Division I — MAJOR SIGNS

Wall signs, projecting (blade) signs, freestanding or monument signs, awning signs, and building identification signs shall all be considered major signs. A freestanding sign and a projecting sign may not be located on the same property, but any other major sign combination is possible subject to the development standards outlined in this chapter. See Figure 44-2, Major Signs.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

For all major sign types, sign copy shall be limited to the identification of the business, and up to two (2) products or services sold or available on the premises. Copy shall not be placed on the edges of any sign.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Each type of major sign shall be allowed in certain zoning districts as provided in Table 44-1.

Table 44-1

Zoning Districts for Major Signs

** In all PDs, sign regulations specified within each PD ordinance take precedence over the provisions of this chapter. In cases of doubt, or where the several subareas of a given PD are of differing character, the Zoning Administrator shall determine which standards should apply.

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Figure 44-2. Major Signs.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Wall signs are permitted for any business with frontage on a street, parking lot, public walkway within a mall, or which has exterior building frontage without facing a street, parking lot or mall.

A.

Number. One (1) per wall, or one (1) per business for buildings with multiple tenants/businesses fronting on a street. In addition to the primary wall sign, secondary wall signs identifying up to two (2) products or services are permitted provided that the cumulative wall sign area does not exceed the allowable limits established in Subsection 21.44.120.B.

B.

Area.

1.

Wall Facing Street. The total area of all wall signs facing a street shall not exceed one (1) square foot of sign area per linear foot of building wall; provided, that not more than one hundred (100) square feet shall be allowed on any sign facing a residential, local or collector street and not more than two hundred fifty (250) square feet shall be allowed for any sign facing a major or minor arterial. See Figure 44-3.

2.

Wall Facing Side or Rear Yard. The area of permitted wall signs facing side or rear yards shall not exceed one (1) square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building wall.

3.

Curved or Angled Wall on a Corner. A curved or angled wall located on a corner shall be considered to be a separate wall for purposes of this section.

4.

Transference of Sign Area. Allowed sign area cannot be transferred from one (1) building side or wall to another.

5.

Icons and Models. Wall signs in the shape of icons, models, or logos shall be permitted provided that the cumulative wall sign area for all signs does not exceed the allowable limits. To calculate the area of twodimensional (2-D) signs, the sign's length and width shall be multiplied. The area of three-dimensional (3-D) signs shall be measured as a longitudinal section of the icon or model.

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Figure 44-3. Area of a wall sign.

C.

Height. The maximum height of wall signs above grade, to the highest point of the sign shall be as follows:

For a one (1) story building, the highest point of the sign shall not be located above the top of the parapet wall for a flat roof, or above the top of a mansard roof, or above the ridge of a sloped roof.

2.

For a multi-story building with commercial tenants on the ground floor only, a wall sign shall not be located above the windowsill line of the second floor. This does not include building identification signs.

3.

For a multi-story building with commercial tenants on the ground floor and floor(s) above, a wall sign shall be located on the same floor as said tenant, and shall not be located above the windowsill line of the floor above said tenant. Wall signs shall not be allowed for commercial tenants on the third story and above. This does not include building identification signs.

4.

For buildings with glass curtain wall systems, signs shall be allowed for ground-floor tenants only and not on any stories above the ground floor. This does not include building identification signs.

D.

Location. No wall sign shall extend beyond the perimeter of the signable area (as defined in Section 21.15.2770) on which it is displayed, or above the top of the parapet wall of a flat-roofed building, or above the top of a mansard roof. A sign displayed above the eave line of a sloped roof building shall be considered a roof sign. No wall sign shall be located upon an architectural protrusion. See Figure 44-4.

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Figure 44-4. Locations of a wall sign.

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Figure 44-5. Maximum projection of a wall sign.

E.

Projection. The maximum projection shall be fourteen inches (14"). No wall sign shall project over a public alley, driveway, or parking above grade. See Figure 44-5.

F.

Design. The following design standards shall apply to all wall signs:

1.

