Chapter 14.68 SIGNS

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Chapter 14.68
SIGNS

Sections:

14.68.010 Permit Required for Signs

14.68.020 Signs Excluded From Regulation

14.68.030 Certain Temporary Signs: Permit Exemptions

14.68.040 Multi-Faced Signs

14.68.050 Computation of Sign Area

14.68.060 Total Allowable Sign Area

14.68.070 Freestanding Sign Surface Area

14.68.080 Number of Freestanding Signs

14.68.084 Changeable Text Signs

14.68.090 Subdivision and Multi-Family Development Entrance Signs

14.68.100 Location and Height Requirements

14.68.110 Sign Illumination and Signs Containing Lights

14.68.120 Miscellaneous Restrictions and Prohibitions

14.68.124 Incentive Provisions for Exceptional Efforts

14.68.130 Maintenance of Signs

14.68.140 Unlawful Cutting of Trees or Shrubs

14.68.150 Nonconforming Signs

14.68.160 Sub-Regional Commercial Zoning Districts

14.68.010 Permit Required for Signs.

(a) Any non-exempt sign to be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered is required to obtain a permit from the Planning Director. Mere repainting or changing the message of a sign shall not, in and of itself, be considered a substantial alteration.

(b) If plans submitted for a land use permit include detailed sign plans, then the land use permit approval can also act as the sign permit.

(c) In the case of a property occupied by multiple business enterprises (e.g., a shopping center), a Master Sign Program shall be required in the name of the property owner. This program shall address design standards and location(s) of communal signs in conformance with the requirements of this chapter. Each business shall be responsible for obtaining a permit for its individual sign(s) which shall be in conformance with the sign program as well as this chapter. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.020 Signs Excluded From Regulation.

The following signs are exempt from regulation under this title:

(a) Signs not exceeding four square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use. Examples include names of residents, addresses, no parking, no trespassing, beware of dog and security signs.

(b) Signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a city, county, school district, state or federal governmental body, for public purposes including legal notices, identification and informational signs, and traffic, directional, or regulatory signs.

(d) Flags, pennants, or insignia of any governmental or nonprofit organization when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.

(e) Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain business identification, trademarks, moving parts, or lights, or are not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.

(f) Signs directing and guiding pedestrian and/or automobile traffic on private property that do not exceed four square feet each and that bear no advertising matter.

(g) School and church: bulletin boards, identification signs, and directional signs that do not exceed one per abutting street and 16 square feet in area per side and that are not internally illuminated.

(h) Signs painted on or otherwise permanently attached to currently licensed motor vehicles that are not primarily used as signs.

(i) Signs proclaiming religious, political, or other noncommercial messages that do not exceed one per abutting street and 16 square feet in area and that are not internally illuminated.

(j) Names of buildings, commemorative plaques or tablets, and similar noncommercial signs 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 (when installed on a building), or at grade (when installed on the ground).

(k) Public information stations such as kiosks, bulletin boards, or similar devices used to convey community information. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 661, Sec. 4, 2002; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.030 Certain Temporary Signs: Permit Exemptions.

(a) The following temporary signs are permitted without a permit but are subject to the limitations contained within this chapter:

(1) Signs advertising that the property on which the sign is located is for sale, lease, or rent. These may not exceed four square feet in area per side with a maximum of two sides, and shall be removed immediately after sale, lease, or rental. For lots of less than five acres, a single sign on each street frontage may be erected. For lots with five acres or more and street frontage in excess of 400 feet, a second sign may be erected.

(2) Off-premises signs for temporary activities customarily associated with residential uses which identify the activity, location and the person responsible for the sign. Temporary activities related to residential uses include those activities that are noncontinuous and occur only occasionally. They include garage sales; sale, lease or rental of single-family residential structures or property; family gatherings; craft shows; etc. They do not include advertising home occupations. Such signs may not exceed four in number, except there shall be no maximum number of signs for garage sales, nor six square feet in area per side with a maximum of two sides. They shall only be allowed during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, or 9:00 a.m. Friday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, and only when the person conducting the activity is on-site, except that garage sale signs may be erected for a continuous period not to exceed 72 hours. Garage sale signs shall include on their back the name and address of the owner. The signs may be placed on private or public property with the permission of the owner of the property on which the sign is placed. Under no circumstances shall they be placed in the public right-of-way so as to encroach into a driveway, sidewalk, identifiable unimproved pedestrian walkway, or vehicular travel lanes; or obscure fire hydrants, traffic control devices, or block the vision or pathway of vehicles or pedestrians. No signs shall be posted, tacked, nailed, or in any manner affixed upon any telephone or utility pole, traffic control device, or other such public structure, or on any tree or shrub.

