The purpose of this chapter is to provide for signage while maintaining and, where possible, enhancing traffic and pedestrian safety, property values, and the county's aesthetic character and attractiveness to economic development.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10111 § 3, 1992)

No sign shall be erected within the boundaries of the zoned areas which conflicts with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 7075 § 18 (part), 1981: Ord. 6708 § 3 (part), 1980)

1.

No sign shall encroach into or protrude over the street right-of-way, or be placed within the street right-of-way, unless otherwise allowed by this chapter.

2.

No sign shall be erected that interferes with the visibility of traffic control devices or street name signs.

3.

Signs may be luminous, reflecting or illuminating, but no sign shall be flashing or oscillating.

4.

No sign shall be placed so as to cause visual obstruction of a public right-of-way, unless otherwise allowed by this chapter.

5.

All signs shall conform to Washington state statutes or building code, if in effect.

6.

All traffic control devices including signing relating to regulations warning of hazards and guidance of traffic shall conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices in accordance with RCW 47.36 and WAC 468-95. The County Engineer may also adopt policies and procedures for purposes of implementing the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices on County roads.

7.

Grand Mound Design Guidelines: See Chapter 20.36.

(Ord. 11653 § 5, 1998: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 7075 § 18 (part), 1981: Ord. 6708 § 3 (part), 1980)

(Ord. No. 15637, § 1(Att. A, § II), 6-26-2018; Ord. No. 16332, § 2(Att. A, § IV), 12-12-2023)

1.

Location.

a.

Billboards are only permitted in the following districts, subject to the provisions of this title:

Arterial commercial district (Chapter 20.25);

Highway commercial district (Chapter 20.26);

Planned industrial park district (Chapter 20.27);

Light industrial district (Chapter 20.28).

b.

Billboards shall not be located in the following areas, regardless of the zoning district:

i.

In the Nisqually valley planning area, as shown in the Nisqually Subarea Plan, dated 1992, and as hereafter amended;

ii.

Where visible from the travel lanes of:

Interstate 5;

US Route 101;

Yelm Highway (SR 510);

Rainier Road;

State Routes 507 and 12;

Old Highway 99 south of 93rd Avenue SE to the Lewis County line; or

Tilley Road.

2.

Spacing. Billboards shall be separated by one thousand feet from other billboards on the same side of the road.

3.

Size. Billboard display surfaces shall not exceed three hundred square feet in size.

4.

Number and Orientation of Sign Faces. Billboards shall have no more than two sign display surfaces, only one of which may be visible to oncoming traffic.

(Ord. 12032 § 23, 1999; Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 11220 § 11, 1996: Ord. 10111 § 4, 1992)

The following signs shall be permitted and are exempt from the provisions of this chapter, and shall not be included in the computation of sign size area for regulated signs. This shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance and its compliance with any other applicable law or ordinance. Exempt signs are:

1.

Signs which identify the future use of a site, and other individuals or firms involved with the owner interest on sites that have obtained a building, land division, or other development permit, but not including advertisement of any products, during the construction period, and up to thirty days after an occupancy permit has been issued.

2.

Signs pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of developed residential property or buildings;

3.

Signs advertising undeveloped residential property for sale up to thirty-two square feet in sign area, or the sale, lease or rental of commercial or industrial property or buildings;

4.

Names of buildings, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material, or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent-type construction, made an integral part of the structure, and projecting no more than two inches from the wall;

5.

Signs directing vehicular or pedestrian traffic movement or parking into a premises or within a premises, not exceeding four square feet in area, and between three and five feet in height for each sign. Such sign may include an identification logo, but no wording except as related to directions;

6.

Temporary advertising signs, not exceeding four square feet, advertising products or services of the building tenant, but not the name of the tenant. Such signs shall be temporarily attached to the wall or window of the building and shall be located below the building eave. Such signs shall be allowed for a period of time not to exceed fourteen days;

7.

Signs not exceeding four square feet in area, attached flat against a building, stationary and not lighted, announcing only the names, hours of operation or occupation of the building tenant; provided that not more than one such sign shall be allowed on any face of a building;

8.

Signs located in the interior of a development, which are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by patrons of the development and not plainly visible from off-site;

9.

Governmental or corporate flags, which are flown from a permanent pole or standard in conjunction with the national flag of the United States in conformance with United States Public Law 94-34f;

10.

Signs that are within a ball park or other similar public or nonprofit recreational facility and are intended to be primarily viewed from within that facility;

11.

Seasonal displays and decorations not advertising a product, service or entertainment;

12.

Signs warning the public against hunting, fishing, trespassing, dangerous conditions, animals, swimming, or the like;

13.

Signs identifying essential public needs (i.e., restrooms, entrance, exit, telephone, etc.);

14.

Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of his official or directed duties;

15.

Reserved.

16.

Any event displays such as search lights, pennants, streamers, ribbons, air-filled figures or gas-filled figures, subject to the following restrictions:

a.

Such displays shall conform to the height restrictions for permitted signs, and

b.

Such displays shall be allowed for a period of time not to exceed fourteen days in any calendar year.

