Each business is permitted one sandwich board/sidewalk sign displaying information on the sponsoring business; and to have information displayed on one sandwich board/sidewalk sign that contains multiple businesses located at a street corner subject to the following:
A. 
Signs shall be located next to the curb edge of a sidewalk on the premises in such a manner so as not to interfere with the opening of car doors, bus stops, loading zones or pedestrian traffic.
B. 
Signs shall be located directly in front of the sponsoring business, within 12 feet of the main entrance to the business, except:
1. 
This requirement does not apply to signs located at the street corner that contain multiple business names.
2. 
A business within the Town Center district that does not have direct street frontage on Main Street or Alder Avenue shall be allowed a maximum of two sandwich board signs located within two blocks of the business for marking route of travel; provided, no more than one sign per business is allowed at an intersection, or on a street.
C. 
Owners of such signs shall assume liability for damage resulting from their use and shall provide the city with an appropriate legal document holding the city harmless for such resulting loss. The business owner must supply the city with a valid certificate of insurance for liability purposes.
D. 
Signs are limited to 42 inches in height and 24 inches wide. Where said sign will be located within 10 feet of a driveway or other vehicular access point, the sign is limited to 30 inches in height.
E. 
In situations where sight visibility of motorists is not affected, small party type balloons (up to six) may be attached to sandwich board/sidewalk signs.
F. 
Permanent lettering for the business name and logo are required on sandwich boards.
G. 
Signs shall be displayed during business hours only.
H. 
Signs shall conform with the Sumner development and design guidelines as set forth in SMC § 18.40.020.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)
If approved by the director, a neighborhood may be allowed to erect a permanent structure as a community bulletin board; provided, that it does not exceed a sign area of 30 square feet per face.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. 2823 § 6, 2022)
A. 
Informational or nonadvertising signs may be erected as a public service to the community.
B. 
Such signs may be located in any zone upon approval by the director.
C. 
There shall be no fee for signs allowed by this section.
D. 
Such signs shall not include electronic reader board signs or digital message signs.
E. 
Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet per face and 15 feet in height.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. 2823 § 7, 2022)
A neighborhood identification sign may be erected for residential subdivisions of at least 10 acres in size according to the following standards:
A. 
Sign shall be a monument sign not to exceed 20 square feet in area and five feet in height. Sign shall be set back 10 feet from any property line.
B. 
One sign is permitted at any street entrance to the subdivision.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. 2012 § 4, 2002)
A business park identification sign may be erected for business parks according to the following standards:
A. 
The amount of allowable signage area when located in a general commercial or an industrial zone shall be dependent on the acreage of the site and set forth as follows:
Less than 5 acres
20-square-foot maximum
5 to 15 acres
50-square-foot maximum
Greater than 15 acres
75-square-foot maximum
B. 
Maximum height of monument sign: five feet.
C. 
Area within five feet of the sign must be landscaped.
D. 
Monument style signs are preferred and shall be located at the entrance to the property with a maximum of two signs per entrance, two entrances maximum.
E. 
Business park sign size shall not be calculated as part of the total aggregate sign area.
F. 
Unlit or externally lighted signs are preferred. Internally lighted signs will be allowed; provided, that:
1. 
The internally lighted area of the sign is 25 percent or less of the total sign area; and
2. 
The design of the internally lit business park sign is approved through administrative design review based on criteria established in the Sumner design and development guidelines.
(Ord. 2012 § 2, 2002)
Temporary signs may require a permit and be authorized by the director depending upon the type of temporary sign regulated as follows:
A. 
Real estate signs not requiring a permit:
1. 
Real estate signs permitted under this section are permitted only on the premises which is for sale, rent or lease and in accordance with the following provisions:
a. 
Single-Family Dwellings and Multifamily Complexes. One real estate sign is permitted for each street frontage of the premises. Said sign may have two faces, shall not exceed a height of six feet unless placed in a window and shall not exceed an area of 20 square feet, no one face shall exceed 10 square feet and the sign shall be unlighted.
b. 
Unimproved Acreage. One real estate sign is permitted for each lot. The sign shall not exceed an area of one-fourth of a square foot for each foot of street frontage and shall not, in any event, exceed 50 square feet for a total of all faces. It shall not exceed a height of six feet and shall be unlighted.
B. 
Real estate signs requiring a temporary sign permit:
1. 
Subdivision or Multiple-Family Complex Signs. A temporary real estate sign declaring a group of lots, dwellings or occupancies within a subdivision or apartment complex for sale or rent are permitted subject to the following conditions:
a. 
One such sign is permitted for each street frontage of the premises being sold or leased. The area of said signs shall not exceed an area of 25 square feet each. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 10 feet. Wall sign(s) shall be attached flat against a principal building, shall not project above said building, and shall be unlighted or indirectly lighted.
b. 
