A. 
What Is a Sign Permit? A sign permit is the approval granted by the city for any person to erect, alter, expand, or relocate a sign. For some signs, a building permit may also be required.
B. 
Is a Sign Permit Required? A sign permit is not required for any sign that is erected, altered, expanded, or relocated in accordance with the criteria listed in EMC § 18.97.030, Exemptions. Even if a permit is not required, the sign must conform to this sign code.
C. 
Who Approves the Application? Sign permits are approved by the community development director or designee. If a building permit is required for the sign, the building code official approves the building permit. If a street use permit is required, the public works director approves the permit.
D. 
Who May Submit an Application? The owner or tenant of the property where the sign will be located, or the owner's agent on their behalf and with their written consent.
E. 
How Do I Submit an Application? A complete sign permit application must be submitted to the city and the application must include all of the following:
1. 
Application Form. A completed sign permit application, including the applicant's name, address, phone number, and email address. If the applicant is not the property owner, then the property owner must be identified, and the application must include an affidavit from the property owner, verifying that the property owner has given permission to the applicant for the submission of the sign permit application and for the installation or posting of the sign on the property owner's land.
2. 
Other Permit Applications. If required by the building code, a completed building permit application. In some instances, a street use permit application or a special event permit application may be required.
3. 
Building Elevation/Site Plan. Signs proposed to be mounted on a building require a building elevation drawn to scale that specifies the locations and size of existing signs on the building, the location and size of new signs proposed on the building, the dimensions of the wall plane upon which the signs will be placed, and drawings or photographs which show the scale of the sign in relation to surrounding doors, windows and other architectural features. Freestanding signs require a site plan indicating the proposed sign location as it relates to property lines, surrounding landscaping, adjacent streets, driveways and adjacent buildings.
4. 
Detailed Description of Sign. A scaled colored rendering or drawing of the sign and its associated structure, including dimensions of all sign faces, and descriptions of materials to be used on the sign and associated trim caps, fixtures and support structure, description of the sign face illumination and methods used to ensure that only text, graphics and logo shields are internally illuminated.
5. 
Scaled Installation Drawing. A scaled drawing that includes the sign description, proposed materials, size, weight, manner of construction and method of attachment, including all hardware necessary for proper sign installation, and, if applicable, foundation design.
6. 
Lighting. A drawing indicating the location and fixture type of all exterior lighting for the proposed signs. The drawing shall specify wattage and lamp type to ensure compatibility with the illumination standards in EMC § 18.97.050.
7. 
Master Sign Plan. If the sign is subject to a master sign plan as described in EMC § 18.97.270, a master sign plan must be included as part of a complete sign permit, unless a master sign plan for the site or building has already been approved, is current and is on file with the city.
8. 
Fees. Payment of the sign permit fee as set forth in the city of Edgewood fee schedule.
F. 
How Is Notice Provided? There is no notice to the public that a sign permit application has been submitted.
G. 
How Is an Application Reviewed? A sign permit application follows the Process I procedure in EMC § 18.40.070 and 18.40.080. The application is categorically exempt from SEPA and, pursuant to RCW 36.70B.140(2), is exempt from the other permit processing requirements in RCW 36.70B.060 and 36.70B.110, including, but not limited to, the notice of application, determination of completeness and issuance of a final decision within the time permit set forth in RCW 36.70.080.
H. 
What Approval Criteria Are Used?
1. 
A sign permit application shall not be approved unless the director makes written findings and conclusions that the criteria applicable to each sign type, as well as the sign standards in this chapter, are satisfied.
2. 
Building permit applications associated with the sign shall be reviewed by the building code official for consistency with the building code.
3. 
If the sign uses electrical wiring and connections, a licensed electrician must submit a copy of the electrical permit application to the city, with the original submitted for approval to the state of Washington. If the sign requires a street use or special event permit, the application shall be submitted with the sign permit application for review by the public works director.
I. 
What If an Application Is Denied? The applicant may file an administrative appeal as provided in EMC § 18.40.080(D).
J. 
What Happens after Approval? Once the sign permit issues, the sign must be installed within 180 days or the sign permit will expire. Building permits and street use permits shall expire in accordance with other applicable code provisions. No sign may be erected, altered or relocated if the sign permit has expired, even if the associated building permit or street use permit has not expired.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 23-652 § 85 (Exh. A); Ord. 24-660 §§ 24, 25 (Exh. B))
A. 
What Is a Master Sign Plan? A master sign plan is a plan that includes, in a coordinated fashion, all of the signs needed for spaces in a proposed mixed-use or nonresidential, multi-tenant building(s) or site development or for coordination of adjoining parcels seeking to combine their total street frontage subject to the sizing requirements in EMC § 18.97.180(D). In addition, a master sign plan may be voluntarily developed by the owner or agent of any new or existing nonresidential use.
B. 
Who Approves the Application? The community development director or designee.
C. 
Who May Submit an Application? The owner of the buildings or site development.
D. 
How Do I Submit an Application? A complete application for a master sign plan must be submitted, which includes all of the following information:
1. 
