ADVERTISING STRUCTURES, SIGNS OR DISPLAYS: Any outdoor structure, display, light, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, billboard, or other thing that is designed, intended or used to advertise or inform. For simplicity, the term "advertising sign" is used in this chapter. It is not intended to include official notices, notices posted in performing a public duty, directional wording, or informational structures required or authorized by law or regarding utility facilities or services, or official or public structures within its territorial jurisdiction which contain the name of a city or county.

COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES: Those activities generally recognized as falling within those designated zones; except, none of the following activities shall be considered commercial or industrial:

Activities conducted in a building principally used as a residence.

Activities not visible from the main traveled way.

Agricultural, forestry, grazing, farming and related activities including wayside fresh produce stands.

Railroad tracks and minor sidings.

Transient or temporary activities.

ERECT: To construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, create, paint, draw or in any other way bring into being or establish, but does not include any of the foregoing activities when performed incident to the change of an advertising message or customary maintenance of a sign.

URBAN AREA: Any geographic area within the city limits of any incorporated city.

VISIBLE: Capable of being seen without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

   A.   Permit Required: A sign permit is required for all signs except the following:

      1.   Signs associated with cottage industries;

      2.   Temporary or transient signs; and

      3.   On premises signs under sixteen (16) square feet.

   B.   Application For Permit: A sign permit application may be obtained at the county planning and zoning office. The application shall require:

      1.   Name of applicant.

      2.   Location of property the sign will be placed on.

      3.   Permission of property owner.

      4.   Sign message.

      5.   Sign dimensions.

      6.   Site plan.

      7.   Zoning designation.

      8.   Other information as may be required by the county.

   C.   Permit Fees: Fees shall be set by resolution of the board. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

   A.   No private signs may be erected within the highway or county road right of way.

   B.   No signs except on premises, for sale, directional and official signs may be erected adjacent to the right of way of any controlled highway or county road.

   C.   Advertising signs may be erected only in qualifying commercial and industrial zones. They must conform to specific size, lighting and spacing standards. They must have and display a county permit, which is issued only when the sign meets all requirements. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

An area zoned commercial or industrial may be considered for a sign site where there is an actual commercial or industrial use. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

   A.   The maximum size of advertising displays, including border, trim, cutouts and extensions are:

      1.   Maximum area: Three hundred (300) square feet.

      2.   Maximum height: Thirty feet (30').

      3.   Maximum length: Fifty feet (50').

   B.   The sign face area is measured by the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination of these that includes the entire advertising device including border, trim, cutout and extension, but not supporters and decorative bases. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

An advertising sign cannot be illuminated so that it:

   A.   Interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.

   B.   Is visible from any primary highway or county road and displays red or blinking intermittent light likely to be mistaken for a warning or danger signal.

   C.   Is of such brilliance and is so positioned as to impair the vision of travelers on adjacent highways or county roads. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

   A.   Spacing between signs on highways or county roads is measured independently along each side of the road. Signs erected by public agencies or on premises signs are not counted in determining compliance with spacing requirement.

   B.   The minimum spacing along roads in the county is one hundred feet (100'). However, the number of signs cannot exceed the length of the area measured along the centerline of the road divided by two hundred fifty (250); two (2) signs will be permitted at a single location, either double faced, V-type, or back to back, but shall be considered one sign for the purpose of spacing requirements. A sign structure may contain one or more advertisements on each face, but the maximum area per face cannot exceed three hundred (300) square feet. Said sign shall be considered one sign for the purpose of spacing regulation. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

   A.   Advertising signs may not be located within five hundred feet (500') of the following activities that are adjacent to the highway:

      1.   Public parks, public forests, and public playgrounds.

      2.   Scenic areas designated as such by any state agency.

      3.   Within five hundred feet (500') of a railroad overpass or highway grade separation structure where the highway passes underneath the railroad or highway and there is no traffic connection between highways.

      4.   Within five hundred feet (500') of the point of pavement widening at the entrance or exit to a rest area, weight checking station, port of entry or any other government operated facility for use by motorists.

      5.   Where intersections are more than five hundred feet (500') apart, advertising signs are not permitted within one hundred feet (100') of the right of way line of the intersecting road unless buildings or structures control cross vision. In such cases advertising signs may be permitted up to and on top of the intervening structures.

   B.   Where intersections are five hundred feet (500') or less apart, advertising signs are permitted a minimum of fifty feet (50') from the right of way line of the intersecting road, provided all signs between fifty feet (50') and one hundred feet (100') from the intersecting road right of way line must have the lower extremities of the display not less than fourteen feet (14') above the traveled way of the roads affected by the intersection for visibility under the signs by the road users. Advertising displays are permitted within one hundred feet (100') of the intersecting road's rights of way when buildings or structures control cross vision, but such displays must not be located so as to cause greater restriction to vision than the existing buildings or structures. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

Washington County prohibits signs placed or maintained in any of the following locations, or any signs of the following nature:

   A.   Not maintained in a safe condition.

   B.   Not clear or in good condition.

   C.   Purported to direct the movement of traffic.

   D.   Located within the stream or drainage canal or below the floodwater level of any stream or drainage canal where the advertising display might be deluged by floodwaters and swept under any highway or road structure crossing the stream or drainage canal or against the supports of any road structure.

   E.   Painted, affixed or attached to any natural feature.

   F.   Located as to hinder the clear, unobstructed view of approaching or merging traffic, or obscure from view any traffic sign or other official sign.

   G.   Located as to obscure the view of any connecting road or intersection.

   H.   Visible from any road and simulating or imitating any directional, warning, danger or information signs intended or likely to be construed as giving warnings of traffic.

   I.   Visible from the road and displaying any red, blue or blinking intermittent light likely to be mistaken for a warning or danger signal. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

Scenic byways are specially designated roads where the pleasure of the trip is found in the quality of the scenery along the way. In order to retain the special character of these byways, new advertising signs may not be built along them. Existing signs may be maintained. On premises and "for sale" signs may also continue to be erected, as can directional and official signs. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)

All advertising displays which are placed or which exist in violation of the provisions of this chapter are public nuisances and may be removed by the county. (Ord. 51, 9-2-2003)