A-Frame Sign. A double-faced portable sign constructed with an A-shaped frame, composed of two sign boards attached at the top and separate at the bottom. A frame signs shall not be permanently attached to the ground, but secured to the ground or sufficiently weighted to prevent the sign from being blown from its location or easily moved.

Awning. A shelter projecting from, and supported by, the exterior wall of a building on a supporting framework. The awning may be constructed of rigid or non-rigid materials.

Banner Sign. A sign made of fabric or other non-rigid material with no enclosing framework and not qualifying as a flag.

Bench Sign. A sign on an outdoor bench.

Boundaries of the Site. The area inside the legal lot lines of a site and does not include any property in a public right-of-way.

Business. Any profession, trade, occupation, shop and every type of calling where a charge is made for goods, materials or services.

Direct Illumination. A standlone light acting as a sign to attract attention, or exposed lighting or neon tubes on the sign face.

Directional Sign. A sign located within the boundaries of a site and near areas where pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles travel, and that is intended to inform people of what direction to travel.

Electronic Display Signs. Signs, displays, devices, or portions thereof with lighted messages that change at intermittent intervals by electronic process or remote control.

External Illumination. The light source is separate from the sign and is directed so as to shine on the sign.

Flags. Any fabric containing colors, patterns, words or symbols, typically oblong or square, attachable by one edge to a pole or anchored at only two corners. If any dimension is more than three times as long as any other dimension, it is classified and regulated as a banner regardless of how it is anchored or supported.

Freestanding Sign. A sign on a frame, pole, or other support structure that is not attached to any building.

Gross Wall Area. The entire area encompassed by the plane of a wall, including windows and doors.

Height. The vertical distance measured from grade to the highest point of the sign or sign structure.

Historical Marker. A plaque or sign erected and maintained on property, a building, or structure by an organization that is recognized for routinely identifying sites, buildings, or structures of historical value.

Internal Illumination Lighting. The light source is concealed within the sign.

Lighting. Direct, external, or internal illumination.

Maintenance. Normal care needed to keep a sign functional such as cleaning, oiling, and changing light bulbs.

Permanent Banner Sign. Any banner sign that is not allowed as a temporary sign or that does not qualify as an exempt sign under section 17.114.025 of this chapter.

Permanent Sign. A sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground in a manner requiring a permit, and made of materials intended for more than short term use including, but not limited to, freestanding signs, wall signs, and awning signs.

Portable Sign. A sign that is freestanding in design, easily movable, made of durable material as opposed to non-durable material such as cardboard, paper, fabric or pliable plastic, and is not affixed to the ground or to any part of a building.

Projecting Sign. A sign, other than a wall sign, that projects from, and is supported by, a roof or wall of a building or structure and is generally at right angles to the building.

Right of Way. A public or private area that allows for the passage of people or goods. Right-of-way includes passageways such as freeways, streets, bike paths, alleys, and walkways. A public right-of-way is a right-of-way that is dedicated or deeded to the public for public use and under the control of a public agency.

Readerboard Sign. Sign on which a message copy can be changed manually, in the field, through the utilization of attachable letters, numbers, symbols and other similar characters or changeable pictorial panels.

Repair. Mending or replacing broken or worn parts with comparable materials. Repairs may be made with the sign in position or with the sign removed.

Roofline. The top edge of a roof or building parapet, whichever is higher, excluding any cupolas, chimneys, or other minor projections.

Roof Sign. Any sign erected upon or over the roof of any building or structure.

Searchlights. An apparatus on a swivel that projects a strong, far-reaching beam of light.

Sign. Any materials placed or constructed so they can be viewed from a right-of-way or another property and that conveys a message or image, and includes the sign structure, display surface, and all component parts of a sign.

Sign Copy. The message or image conveyed by a sign.

Sign Face Area. The total display surface area of the sign. When the dimensions of a sign are specified, the term includes the frames or cabinets surrounding a sign; the electronic message center; any base material or supporting structure, unless none of the base material or supporting structure is related to the message or image being portrayed in the sign; and all individual pieces or panels that, when placed together, convey a message or image.

Site. The area, tract, parcel, or lot of land owned by, or under the lawful control of, one distinct ownership. Abutting platted lots under the same ownership shall be considered one site.

Street Frontage. Street(s), or public right(s) of-way parallel to the property line used to compute the area of sign(s) intended to be located as to have primary exposure on that street or right-of-way.

Structurally Altered. Any work, except maintenance work, that alters or changes the size, shape, or height of a sign. Also includes replacement of sign structure materials with other than comparable materials, for example, metal parts replacing wood parts.

Supporting Structure. A structure specifically intended for supporting or containing a sign.

Temporary Sign. A sign that is not permanently attached to a building, structure, or the ground, and that is not intended or designed to be placed permanently.

Wall Sign. A sign that is attached to, and extended no more than within 12-inches from a wall, or painted on a wall, of a building.

Window Sign. A sign located in the inside display area of a business window. (Ord. 863, 2017)

A. Permits Required. Except as provided in section 17.114.025, Sign Permit Exemptions, of this chapter, a permit is required to erect, replace, construct, or alter the location or structure of a sign. A permit shall be issued by the Planner if the applicant files an application, filing fee, and plans which demonstrate full compliance with all provisions of this chapter and other applicable city regulations. Application for a sign permit is processed according to 17.162.

