feet from an adjacent curb.

b.

Leaves at least a five foot wide path of unobstructed walking space.

c.

Does not block the entrance into any building, driveway, or sidewalk ramp.

d.

Has written approval from the property owner of the frontage where the sign will be placed.

2.

Vertical Banners. Only permitted in non-residential districts and not permitted in the DC district.

3.

Yard Signs. Can be placed within the required yard setback but not in the public right-of-way.

4.

Wall Banner. Only permitted in non-residential districts and may only be displayed for thirty days per calendar year and not used as permanent signage.

5.

Window Sign. Only permitted in non-residential districts and not used as permanent signage. The total area combined with permanent window signs shall not exceed forty percent of the area of the window.

B.

General Regulations. Portable signs are subject to all location and design regulations described in this chapter, unless otherwise indicated in this section.

C.

Aggregate Size. The total amount of portable signage permitted on any premise shall be the smaller of five percent of the area of all street facades or sixteen square feet when not attached to a façade.

D.

Individual Size. The maximum area size of an individual portable sign shall be thirty square feet in non-residential districts and sixteen square feet in residential districts.

E.

Number. No more than one portable sign is permitted at any single premises.

F.

Durability. Portable signs shall be constructed of sufficient weight and durability to withstand wind gusts, storms, and other natural elements.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

All signs shall be maintained in a good state of repair, including, but not limited to, the structural components, the lighting, if any, the portion attaching the sign to the ground or structure, and the surface features. Any signs not maintained may be ordered to be removed. For maintenance of nonconforming signs, the following shall apply:

1.

Activities considered normal maintenance and repair. Normal maintenance and repair shall include replacement, restoration, or improvement activities. Following damage or destruction, replacement of a nonconforming sign shall mean that the sign face or sign structure and site, if reinstated with a nonconformity as allowed under the terms of this chapter, shall be reconstructed to match the conditions of the sign face or sign structure that preceded damage or destruction.

2.

The zoning administrator may impose reasonable conditions to mitigate any newly created impact on adjacent property. Nonconformities that are completely or substantially reconstructed, including changes to building placement or design, shall be subject to the findings and procedures for expansion or alteration of nonconforming uses and structures as specified in Chapter 17.10 Nonconforming Development.

3.

Items not considered normal maintenance and repair. Changes made to the sign location, size, height, bulk, or addition of illumination are not considered normal maintenance and repair and shall require that the nonconforming sign be brought into conformance with all requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

For projects with an overall site area of more than six acres, an applicant may submit a sign master plan detailing the size, location, and design of all signs on the site. The sign master plan may adjust the strict application of these standards but must clarify the exact nature of the adjustments. The city council shall approve such a sign master plan after review and recommendation by the PZ commission. This review follows the same process as the review of a PUD district in Section 17.05.180 Planned Unit Development (PUD) district.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

Where a sign exists at the effective date of adoption or amendment of the ordinance codified in this title that could not be built under the terms of this title by reason of restrictions on area, use, height, setback, or other characteristics of the sign or its location on the lot, such sign may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful, subject to the following provisions:

1.

No such sign may be enlarged or altered to increase its nonconformity. However, reasonable repairs and alterations may be permitted.

2.

Should such a sign be destroyed by any means to the extent of sixty percent or more of its replacement cost at the time of destruction, it shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with the provisions of this title.

3.

Within any zoning district, all signage shall comply fully with the provisions of this title, unless otherwise provided, within fifteen years after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title.

B.

Removal. The zoning administrator shall have the authority to revoke any permit granted when the zoning administrator has determined that the sign authorized by the permit has been constructed or maintained in violation of the permit. Written notice shall be given to the owner of the illegal sign or the owner of the property on which the sign is located. The notice shall state the reasons and grounds for removal, specifying the deficiencies or defects in such sign, and the violations charged. Such notice shall specify what repairs, if any, will make the sign conform to the requirements of this chapter and specify that the sign be removed or made to conform with the requirements of this chapter within the notice period provided below:

1.

The notice period for a permanent sign is thirty days.

2.

The notice period for a portable sign is five days.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

Provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to relieve or eliminate in any way the responsibility or liability of any person who erects or owns any sign for personal injury or property damage caused by the sign, nor shall the provisions of this chapter be construed to impose upon the city, zoning administrator, city officials, or city employees any responsibility or liability by reason of the approval of any signs under the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)