(3) Construction site identification signs. Such signs may identify the project, the owner or developer, architect, engineer, contractor and subcontractors, funding sources, and may contain related information including but not limited to sale or leasing information. Not more than one such sign may be erected per site, and it may not exceed 32 square feet in area. Such signs shall not be erected prior to the issuance of a building permit and shall be removed within 10 days after completion of the project.

(4) Signs attached temporarily to the interior of a nonresidential building window or glass door. Such signs, individually or collectively, may not cover more than 25 percent of the surface area of the transparent portion of the window or door to which they are attached. Such signs shall be removed within 30 days after placement.

(5) Displays, including lighting, flags, or pennants, erected in connection with the observance of holidays or seasons when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device. These shall be removed within 10 days following the holidays or seasons.

(6) Signs erected in connection with elections or political campaigns. Such signs shall be removed within three days following the election or conclusion of the campaign. No such sign may exceed 16 square feet in surface area.

(7) Signs indicating that a grand opening or a permitted event on a nonresidential site is to take place on the lot where the sign is located. No more than one such sign per frontage shall be allowed. Signs may be erected not sooner than two weeks before the grand opening or permitted event and must be removed not later than three days after the grand opening or permitted event.

(8) In all residential zones, temporary signs not covered in the foregoing categories, so long as such signs meet the following restrictions:

(i) Not more than one such sign may be located on any lot.

(ii) No such sign may exceed four square feet in surface area.

(iii) Such sign may not be displayed for longer than three consecutive days nor more than 12 days out of any 365-day period.

(9) In the commercial zone districts, temporary signs not covered in the foregoing categories, so long as such signs meet the following restrictions:

(i) Any number of such signs are permissible; provided, that they do not exceed 50 square feet in total area.

(ii) Such sign(s) may not be displayed for longer than three consecutive days nor more than 12 days out of any 365-day period. (Ord. 821, Sec. 10, 2009; Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 676, Sec. 57, 2003; Ord. 661, Sec. 4, 2002; Ord. 527, Sec. 1, 1996; Ord. 497, 1995; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.040 Multi-Faced Signs.

A multi-faced sign shall be considered to be a single sign, provided the following standards are met:

(a) With respect to a V-type sign, the two sides are at no point separated by a distance that exceeds five feet; and

(b) With respect to double faced (back to back) signs, the distance between the backs of each face of the sign does not exceed three feet. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.050 Computation of Sign Area.

(a) The surface area of a sign shall be computed by including the entire area within a single, continuous, rectilinear perimeter of not more than eight straight lines, or a circle or an ellipse, enclosing the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the display itself, or not including those non-sign portions of a structure that serve a non-signage function (such as an awning or canopy), even though the color may be the same as the background of the sign.

(b) If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all of the area, including that between sections or modules, shall be included in the computation of the sign area.

(1) The area of a double faced, back to back sign shall be calculated by using the area of only one side (the larger of the two if there is a difference), so long as the distance between the backs of such signs does not exceed three feet.

(2) The sign surface area of a double faced sign constructed in the form of a “V” shall be calculated by using the area of only one side of such sign (the larger side if there is a size difference), so long as the angle of the “V” does not exceed 30 degrees and at no point does the distance between the backs of such sides exceed five feet.

(d) In shopping centers with multiple tenants, it is the responsibility of the property owner to address allocation of sign area amongst tenants. The City shall be responsible for enforcing only the provisions of this title on a property-wide basis and not the provisions of any allocation formula. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.060 Total Allowable Sign Area.

(a) The total area devoted to all signs on any lot shall not exceed the limitations set forth in this section. All signs except temporary signs shall be included in this calculation.

(b) The maximum sign area permitted on any single-family lot in any residential district is four square feet.

(c) The maximum total sign area permitted on any lot in a nonresidential district shall be determined by multiplying the number of square feet of the building by 0.075 square feet, up to a maximum area of 500 square feet.

