This chapter is known as and may be cited as the "Sumner Sign Code." Additional guidelines for signs associated with commercial and industrial uses are included in the Sumner design and development guidelines.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)
It is the purpose of this chapter to maintain high quality in the advertising communication sector in the city by regulating the posting, displaying, erection, use and maintenance of signs and street graphics, while recognizing the needs of businesses and convenience of pedestrians and motorists; to encourage creative and innovative design; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the city's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to reduce traffic hazards caused by unregulated signs which may distract, confuse, and impair the visibility of motorists and pedestrians; to establish a variance process which acknowledges changes in lifestyle, travel patterns and land use philosophy.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)
The following signs or displays are exempted from the regulations and procedures under this chapter:
A.
Official public signs.
B.
Signs not visible or intended to be viewed from a public or pedestrian right-of-way.
C.
Window merchandise displays.
D.
Window signs, as follows, displayed in the specified manner:
1.
Decals indicating credit cards honored, not exceeding two square feet in surface area;
2.
Temporary signs such as signs used in conjunction with national advertising programs, or as marketing specials;
3.
Individual neon signs not exceeding three square feet in surface area. Limited one sign per window, or one sign per 32 square feet of window area, whichever is less.
E.
Point of purchase advertising displays such as product dispensers and candy machines.
F.
National flags or flags of political subdivisions or symbolic flags of a noncommercial institution.
G.
Gravestones.
H.
Reasonable holiday decorations.
I.
Plaques, tablets or inscriptions indicating the name of a building, its date of erection, or other commemorative information, which are an integral part of the building's structure or are attached flat to the face of the building, which are nonilluminated, and which do not exceed three square feet in surface area.
J.
Sculptures, fountains, mosaics, murals and design features which do not incorporate advertising or identifications.
K.
Legal notices required by law.
L.
Signs required by law.
M.
Structures intended for a separate use such as phone booths and recycle containers; or sign graphics attached directly to a motor vehicle, boat, trailer, or container operating in the normal course of business.
N.
Barber poles not exceeding four feet in length; provided, the director approves the design of the pole, the location, and manner of erection.
O.
Signs stating business hours erected on private property. These signs shall not contain advertising or promotional information and shall not exceed a sign area of four square feet.
P.
The holder of a permit, for the duration thereof, has the right to change the advertising copy on the structure or sign for which the permit was issued without being required to pay any additional fee or to conform to any additional requirements. If the form and format of the sign copy does not change, no design review is required. Any structural changes to the sign will require a permit.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)
For the purposes of this chapter, certain words and phrases have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise indicates or a definition exists in chapter 18.04 SMC:
means any sign that flashes or simulates motion with an electronic or manufactured source of supply or contains wind-actuated motion, but not including flags or banners, revolving signs or changing message centers.
means a sign made of cloth, fabric, paper, nonrigid plastic or similar types of material. National flags, flags of political subdivisions and symbolic flags of an institution or business (house flag) are not considered banner signs for the purposes of this chapter.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0210.
means a sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted with a freestanding sign. Printing on a canopy or awning is considered as a building sign.
means an industrial or commercial complex designed and developed as a unit and made up of different establishments. This term does not include a "shopping center."
means a sign that is a part of or attached to a freestanding, roof-like structure that provides protection from the elements in an outdoor service area.
means a sign erected to identify the town, population, public services and civic organizations and information to the general traveling public.
means a sign that identifies the site and location of current and future construction.
means a display sign for pedestrian viewing only to show credit cards accepted, menus, redemption stamps, bus schedules and community events.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0312.
means a sign using digital technology that produces static images which are changed remotely. Digital message signs may not scroll, flash or feature motion pictures. A digital message sign may be internally or externally illuminated. Digital message signs shall contain static messages only except that the static image may change every 10 seconds. Each static message shall not include flashing, scintillating lighting or the varying of light color or intensity.
means a sign with two faces.
means a sign or sign structure in which electrical wiring, connections and/or fixtures are used as part of the sign proper.
means any sign or portion of a sign that includes arrays of light bulbs or LEDs whose intent is the permanent or intermediate flashing, animation, or display of text, date, time and/or images.
means an economic unit, generally at a single physical location, where business is conducted or services or industrial operations are performed. This includes nonprofit and noncommercial operations.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0368.
means a sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are not attached to a building or other structure.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0397.
means a sign containing the name of the business establishment, occupant of the building, and/or address of the premises.
