11-010-03: GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS:

   1.   Permit Required: Unless specifically exempted, a permit must be obtained from the Planning Director for the erection and installation of any sign. Exemption from the need for a permit shall not relieve the responsibility to erect and maintain signs in a safe manner and in conformance with all other provisions of these regulations. Permits are not required for change of copy, repainting, or other normal maintenance and repair. Application shall be made on a form provided by the Planning Division. The permit shall be approved or denied within five working days and shall be valid for a period of one year.

   2.   Signs Not Regulated: An application for a sign not regulated herein shall be considered by the Director as to whether the sign is allowed, prohibited or whether a variance or conditional use permit may be required.

   3.   Abandoned Sign: Any on-premise sign associated with a building or business that has been vacant and unoccupied for at least 6 months, or any sign no longer associated with the use on the property shall be deemed abandoned. An abandoned sign is prohibited.

   4.   Maintenance And Repair: Signs shall be maintained in a state of good appearance, safety and repair.

   5.   Blanketing Of Signs: No sign shall be erected in the same horizontal plane with other signs unless spaced at least 25 feet apart.

   6.   Traffic Visibility: Signs shall not be permitted in the clear vision triangle as defined in this Code. Signs shall not be erected at any intersection so as to obstruct clear vision, or at any location where they may interfere with or obstruct the view of traffic.

   7.   Gateway Streets: A free-standing sign oriented to a gateway street may be regulated differently (see 11-010-04). The following are gateway streets:

      A.   Capitol Boulevard.

      B.   Vista Avenue, 1-84 north.

      C.   Broadway Ave., I-84 north.

      D.   State Street, State Capitol to Highway 55.

      E.   Myrtle Street.

      F.   Front Street.

      G.   Federal Way, Capitol Blvd. to Bergeson.

      H.   Warm Springs Avenue.

      I.   Park Center Boulevard.

   8.   Design Guidelines For All Signs:

      A.   Signs are to be integrated with and harmonious to the building and site.

      B.   Pole support structures shall be covered.

      C.   Signs shall complement the architectural style of the building.

   9.   Legal Nonconforming:

      A.   Any non-temporary sign legally existing at the time of the passage of this ordinance that does not conform in use, location, height or size shall be considered legal nonconforming.

      B.   Legal nonconforming signs may not be structurally altered, moved, or replaced without being brought into conformance with the provisions of this Code. Routine maintenance and repair is allowed.

      C.   Copy changes and sign face changes that use similar materials are allowed.

      D.   If the sign is abandoned or the use associated with the sign is changed, the sign shall lose its nonconforming status and be removed or brought into compliance.

      E.   Violation of these provisions shall result in the sign losing its legal nonconforming status.

   10.   Sign Variance: Variances from sign standards may be granted in accordance with Section 11-03-04.14.

   11.   Adjacent To Residential Zones: Signs in non-residential zones shall not be located within 50 feet of a residential zone.

   12.   Street Trees: Trees may not be topped or removed to facilitate better view of signs.

   13.   Signs For Which A Permit Is Not Required: The following shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter except that no sign shall be exempt from the requirement to maintain clear vision triangles.

      A.   Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official.

      B.   Directional, warning or information signs authorized by a government.

      C.   Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones when cut or carved into a masonry surface or when made an integral part of the building or structure.

      D.   The flag of government or noncommercial institution, such as a school, and business identification flags.

      E.   Religious symbols and seasonal decorations.

      F.   Works of art containing no form of advertising.

      G.   Street address signs and combination nameplate and street address signs that contain no advertising copy and which do not exceed 6 square feet in area.

      H.   Signs oriented only to the property on which they are located and which are not visible from the public right of way.

      I.   Signs in the display windows of a business which are incorporated in a display of merchandise.

      J.   "No Trespassing," "No Dumping" or similar signs not to exceed one and one-half square feet in area and not exceeding four per parcel.

   14.   Prohibited Signs: The following are prohibited in all districts:

      A.   Non-permitted signs or posters that are visible from a public way and are affixed to walls, buildings, trees, poles, fences, bridges or other structures.

      B.   Signs placed on any street right of way, sidewalk, pole, bridge or tree, unless specifically permitted herein. Such signs may be deemed nuisances and removed by the City without prior notice.

      C.   Banners, pennants, strings of lights, ribbons, streamers, balloons or similar devices that call attention rather than contribute to the business decor except as maybe specifically permitted by this chapter.

      D.   Portable signs except those allowed as temporary signs and those allowed in the C-5 district.

      E.   Signs whose lighting, location or appearance would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warnings.

      F.   Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer that is parked on public or private property or driven on public streets, except for signs meeting the following:

         (1)   The primary purpose of such a vehicle or trailer is not the display of signs.

         (2)   The signs are magnetic, decals or painted upon an integral part of the vehicle or equipment.

         (3)   The vehicle or trailer is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets, and actively used or available for use in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate.

      G.   Roof signs.

      H.   Animated signs.

      I.   Strobe lights and flashing lights.

      J.   Any sort of sign used to advertise or display any visually communicated message by letter or by picture, of any kind, on any seating bench, or in direct connection with any bench unless authorized by the regional public transportation system authority as permitted from the Director.