(d) The total sign surface area of all signs located on a wall of a structure in any zoning district shall not exceed 20 percent of the total surface area of the wall on which it is located. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.070 Freestanding Sign Surface Area.

(a) The area of a freestanding sign may not exceed 0.3 square feet in surface area for every linear foot of street frontage along the street toward which the sign is oriented, provided the following maximums are not exceeded:

(1) Sites with 200 or less feet of frontage: 50 square feet;

(2) Sites with 200 to 400 feet of frontage: 75 square feet; and

(3) Sites with more than 400 feet of frontage: 100 square feet.

(b) In all nonresidential zoning districts except Sub-Regional Commercial, freestanding sign area may not exceed 0.75 square feet in surface area for every linear foot of street frontage along the street toward which such sign is primarily oriented to a maximum of 250 square feet. Sub-Regional Commercial Districts are regulated under Section 14.68.160 of this chapter.

(c) Freestanding signs that have no discernible sides, such as spheres or other shapes not composed of flat planes, may not exceed the maximum total surface area allowed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section for a single side of a freestanding sign. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.080 Number of Freestanding Signs.

(a) No property may have more than one freestanding sign except: one freestanding sign is allowed for each street having at least 100 feet of frontage.

(b) One freestanding sign is allowed for each non-intersection public street regardless of the amount of frontage. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 661, 2002; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.084 Changeable Text Signs.

(a) Changeable text signs are permanent sign fixtures with non-changing sign faces on non-moving text consisting of opaque individual letters mounted on plexiglass or similar materials may manually be periodically changed (e.g., for short term sales or specials). While the fixture must be permitted, the text may change without a permit as long as it fits within the dimensional parameters of the fixture.

(b) Changeable text signs are permissible in the Local Business, Central Business District, Sub-Regional Commercial, and Public/Semi-Public districts, except that churches, synagogues, and temples (use class 5.200) may have a changeable text sign in any zone district in which they may be located, provided such sign is not internally illuminated. Each occupant may have changeable text signs, though the total aggregate surface area of such sign(s) may not exceed 10 percent of the occupants’ total allowable permitted signage. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 676, Sec. 58, 2003; Ord. 661, 2002; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.090 Subdivision and Multi-Family Development Entrance Signs.

At any entrance to a residential subdivision or multi-family development, there shall not be more than two signs identifying such subdivision or development. No sign shall have an area in excess of 16 square feet. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.100 Location and Height Requirements.

(a) Freestanding signs shall observe the setback requirements set forth in Section 14.48.040.

(b) Except for displays, including lighting, erected in connection with the observation of holidays on the roofs of residential structures, no sign may be placed:

(1) For buildings with more than one story – higher than the second-story window sill level, except for upper floor window signs only for businesses located exclusively above the first floor.

(2) For one-story buildings with a cornice – on or above the cornice line; or

(3) For one-story buildings with a parapet – higher than the highest point of the parapet.

(4) For all buildings – upon any roof surface, except that for purposes of this section, roof surfaces constructed at an angle of 75 degrees or more from horizontal shall be regarded as wall space.

(5) For gas pump canopies – on or above the cornice line.

(d) No sign or supporting structure may be located in or over any portion of a public right-of-way unless:

(1) The sign is attached to a structural element of a building;

(2) A right-of-way permit is obtained from the City;

(3) No portion of the sign or supporting structure may hang or protrude below eight feet above a sidewalk or other area accessible to pedestrians;

(4) No sign will project closer than two feet from the curb line of a street; and

(5) Only one hanging, marquee, canopy, or projecting sign is allowed for each main entry into a building.

(e) No more than one business identification sign affixed to the building may be located on any one side of a building, unless the building contains individual businesses with separate entrances, in which case one business identification sign per individual business may be located on as many sides as there are separate business entrances.

(f) The maximum height of a freestanding sign, measured from ground level, shall be 15 feet in the Planned Business Development and Central Business Districts and six feet in all other districts, except Sub-Regional Commercial regulated in Section 14.68.160(k). (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 661, 2002; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.110 Sign Illumination and Signs Containing Lights.

(a) No sign within 150 feet of a residential zone may be illuminated between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m., unless an opaque screen which effectively blocks view of the sign from the residential zone is located between the residential zone and the sign.

(b) Lighting directed toward a sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine directly into a public right-of-way, adjacent properties, or into the sky.

