[R.O. 1992 § 405.025; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height.
A. 
Computation Of Area Of Individual Signs. The area of a sign face [which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other with only one (1) face] shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such face or wall otherwise meets Zoning Code regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
B. 
Computation Of Area Of Multifaced Signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one (1) face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one (1) point. When two (2) identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than forty-two (42) inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one (1) of the faces.
C. 
Computation Of Height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:
1. 
Existing grade prior to construction; or
2. 
The newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the lot, whichever is lower.
D. 
Computation Of Maximum Total Permitted Sign Area For A Lot. The permitted sum of all individual signs on a lot shall be computed by applying the formula contained in Table B, Maximum Total Sign Area,[1] to the lot frontage, or principal building face area, as appropriate, for the zoning district in which the lot is located. Lots fronting on two (2) or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage. However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot's total sign area allocation that is derived from the lot frontage or building face on that street.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Section 405.035 for Table B.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.030; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
A. 
Permitted Signs. Signs shall be allowed on private property in the City in accordance with and only in accordance with Table A in Section 405.035 below. If the letter "A" appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is allowed without prior permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column. If the letter "P" appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is allowed only with prior permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column. Special conditions may apply in some cases. If the letter "N" appears for a sign type in a column, such a sign is not allowed in the zoning districts represented by that column under any circumstances.
B. 
Permitted Signs Subject To Qualifications. Although permitted under the previous Subsection, a sign designated by a "P" or "A" in Table A in Section 405.035 shall only be allowed if the sum of the areas of all building and freestanding signs on the lot conforms to the maximum permitted sign area as determined by the formula for the zoning district and/or highway/street in which the lot is located as specified in Tables B, C-1 and C-2.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.035; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
A. 
Permitted Types And Standards. All signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the permitted types and standards as set forth in Tables A, B, C-1 and C-2 in this Section and all signs shall comply with applicable provisions of Title V, the Building Code of the City of Washington.
Key:
A = Allowed without sign permit
P = Allowed only with sign permit
N = Not allowed
NA = Not applicable
Table A
Permitted Signs by Type and Zoning District
Sign Type
R-1A, B, C and D/R-2
R-3
C-1/C-2
C-3
M
Freestanding/Ground
Subdivision
P
P
P
P
P
On-premises
P
P
P
P
P
Other
A
P
P
P
P
Wall/Building
Banner
N
N
P
P
P
Building marker
A
A
A
A
A
Canopy
N
N
P
P
P
Identification
A
A
A
A
A
Incidental
N
A
A
A
A
Marquee
N
N
P
P
P
Projecting
N
N
P
P
P
Residential
A
A
NA
NA
NA
Roof
N
N
N
P
N
Suspended
N
N
N
A
N
Temporary
N
N
P
P
N
Wall
N
N
P
P
P
Window
N
N
A
A
N
Miscellaneous
Banner
N
N
P
P
N
Flag
A
A
A
A
A
Portable
N
N
P
A
N
Table B
Maximum Total Sign Area Per Lot By Zoning District
The maximum total area of all wall and/or building signs, except incidental, building marker, identification, flags and window signs, shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
R-1A, B, C, and D
R-2
R-3
C-1/C-3
C-2
M
Maximum number of total square feet
1
2 (1/unit)
100
NA
NA
NA
Percentage of principal building face area
NA
NA
NA
5%
5%
5%
Square feet of signage per linear foot of street frontage
NA
NA
NA
2
4
2
NA = Not applicable
Table C-1
Maximum Total Sign Area for Permanent Freestanding On-Premises Signs by Zoning District and/or Highway/Street
The maximum area of all permanent freestanding on-premises signs shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
Zoning District/Corridor
R-1A, B, C and D/R-2
R-3
C-1/C-2/ C-3
C-1/C-2 Highway 47 and/or 100
C-3
M-1/M-2
Maximum number of total square feet
8
32
75
250
75
100
Square footage of signage per linear footage
NA
NA
1.5
2
NA
1.5
NA = Not applicable
Table C-2
Maximum Height for All Permanent Freestanding On-Premises Signs by Zoning District and/or Highway/Street
The maximum area of all permanent freestanding on-premises signs shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
Zoning District/Corridor
R-1A, B, C and D/R-2
R-3
Commercial Along Highway A
Commercial Along Highway 100 and 47
All other C-1 and C-2 areas
C-3
M
Maximum height in feet
6
8
25
50
20
15
20
B. 
Materials And Method Of Attachment. Except for banners, flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects to the requirements of this Chapter, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
C. 
Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance at all times with all Building and Electrical Codes, and in conformance with this Chapter and those of Chapter 400 as applicable.
D. 
Planned Development Districts. Signage within Planned Development Districts (PD-R, PD-C, PD-I, and PD-MXD) are subject to the standards and permit requirements of Tables A, B, C-1, and C-2 above depending on whether the existing or proposed PD District is residential, commercial, or industrial in nature and the density of the development and shall be permitted, permitted by permit, or not allowed. (For example, the standards of Table A for a planned residential development at R1-A density would apply to that PD-R District.) Requirements for a comprehensive sign plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 405.045 herein shall apply whether required by this Chapter and Section or by the provisions of the Planned Development District regulations of Chapter 400, Section 400.115.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.040; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
The following requirements and standards shall apply for all subdivision signs:
A. 
Type, Number, And Size.
1. 
All subdivision signs shall be ground signs.
2. 
