Chapter 20.60 SIGNS

Chapter 20.60
SIGNS¹

Sections:

20.60.001 Scope and purpose.

20.60.005 Definitions.

20.60.010 Exempt signs.

20.60.015 Signs not requiring a permit.

20.60.020 Prohibited signs.

20.60.025 Permit procedures.

20.60.030 General sign regulations.

20.60.035 Permitted signs, by type and zoning district.

20.60.040 Special provisions for residential (R) zones.

20.60.045 Special provisions for the CBD and CBD-Core zones.

20.60.050 Special provisions for the MED, OP and CL zones.

20.60.052 Special provisions for the MP zone.

20.60.055 Special provisions for the CB, CG and ML zones.

20.60.058 Special provisions for the PF zone.

20.60.060 Special provisions for the FAIR zone.

20.60.062 Special provisions for PD zones.

20.60.065 Specific sign requirements.

20.60.070 Temporary signs.

20.60.075 Nonconforming signs.

20.60.080 Administration and enforcement.

20.60.090 Design review.

20.60.001 Scope and purpose.

This chapter establishes regulations governing the installation, alteration, relocation, maintenance, use, and removal of all signs in the city. While the city recognizes the rights of businesses, organizations, and individuals to identify their properties, goods and services, those needs must be balanced with the community’s desire to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment of the city for the betterment of its citizens and in the interest of economic development. The purpose of this chapter is to accomplish the following:

(1) To encourage effective sign communication that is responsive to the needs of the public in locating establishments by identification, address, product and/or service information;

(2) To protect properties from the loss of prominence and reduced effectiveness of individual signs which would result from the unregulated number, size, and location of signs;

(3) To enhance the visual character and identity of the city and reduce clutter and visual distraction;

(4) To ensure that signs in the city do not adversely affect pedestrian and traffic safety by obstructing vehicle sight distance, interfering with official traffic signs, signals and devices, and unduly directing attention away from the demands of safe driving;

(5) To further the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan;

(6) To preserve the right of free speech exercised through the use of signs containing noncommercial messages. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.005 Definitions.

(1) A “sign” is any word, placard, board, notice, logo, insignia, symbol, flag, banner, balloon or inflatable device or pennant, which uses graphics, symbols, or written copy and is used to advertise or promote the interest of any person, institution, or business. Works of art, fountains, mosaics and building or structural design features that do not contain a commercial message, logo, symbol, or identification are not signs according to this definition.

(2) “Abandoned sign” means any sign pertaining to a business or occupant whose products or services or noncommercial messages have ceased to be offered to the public or ceased to be in effect on said premises for a period of more than 90 days.

(3) “Billboard” means any sign designed for use with readily changeable advertising copy unrelated to any use or activity on the property on which the sign is located.

(4) “Banner” means any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole or building by any means. National flags, state or municipal flags, seasonal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.

(5) “Building identification sign” means any sign that is an integral part of the structure of a building or made of bronze or other permanent material, and that identifies and advertises only the name of a building, date and incidental information about its construction, and other historical information.

(6) “Building wall” means the side of a building as measured between the intersection of two other sides, or between the intersection of interior walls when one building contains multiple owners or tenants.

(7) “Business sign” means any sign that identifies and advertises the name of an enterprise, person, institution, business, service, or product.

(8) “Construction sign” means a sign which identifies the architect, engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with the construction of a building, or announces the character of the building or enterprise, which is erected during the building construction period.

(9) “Development complex” means any commercial center, institution or development which contains four or more separate businesses or institutions located within or upon a single premises or, if on separately owned properties, which share common parking areas and/or access drives.

(10) “Development complex sign” means any sign that identifies and advertises the name of a development complex and/or the businesses or institutions occupying a development complex.

(11) “Electronic message sign” means a sign containing a message or display that consists of a pattern of lights or other technology which is capable of changing at intermittent intervals in order to vary the message being communicated.

(12) “Facade sign” means a sign painted upon or erected flush along the exterior wall or window of a building or upon an awning attached to such exterior wall and displaying only one sign surface. Facade signs may not extend above the top of the exterior wall of a building.

(13) “Flashing sign” means a sign or portion thereof which changes light intensity or switches on and off in a constant or random pattern and no more frequently than once every two seconds, or contains motion or the optical illusion of motion by use of electrical energy, including strobe lights in window displays. Changing message signs or time and temperature signs shall not be considered flashing signs; provided, they do not flash as defined herein.