(c) Internally illuminated signs are allowed only within Commercial, Industrial and Public/Semi-Public Zone districts. This prohibition does not apply to the following:

(1) Signs that do not exceed two square feet in area and that convey the message that a business enterprise is open or closed or that a place of lodging does or does not have a vacancy;

(2) Neon signs less than nine square feet and/or mounted to be seen through a window and meeting all other requirements of this chapter;

(3) Signs for churches, synagogues and temples (use class 5.200), except that changeable text signs may not be internally illuminated pursuant to Section 14.68.040(b).

(d) No sign or illuminated tubing or strings of lights may contain flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity. This prohibition does not apply to temporary signs erected in connection with the observance of holidays. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 676, Sec. 59, 2003; Ord. 661, 2002; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.120 Miscellaneous Restrictions and Prohibitions.

(a) The following restrictions apply to all signs except those exempt from regulation (Section 14.68.020) and except those exempt from permits specifically identified below.

(b) No off-premises signs may be located in any district except:

(1) Those exempted from regulation or from permit requirements under Section 14.68.020 or 14.68.030; and

(2) City-sponsored “City Center/Welcome” signs identifying the location of the historic downtown and the general types of businesses and services available.

(c) Signs located within residential zone districts are prohibited unless specifically allowed elsewhere in this chapter.

(d) No sign may be located so that it substantially interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit streets. Freestanding and portable signs may not be placed within a vehicular sight distance triangle at the intersection of any streets. This triangle connects the intersection of the paved or traveled surface of the roadways with each of the two points measured 30 feet from the intersection along the edge of the respective paved or traveled surface of each roadway.

(e) Signs that are designed to revolve or are animated or that utilize movement or apparent movement to attract the attention of the public are prohibited. Without limiting the foregoing, banners, streamers, pennants, and propellers are prohibited, but signs that only move occasionally because of wind are not prohibited if their movement (1) is not a primary design feature of the sign, and (2) is not intended to attract attention to the sign. The restriction of this subsection shall not apply to barber poles or signs specified in Section 14.68.030(a)(5).

(f) No sign may be erected so that by its location, color, size, shape, nature, or message it would tend to obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.

(g) Freestanding signs shall be securely fastened to the ground or to some other substantial supportive structure so that there is virtually no danger that either the sign or the supportive structure may be moved by the wind or other forces of nature and cause injury to persons or property.

(h) Animated display boards shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) They are prohibited in residential zone districts.

(2) No more than one animated display board per establishment is allowed.

(3) The maximum area of a sign with an animated display board shall be 50 square feet. The maximum area of the animated display portion of the sign shall be 40 percent of the sign of which it is a part.

(4) Animated display boards shall convey text messages only. Graphic images are prohibited. Movement of text messages is allowed to transition to other messages. However, repeated flashing of the same message is prohibited. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 676, Sec. 60, 2003; Ord. 661, Sec. 4, 2002; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.124 Incentive Provisions for Exceptional Efforts.

(a) To encourage the integration of signage into the visual framework of its location, special consideration may be given to signs of exceptional design. Special consideration may, at the Planning Commission’s discretion, result in a relaxation of the number, dimensional and locational standards specified in this chapter. No other standards may be relaxed. This is not to be confused with a variance. It is to be based on an exceptional effort toward creating visual harmony between the sign, the building(s), and the site.

(b) Petitions for consideration of signs pursuant to this section shall be made to and decided by the Planning Commission. The petition and application shall be presented to the Planning Commission with a narrative outlining the proposed plan addressing, but not limited to, the following:

(1) How the components of the sign improve legibility, readability, and aesthetics;

(2) The relationship of the proposed sign to the community vision for the zone, as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan, intent of the zone, and Development Design Guidelines. In the Central Business District in particular, signs designed to enhance the historic character of downtown may be given special consideration;

(3) Relationship of the sign to the immediate surroundings, including existing and proposed buildings, other signs, and landscape;

(4) Relationship of the sign to the business that the sign is to promote; and

(5) A colored rendering, showing the proposed sign, dimensions of the sign, and location of the sign. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 661, Sec. 4, 2002; Ord. 590, 1998; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.130 Maintenance of Signs.

(a) All signs and structural components shall be kept in a state of good repair.