Channel letters preferred. Signs consisting of individual channel letters are strongly preferred. Exposed raceways are prohibited unless necessitated by structural considerations.

2.

Foam letters. Foam letter signs are strongly discouraged. Foam letters must be faced with a material such as plastic or metal. Un-faced foam letters (including those that are painted only) are prohibited. Wall painted signs are preferred over foam letter signs.

3.

Cabinet signs.

a.

New cabinet ("can") signs are strongly discouraged, except in the case of unusually shaped signs or logos that would be onerous to render in channel letter form. Channel letter signs are preferred instead.

b.

Existing cabinet signs may continue to be used and maintained, subject to the regulations of this chapter. However, upon replacement of the sign face or copy, use of a "push-through" cabinet sign face shall be required, with the sign copy rendered in relief either in front of or behind the sign face. The purpose of this regulation is to obtain higher-quality sign design for the remaining lifespan of existing sign cabinets.

4.

Flat wall signs. Wall signs consisting of copy that is painted or otherwise applied or rendered, with no surface relief, onto a background sheet product of wood (including plywood, fiberboard, etc.), plastic, or metal, which is then affixed to the building wall, shall not be permitted, unless approved through the Creative Sign Permit process, in order to ensure that the sign is of a high-quality design. The purpose of this regulation is to avoid the use of these materials in low-quality sign designs.

G.

Wall Painted Signs. Wall painted signs are regulated in Division II - Special Major Sign Types.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Projecting signs (also known as blade signs), are permitted subject to the following provisions:

A.

Number. A business may display one (1) projecting sign per street frontage or parking lot frontage on an adjacent property. Where freestanding signs are allowed, a projecting sign may be permitted in lieu of each freestanding sign.

B.

Area. The maximum area of a projecting sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot per linear foot of building frontage from which the sign projects. For double-sided signs, sign area shall be taken from one (1) side of the sign only. See Figure 44-6.

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Figure 44-6. Measurement and allowable area of a projecting sign.

C.

Height. No projecting sign shall extend above the adjacent eaves of a sloped roof. A projecting sign shall not extend more than one-third (⅓) of the sign's vertical length above the parapet line of a flat roof; or be less than eight feet (8') above the grade of the adjoining pedestrian right-of-way. A projecting sign shall be exempt from the building height limits of the zoning district.

D.

Location.

1.

Projecting signs shall be attached to a building, and not a pole or other structure.

2.

For buildings with multiple businesses, multiple projecting signs shall be separated by at least twenty-five feet (25'), and only one (1) projecting sign may be located on each building corner. See Figure 44-7.

3.

If any portion of a projecting sign is located above a second floor windowsill line, it shall be located a distance away from any such window(s) equal to twice the projection of the sign from the wall in which the window is located, unless the building has a glass curtain wall system.

4.

For a building located on a corner lot, the projecting sign is encouraged to be located on the corner or face of the building on the street corner. A vertical projecting sign on a building corner should be mounted at a forty-five (45) degree horizontal angle so that its two (2) sides are equally visible from both streets.

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Figure 44-7. Required separation between projecting signs.

E.

Projection.

1.

No projecting sign shall project more than four feet (4') from the face of the building wall upon which the sign is mounted. If such sign projects into the public right-of-way, then an encroachment permit must be obtained from the Department of Public Works. See Figure 44-8.

2.

No sign may project closer than two feet (2') to the curb line.

3.

No sign may project over a public alley.

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Figure 44-8. Projection and required clearance of a projecting sign.

F.

Design. The following design standards shall apply to all projecting signs:

1.

Individual channel letters on a background are preferred.

2.

Plastic-faced cabinet signs are prohibited for use as projecting signs. However, other internally illuminated sign types, such as reverse-channel letter signs, are suitable for use as projecting signs.

3.

Projecting signs shall be constructed of high-quality, durable materials and shall be of a permanent nature.

G.

