Pocatello City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
07 SIGN STANDARDS
17.07.010: PURPOSE AND INTENT:
The intent of regulating signs that are visible from the public right-of-way is to ensure proper dimensioning and placement, with respect to existing or planned architectural features; to maintain or improve public safety; to maintain or improve the aesthetic character of the context in which they are located; and to provide legible information for both pedestrians and drivers. (Ord. 3152, 2024)
17.07.020: APPLICABILITY:
A. General. Signs shall be allowed within the City according to the regulations contained in this chapter. It shall be unlawful to erect or otherwise display a sign, and other advertising devices, without complying with the applicable terms and provisions of this chapter.
B. Sign Permit Required. Prior to erecting, constructing, placing, relocating, altering, and/or modifying any sign, a sign permit shall be obtained from the City; except as exempted in this section. Applications for a sign permit shall be subject to standards, procedures, and other requirements of this chapter.
C. Signs Not Subject to Permit. The following signs and/or displays shall not require a permit but shall adhere to all applicable standards of this chapter:
1. Directional signs.
2. Portable signs.
3. Light pole banner signs.
4. Official traffic or governmental signs.
5. Signs which are not seen from any public right-of-way.
6. Murals.
7. Holiday decorations.
8. Sign face changes.
9. Vehicle signs.
10. Identification signs.
D. Prohibited Signs. The following signs shall be prohibited in all zoning districts:
1. Signs located within any public street, right-of-way, or other public property without a right-of-way use license or other approvals, as determined by the City Engineer and Planning Director, or their designee.
2. Any sign located so as to conflict with the clear visibility of devices controlling public traffic or to impair the safety of a moving vehicle by distracting the vision of the driver.
3. Roof signs.
4. Any sign exceeding the height of a parapet or wall of a building to which it is attached.
5. Signs on a property with no established use.
6. Signs or displays with intermittent or flashing illumination or animation.
7. Signs or displays which inflate or emit sound.
8. Revolving signs.
9. Vehicle signs that contain an Electronic Message Center (EMC).
10. Abandoned signs.
11. Neglected signs.
12. Off-Premises signs.
13. Snipe signs. (Ord. 3152, 2024)
17.07.030: APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES:
A. Application. Applicant shall provide the following:
1. Sign permit application.
2. Applicable fee(s), which are non-refundable.
3. Other supporting information and/or documents, as requested.
B. Procedure. The City may request modifications to or additional information for any sign application to ensure compliance with this chapter. The City shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the sign permit application.
C. Inspection. The sign contractor shall request an inspection when a sign has been installed. If applicable, an inspection of forms and footings shall be conducted before any concrete is poured. If a sign has electrical components, an electrical permit may be required.
D. License Required. All sign permit applicants shall be required to secure a license from the City, or hire a licensed sign contractor, prior to engaging in the installation, erection, or construction of signs for which permits are required under this chapter. Under this chapter, no license shall be required for the following sign types but shall require the appropriate sign permit application, unless otherwise noted in this chapter:
1. Portable signs.
2. Painted wall signs.
3. Window signs.
E. Revocation. Licenses granted as provided in this chapter may, at any time, be revoked for dereliction of duties, misrepresentation, abuse of discretion, or any other similar impropriety as determined by the Planning Director, or their designee, or the Building Official. In the event the license is revoked, the licensee shall be ineligible to apply for a license under this chapter for a period of one (1) year from the date of revocation. (Ord. 3152, 2024)
17.07.040: APPEALS, CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, AND VARIANCES:
Decisions made by the Planning Director, or their designee; Hearing Examiner; the Planning and Zoning Commission; or the Historic Preservation Committee may be appealed. Sign standards that adversely affect the development or use of a property may be eligible for a variance.
A. Appeal. An appeal to a decision regarding standards of the sign code may be sought by following the provisions outlined in this title.
B. Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Where a proposed sign type is permitted in a zoning district by CUP, the standards outlined in this chapter shall apply. A CUP may be sought by following the procedures outlined in this title.
C. Variance. A variance from the standards of the sign code may be sought by following the procedures outlined in this title. (Ord. 3152, 2024)
17.07.050: SIGN SPECIFICATIONS:
The following shall apply to all signs regardless of zoning district, unless otherwise noted.
