(a) on the effective date of this Title was lawfully maintained and had been lawfully erected in accordance with the provisions of any prior sign ordinance or code but does not conform to the applicable limitations established by this Chapter; or

(b) on or after the effective date of this Title was lawfully maintained and erected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter but which sign, by reason of amendment of this Title after the effective date thereof, does not conform to the applicable limitations established by the amendment of this Chapter.

(a) Hereafter, no new sign will be constructed nor any existing sign structurally altered that is not in compliance with this Chapter.

(b) All signs will be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition. Cleaning, painting, or normal maintenance and repair of existing signs does not require a permit, provided no structural alteration is made.

(c) Abandoned and out-of-date signs must be removed with the exception of building plaques and cornerstones, and signs and their structures that identify buildings by common or historic names.

(d) No sign will be constructed or maintained in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the safe use of any fire escape, or exit or free use of any external fire department standpipe connection. No sign will be constructed or maintained to obstruct any window so that light or ventilation is reduced below minimum standards required by applicable law or the International Building Code.

(e) The owner of any sign that extends over any public right-of-way, erected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, will remove and/or relocate that sign at his or her own expense upon the request of the department of public works when that sign, either temporarily or permanently, interferes with any public improvement including, but not limited to, street widening or installation of traffic signs or signals.

(f) Signs must be on private property.

(a) Signs may be illuminated, but no flashing or oscillating sign will be permitted in the City. Lighting must be designed and will function in a manner that shields direct light from adjoining streets and properties.

(b) Signs will not be illuminated between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. unless the business is open during these hours. The sign must be turned off once the business has closed until 7 a.m.

(a) Application for a sign permit will be made on forms provided by the Department of Community Development. All sign and sign structure dimensions, materials, illumination, foundation and mounting details, and advertising copy will be shown in drawings accompanying the application form.

(b) A plot plan showing property lines, abutting public rights-of-way, buildings and other structures on the property, existing signs, and proposed sign locations must be included with the application.

(c) An issued sign permit will become invalid if the work has not been active within 180 days of its issuance.

(a) Signs erected or required by government agencies to implement public policy, including traffic, directional, or information signs.

(b) On-premises occupant name plates and house and building numbers not exceeding three (3) square feet in area.

(c) Permanent building plaques and cornerstones.

(d) On-premises seasonal and holiday decorations.

(e) Changes of advertising on a sign defined as having changing copy.

(f) Temporary signs, including construction signs, grand opening displays, real estate signs, special event signs, political signs, and garage sale signs.

(g) Occupant name plates not exceeding three (3) square feet in area for reserved parking spaces in off-street parking facilities.

(h) On-premises non-illuminated incidental signs.

(a) Continuance. Any legal nonconforming sign may be continued and maintained, but:

(b) Abatement. A prohibited sign or unlawful nonconforming sign must either be removed or brought into compliance with the provisions of this Chapter within 30 days after the date of notification by the City of its nonconformity.

(a) By Abandonment. No person will maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by them any sign which has been abandoned.

(b) By Destruction, Damage, Obsolescence, or Danger. The right to maintain any sign will cease to exist whenever the sign is:

(a) The Director of Community Development may order the removal of any sign constructed or maintained in violation of this Chapter. The Director of Community Development will give 30 days notice in writing to the owner of the sign, or, if the sign owner cannot be located, to the owner of the property upon which the sign is erected. If the sign has not been removed or brought into compliance within the 30-day period, the Director of Community Development may order the removal of the sign, and removal costs will become a lien on the property, if not paid by the violator within 30 days after removal of the sign.

(b) The Building Official may, without giving notice, order the immediate removal of any sign that presents an immediate danger to the public because of its unsafe condition. Removal costs will become a lien on the property on which the sign was located, if not paid by the violator within 30 days after removal of the sign. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 03-33 §25, 2003; Ord. 00-8 §5, 2000; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(a) Not have more than two (2) square feet of sign surface area for each one (1) foot of length of the wall on which it is mounted; provided, however, a flush-mounted sign will not exceed 200 square feet of sign surface area.

(b) The sign may be located on the front of a marquee if the sign is not over three (3) feet in height and if parallel to the wall to which the marquee is attached, but will not extend beyond either end of the marquee nor above or below the marquee.

(a) Surface area of no more than two (2) square feet per one (1) foot of lot frontage but will not exceed 200 square feet of sign surface area.

(b) Must be placed in a planter box, or have their base otherwise landscaped, with the area of the landscaping being a minimum of one-half (1/2) of the sign surface area of the sign.

(c) All supporting structures for pole signs must be located on private property.