Building permit required. No sign permit shall be issued for a projecting sign unless a building permit also is obtained. The purpose of this requirement is to prohibit temporary, flimsy, fragile, or other projecting signs of a less-than-permanent nature that would not require a building permit for attachment to a building.

H.

Supporting Device. Guy wires may be used for lateral support when fully within the horizontal plane of the sign. Any angle iron or secondary support, other than guy wires, must be enclosed in a form constructed of impermeable material so as not to be visible.

(ORD-13-0014 § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Any self-supporting permanent on-premises sign that is not attached to a building is either a freestanding sign (see Section 21.15.2580), or a monument sign (see Section 21.15.2620). Table 44-1 sets forth the zoning districts in which freestanding and monument signs are allowed. Freestanding and monument signs are permitted subject to the following provisions:

A.

Number.

1.

Individual Businesses or Shopping Centers. Any individual business or a shopping center may display one (1) freestanding/monument sign on a property. For each length of street frontage in excess of three hundred feet (300'), a business or group of businesses may display one (1) additional freestanding/monument sign for each additional three hundred feet (300'), or portion thereof, of street frontage abutting the developed portion of the property occupied by the businesses.

2.

Automobile Service Station. In addition to other signs, an automobile service station may display one (1) freestanding/monument sign per street frontage for the display of fuel prices.

B.

Area. The permitted area of freestanding/monument signs shall be as provided in Table 44-2. No sign shall be permitted to exceed the maximum area indicated, regardless of street frontage.

C.

Height. The maximum permitted height of a freestanding/monument sign shall not exceed the limits set forth in Table 44-2. The height of a freestanding/monument sign is measured from grade to the highest point of the sign, except that the height of the freeway-oriented freestanding signs, where the freeway elevation is greater than the base of the sign, may be measured from the grade of the freeway lane nearest the sign not including on and off ramps to the highest point of the sign, as illustrated in Figure 44-9.

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Figure 44-9. Maximum heights of freestanding signs.

D.

Location.

1.

No freestanding/monument sign shall be located in such a manner that it blocks, obscures, or obstructs existing signs, or signable area, on any building, including buildings on abutting property, nor shall any freestanding/monument sign be located in such a manner that it blocks, obscures, or obstructs another freestanding/monument sign, including one on abutting property.

2.

Where more than one (1) freestanding sign is used for one (1) business or group of businesses, the minimum distance between two (2) freestanding signs on the same property shall be one hundred feet (100').

No freestanding/monument sign shall be located within the required corner cutoff area of a driveway, alley, or street, as defined in Section 21.15.660 and illustrated in Figure 15-4.

4.

A freeway-oriented freestanding sign must be located within one thousand five hundred feet (1,500') of the intersection of the freeway off-ramp with the surface street providing access to the premises on which the sign is located.

E.

Projection and overhang. No freestanding sign shall overhang the property line adjoining a public right-ofway unless approval has been granted by the Department of Public Works. In any case, no freestanding sign shall project closer than two feet (2') to the curb line. Neither shall any freestanding sign shall overhang the property line between parcels.

F.

Design. The following design standards shall apply to all freestanding/monument signs:

1.

New plastic sign faces on sign cabinets for freestanding/monument signs are prohibited, except for "pushthrough/through-the-face" types. The portion of a sign cabinet identifying individual tenants may consist of an internally-illuminated cabinet with individual plastic faceplates for each tenant; however, these faceplates shall be push-through/through-the-face types whenever feasible. All tenant faceplates shall be of a harmonious theme, with complementary lettering, design, and colors.

2.

Freestanding signs should be architectural in nature. The slab-monolith type is encouraged, or alternately a slab with an architectural base, middle, and capital; other architectural designs can be acceptable also. Freestanding signs mounted on one (1) or several bare poles are prohibited.

3.

If a freestanding sign is not a slab-type, its support shall be at least half the width of the sign portion and shall be enclosed in an interesting architectural element that complements the sign structure and adjacent building(s). Uncovered structural poles are prohibited.

4.

