The Director of Community Development (hereinafter “Director”) or their designee shall have the authority to administer this code. The Director may, if needed, develop administrative rules to resolve any conflicts arising out of the administration of the Sign Code. Any rules shall not be in conflict with this code and shall be consistent with TMC Section 19.04.020, “Intent,” and the legislative record used to create this code. Sign permits are issued by the Director unless otherwise noted in this code. The Director may require the assistance of other departments in administering this code. All permits referenced in this Title are subject to the permitting requirements found in TMC Chapter 18.104.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A. 
A sign discernible from any public right-of-way, adjacent premise or an adjacent off-site business shall not be erected, re-erected, constructed or altered, including changes to the sign panel, face or copy, without a sign permit, except as provided by this code.
B. 
The installation of some signage within the City may require a permit from the Washington State Department of Transportation. It is an applicant’s responsibility to obtain all required permits from the appropriate government agency.
C. 
The issuance of a sign permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any other ordinance of the City. Permits presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or other ordinances of the City shall not be valid. The issuance of a permit based on construction documents and other data shall not prevent the Director from requiring the correction of errors in the construction documents and other data.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
The following shall not require issuance of permits by the City. The exception is only from the need to obtain a permit and shall not be construed as relief from compliance with other requirements of this title. The provisions of this section shall be narrowly construed so as to effectuate the purposes of this title, as enumerated in TMC Section 19.04.020.
1. 
Repainting of an existing sign when there is no other alteration. This exception shall not be interpreted to allow the changing of copy or face changes on an existing sign.
2. 
Refacing, panel change or copy change on existing conforming, monument signs that have valid Tukwila sign permits as permitted by TMC Section 19.20.030(B)(7), 19.20.040 (6), or 19.32.075.
3. 
Temporary window signs, subject to the limitations of TMC Section 19.24.080.
4. 
Traffic signs and/or markings installed for the purpose of regulating, warning or directing traffic. Signs may be installed within the right-of-way or on private property, with the permission of the property owner. All signs installed under this exception shall meet the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, current edition, published by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
5. 
Signs typically installed on utilities and wireless communication facilities denoting danger or other safety information, including emergency contact information.
6. 
Land use notice boards per TMC Section 18.104.110.
7. 
Text or graphics on umbrellas located in outdoor seating or plaza areas.
8. 
Up to four directional signs per premises where there is a need to direct vehicular traffic. Freestanding signs may be up to three feet in height and two square feet per face or a total of four square feet for all faces. Flush-mounted building signs may be up to three square feet in size.
9. 
The following exceptions are specific to properties developed with residential uses in residential zones:
a. 
Each residential property shall be permitted one 1.5-square-foot, building-mounted plaque; and
b. 
Each residential property shall be permitted four signs that are temporary in nature, for a total sign area of 12 square feet, with no sign larger than 6 square feet.
10. 
Display of up to three flags, each on individual flag poles, per premise. Content of the flags is not regulated.
11. 
Banners within the City’s right-of-way, located on City-owned light poles, City-owned street light signal poles, or hanging above the right-of-way when approved by the Director of Public Works or designee.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A sign, sign style or device is prohibited by this code and subject to removal if it is not specifically permitted by this code. This includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:
1. 
Signs adjacent to State roads that do not comply with Washington State Department of Transportation regulations.
2. 
Any sign using the word “stop,” “look” or “danger” or any other word, symbol, character or color, that might be confusing to traffic or detract from any legal traffic control device.
3. 
Any sign, symbol, object or device located within City or State rights-of-way or City easement or City-owned property without City and/or State approval.
4. 
Any sign, symbol, object or device located on a traffic control device, City light pole or other City-owned facility, even if such facility is located on private property, with the exception of TMC Section 19.12.030.4.
5. 
Any sign, symbol, object or device that is placed or hung from a tree, bush, shrub or other vegetation.
6. 
Strings of pennants, banners or streamers, searchlights, clusters of flags, wind-animated objects, balloons and similar devices except as provided under TMC Section 19.24.060.
7. 
The use of portable signs or other similar devices, unless permitted under TMC Section 19.24.070.
8. 
Dynamic signs, except those types specifically permitted under this code.
9. 
Abandoned signs.
10. 
No sign may be placed on any property without the property owner’s permission. Private property owners shall be responsible for the removal of signs placed on their property without their permission.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)
A. 
It is the responsibility of a property owner and/or business owner to ensure the provisions of this code are met on any real property they own or control. The City shall issue a warning to any property owner where illegal permanent or temporary signs have been installed or where permanent or temporary signs have been installed without first obtaining a permit. Each day that an unlawful sign remains will be deemed a separate violation.
B. 
The City shall have the right to remove any signs illegally placed within the City’s right-of-way, easements under City control or property owned and/or controlled by the City. No duty is created to require the City to remove such signs. The City shall retain all signs removed from the City’s right-of-way for 10 days. The owner of the signs may retrieve the signs from the City and pay a $50-per-sign fee to the City to recover a portion of the City’s cost in removing the illegal signs. Once the 10-day period has expired, the City shall have the right to dispose of the signs.
C. 
Any violation of this code shall be considered a public nuisance and subject to enforcement and penalties as prescribed by TMC Chapter 8.45 and the issuance of a Notice of Violation in accordance with TMC Section 8.45.070.
(Ord. 2742, 10/17/2024)