Signs permitted pursuant to this section may remain as long as the project remains unsold or unleased, or for one year, whichever period is less; provided, however, that the director may extend the time period one year, not to exceed a total of two years.
2. 
Commercial and Industrial Uses. One real estate sign is permitted for each public entrance to property but there shall not be more than four signs per lot. Said sign shall not exceed an area of 16 square feet per face, the total of all signs shall not exceed 50 square feet. Said signs shall be attached flat against the building or freestanding, shall not project above the eave of the roof or the top of the parapet of said building and shall be unlighted or indirectly lighted.
C. 
Nonpolitical Campaign Signs. Temporary nonpolitical signs announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization may be allowed upon any lot. Said sign shall not exceed 36 square feet for the total of all faces with no one face exceeding 18 square feet. Sign height shall not exceed four and one-half feet. Such signs may be posted 30 days prior to the event, drive, campaign, etc. Such signs shall be removed within five days after the event, drive, campaign, etc.
D. 
Political Campaign Signs. Temporary political signs announcing the campaign of a person for public office may be allowed on private property, with the consent of the private property owner, and on street rights-of-way; provided, that said sign shall not restrict the view of vehicular traffic. Said sign shall be limited to 36 square feet for the total of all faces with no one face exceeding 18 square feet. Said sign shall not exceed a height of four and one-half feet. All such signs shall be removed no later than five days after the election for which the political sign was displayed. The candidate whose name appears on the sign shall be responsible for removal. If such signs are not removed, they will be subject to removal by the city.
E. 
Construction Signs. One sign identifying a project under construction is permitted for each street frontage of the building or structure under construction. Said sign may contain the name of the building contractor and his subcontractors, the architect, and the engineer. Said sign is permitted during the period of construction and shall not exceed 50 square feet total of all faces. Said sign shall not be erected until such time that a construction permit for the project has been issued.
F. 
Special Events Signs. Special permits may be issued by the director for a period not to exceed 30 days for banners, streamers, inflatable displays and temporary or portable signs for special events such as carnivals, grand openings, outdoor affairs and sales, and events of a similar nature. Permits of this nature shall be limited to not more than 120 days per calendar year. New businesses within the city are granted a two-week permit for grand opening signs at no charge.
G. 
Streamers.
1. 
Streamers may be used to outline property lines and areas on a lot which display merchandise outdoors.
2. 
Streamers shall be replaced or removed when torn or faded.
3. 
Since the primary purpose of streamers is to make display areas more attractive, for those uses displaying streamers for more than 90 days in a calendar year, landscaping must be combined with streamer usage. Plans are to be approved by the development services department with the intent being to provide planting areas with street trees or continuous areas with ground cover, particularly, but not limited to the area along property lines.
H. 
Farm Product Identification Signs. No permit is required but said signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way and shall be located on the property on which the product is grown. This sign will be limited to 50 square feet for the total of all faces, no one face shall exceed 25 square feet. Said sign is limited to 15 feet in height and shall be unlighted or indirectly lighted.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. 2788 § 48, 2021)
Any projecting or suspended signs shall meet the following requirements:
A. 
No wall or projecting sign shall project more than one foot above or over the wall, roof line or parapet of the building to which it is attached.
B. 
No projecting or suspended sign shall extend less than seven feet above any public sidewalk or pedestrian way.
C. 
When a projecting sign is used the number and amount of visible angle irons, guy wires or braces shall be minimized, except those that are an integral part of the overall design, such as decorative metal or woods.
D. 
No projecting or suspended sign shall extend more than 75 percent of the distance between the property line and the curb line.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)
Digital message signs shall be allowed only for public schools, government facilities, or regional community centers subject to the following standards:
A. 
One digital message sign shall be allowed in lieu of an electronic reader board sign.
B. 
A digital message sign shall not be located closer than 1,000 feet, as measured along the adjacent right-of-way, from another digital message sign or electronic reader board sign.
C. 
The digital message sign shall be a monument sign and shall not exceed a height of seven feet.
D. 
The digital message sign shall not exceed 64 square feet in total area. The electronic portion shall not exceed 60 percent of the square footage of the side of the sign where the electronic message is located.
E. 
The digital message sign shall be programmed to operate only during the hours of 6:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. 2823 § 8, 2022)
City entrance signs shall contain no commercial advertising. The total area of the sign on all its faces shall not exceed 12 square feet and the height of the sign shall not exceed eight feet.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)
Incidental signs shall contain no commercial advertising intended to be viewed off the premises and shall be limited to a maximum of eight square feet per sign.
(Ord. 1896 § 2 (part), 1999)