A complete master sign plan application, including the applicant's name, address, phone number and email address. If the applicant is not the property owner(s), then the property owner(s) must be identified and the application must include an affidavit from the property owner(s), verifying that the property owner(s) has given permission for the applicant to submit the master sign plan application. No master sign plan application may be submitted without written consent from all affected property owners, and no sign may be placed upon real property without the consent of the real property owner(s);
2. 
A site plan drawn to legible scale, indicating the location of all buildings, driveways and pavement areas, landscape areas, abutting streets, and proposed freestanding signs on the site;
3. 
Elevation drawings of each building on a site that indicate proposed sign locations on each of the buildings;
4. 
Maximum allowable signage on each elevation based upon a five percent calculation of all facades;
5. 
The master sign plan application shall identify the sign features and sign types proposed to be used on each building and the proposed location. In addition, the applicant shall include a statement describing the manner in which the building or site owner wishes to allocate allowable signage among tenants and where specific tenant signage shall be located;
6. 
A narrative description of the development to demonstrate that the master sign plan meets the required design standards of this chapter;
7. 
Fees. Payment of the master sign plan fee, as set forth in the city of Edgewood fee schedule.
E. 
How Is Notice Provided? There is no notice provided to the public that a master sign plan application has been submitted.
F. 
How Is an Application Reviewed? A master sign plan application follows the Process I procedure in EMC § 18.40.070 and 18.40.080. The application is categorically exempt from SEPA and, pursuant to RCW 36.70B.140(2), is exempt from the other permit processing requirements in RCW 36.70B.060 and RCW 36.70B.110, including, but not limited to, the notice of application, determination of completeness and issuance of a final decision within the time permit set forth in RCW 36.70.080.
G. 
What Approval Criteria Are Used? All signs in the master sign plan must meet the criteria for approval of a sign permit in this section. In addition, all of the signs in the master sign plan:
1. 
Shall be architecturally similar and visually related to each other through the incorporation of common design elements. Up to two sign types may be used on any one building. All sign cabinets, trim caps, and all sign supports, such as poles and braces, shall be of a common color;
2. 
Shall be architecturally integrated with the buildings included in the master sign plan; and
3. 
Must not obscure the view of other signs which are consistent with this chapter.
H. 
What Happens If a Master Sign Plan Is Denied? The applicant may file an administrative appeal as provided in EMC § 18.40.080(D).
I. 
What Happens after Approval? Once the master sign plan issues, the signs depicted in the approved plan must be installed within 180 days or the master sign plan will expire. Building permits and street use permits for any signs shown in the master sign plan shall expire in accordance with other applicable code provisions. No sign may be erected, altered or relocated if the master sign plan has expired, even if the associated sign permit, building permit or street use permit has not expired.
J. 
Can the Master Sign Plan Be Amended? An application for an amendment to an approved master sign plan can be submitted at any time, subject to the same requirements and procedures that apply to the original master sign plan application. Tenants whose signs are included in the amendment application need the property owner's consent to file such application. In order to approve any such amendment, the director shall consider the existing signs on the building(s) subject to the approved master sign plan when determining whether the application meets the criteria for approval in subsection (G) of this section.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 23-652 § 86 (Exh. A))
A. 
What Is a Sign Variance? A variance application is submitted concurrent with a sign permit application when the property owner/tenant seeks to deviate from the strict application of the regulations in this chapter which apply to:
1. 
Sign placement on a parcel or building frontage;
2. 
Sign area; or
3. 
Sign height (as limited in this chapter).
A variance may not be granted to allow any prohibited signs or prohibited sign features, as described in EMC § 18.97.040, or for any other purpose that is not specifically listed in this subsection. The variance procedure in this section does not apply to the processing of any street use permit or building permit.
First Amendment Exception. Where an applicant can demonstrate that the strict application of the regulations in this chapter would violate his/her First Amendment rights, the city may grant a First Amendment exception that does not conform to all of the variance criteria in subsection (G) of this section. However, the applicant shall submit an application which provides his/her response to each of the variance criteria in subsection (G) of this section. In order to process a First Amendment exception, the city shall follow all other requirements of this section. In order to approve a First Amendment exception, the city must make written findings, and may only grant such exception to the extent reasonably necessary to protect the applicant's First Amendment rights. If a First Amendment exception is granted, it shall be processed as an approval of a variance for purposes of this chapter.
B. 
Who Approves the Application? After a public hearing on the consolidated applications of the sign permit and sign variance, the hearing examiner approves the applications.
C. 
Who May Submit an Application? The owner of the buildings, the owner of the property or site development.
D. 
How Do I Submit an Application? A complete application for a sign variance shall consist of the following:
1. 
Application Form. A completed sign variance application, including the applicant's name, address, phone number and email address. If the applicant is not the property owner, then the property owner must be identified and the application must include an affidavit from the property owner, verifying that the property owner has given permission to the applicant for the submission of the sign variance application and for the installation/posting of the sign on the property owner's property.
2. 