(14) “Freestanding sign” means a sign erected on a self-supporting structure erected and supported from the ground.

(15) “Incidental sign” means a sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the property on which it is located, such as “no parking,” “enter,” “exit,” “loading only,” “telephone,” and other similar directives. No incidental sign shall include the name of any enterprise, business, person, institution, or product that is legible from a distance of eight feet from the property boundary.

(16) “Sheet plastic signs” means any sign made of a rigid plastic material which creates a surface area upon which multiple letters, words or symbols are placed.

(17) “Backlit rigid canopy sign” means any type of facade sign affixed to or integral with the surface of a translucent rigid canopy lit by lights directed toward the canopy material and mounted from internal canopy frames.

(18) “Monument sign” means a freestanding sign that is mounted on a solid base permanently affixed to the ground and is not mounted on a pole(s).

(19) “Nameplate” means any sign, two square feet or smaller, that identifies a person, business, institution, family or group. Product names may not be included on nameplates.

(20) “Off-premises sign” means any sign designed for use with permanent advertising copy that advertises any enterprise not located on the property or development complex on which the sign is located.

(21) “Outdoor vehicle display” means any open-air lot at least two acres in size or with at least 300 feet of lineal frontage on a single street, used for the purposes of year-round display and sales of any vehicle as defined in Chapter 46.70 RCW, or as otherwise permitted pursuant to PMC 20.47.010(3).

(22) “Pennant” means any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in a series.

(23) “Political sign” means any temporary sign that advertises a candidate for office or opinion on a ballot measure in a pending public election.

(24) “Portable sign” means any temporary sign that is self-supporting but not permanently attached to the ground and can be moved from one location to another. This definition includes, but is not limited to, sandwich board or “A” frame signs; balloons and inflatables used as signs; and umbrellas used for advertising.

(25) “Projecting sign” means a sign that is erected perpendicular to and supported from the wall of a building.

(26) “Real estate sign” means any sign that advertises the sale, rental or lease of real property.

(27) “Regional shopping center” means a development complex consisting of at least 500,000 square feet of enclosed leasable area.

(28) “Residential development sign” means any sign that identifies a residential subdivision, condominium or apartment complex of four units or more.

(29) “Roof sign” means any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, or supported by the roof structure, or extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.

(30) “Sale and promotional sign” means any temporary sign that advertises a business sale, temporary activity on a property, grand opening and/or special event.

(31) “Sandwich board sign” means a temporary sign set upon the ground, consisting of two sign faces hinged at the top and separated at the bottom to make it self-standing upon the ground.

(32) “Street frontage” means the distance for which a lot line of a property adjoins a public or private street, from one lot line intersecting said street to the furthest distant lot line intersecting the same street. For the purposes of this code, “street” does not include controlled access highways (i.e., SR-167, SR-512).

(33) “Temporary sign” means any sign as defined above that is intended to be used for short periods of time and/or is constructed of nonpermanent materials, including, but not limited to, cloth, canvas, light fabric, vinyl, paper or other light materials.

(34) “Under-canopy sign” means a sign suspended over a sidewalk or pedestrian way by attachment to the underside of a canopy, marquee, awning, or similar structure, perpendicular to the wall.

(35) “Window sign” means any sign, temporary or permanent, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service, that is placed inside a window or upon a window pane or glass and is legible from a distance of eight feet from the exterior of the window. Display of merchandise for sale shall not be considered window signs. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.010 Exempt signs.

The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

(1) Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official;

(2) Directional, warning, identification or information signs authorized or required by federal, state or municipal governments, including traffic or pedestrian control/direction signs;

(3) The flag of a noncommercial institution such as a school, not exceeding 24 square feet in area in any residential zone or 60 square feet in area in a nonresidential zone, or the flag of a government regardless of size; subject to the building height limitation of the applicable zone. Each business shall be allowed one flag bearing the business’ name, insignia, logo or product name; provided, such flags are not flown at a height exceeding the building height limitation of the applicable zone nor the size limitations noted above. Such flags shall not apply towards the total allowable sign area for a site nor be considered to constitute a freestanding sign;

(4) Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate holiday season;

(5) Barber poles;

(6) All signs not legible from a distance of more than eight feet from a property line abutting a public right-of-way;

(7) One nameplate/street address identification per premises;

(8) Signs regulating the use of publicly owned parks and recreation facilities when authorized by the city of Puyallup parks and recreation department;

(9) Incidental no parking signs not exceeding two square feet in area. Said signs may bear the name, address and phone number of a towing company responsible for impounding violators. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.015 Signs not requiring a permit.