B. Sign Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in a safe condition. Maintenance and repair of a sign, including change of sign copy, shall not require a sign permit. All signs that are damaged and pose a danger to the public shall be repaired or removed.

C. Location.

D. Construction. All signs shall comply with the applicable provisions of the current Oregon State Structural Specialty Code, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

E. Lighting. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, signs may be externally, internally, or directly illuminated, subject to the following:

F. Sign Face Area. The sign face area shall be determined as follows:

G. No sign shall distract a driver, or cause a safety hazard.

H. No sign shall be placed in the public right-of-way unless written permission from the City Manager is granted. Any sign located on a utility pole, street light pole or traffic-control standard poles, street tree, or otherwise located in the public right-of-way or city-maintained areas adjacent to the public right-of-way without written approval of the City Manager shall be removed immediately and without notice. (Ord. 863, 2017)

A. Public signs constructed or placed in a public right-of-way by, or with the approval of, a governmental agency having legal control or ownership of the right-of-way; signs owned or constructed by the City; signs required by the Fire Department for identification of buildings; signs required by law including, but not limited to, hearing notices; and signs placed in or near a right-of-way by a public utility in response to a hazard or danger to the public.

B. Directional signs, provided that freestanding directional signs shall not exceed 5 feet in height and 15 square feet in area on one sign face.

C. A single sign or historical marker not to exceed 4 square feet cut into the surface or the facade of a building, or permanently attached and not projecting more than two inches.

D. Signs located in the interior of any building, or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building or group of buildings, that are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by patrons of such use or uses.

E. Painted areas on a wall that are designed and intended as a decorative or ornamental feature, or to highlight a building's architectural or structural features.

F. Window signs as a part of the inside display area of a business, provided the window sign does not involve use of flashing or blinking lights.

G. Signs not exceeding one and a half square feet (1.5 ft²) in size and affixed to or displayed from a residential dwelling unit.

H. Holiday lights and decorations.

I. Any inflated sign or inflated device, including multiple inflated signs or devices bundled together, that floats in the air and individually or collectively is five square feet or less in sign face area.

J. Flags less than 24 square feet in size measured border to border.

K. Bench Signs so long as the bench sign doesn't exceed 15 square feet, are within 20 feet of an established public transit stop, or within a commercial or industrial zone. Bench signs shall not interfere with a right of way.

L. Temporary signs given they adhere to the size requirements detailed in Section 17.114.035 and 17.114.040. (Ord. 863, 2017)

A. Any sign constructed, erected, replaced, altered, repaired, or maintained in a manner not in compliance with this chapter.

B. Permanent banner signs.

C. Roof signs.

D. Signs in public right-of-ways other than public signs installed or authorized by a governmental agency or public utility.

E. Signs placed or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer that is parked with the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise allowed by this chapter.

F. Any inflated sign or inflated device, including multiple inflated signs or devices bundled together, that floats in the air and individually or collectively exceeds five square feet in the sign face area.

G. Any sign that is not exempt, not a lawful nonconforming sign, or that was not erected, constructed, or placed in accordance with a permit.

H. Signs attached to a tree. (Ord. 863, 2017)

A. Freestanding Signs

B. Temporary Signs

C. Readerboard.

A. Freestanding Signs.

B. Wall Signs.

C. Awning Signs.

D. Temporary Signs.

E. Projecting Signs.

F. Portable Signs.

G. Readerboard.

A. Electronic display signs shall be allowed only in commercial and industrial zones, subject to the provisions of this chapter.

B. One electronic display sign shall be allowed per site.

C. The message on an electronic display sign shall change no more than once every ten seconds for signs with an electronic sign face of four square feet or less, and no more than once every two minutes for signs with an electronic sign face greater than four square feet.

D. Electronic display signs may not be substituted for a nonconforming sign or mounted upon a nonconforming sign or sign structure, unless the sign and sign structure are brought into compliance with all of the provisions of this title.

E. Lumination.

F. Electronic display signs shall be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display when it malfunctions. The party owning or controlling an electronic display sign shall turn off the sign or lighting within four hours of being notified by the Planner or designee that it is not in compliance with the standards of this section. (Ord. 863, 2017)

A. Signs that have been lawfully erected prior to the date this code is adopted that do not conform to the regulations of this chapter are nonconforming signs and may continue to exist, subject to the following provisions:

B. A sign shall be deemed abandoned when:

C. If a sign is abandoned the Planner shall send notice to the property owner via regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, stating that the sign has been abandoned and must be removed.

D. If the abandoned sign is not removed by the specified date in the City Manager or their designee's notice and the property owner has not requested an appeal, or if the sign is not removed within the time specified in the decision rendered following the appeal, the City Manager or their designee shall cause the sign to be removed. The cost of removal shall be entered by the City Recorder on the docket of City liens against the property owner, and shall be collectible in the same manner as liens for public improvements. (Ord. 863, 2017)

A. In addition to bringing an action for a violation pursuant to Chapter 17.24, for signs located on public utility poles, street trees, traffic sign poles, or public property, the City Manager or their designee shall cause the sign to be immediately removed without notice.

B. For temporary signs located on privately-owned property in violation of this chapter, in addition to the enforcement actions in this section, the City Manager or their designee may bring an action for abatement in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Scappoose Municipal Code. (Ord. 863, 2017)