means a sign which is generally informational and has a purpose secondary to the use of the premises on which it is located, such as "no parking," "entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar objectives. No sign with a commercial message intended to be viewed from a position off of the premises on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental.
means a sign containing only noncommercial, site-specific environmental or interpretive information, or similar nonpromotional messages intended as a public service to the community, erected by public service clubs, historic societies, utility or service districts, or similar nonprofit organizations, or government agencies. This does not include signs where text changes electronically.
includes any city employee working under the authority and direction of the director.
is as defined and adopted in SMC § 15.08.010.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0637.
means a permanent structure attached to, and projecting from a building and providing protection from the weather, but does not include a projecting roof, awning, or canopy.
means any sign which forms part or is integrated into a marquee and does not extend horizontally beyond the limits of such marquee.
means a freestanding sign that is not supported by poles and the bottom surface of the sign is in contact with the ground. A "low monument sign" means a monument sign no greater than seven feet in height.
means a monument sign or wall sign with public service messages intended for the benefit of the immediate neighborhood, where text does not change electronically.
means a permanent sign to identify a particular residential area.
means a temporary sign for civic, religious, or other fund drives or events.
means:
A sign permanently erected or permitted by the city, Pierce County, or the state, including, but not limited to, signs denoting the name of any thoroughfare, the route to any city, town, village, educational institution, public building, public park, historic place, shrine or hospital, to direct and regulate traffic, to denote any railroad crossing, bridge, ferry, or other transportation or transmission company for the direction or safety of the public.
A sign, notice or symbol for the information of the Federal Aviation Agency as to locations, directions, landings, and conditions affecting safety in aviation.
means any sign which cannot be classified as an on-premises sign as described (includes "billboards").
means a sign which displays only advertising copy strictly incidental to the lawful use of the premises on which it is located and, depending upon the district in which it is located, contains any or all of the following:
The name of the owner, occupant, management or firm occupying the premises;
The address of the use;
The kind of name of the business and/or the brand name of the principal commodities sold or produced on the premises;
Other information relative to a service or activity involved in the conduct of the business. (Also includes "owner-identification" or "business sign.")
means a false front or wall extension above the roof line.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0793.
means a freestanding sign that is supported by one or more poles.
means a sign to advertise a candidate for political office, a pending levy or ballot initiative or similar election.
means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; converted to A- or T-frames; and sidewalk and sandwich boards.
means the real estate, as a unit, which may be one or more lots, which is involved by the sign or signs mentioned in this chapter.
means a sign which is attached to and projects from a structure or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than 16 inches beyond the surface of such structure or wall. A marquee sign is not considered a projecting sign.
means a sign to advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises.
means a sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure, except signs attached to an awning. Includes mansard roof sign.
means a retail shopping area designed as a unit, which utilizes a common parking area and contains separate, individual establishments.
means any visual communication device, structure, placard or fixture that uses color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public. For the purpose of this chapter, a sign is not considered to be building or structural design, but is restricted solely to graphics, symbols or written copy that is meant to be used in the aforementioned way.
means the total area of signage, visible from any viewpoint, excluding any sign support structure which does not form a part of the sign proper. "Surface area" includes only one face of a multiple-faced sign.
means the vertical distance measured from the adjacent street grade or upper surface of the nearest street curb, other than an elevated roadway, which permits the greatest height to the highest point of the sign.
means any structure that supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this chapter. A sign structure may be a single pole or may or may not be an integral part of the building. Any structure that performs an entirely separate use, such as a telephone booth, bus shelter, Goodwill container, etc., is not considered a sign structure.
See definition in SMC § 18.04.0980.
means a sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
means any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, paper, cardboard or other light materials, with or without frames, inflatable figures, balloons (in a display of 100 or more), intended to be displayed for a limited time only. Signs painted upon window surfaces that are readily removable by washing are considered temporary signs.
means property not occupied or inhabited or put to use by a person for more than 12 consecutive months.
means a sign attached or erected parallel to and extending not more than 16 inches from the facade or face of any building to which it is attached and supported throughout its entire length, with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the plane of the wall or facade. For the purposes of this chapter, printing on the valance of an awning or canopy is also considered a wall sign.
means a sign located inside and affixed to windows of a building, whether temporary or permanent, lighted or unlighted, which may be viewed from the exterior of the building.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. 2012 § 3, 2002; Ord. 2170 § 4, 2006; Ord. 2439 § 12, 2013; Ord. 2253 § 9, 2008; Ord. 2490 § 3, 2014; Ord. 2823 §§ 1 – 4, 2022)