(d) May extend over a public right-of-way; provided, that the vertical clearance between a pole sign and ground level will not be less than 10 feet and that no part of the sign projects within three (3) feet of the curbline. Where there is no curb, a sign may project three (3) feet over a public right-of-way; provided, that vertical clearance will not be less than 14 feet.

(a) Not to exceed 50 square feet in sign surface area.

(b) May extend over a public right-of-way; provided, that the vertical clearance between the projecting sign and ground level is at least 10 feet and that no part of such a sign or structure will project within three (3) feet of the curbline. Where there is no curb, a sign may project three (3) feet over a public right-of-way; provided, that vertical clearance is at least 14 feet.

(a) Not to exceed 200 square feet in sign surface area.

(b) Placed in a planter box, or otherwise landscaped, with the area of the landscaping a minimum of one-half (1/2) of the sign surface area.

(c) Not to exceed 42 inches (3.5 feet) in height.

(a) At least seven and one-half (7.5) feet minimum clearance from grade.

(b) No portion of the sign may project beyond the marquee.

(c) Marquee signs may be illuminated.

(a) A maximum of two (2) square feet of sign surface area per one (1) foot of length of wall upon which the canopy is mounted.

(b) Not to exceed 200 square feet of sign surface area.

(c) Canopy signs may be backlit.

(a) Construction Signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area, and that are removed no later than 30 days after completion of construction.

(b) Grand Opening Signs for a period not exceeding seven (7) days.

(c) Real Estate Signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area for each commercial and industrial property or residential subdivision, and six (6) square feet in area for residential properties. These signs must be removed no later than 30 days after sale or rental of the land or building(s). Except for “Open House” signs, Real Estate Signs must be on-premises signs, unless an administrative variance is obtained pursuant to PCC 17.130.040 to locate a Real Estate Sign(s) at an off-premises location. “Open House” directional signs that do not exceed six (6) square feet in area will be limited to one (1) on-premises sign and three (3) off-premises signs. “Open House” signs may be placed in a public right-of-way only during daylight hours.

(d) Special Event Signs not exceeding 32 square feet in sign surface area, provided these signs are located on private property and are erected no more than seven (7) days preceding the event and are removed no later than one (1) day after the conclusion of the event.

(e) Political Signs not exceeding 32 square feet in sign surface area are allowed, provided these signs are removed no later than 10 days after an election. Political signs will not be lighted.

(f) Garage Sale Signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in sign surface area, provided such signs will be limited to one (1) on-premises sign and three (3) off-premises signs. Garage sale signs may be displayed for a maximum of seven (7) consecutive days and must be removed the day the sale ends.

(g) Searchlights may be permitted for any business or enterprise not exceeding seven (7) consecutive days provided the beam of the searchlight does not flash against any building or any object on the ground.

(h) Banner or Cloth Signs may be located in a public right-of-way with permission of the Director of Public Works; provided, that the signs or banners are located within the C2 or C3 zoning district, do not block the visibility of traffic control devices, have at least 17 feet clearance above street grade in accordance with Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and are for nonprofit, community-wide events. These signs must be removed no later than one (1) day after the conclusion of the event.

(i) Balloon Signs are permitted in accordance with the following standards:

(j) Other Temporary Signs are permitted for a period not exceeding 30 days and will be limited to six (6) square feet of sign surface area for residential districts and 32 square feet of sign surface area for commercial and industrial districts. The total sign surface area of temporary signs will not exceed the maximum sign surface area permitted for permanent signs. A temporary sign will not be reinstated on the property from which it was removed for 72 hours (3 days).

(a) Directional signs or informational signs of a public or quasi-public nature not exceeding 16 square feet in sign surface area may be constructed or maintained by an official or civic body.

(b) Changing message center signs, public service signs, and community bulletin boards are allowed as follows:

(c) Public service signs and community bulletin boards are allowed.

(d) Commercial parking lot signs. Each lot will be allowed one (1) flush-mounted or pole sign not exceeding 24 square feet in sign surface area on each street frontage.

(e) Driveway entrance/exit signs will have a maximum area of four (4) square feet. No advertising is permitted on such signs.

(f) Nonresidential use signs in residential districts. Each nonresidential use is permitted one (1) flush-mounted or ground sign having a maximum sign area of 24 square feet. These signs must be indirectly lit.

(g) Home Occupation Signs. A person engaged in a home occupation may display one (1) non-illuminated, flush-mounted sign bearing their name and occupation; provided, that the sign will not exceed two (2) square feet in sign surface area.