The following signs shall not require a permit, but are required to meet specific requirements contained in this chapter:

(1) Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure;

(2) Signs relating to trespassing, no hunting, garage sales, household pets, etc., not exceeding two square feet in area;

(3) Nonelectric incidental signs not exceeding two square feet in area in the RS, RM, CBD, MP and PD zones, and four square feet in all other zones;

(4) Any window sign; provided, that no individual sign or combination of signs shall exceed 25 percent coverage of an individual window area. The area of window signs as allowed under this section shall not count towards the total allowable sign area permitted for a particular property;

(5) Construction signs, subject to the requirements of PMC 20.60.070;

(6) Real estate signs on private property, subject to the requirements of PMC 20.60.070;

(7) Political signs, subject to the requirements of PMC 20.60.070;

(8) Temporary signs as allowed in PMC 20.60.070. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.020 Prohibited signs.

The following devices and locations are specifically prohibited:

(1) Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device or obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view approaching, merging or intersecting traffic, or which are an imitation of or resemble official traffic signs;

(2) Except as provided for in PMC 20.60.050(1)(c)(iii) and 20.60.070(7), signs encroaching upon or overhanging public rights-of-way;

(3) Cloth, paper, soft plastic banners, balloons and other inflatable devices, or similar advertising signs or devices bearing any logo, product name, business name or other advertising, and any balloon or other inflatable device over 10 feet in diameter and pennants bearing other than a logo or product name; except those displayed as temporary signs as regulated in PMC 20.60.070;

(4) Flashing signs or signs which sparkle or twinkle in sunlight;

(5) Portable or temporary signs except as allowed in PMC 20.60.070;

(6) Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property. The prohibition of this subsection does not prohibit the identification of a firm or its principal products on a vehicle operating during the normal course of business or being taken home;

(7) Billboards in any zone;

(8) Abandoned or dilapidated signs;

(9) Roof signs;

(10) Any sign erected or placed in a public right-of-way, except for temporary off-premises signs as authorized herein, except those authorized by a governmental agency under the provisions of this code;

(11) Any sign with content or subject matter that constitutes obscenity as defined by law;

(12) Signs painted on or affixed to bus benches or to any vehicle parked for more than 72 hours on any premises other than the site in which the business is located;

(13) Rotating or motion signs;

(14) Any sign affixed to a utility pole, whether located on private property or within the public right-of-way, pursuant to RCW 70.54.090. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.025 Permit procedures.

The following regulations shall apply to all signs that require a permit pursuant to this chapter:

(1) Permit Requirements. No sign shall be installed, constructed, painted, structurally altered, posted, or applied without first obtaining a sign permit from the development services department, unless specifically exempted by this code. Maintenance or repair activities of lawfully established signs, such as repainting or refacing without increasing sign area, shall not require a permit. A single permit application may be filed for a group of signs proposed to be installed at one time.

(2) Permit Application Procedures. Applications for signs shall include the appropriate items from the following list:

(a) A completed application on a form provided by the department;

(b) Two site plans showing the location of the affected lot, buildings(s) and sign(s), showing both existing and proposed signs;

(c) If the application is for a facade sign, two copies of a building elevation or photograph showing the location of the proposed sign on the structure;

(d) Two copies of a scaled drawing of the proposed sign or sign revision including size, height, copy, structural footing details, materials specifications, method of attachment, illumination, front and end views of marquees, calculation for dead load and wind pressure, and any other information required to ensure compliance with appropriate codes and laws;

(e) Written consent of the owner of the building, structure, or property where the sign is to be erected;

(f) Other information as may be necessary to evaluate the permit application;

(g) The requisite permit fee as adopted by resolution of the city council.

(3) Parties placing temporary signs as allowed herein within public rights-of-way shall annually obtain a blanket sign permit for multiple locations in accordance with established administrative procedures. An applicant must provide the city with proof of continuous liability insurance during the effective period of the permit, relative to damage or injuries resulting from placement of the sign. Said insurance shall be sufficient in amount to a level established by the city.

(4) Expiration of Permits. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within six months of its issuance.

(5) Notice of Permit Denial. When a sign permit is denied by the director, the applicant shall be given a written notice of the denial, together with a brief written statement of the reasons for the denial, and advised of rights of appeal.

