Article VII — Prohibited Signs

No person shall erect, alter or relocate any sign of the type specified in this article. (Prior code § 3.08.150)

No sign shall be permitted at the intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision of motor vehicle operators or at any location where by reason of its position, shape or color it may interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or which makes use of a word, symbol, phrase, shape or color in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic. (Prior code § 3.08.151)15.148.620

A. No sign shall be allowed that is placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, electrolier, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface located on public property or over or across any street or public thoroughfare except as may otherwise expressly be authorized by this chapter.

B. Any sign found placed, posted, or otherwise affixed upon any public or utility property contrary to the provisions of this section or Section 15.148.660 of this chapter may be removed by any company, utility, organization, or individual owning or responsible for maintaining that property, or by the city. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15.148.820 of this chapter, no advance notice or hearing shall be required. The person responsible for any such illegal placement, posting, or affixing shall be liable for the costs incurred in the removal thereof, and the revenue manager is authorized to effect the collection of any removal costs incurred by the city. Any such sign may be disposed of in any manner deemed appropriate by the person who removes it.

• C. For purposes of this section, the following persons are responsible for placing a sign and to pay removal costs:

1. The person whose name, telephone number or address appears as the sponsor or promoter of a concert, dance, sporting event, theatrical performance, or similar activity or event referred to on the sign;

2. The person whose name, telephone number or address appears as the person to contact on the sign;

3. The owner, or lessee if the property is leased, of property used for a commercial activity or event advertised on the sign;

4. The promoter or sponsor of any activity or event to which the sign refers;

5. The candidate named on a sign which promotes a candidate for public office;

6. The real estate broker, agent, brokerage firm or other person whose name or telephone number appears on a sign advertising property for sale, lease or rent;

7. The owner, or lessee if the property is leased, of property used for a yard or garage sale advertised on the sign.

Any person responsible to pay removal costs may avoid such liability by demonstrating that he or she did not cause, authorize, permit, encourage, direct, recommend, or approve the posting of the sign on public or utility property. (Ord. 2016-0010 § 29; prior code § 3.08.152)

No sign shall be permitted which is animated by means of flashing, scintillating, blinking or traveling lights or any other means not providing constant illumination. No sign shall be permitted which because of its intensity of light constitutes a nuisance or hazard to vehicular traffic, pedestrians or adjacent properties. (Prior code § 3.08.153)

Except as otherwise provided in Section 15.148.290 of this chapter, no sign or any other portion thereof shall be allowed that moves or assumes any other motion constituting a nonstationary or fixed condition except for the rotation of revolving prism units in off-site signs or billboards. Revolving prism units may be used if such parts do not exceed a speed of one complete revolution, including the stationary condition of the prisms, in a thirty (30) second period. (Ord. 2016-0010 § 30; prior code § 3.08.154)

The tacking, painting, pasting, or otherwise affixing of signs or posters of a miscellaneous character, visible from a public way, located on the walls of a building, barns, sheds, on trees, poles, posts, fences, or other structures is prohibited. (Prior code § 3.08.155)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following signs are prohibited:

• A. Signs that are located on or project over the roof of a building or structure.

• B. Pennants, streamers, bunting, and wind signs.

• C. Sidewalk clocks.

• D. Statues, real or simulated, utilized for advertising purposes.

E. Off-site signs and signs displaying general advertising for hire. (Ord. 2017-0044 § 4; Ord. 2013-0025 § 7; prior code § 3.08.156)

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, from and after November 15, 2007, the construction, erection, installation, and use of new billboards are prohibited, subject to the following:

A. This section does not prohibit the city from entering into relocation agreements regarding existing billboards, as authorized by Section 15.148.815 and state law.

• B. This section does not affect billboards that legally existed on November 15, 2007; were legal when constructed; and are in conformance with all applicable laws. This section also does not affect the city's ability to condemn any existing billboards.

• C. This section does not affect billboards constructed on or after November 15, 2007, under a relocation agreement authorized by Section 15.148.815 and state law.

D. This section does not affect signs that are allowed under section 15.148.191 to display general advertising. (Ord. 2019-0035 § 3; Ord. 2016-0010 § 31; prior code § 3.08.157)15.148.680

Outlining of a building by means of exposed neon tubing, exposed incandescent lighting, or other artificial lighting, or an equivalent effect is prohibited. (Prior code § 3.08.158)

No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property. This section is not intended to apply to standard advertising or identification practices where such signs or advertising devices are painted on or permanently attached to a business or commercial vehicle. (Prior code § 3.08.159)

No advertising sign or device shall be permitted which emits audible sound, odor, or visible matter. (Prior code § 3.08.160)

The use of a fixed balloon within the city as a sign is prohibited. The term "fixed balloon" shall mean any lighter-than-air or gas-filled balloon attached by means of a rope or tether to a definite or fixed location. (Prior code § 3.08.161)