(h) Church or School Signs. These uses may have ground signs or flush-mounted signs not exceeding one (1) square foot of aggregate sign surface area per two (2) feet of lot frontage in residential districts. In other districts, these signs will be regulated as for any business use. Up to two (2) off-premises directional signs not exceeding two (2) square feet per face located on private property adjacent to a collector or arterial street as designated in the Comprehensive Plan are also permitted.

(i) Residential Development Signs. A sign not exceeding 50 square feet in sign surface area, nor 42 inches (3.5 feet) in height above grade, identifying the development and located at its entrance. There will be no more than one (1) residential development sign for each entrance. For manufactured home parks, such a sign is required and will show at least the name of the park and a plan indicating the streets and the location and number of each manufactured home space. The sign will not be more than 10 feet in height above grade.

(j) Portable Signs will be allowed in all commercial zoning districts if each of the following conditions can be satisfied for the zoning district involved. The square footage of portable signs will not be counted in the total amount of allowable signage per business.

(iii) In the C3 district:

1. Maximum Size: 18 square feet.

2. Maximum Height: Six (6) feet.

3. Location: On the property or adjacent right-of-way of the sponsoring business if a minimum of five (5) horizontal feet of sidewalk or five (5) horizontal feet of pedestrian clearance area (if no sidewalk is present) remains unobstructed, and if the sign vision clearance area as hereinafter defined is unobstructed.

The “sign Vision Clearance Area” is defined as a triangular area established at the intersection of two (2) streets, a street and alley, or a street and driveway. The dimensions of a sign vision clearance area will be a minimum of 15 feet measured at street grade along the curb line from the intersection, and the first 15 feet of driveway or alley measured along the edge of the driveway or alley at a right angle to the street from the intersection. See following illustration:

4. Display Hours: Anytime.

5. Number: One (1) portable sign per business.

6. Material: Durable material which is weather-resistant.

7. Illumination: Lighted signs are prohibited.

(k) Identification Signs must be installed in accordance with the following standards:

(l) Outdoor Advertising Signs will be allowed for tourist-related signs and community information signs if the requirements for the proposed type are satisfied:

(m) Revolving Signs are allowed in the C2, C3, IRP, I1, and I2 districts, and must be pole signs not exceeding 10 revolutions per minute. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 03-33 §26, 2003; Ord. 01-5 §8, 2001; Ord. 00-8 §6, 2000; Ord. 90-10 §2, 1990; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(a) signs must be flush-mounted or ground signs;

(b) lighted signs must be indirectly lighted;

(c) each dwelling unit or manufactured home is allowed one (1) sign not exceeding three (3) square feet in sign surface area, containing the name and/or address of the building or person;

(d) each apartment house complex, condominium complex, membership lodging, residence hall, fraternity, sorority, or boarding or rooming house is allowed one (1) sign containing the name and/or address of the building for each street exposure. In no case will there be more than two (2) signs per use, and such signs will not exceed 16 square feet in sign surface area.

(a) signs must be flush-mounted, ground, canopy, portable, or marquee signs;

(b) no sign will protrude more than two (2) feet into any required yard;

(c) the aggregate gross surface area of all permanent signs excluding portable signs and identification signs for property occupied by any one use, multiple occupancy building, or shopping center will not exceed one and one-half (1.5) square feet of sign surface area per foot of street frontage. In no case will a sign have more than 100 square feet of sign surface area.

(a) the aggregate gross area of all permanent signs excluding portable signs and identification signs for property occupied by any one use, multiple occupancy building, or shopping center will not exceed two (2) square feet of sign surface area per foot of street frontage. In no case will a sign have more than 100 square feet of sign surface area.

(b) pole signs must not exceed 20 feet in height from ground level to sign top.

(c) the C2 Central Business District was first constructed circa 1900. Some buildings within this district are characterized by the commercial architecture found in Pullman for this period. This architecture has predominant characteristics such as projecting cornices, continuous horizontal and vertical lines, arches, transoms, and horizontal banding. It is the intent that signage for facades of buildings that expose these characteristics, whether built during this period or later, should be in harmony with the above characteristics. Signs constructed on the street or the sidewalk facades of buildings having these characteristics will to the greatest extent possible conform to the following guidelines:

The Director of Community Development, when reviewing an application for signs within the C2 Central Business District, will determine whether or not the exposed facade of the building is representative of the turn-of-the-century commercial architecture found in Pullman. If so, then the standards described in subsections (3)(c)(i), (3)(c)(ii) and (3)(c)(iii) of this section will apply. The Director of Community Development will consult with the Main Street Design Committee or a similar group recognized by the Council to determine if the signage will be consistent with the architectural integrity of the particular building.