Individual channel letters on a background, reverse channel letters, or push-through/through-the-face designs are preferred, both for the main sign and the identification of tenants.

5.

Any angle iron or secondary support shall be enclosed in a form constructed of impermeable material, such that the angle iron or secondary support is not visible.

Table 44-2

Permitted Size, Max. Area, and Max. Height of Freestanding/Monument Signs

(ORD-19-0028 § 26, 2019; ORD-13-0014 § 19(Att. A), 2013)

Awning and marquee/canopy signs are permitted for each business located on the ground floor and abutting a street, parking lot or public walkway within a mall, excluding alleys and serviceways. Each awning or marquee/canopy may display one (1) sign subject to the following provisions:

A.

Area. The area of the sign may not exceed forty percent (40%) of the total face of the awning or marquee/canopy, not to exceed one hundred (100) square feet. The face of the awning shall be measured as shown in Figure 44-10.

B.

Projection. The sign may not project closer than two feet (2') to the curb line. Any encroachment over public property shall require approval from the Department of Public Works.

C.

Limits. Marquee/canopy signs shall be contained entirely within the perimeter of the fascia of the marquee or canopy.

D.

Slope. The face of the marquee, canopy or awning shall slope not more than sixty degrees (60°) from the vertical plane.

E.

Additional under-mounted signs. In addition to a surface-mounted marquee/canopy sign, a sign which displays the business name only may be mounted on the under surface of the marquee or canopy, provided:

1.

The area of the sign does not exceed eight (8) square feet;

2.

The clearance from grade is eight feet (8') for pedestrian use and fifteen feet (15') for vehicular use; and

3.

The signs are mounted perpendicular to the building wall.

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Figure 44-10. Maximum size and area measurement of an awning sign.

(ORD-13-0014 § 19(Att. A), 2013)

21.44.170 - Building identification signs (commercial and residential).

A.

Commercial Buildings. Commercial building identification signs in the form of a wall sign or a projecting sign may be displayed on any building that is composed of one (1) or more businesses and is at least four (4) stories high.

1.

Number. One (1) building identification sign is permitted per building face/wall and shall be comprised of the business/building name and/or logo. If a projecting sign is used as the building identification sign, no other projecting sign shall be allowed for that building face, and no freestanding sign shall be allowed on the site.

Area. Commercial building identification signs shall not exceed one and one-half (1½) square feet of sign area per every linear foot of building wall and shall not exceed a maximum of three hundred (300) square feet.

3.

Placement. No commercial building identification sign shall extend beyond the perimeter of the signable wall area on which it is placed, nor shall it be displayed above the peak of the roof or the top of the parapet of a building, or below the lower one-third (⅓) of a building on which it is placed, unless a Creative Sign Permit is approved.

4.

Projection. The maximum projection shall be fourteen inches (14") from the face of the wall. Any building identification sign projecting over the right-of-way shall require approval from the Director of Public Works.

B.

Multifamily Residential Building Identification. Multifamily building identification signs are permitted in the form of a wall sign, a monument sign, an awning or a marquee/canopy sign, or a projecting sign, subject to the following restrictions:

1.

Number. One (1) sign is permitted for each street the building abuts.

2.

Design Standards. The manner in which building identification signs may be displayed shall determine the design standards.

a.

Wall Sign. The identification sign shall comply with all applicable wall sign provisions of this chapter, except that the total area shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the signable area, nor more than five percent (5%) of the building face.

b.

Monument Sign. The building identification sign shall comply with all applicable monument sign provisions of this chapter, except that the maximum area shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) square feet and the maximum height above grade shall not exceed four feet (4') above grade.

c.

Awning or Marquee/Canopy Sign. The identification sign shall comply with all applicable awning or marquee/canopy sign provisions of this chapter.

d.

Projecting Sign. The identification sign shall comply with all applicable projecting sign provisions of this chapter, except that the maximum area shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) square feet.

(ORD-13-0014, § 19(Att. A), 2013)