(b) If a sign advertises an entity, service, or goods or other activity that is no longer available on the site, that sign shall be considered abandoned and shall, within 30 days after such abandonment, be removed by the sign owner, owner of the property where the sign is located, or other party having control over such sign.

(c) If the message portion of a sign is removed, leaving only the supporting “shell” of a sign or the supporting braces, anchors, or similar components, the owner of the sign or the owner of the property where the sign is located or other person having control over such sign shall, within 30 days of the removal of the message portion of the sign, either replace the entire message portion of the sign or remove the remaining components of the sign. This subsection shall not be construed to alter the effect of Section 14.68.075(c), which prohibits the replacement of a nonconforming sign, nor shall this subsection be construed to prevent the changing of the message of a sign. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.140 Unlawful Cutting of Trees or Shrubs.

No person may, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation located:

(a) Within the right-of-way of any public street or road, unless the work is done pursuant to the express written authorization of the Planning Director;

(b) On property that is not under the ownership or control of the person doing or responsible for such work, unless the work is done pursuant to the express authorization of the person owning the property where such trees or shrubs are located;

(d) In any area encumbered by a native growth protection easement or similar easement prohibiting the removal of trees or vegetation. (Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

14.68.150 Nonconforming Signs.

(a) Subject to the remaining restrictions of this section, nonconforming signs that were otherwise lawful on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter may be continued.

(b) No person may engage in any activity that causes an increase in the extent of nonconformity of a nonconforming sign. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no nonconforming sign may be enlarged or altered in such a manner as to aggravate the nonconforming condition. Nor may illumination be added to any nonconforming sign.

(d) If a nonconforming sign is destroyed by natural causes, it may not thereafter be repaired, reconstructed, or replaced except in conformity with all the provisions of this title, and the remnants of the former sign structure shall be cleared from the land. For purposes of this section, a nonconforming sign is “destroyed” if damaged to an extent that the cost of repairing the sign to its former stature or replacing it with an equivalent sign equals or exceeds the value (tax value if listed for tax purposes) of the sign so damaged.

(e) The message of a nonconforming sign may be changed so long as this does not create any new nonconformities (for example, by creating an off-premises sign under circumstances where such a sign would not be allowed).

(f) Subject to the other provisions of this section, nonconforming signs may be repaired and renovated so long as the cost of such work does not exceed within any 12-month period 50 percent of the value (tax value if listed for tax purposes) of such sign.

(g) If a nonconforming sign other than a billboard advertises a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted, that sign shall be considered abandoned and shall be removed within 30 days after such abandonment by the sign owner, owner of the property where the sign is located, or other party having control over such sign.

(h) If a nonconforming billboard remains blank for a continuous period of 180 days, that billboard shall be deemed abandoned and shall, within 30 days after such abandonment, be altered to comply with this chapter or be removed by the sign owner, owner of the property where the sign is located, or other person having control over such sign. For purposes of this section, a sign is “blank” if:

(1) It advertises a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted; or

(2) The advertising message it displays becomes illegible in whole or substantial part; or

(3) The advertising copy paid for by a party other than the sign owner or promoting an interest other than the rental of the sign has been removed.

(i) The burden of establishing a sign to be legally nonconforming or not destroyed under this section rests upon the person or persons, firm, or corporation claiming legal status for a sign.

(j) As soon as reasonably possible after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, the Planning Director shall make every reasonable effort to identify all the nonconforming signs within the City’s planning jurisdiction. He shall then contact the person responsible for each such sign (as well as the owner of the property where the nonconforming sign is located, if different from the former) and inform such person (1) that the sign is nonconforming, (2) how it is nonconforming, (3) what must be done to correct it and by what date, and (4) the consequences of failure to make the necessary corrections. The Planning Director shall keep complete records of all correspondence, communications, and other actions taken with respect to such nonconforming signs. However, performing these actions in no way releases the sign owner from the burden established in subsection (i) of this section. (Ord. 811, Sec. 65, 2010; Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009; Ord. 661, Sec. 4, 2002; Ord. 497, 1995; Ord. 468, 1995)

14.68.160 Sub-Regional Commercial Zoning Districts.

(a) Signing on properties located within Sub-Regional Commercial areas shall be specifically subject to the provisions of this section. Where signing requirements in this section conflict with other provisions of the Sign Code, the provisions of this section shall control.