17.

Reserved.

(Ord. 11653 § 6, 1998: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10089 § 3, 1992)

(Ord. No. 15274, § 2(Att. B)JJ, 2-23-2016; Ord. No. 15637, § 1(Att. A, § III), 6-26-2018)

The following directional signs may be erected within county rights-of-way subject to the requirements of this section and written authorization from the director of public works or his/her designee:

1.

Permitted Directional Signs.

a.

Permanent noncommercial signs directing people to publicly owned facilities or sites, hospitals, historic sites, or noncommercial uses;

b.

Signs directing motorists to gas stations, food, lodging, or privately owned recreation areas. To be eligible for such signage, the facility or site must meet the state's requirements for erecting a motorist information sign along a federal interstate or primary highway. Eligibility, however, will not require compliance with state requirements related to supplemental directional signage.

2.

Administrative Requirements and Standards.

a.

Applicants for a directional sign shall submit a completed application on a form provided by the public works department and pay the fee specified on the department's fee schedule.

b.

Successful applicants shall supply the public works department with the approved directional sign(s).

c.

The public works director shall determine the location of directional signs, subject to the provisions of this section. Wherever practical, directional signs shall be grouped in a coordinated display. The director may limit the number of directional signs placed on any section of right-of-way to maintain public safety and the visibility of traffic control signage.

d.

Approved directional signs shall be installed and maintained by the public works department. The owner shall be responsible for the cost to replace or repair signs or support structures that are damaged or defaced following installation, or that are badly deteriorated. If the county does not receive payment for such repair or replacement within thirty days of notification, it will dispose of the sign.

e.

Directional signs for seasonal businesses or facilities shall be covered, removed or posted with closed sign during the off-season by the public works department or the sign owner, at the direction of the department.

f.

Directional signs shall be removed by the county if the nature of the destination, facility, or business no longer complies with subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section. The county may also remove directional signs if the public works director determines, due to changed circumstances, that they jeopardize public safety. If such signs are not claimed by the owner within thirty days of notification, they will be disposed of by the county.

3.

Standards.

a.

Directional signs and their location shall comply with all applicable laws, including Chapter 47.42 RCW, Sections 131 and 315 of Title 23, United States Code, and rules adopted by the State Department of Transportation, including the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways," all as amended.

b.

Directional signs shall, to the extent that the sign's size permits, be of the same design, color, and format as the corresponding state motorist information sign.

c.

Directional signs shall only identify the facility or site and its distance and direction from the sign. No other advertising or message is permitted.

d.

Directional signs shall not exceed five square feet in size and shall not be illuminated.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10089 § 4, 1992)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 10(Att. I), 7-24-2012; Ord. No. 15637, § 1(Att. A, § IV), 6-26-2018)

Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, noncommercial signs shall meet the following requirements:

1.

Temporary Noncommercial Signs on Private Property.

a.

Such signs shall meet the general requirements of Section 20.40.020, except as specified in this section.

b.

Such signs shall not require a sign permit if less than four square feet in sign surface area and less than forty-eight inches in height.

c.

In residential zones, such signs shall not exceed five square feet in sign area per side, placed wholly on private property, and not to exceed a height of eight feet.

d.

In commercial and industrial zones, not to exceed thirty-two square feet in sign area per side, placed wholly on private property, and not to exceed a height of eight feet.

e.

No noncommercial sign shall be placed within, encroach into, or protrude over the edge of traveled way, the vision clearance triangle at intersections, deceleration lanes, auxiliary lanes, parking lanes, shoulders, medians, islands, roadway and street clear zones, bridges, and other areas of a public street right-of-way which may constitute a public safety hazard. Noncommercial signs should be placed as far outside of these locations as possible to ensure public safety.

f.

Signs visible from the public right-of-way shall remain in good repair and shall be removed, repaired, or replaced if in a damaged or deteriorated condition if it constitutes a hazard to public safety. Examples of damaged or deteriorated condition includes but is not limited to holes, rips and separation from support posts, and broken supports and posts.

2.

Temporary Noncommercial Signs in the County Right-of-Way.

a.

Such signs shall meet the general requirements of Section 20.40.020 except as specified in this section. This section applies to county right-of-way, and does not apply to private access easements or rights-of-way owned by a governmental jurisdiction other than Thurston County. The sign owner is responsible for compliance with any applicable laws on the use of rights-of-way outside of the ownership of Thurston County.

b.

No noncommercial sign shall be placed within, encroach into, or protrude over the edge of traveled way, the vision clearance triangle at intersections, deceleration lanes, auxiliary lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, shoulders, medians, islands, bridges, and other areas of a public street right-of-way which may interfere with normal use of the travel way including creating a public safety hazard. Noncommercial speech signs should be placed as far outside of these locations as possible to ensure public safety.

c.

No noncommercial sign shall not interfere with or obstruct the view of any traffic control device.

d.

Where no sidewalk or curb is present, signs shall be a minimum of ten feet from the edge of the shoulder to maintain a minimum roadway clear zone. If ten feet is not available, the sign should be placed at edge of the right-of-way so long as it complies with other locational restrictions in this section.

e.

