A. The city has a compelling interest in allowing signs in order to comply with state and local laws, promote public safety, protect life and private property, promote the identification of property, guide emergency response personnel, and permit minor changes to make sign maintenance a less onerous burden on property owners; therefore, the following sign types are expressly exempted from the entitlement requirements of this chapter and Zoning Code but still must satisfy any and all other applicable city permit requirements when necessary (e.g., building, electrical, plumbing, grading, encroachment).
B. To qualify for any of the exemptions listed below, strict compliance with the exemption as established in this section is required.
1. Exempt Signs without Limitations. The following signs are exempt from sign permit and city review requirements but must comply with all other requirements of this chapter unless specifically noted otherwise:
a. All devices which are excluded from the city's definition of a “sign.”
b. Signs required by law.
c. Noncommercial utility company signs identifying underground facilities, cables, conduits, and dangerous situations.
d. Street address number signs on buildings and building identification signs consistent with the city-adopted Building Code/Fire Code or other relevant requirements of the City Municipal Code. Notwithstanding anything in this section, street address signs may be illuminated and may contain reflective paint or materials.
e. Barber pole, attached or freestanding, when previously approved by the city as to size, location, and design.
f. Change of copy that does not alter the size, location, or illumination of a sign.
2. Exempt Signs with Limitations. The following signs are exempt from sign permits and city review requirements but must comply with all other requirements of this chapter (unless specifically noted otherwise) and the requirements as listed below:
a. Flags provided they meet the following requirements:
i. No flag may be placed within the clear vision triangle;
ii. The pole may be a maximum of twenty-five (25) feet tall when all on-site buildings are less than twenty-five (25) feet tall; and
iii. Standards listed in Table 17.52.040-1 (Standards for Flags).
Site | Maximum Number of Poles | Maximum Height | Maximum Number of Flags | Maximum Area of All Flags | Image Types | Illumination | Minimum Setback from ROW (1) |
Commercial, Office, and Industrial Zoning Districts | 2 | Tallest building (2) | Not limited | 24 sq. ft. | Commercial and non-commercial | (1), (2) | (3) |
Residential | 1 | 20 ft. | Not limited | 15 sq. ft. | Non-commercial | (2) | 10 ft. |
All other properties | 2 | 20 ft. | Not limited | 15 sq. ft. | Non-commercial | (2) | 10 ft. |
Notes:
(1) Illumination of commercial flags not allowed
(2) Non-commercial flags may be illuminated only in times of officially declared or commemorated emergency, mourning, or memorial, or as otherwise required by state or federal law.
(3) Pole must be setback from right-of-way a distance equal to that of the pole height. Minimum setback is ten (10) feet.
b. Signs on property undergoing construction or remodeling not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet each in area and limited to one (1) sign for each street frontage. Such signs may not be illuminated. Such signs shall be removed at the earliest of the following events: final building inspection approval, issuance of a valid certificate of occupancy, or opening for business to the public.
c. Signs on property for sale, lease or rental not exceeding twelve (12) square feet or twelve (12) square feet per acre of land, whichever is greater, not to exceed forty (40) square feet for all signs. Additionally, a maximum of three (3) attached rider signs are permitted. All such signs shall be removed within fifteen (15) days from the sale, lease or rental of the property. Such signs may not be illuminated. Additionally, windows on property for sale, lease, or rental may be papered over to screen construction; this screening shall not count toward the sign area limitation.
d. Signs on property where there is a one (1)-day garage, yard, estate, or other one (1)-day home-based sale taking place. Such signs may be posted for no more than twenty-four (24) hours and must be removed at the end of the one (1) -day sale. A maximum of four (4) signs, each a maximum of four (4) square feet, are allowed.
e. Exterior identification signs erected on or immediately adjacent to an entrance, exit, restroom, office door, telephone or similar property feature provided that the sign does not exceed thirty (30) inches in height and four (4) square feet in size for each sign (which typically contains information such as “no parking,” “entrance,” “service entrance,” “restrooms,” “manager,” and “exit”) so long as the number of exempt exterior signs does not exceed two (2) per parcel for each street frontage.
f. Noncommercial signs consistent with the following requirements:
i. Noncommercial signs on all private property except residential property, not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area and not exceeding ten (10) feet in height from finish grade.
ii. Noncommercial signs on residential property, not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area, provided that they are set back at least five (5) feet from the public right-of-way and do not project over the roofline of any structure.
iii. Noncommercial signs on residential property, limited to one (1) for each dwelling unit or rentable room on the property, that are no more than one-half (1/2) square foot in area and which are attached to and parallel with the building. The maximum sign area for such signage shall be twelve (12) square feet.
g. Signs on commercial property where there is a promotion or a discount in price for merchandise. Such signs only may be displayed for the duration of the specific sale or promotion, or thirty days, whichever is shorter, provided such signs are located on or immediately next to the merchandise on sale. The aggregate area of such signs visible from a public right-of-way or other premises shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
h. Murals are allowed on facades of buildings other than the side with the main entrance. The mural may encompass the entire surface area of the wall but shall not project onto the roof.
i. Tablets and plaques, installed by the city or a historical organization, including names of buildings and date of erection, and not exceeding four (4) square feet.
j. One (1) board sign for each drive-in or drive-through aisle, provided that the sign does not exceed a maximum of forty (40) square feet in sign area and that the sign be limited in height to eight (8) feet. The board sign does not count toward the total allowed signage for the establishment as described in Table 17.52.060-1 (Allowed Permanent On-Site Sign Standards). (Ord. 2010-02 § 1 (part), 2010)