(b) Existing signs within annexed Sub-Regional Commercial zoning district are subject to the sign code of the jurisdiction from which they were developed until such time as they are altered or replaced. Sign alteration shall not include repainting or changing the message of a sign.

(c) Signs for business identification or advertising of products shall conform to the approved master sign program for any property developed prior to or after the date of annexation. Unless otherwise specified by this section, signs for developments occupied by multiple business enterprises shall conform to the regulations set forth in Section 14.68.010(c).

(d) Approval by the Planning Director shall be required for the construction, erection, alteration or illumination of any sign in the Sub-Regional Commercial zone after annexation to the City of Lake Stevens.

(e) Plans submitted for a Planning Director approval, administrative conditional use permit, or conditional use permit shall include sign plans in sufficient detail that the permit-issuing authority can determine whether the proposed sign or signs comply with the provisions of this title.

(f) Advertising displays or signs pertaining only to the uses or sales on the property where displayed are allowed without a permit so long as such signs do not exceed 50 square feet in total area collectively and no single surface area exceeds 25 square feet.

(g) Individual Business Signs. Each business establishment in a Sub-Regional Commercial zone shall have no more than one business identification sign that is located on the side of a structure per building face and in no event more than two identification signs per establishment.

(h) Commercial Center Signs.

(1) A property occupied by multiple business enterprises may be identified by one freestanding sign subject to a master sign design program.

(2) A multiple business development located on a lot that has at least 100 feet of frontage on one public street may have one sign advertising businesses within said development.

(3) If a multiple business development is located on a lot that is bordered by two public streets that do not intersect at the lot’s boundaries (double front lot), then the development may have not more than one freestanding sign on each side of the development bordered by such streets.

(4) For new developments in annexed Sub-Regional Commercial Zoning District, sign size will be allocated to each business owner by the Master Sign Design Program required in the name of the property owner. The total aggregate sign area shall not exceed 20 percent of the total surface area of the wall on which it is located.

(5) Each business subject to the conditions specified in subsection (f) of this section shall be responsible for obtaining a permit for its individual sign(s) which shall be in conformance with the master sign program as well as this chapter.

(i) Sight Distance.

(1) No sign or advertising display is permitted that obstructs in any way the vision of motorists entering or leaving public or private rights-of-way.

(2) At street intersections, signs or advertising displays shall be so located that they permit an unobstructed sight distance of at least 300 feet along the intersecting rights-of-way. Supports for signs or advertising displays do not constitute an obstruction.

(3) All signs must be a distance of 100 feet or more from all road crossings of railroad rights-of-way. They must be placed in a manner that they do not block the view of the crossing by operating personnel aboard the trains or by motorists approaching the crossing from either direction.

(j) Sign Size.

(1) Signs attached to the interior of a nonresidential building window or glass door individually or collectively may not cover more than 25 percent of the surface area of the transparent portion of the window or door to which they are attached.

(2) No business sign affixed to the front of a structure shall have a surface area greater than 20 percent of the total surface area of the wall on which it is located up to 90 square feet per face. The surface area is defined as the extent of the visible wall from the top of the turret or false front and the ground and to the end of the building on each side.

(3) Detached individual freestanding signs shall have an aggregate surface area no greater than 0.75 square feet in surface area for every linear foot of street frontage along the street toward which such sign is primarily oriented to a maximum of 250 square feet.

(4) The uppermost portion of an attached sign shall not extend more than five feet higher than the principal building at its highest point, subject further to the overall height regulations of this zone.

(k) Sign Height. Individual freestanding signs may not exceed 35 feet in height, nor shall they have a surface area greater than 150 square feet per face per sign. The total surface area for all freestanding signs is subject to restrictions in subsection (h) of this section.

(l) Projecting signs or graphics including awnings and their supportive members shall project outward no more than four feet from a building and be no lower than eight feet above ground level.

(m) Signs shall not be animated, audible, rotating, or illuminated by any intermittent flashing or scintillating source of light. This prohibition does not apply to temporary signs erected in connection with the observance of holidays.

(n) Signs or displays that involve moving parts or flashing or blinking lights simulating traffic signals shall be approved by the Washington Department of Transportation and the Director of Public Works. (Ord. 811, Sec. 66, 2010; Ord. 799, Sec. 2, 2009)

Chapter 14.68SIGNS