Signs shall be a breakaway design as defined in the Thurston County Road Standards, as amended.

f.

Where sidewalks are present at the back of curb with no planting strip, signs shall be located at the back of sidewalk away from the roadway. Where a planting strip is present, signs may be placed in the planting strip, but shall not encroach or protrude over the edge of the back of curb or the sidewalk.

g.

Signs shall remain in good repair and shall be removed, repaired, or replaced if in a damaged or deteriorated condition, or if it constitutes a hazard to public safety. Damaged or deteriorated condition includes but is not limited to holes, cracking, rips, peeling, fading, broken supports and posts, or otherwise showing need of general maintenance.

h.

Noncommercial signs shall not be attached to any traffic control device, county owned or maintained such as signs or posts, utility boxes, traffic signal, signal control box, street lights, street light poles, or any utility poles. Please see Section 12.100.005 TCC and RCW 47.36.130.

i.

The owner of a noncommercial sign placed in the public right-of-way may be required to remove the sign, or the sign may be removed by the county at any time if the sign constitutes a public safety hazard, the sign interferes with the function of drainage facilities, road construction, repair, regular maintenance, or because it is in a location not permitted by code.

j.

No sign shall cause a public safety hazard. The sign owner must ensure against any potential detriment to public safety by inspecting the site specific sign location for hazardous conditions, including but not limited to any view obstruction from all known or obvious vantage points that may compromise pedestrian or vehicular safety. Owners of signs shall solely assume all rise and liability for accidents and damages that may occur to persons, property, or natural resources by reason of the placement of signs in the right-of-way.

k.

Temporary noncommercial signs placed in the public right-of-way related to a specific event should be removed within fifteen days after the conclusion of the event. The individual, committee or organization for which the sign is displayed shall be responsible for its removal.

l.

Temporary noncommercial signs in the public right-of-way shall be limited to thirty inches above grade, and have a sign face with no more than four square feet in area.

3.

Property Owner Permission. Property owner permission is required prior to placing temporary noncommercial signs, which includes placement in adjacent county right-of-way.

a.

To the extent that the desired location for the placement of a temporary sign is within a portion of right-of-way which directly abuts a piece of private property, the sign owner must obtain permission from that abutting property owner before placing the sign in the right-of-way. Permission must be in a form sufficient to establish the grant of permission at a later date should permission be questioned. The permission must define the permitted location, number of signs, and duration in order to be effective. This requirement only applies to that property which is closest to the proposed sign location and directly abutting that portion of right-of-way. This requirement does not extend to both sides of the right-of-way for a single sign.

b.

If no private property abuts the right-of-way where the sign is proposed to be located then no adjacent property owner permission is required. However, under no circumstances may a temporary sign be allowed on government property outside of a right-of-way unless placed by the city or property owner.

c.

In every circumstance a sign owner must obtain complete and full approval from the property owner when placing a sign on private property. Whether the sign belongs to the property owner or is placed with permission, the sign allowance for both the property owner and the sign owner will be reduced to account for the sign's placement.

4.

Permanent Noncommercial Signs.

a.

Such signs shall meet the general requirements of Section 20.40.020.

b.

Such signs shall require a sign permit.

c.

If located on the premises of the business or residence of the owner, such signs shall meet the size and location requirements of the underlying zoning district for commercial signs.

d.

If not located on the premises of the business or residence of the owner, permanent noncommercial signs shall meet the size, height and location requirements for temporary noncommercial signs.

(Ord. No. 15637, § 1(Att. A, § V), 6-26-2018)

1.

The provisions of subsection (2) of this section apply to any sign the height of which is not regulated by Section 20.54.040(5).

2.

No sign shall exceed thirty-five feet in height as measured from the grade level to the highest point of the sign.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 8399, 1986)

The square feet of a sign painted or imprinted on the wall of a building or otherwise affixed to the wall of a building in such a manner that the sign has no clearly-defined dimensions shall be equal to the dimensions of the smallest possible rectangular figure which could contain the matter painted, printed or otherwise affixed thereon.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 7075 § 18 (part), 1981)

Lighting shall be designed and shall function in a manner which shields direct light from adjoining streets and properties. Shielding, location, height, type of illumination and landscape buffers shall be evaluated in lighting design to meet this standard.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 7274 § 2, 1982)

Signs rendered nonconforming by the provisions of this title shall comply with the following:

1.

Nonconforming signs shall not be increased in size or elevation, structurally altered, or moved to another site.

2.

A nonconforming sign must be removed or brought into compliance with this chapter if:

a.

It is damaged or deteriorated and the cost for repairs, maintenance, or other changes would exceed fifty percent of its replacement cost; or

b.

It has not been used for six months or longer.

3.

All signs and supporting structures which do not conform to the applicable structural requirements of Chapter 14.17 Thurston County Code shall be removed or immediately brought into compliance with such requirements.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10111 § 5, 1992)

(Ord. No. 14388, § 6, 8-3-2010)