Sign permit application (all of the materials required by EMC § 18.97.260(E)).
3. 
A narrative report which describes the requested variance in detail. The report shall identify all of the sections of this chapter from which the applicant is requesting the variance, as well as the nature and extent of the variance (in size, area, location on the property, height).
4. 
The narrative report shall also include the applicant's description of the manner in which the sign variance satisfies all of the variance criteria in subsection (G) of this section.
5. 
Payment of the sign variance fee, as set forth in the city of Edgewood fee schedule.
E. 
How Is Notice Provided? The public is given notice of a sign variance application and the associated sign permit application through issuance of a notice of application, as described in EMC § 18.40.180.
F. 
How Is an Application Reviewed? The sign variance application is consolidated for processing, with the associated sign permit application, as Process III (hearing examiner review) in EMC § 18.40.100. The city determines whether the applications are complete (EMC § 18.40.150), the notice of application issues (EMC § 18.40.180), a notice of public hearing issues (EMC § 18.40.190) and a public hearing is held by the hearing examiner (EMC § 18.40.190(E)). The hearing examiner issues a decision (EMC § 18.40.100(Q) and (R)).
G. 
What Approval Criteria Are Used? Sign variance applications shall be reviewed by the hearing examiner to determine whether all of the following criteria are satisfied. In order to approve any sign variance, the director must make written findings to show that all of the following criteria have been met:
1. 
The request for a sign variance is due to unusual conditions pertaining to sign visibility needs for a specific building or lot; and
2. 
The sign will not create a hazard; and
3. 
The sign will not violate any state statute or any city code provision (other than the ones identified in subsections (A)(1) through (3) of this section); and
4. 
The sign will not negatively affect adjacent property; and
5. 
The sign will be in keeping with the general character of the surrounding area and the granting of the variance would not result in an alteration of the essential character of the surrounding area; and
6. 
The proposed variance is consistent with the purposes and intent of the zoning/development code and the purposes of this chapter; and
7. 
The variance is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan; and
8. 
The applicant has established that there are practical difficulties in complying with the provision(s) of this chapter identified in subsections (A)(1) through (3) of this section and that the proposed sign is a reasonable use of the property (economic considerations alone do not constitute practical difficulties); and
9. 
The plight of the applicant is due to circumstances unique to the property, which were not created by the applicant or landowner; and
10. 
The variance will not permit any sign or use that is not allowed in the zoning district where the affected land is located, nor will it allow any sign or sign feature prohibited under EMC § 18.97.040.
H. 
What If an Application Is Denied? The applicant may file an administrative appeal as provided in EMC § 18.40.100(T) and (X).
I. 
What Happens after Approval? Once the variance and sign permit issue, the sign must be installed within 180 days or the variance and sign permit will expire. Building permits and street use permits shall expire in accordance with other applicable code provisions. No sign may be erected, altered or relocated if the sign permit has expired, even if the associated building permit or street use permit has not expired.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 23-652 § 87 (Exh. A))
A. 
Nonconforming Signs. Any lawful nonconforming sign may be continued, as long as it is maintained only in the manner and to the extent that it existed at the time it became nonconforming. Illegal signs shall not be considered nonconforming signs.
B. 
Maintenance. It is unlawful for any owner of record, lessor, lessee, manager, or other person having lawful possession or control over a building, structure, or parcel of land to fail to maintain any signs on the building, structure, or parcel in compliance with this chapter and the zoning code (this title, Development Standards). Failure to maintain a sign constitutes a violation of this chapter, and shall subject the violator to issuance of a notice of code violation and enforcement under the provisions of EMC Title 7 and Chapter 18.85 EMC, unless otherwise specified.
1. 
Sign Maintenance. All signs, whether or not in existence prior to the adoption of this chapter, shall be maintained. Maintenance of a sign shall include periodic cleaning, replacement of flickering, burned-out or broken light bulbs or fixtures, repair or replacement of any faded, peeled, cracked or otherwise damaged or broken parts of a sign, and any other activity necessary to restore the sign so that it continues to comply with the requirements and contents of the sign permit issued for its installation and the provisions of this chapter.
2. 
Landscape Maintenance. Required landscaped areas associated with an approved sign shall receive regular repair and maintenance. Plant materials that do not survive after installation in required landscape areas are required to be replaced within six months of the plant's demise or within the next planting season, whichever event first occurs.
C. 
Removal. Any vacant or unused sign support structures, angle irons, sign poles or other remnants of old signs which are currently not in use, or are not proposed for immediate reuse by a sign permit application for a permitted sign, shall be removed. In addition to the remedies in Chapter 18.85 EMC, Enforcement, the director shall have the authority to require the repair, maintenance or removal of any sign or sign structure which has become dilapidated or represents a hazard to the safety, health or welfare of the public, at the cost of the sign and/or property owner.
D. 
Enforcement. Violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed civil violations enforced according to EMC Title 7 and Chapter 18.85 EMC, unless otherwise specified.
(Ord. 19-552 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 20-572 § 9 (Exh. I))