A. Safety and Maintenance.
1. All signs shall be structurally sound and maintained in accordance with all applicable provisions of the International Building Code edition currently adopted by the City. All signs shall be made with high quality and durable materials.
2. Material. No signs shall be constructed from materials that may be easily destroyed by wind, rain, snow, or UV exposure. All signs shall be maintained in complete operating condition and in good safety and repair. No broken, bent, cracked, decayed, dented, faded, leaning, splintered, ripped, torn, or twisted signs shall be allowed. Signs in danger of falling are also prohibited. The landscaped area in which any sign is placed shall be kept free from weeds, garbage, and debris. Maintenance includes the repair of building facades where signs have been removed as well as the painting, cleaning, and repairing of the sign. Maintenance does not include structural, cosmetic, or style changes or enlargements of sign faces.
3. Removal of Signs. Abandoned signs and neglected signs shall be considered a public nuisance and are prohibited.
a. Upon written notification to the permit holder and/or the property owner from the Building Official or the Planning Director, or their designee, such abandoned signs shall be removed from the premises. Neglected signs shall be repaired or removed from the premises by the property owner, agent, or tenant of the land, building, or structure upon which such sign is located. The notification shall state that the offending sign shall be repaired or removed by the owner, agent, or tenant sixty (60) days after the date of the written notification. The notification shall further state that if the sign is not removed or repaired, a citation may be issued and the City may resort to any civil remedy available to remove or repair the sign, up to and including impoundment. Any expenses incident thereto shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent, or tenant of the land, building, or structure upon which such sign was located.
b. If any sign is determined to present an immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare, the City may remove it immediately. Within fourteen (14) days of the removal of the sign, the City shall notify the owner of the property on which the sign was located of the reasons for removal of the sign. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation receiving such written notice to fail to comply with the direction of the notice. In the event of failure to comply with such notice, the Building Official or the Planning Director, or their designee, is hereby authorized to cause the removal and impoundment of such sign. Any expenses incident thereto shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent or tenant of land, building or structure upon which such sign was located.
4. Signs shall not be located in a manner that interferes with pedestrian or vehicular travel, or poses a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles.
5. Signs within a sight triangle shall be less than three feet (3') and greater than ten feet (10') in height from the grade, and support posts shall not be greater than twelve inches (12") in diameter. All signs within the sight triangle shall comply with sight triangle standards.
6. A right-of-way use license is required when a sign encroaches in the right-of-way or has the ability to encroach and cause damage within the right-of-way.
7. Electrical raceways, conduits, and wiring shall not be exposed when structurally possible. Internal lighting elements shall be completely contained within the sign assembly or inside the wall. All wiring serving electrified signage, which are not attached to buildings, shall be underground.
B. Legal Non-Conforming Signs.
1. The following are circumstances where signs are considered legal non-conforming signs:
a. The sign was in existence and lawfully erected prior to the effective date of this chapter;
b. The sign was in existence and lawfully located and used in accordance with the provisions of the prior ordinance, or was considered legally nonconforming and has since been in continuous or regular use; or
c. The sign was in existence, located, and used on the premises at the time it was annexed into the City limits or included in the City's area of impact and has since been in regular and continuous use.
2. All legal non-conforming signs are subject to all applicable provisions regarding legal non-conforming situations in this title.
3. Legal non-conforming uses located within a Residential district may retain existing, legal signage. Any new signage for existing non-conforming uses in a Residential district shall be in conformance with the requirements of signage within the Residential/Commercial/Professional (RCP) zoning district.
C. Size and Placement.
1. A sign face shall be measured as the area contained within the smallest rectangular shape that will enclose both the copy and the background. A sign copy mounted as individual letters or graphics against any part of a building or structure that does not have a distinct background, shall be measured as the sum of the smallest rectangle(s) or square(s) that will enclose each word and graphic. Where an individual sign may consist of more than two (2) back-to-back faces, additional sign faces shall be considered as additional sign area.
2. School signs. All schools, public and private, shall meet sign standards for the RCP zoning district if located within a Residential or RCP zoning district.