(6) Appeal from Denial of Permit Application. An appeal of the director’s decision to deny a permit application may be made to the hearing examiner by filing an appeal on forms provided by the department and paying the requisite appeal fee established by city council. Appeals shall be processed under the provisions of Chapter 20.87 PMC, Interpretations. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.030 General sign regulations.

The following general sign regulations shall apply to all signs not specifically exempted by this chapter:

(1) Building Code Compliance. The structure and installation of all signs shall comply with the latest adopted edition of the city’s building code. Such signs shall meet all other applicable provisions of this chapter.

(2) Sign Illumination. All sign illumination shall be from the interior or from floodlight projection shielded to preclude glare visible from public rights-of-way and neighboring properties.

(3) Measurement of Sign Area. The square footage of a sign made up of letters, words, symbols, trademarks and business or corporate colors within a frame shall be determined from the outside edge of the frame itself. The square footage of a sign composed of only letters, words, or symbols shall be determined from imaginary straight lines drawn around the entire copy or grouping of such letters, words, or symbols. Double-faced signs shall be calculated as the area of one side only. Three-dimensional signs shall be calculated as the maximum area visible from any single direction at any point in time.

(4) Means of Structural Support. No sign shall be attached to, supported by or propped up against any utility pole, light standard, traffic sign, fire hydrant or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way, except as authorized herein.

(5) Condition and Maintenance. All signs shall be of rust-inhibitive material or treatment, and shall be maintained in good condition in the opinion of the code enforcement manager. All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors shall be kept in good repair and in a safe state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times.

(6) Electronic Message Signs. No electronic message sign shall be oriented towards a controlled access highway facility.

(7) Development Complexes. Signs within a development complex shall be subject to the following requirements:

(a) Business Signs. Each institution or business shall be permitted facade signs and no more than one projecting sign subject to the maximum size requirements set forth for the applicable zone.

(b) Freestanding Signs. Each development complex shall be permitted one freestanding or monument development complex sign per public street frontage. The maximum permitted sign area for each development complex sign shall be as provided within the applicable zoning district, plus a bonus of 10 additional square feet per business or institution within the development complex; provided, that such bonus shall not exceed 50 percent of the base allowable sign area.

(8) Regional Shopping Centers. Regional shopping centers shall be allowed signs as follows:

(a) Freestanding Signs. One per public street frontage; one square foot in area per lineal foot of street frontage; not to exceed 225 square feet;

(b) Monument Signs. One per public street frontage; not to exceed 64 square feet in area or 10 feet in height;

(d) Freeway-Oriented Freestanding Sign. One per regional shopping center site; not to exceed 400 square feet in area with a bonus 25 percent area for nontext architectural features;

(e) All signs must comply with the standards contained within PMC 20.60.065.

(9) No sign shall be used as a fence. Permanent signs attached to fences shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and only one such sign shall be permitted for each 100 lineal feet of fence.

(10) No sign shall be attached to a tree in any manner which may cause harm to said tree.

(11) Outdoor Vehicle Displays. Outdoor vehicle display sites that have frontage on a given street that exceeds 300 feet in length shall be allowed one additional freestanding sign. (Ord. 2821 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2783 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2649 § 1, 2000).

20.60.035 Permitted signs, by type and zoning district.

Table 20.60.035
Permitted Signs, by Type and Zoning District


Type of sign		RS zones	RM zones	MED, OP, PF, CL zones	CBD, CBD- Core zones	CB zone	CG zone	MP zone	ML zone	FAIR zone	Pre-existing PDR zone	Pre-existing PDC zone

(1)	Backlit rigid canopy sign	N	N	P	N	P	P	P	P	P	N	N
(2)	Building identification	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P*	P
(3)	Electronic message	N	N	P*	N	P	P	N	P	P	N	N
(4)	Facade sign	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P*	P
(5)	Freestanding sign	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	N	P	P	P*	N
(6)	Monument signs	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P*	P
(7)	Off-premises sign	N	N	N	P	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
(8)	Projecting sign	N	N	N	P	P	N	N	N	N	N	P
(9)	Residential development sign	P	P	P	P	P	P	N	N	N	P	P
(10)	Sale and promotional	N	N	P	P	P	P	N	N	P	N	P
(11)	Sheet plastic signs	P*	P*	P	N	P	P	P	P	P	N	N
(12)	Temporary signs	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P*	P
(13)	Temp. off-premises signs	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
(14)	Under canopy sign	N	N	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	N	P
(15)	Window signs	N	N	P	P	P	P	N