There shall not be more than two (2) residential subdivision signs for each point of vehicular access to the development.
3. 
Subdivision signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area for each exposed face.
B. 
Location.
1. 
Subdivision signs may be located in any required yard, out of the City right-of-way or located in a right-of-way island with the permission of the City.
2. 
Signs located adjacent to an arterial or collector roadway shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the right-of-way and shall not interfere with vehicular sight distance.
C. 
Maintenance. Responsibility for maintenance of all subdivision signs is that of the developer or subdivision association.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.045; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
No permit shall be issued for an individual sign requiring a permit unless and until a comprehensive sign plan for the lot on which the sign will be erected has been submitted to the Zoning Administrator and approved by the Zoning Administrator as conforming to this Section.
A. 
Comprehensive Sign Plan. A comprehensive sign plan is required for all development where one (1) or more signs require a permit.
1. 
Single Lot. For any single lot on which the owner proposes to erect one (1) or more signs requiring a permit, the owner shall submit to the Zoning Administrator a comprehensive sign plan containing the following:
a. 
An accurate plot plan of the lot, at such scale as the Zoning Administrator may reasonably require;
b. 
Location of buildings, parking lots, driveways, and landscaped areas on such lot;
c. 
Computation of the maximum total sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the height of signs and the number of freestanding signs allowed on the lot(s) included in the plan under this Chapter; and
d. 
An accurate indication on the plot plan of the proposed location of each present and future sign of any type, whether requiring a permit or not, except that incidental signs need not be shown.
2. 
Two or More Contiguous Lots.
a. 
The following requirements and standards shall apply for all situations where:
(1) 
The owners of two (2) or more contiguous (disregarding intervening streets and alleys) lots or the owner of a single lot with more than one (1) building (not including any accessory building) wish to file with the Zoning Administrator a comprehensive sign plan for such lots;
(2) 
The owners and/or tenants of larger commercial, industrial, or mixed-use developments comprised of multiple lots and/or leased spaces within buildings wish to file with the Zoning Administrator a comprehensive sign plan;
b. 
The comprehensive sign plan shall contain all of the information required for single lots as specified in Section 405.045(A)(1)(a) through (d) above and shall also specify standards for consistency among all signs on the lots affected by the plan with regard to: color scheme, lettering or graphic style, lighting, location of each sign on the buildings, material, and sign proportions.
c. 
In such multiple lots or larger development situations, a comprehensive sign plan conforming to the provisions of this Section, a twenty-five-percent increase in the maximum total sign area shall be allowed for each included lot. This bonus shall be allocated within each lot as the owner(s) elects.
3. 
Showing Window Signs On Comprehensive Sign Plan. A common signage plan or master signage plan, including window signs may simply indicate the areas of the windows to be covered by window signs and the general type of the window signs (e.g., paper affixed to the window, painted, etched on glass, or some other material hung inside window) and need not specify the exact dimension or nature of every window sign.
4. 
Limit On Number Of Freestanding Signs Under Common Signage Plan. The comprehensive sign plan, for all lots with multiple uses or multiple users, shall limit the number of freestanding signs to a total of one (1) for each street on which the lots included in the plan have frontage and shall provide for shared or common usage of such signs.
5. 
Other Provisions Of Master Or Comprehensive Sign Plan. The comprehensive sign plan may contain such other restrictions as the owners of the lots may reasonably determine.
6. 
Consent. The comprehensive sign plan shall be signed by all owners or their authorized agents in such form as the Zoning Administrator shall require.
7. 
Procedures. A comprehensive sign plan shall be included in any development plan, site plan, planned development plan, or other official plan required by the City for the proposed development and shall be processed simultaneously with such other plan.
8. 
Amendment. A master or common signage plan may be amended by filing a new master or common signage plan that conforms to all requirements of the ordinance then in effect.
9. 
Existing Signs Not Conforming To Comprehensive Sign Plan. If any new or amended common signage plan is filed for a property on which existing signs are located, it shall include a schedule for bringing into conformance, within three (3) years, all signs not conforming to the proposed amended plan or to the requirements of this Chapter in effect on the date of submission.
10. 
Binding Effect. After approval of a comprehensive sign plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in conformance with such plan, and such plan may be enforced in the same way as any provision of this Chapter. In case of any conflict between the provisions of this Chapter, this Chapter shall control.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.050; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except for the following:
A. 
Permanent Signs.
1. 
Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
2. 
Information signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes, or facilities; and
3. 
Awning, projecting, and suspended signs projecting over a public right-of-way in conformity with the conditions of Section 405.035, Table A, of this Chapter.
B. 
Emergency Warning Signs: emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.
C. 
Signs Illegally Installed Or Placed. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this Section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the City shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.055; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
A. 
Signs Exempt. The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Chapter:
1. 
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, State, or local law, regulation or ordinance.
2. 
Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the lot line of the lot or parcel on which such sign is located.
3. 
Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
4. 
Traffic control signs on private property, such as stop, yield, and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort.
[R.O. 1992 § 405.060; Ord. No. 16-11557, 8-15-2016, effective 3-1-2017]
A. 
Application. The following shall apply to all ground signs in all zoning districts:
1. 
No more than one (1) ground sign relating to products and/or services within a building shall be permitted per lot or premises.
2. 
One (1) ground sign shall be allowed per each street fronting on the lot.
3. 
Ground signs containing a commercial message must pertain to the business or enterprise operating on the lot on which the ground sign is located.
4. 
Ground signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way except for approved subdivision signs.