3. Signs in Historic Preservation Overlay District. Where the provisions of the Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO), and/or the underlying zoning district conflict, the most restrictive standards shall apply. All properties within the HPO shall be subject to the Pocatello Downtown Historic District Design Standards.
4. Signs in right-of-way. Signs shall not encroach a right-of-way or public sidewalk except after obtaining a right-of-way use license from the Engineering Department.
5. Sidewalk signs. Such signs shall not interfere with ADA requirements of a three foot (3') horizontal clearance and shall be removed at the close of each business day. Sidewalk signs shall be removed during high winds or other weather conditions where the sign may pose a hazard to public safety. Sidewalk signs shall not require an approved right-of-way use license.
6. Window signs. Such signs shall count towards the total building sign area allowed and shall not exceed a maximum of 50% coverage of window space per building elevation. Window graphic displays or coverings adhered or mounted to, or in front of, glass that do not clearly fall within the definition of a sign shall meet the coverage requirement for window signs.
7. Directional Signs. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet per sign face and shall serve the public safety or convenience.
8. Portable Signs. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet, unless otherwise noted in this chapter. Such signs shall not extend over a public right-of-way without a right-of-way use license nor provide any danger to the general public. No more than three (3) such signs shall be erected at one site.
9. Light Pole Banner Signs. Such signs shall have a clearance of eight feet (8') and not be placed over a lane of traffic. Such signs shall be allowed in all zones without a sign permit but require an approved right-of-way use license, if the light pole is within the right-of-way or if the banner extends into the right-of-way.
10. Identification signs. Such signs shall be incorporated into the building's architectural design and shall be no larger than half (½) a square foot per linear foot of building frontage. There shall be no more than one per building elevation.
11. Interstate Pole Signs. One pole sign, up to sixty feet (60') in height, may be erected within one thousand feet (1,000') of an on/off interstate ramp intersection on any parcel of land if at least fifty percent (50%) of that parcel lies within that one thousand-foot (1,000') radius. The sign must be set back at least twenty-five feet (25') from any property line and at least fifty feet (50') from any Residential or RCP zoning district boundary. Interstate pole signs are a part of a business's free-standing sign allowance and permitted only by CUP.
D. Sign Standards Table. The following types, locations, and sizes of signs are permitted in each corresponding zoning district in accordance with the table below:
Zoning District | Standards by Sign Type |
RE, RL, RMS, RMM, RH | Free-Standing Sign: Signs permitted only for the purpose of identifying a residential development of fifteen (15) or more dwelling units: Area: Max thirty-six (36) square feet per sign; Height: Max five feet (5'); Amount: One (1) per entrance, max four (4) per development; Pole signs not permitted. Building Sign: Signs permitted only for the purpose of identifying a residential development of fifteen (15) or more dwelling units: Area: Max 15% square feet of each building elevation. Portable Sign: Area: Max six (6) square feet per sign; Amount: Max three (3) per site. Electronic Message Center: Permitted by CUP for non-residential uses, refer to EMC section in this chapter. Not permitted for residential uses. |
RCP | Free-Standing Sign: Area: Max thirty-six (36) square feet per sign; Height: Max six feet (6'); Amount: One (1) per street frontage; Pole signs not permitted. Building: Area: Max 15% square feet of each building elevation. Portable Sign: Area: Max thirty-six (36) square feet per sign; Amount: Max three (3) per site. Electronic Message Center: Permitted by CUP for non-residential uses, refer to EMC section in this chapter. Not permitted for residential uses. |
CC | Free-Standing Sign: Area: Max thirty-six (36) square feet per sign; Height: Max twelve (12) feet; Amount: One (1) per street frontage; Pole signs not permitted. Building Sign: Area: Max 20% square feet of each building elevation. Port able Sign: Area: Max thirty-six (36) square feet per sign; Amount: Max three (3) per site. Electronic Message Center: Permitted, refer to EMC section in this chapter. |
CG, OP, LI, I | Free-Standing Sign: Area: One (1) square foot per one (1) linear foot of building frontage, Max 200 square feet per sign; Height: Max twenty (20) feet; Amount: One (1) per street frontage. Building Sign: Area: Max 20% square feet of each building elevation. Portable Sign: Area: Max thirty-six (36) square feet per sign; Amount: Max 3 per site. Electronic Message Center: Permitted, refer to EMC section in this chapter. |
E. Illumination.
1. Illumination may be internal or external, unless otherwise noted. Lighting for all signs shall comply with lighting standards as identified in this title.
a. Residential and RCP zones. External lighting fixtures shall be fully cutoff and fully shielded. Internal lighting shall be recessed and "blacked out" with only the message illuminated.
b. Commercial and Industrial zones. External lighting fixtures shall be fully cutoff and fully shielded.
F. Electronic Message Centers (EMC). Signs that may contain electronic messaging shall be permitted in accordance with the following criteria:
1. Messaging. Such signs shall contain static messages only and shall not have animation. No chasing, blinking, rotating or flashing shall be employed in displaying a message or image, or during the change from one message or image to another. No streaming video shall be displayed.
a. Text messaging that is longer than the display area and does not contain any image or graphics shall scroll in a consistent and predictable manner.
b. Transitions. An automated change of message or image must be accomplished within two (2) seconds or less and contain a default design that will freeze the sign face in one position, should malfunction occur.
c. Each message or frame must be displayed for a minimum of eight (8) seconds.
2. Amount. Only one (1) EMC per property shall be permitted, unless otherwise approved through the sign master plan process.
3. Area. The area of an EMC shall be included in the total allowed sign area, as identified in this chapter.
4. Installation. EMCs shall not be installed on a non-conforming sign.
5. Illumination.
a. EMCs shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candle over ambient lighting conditions when measured pursuant to the requirements of this subsection.
b. All measurements shall be taken using a light meter and measured in foot candles. Illumination shall be measured with an illuminance meter set to measure foot-candles accurate to at least two (2) decimal points. Illuminance shall be measured from an angle and distance to accomplish a base reading, establishing the ambient lighting conditions without interference from the EMC's light. After the base reading is established, a second reading shall be obtained which directly measures the EMC's light to determine if it exceeds 0.3 foot-candle over ambient light.
c. All EMCs shall be installed with an automated dimmer control or similar device which automatically determines the ambient illumination and programmable to automatically dim according to the ambient light conditions, or that can be adjusted to comply with the standards set forth in this subsection.
d. Curfew. All electronic message displays located in a Residential or RCP zone shall not be illuminated between 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
G. Specifications for Multi-Tenant Properties.
1. Purpose. To ensure that signs within multi-tenant properties are compatible with regard to design, size, locations, and materials.
2. Applicability.
a. New developments that fall under the definition of a multi-tenant property shall submit a master sign plan, as of the effective date of this chapter.
b. All signage for multi-tenant properties constructed prior to the effective date of this chapter shall meet all applicable standards within the underlying zone, with the following exception:
(1) Building sign area: Total area determined by each business elevation, not building elevation. Refer to sign standards table within this chapter.
c. Existing developments that fall under the definition of a multi-tenant property may submit a master sign plan to receive the benefits found within this section.
3. Sign Master Plan Standards. All provisions of the sign specifications for the underlying zone shall apply, with the following exceptions:
a. Sign allowance may be increased up to ten (10%) percent.
b. Multiple EMCs and free-standing signs may be approved with a minimum spacing of one hundred fifty feet (150'). All EMCs and free-standing signs shall be on the same structure.
c. Pad Sites. In addition to building sign allowance, one (1) monument sign no larger than thirty-six (36) square feet in area and six feet (6') in height are permitted for each pad site.
d. Change of Signs: If a sign is changed or updated, and there is an approved sign master plan, the following procedures shall apply:
(1) Face Change. Face change is permitted by right, without any permit.
(2) New Cabinet, Same Dimensions. If the proposed sign utilizes the same area and location, it will be seen as a face change and shall be permitted by right, without any sign permit. However, electrical signs may still need an electrical permit.
(3) New Cabinet, Different Dimensions. If the proposed sign changes the area and/or location, it will be seen as a new sign and will require a new sign master plan. (Ord. 3152, 2024)