A. 
General.
1. 
Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind and seismic forces as specified in this section. All bracing systems shall be designed and constructed to transfer lateral forces to the foundations. For signs on buildings, the dead and lateral loads shall be transmitted through the structural frame of the building to the ground in such a manner as not to over stress any of the elements thereof.
2. 
The overturning moment produced from lateral forces shall in no case exceed two-thirds of the dead-load residing moment. Uplift due to overturning shall be adequately resisted by proper anchorage to the ground or to the structural frame of the building.
3. 
The weight of earth superimposed over footings may be used in determining the deadload resisting moment. Such earth shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted.
B. 
Wind Loads. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist wind forces as specified in Chapter 23 of the building code.
C. 
Seismic Loads. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist seismic forces as specified in Chapter 23 of the building code.
D. 
Combined Loads.
1. 
Wind and seismic loads need not be combined in the design of signs or sign structures; only that loading producing the larger stresses need be used.
2. 
Vertical design loads, except roof live loads, shall be assumed to be acting simultaneously with the wind or seismic loads.
E. 
Allowable Stresses.
1. 
The design of wood, concrete, steel or aluminum members shall conform to the requirements of Chapters 25, 26, 27 and 28 of the building code.
2. 
Loads, both vertical and horizontal, exerted on the soil shall not produce stresses exceeding those specified in Chapter 29 of the building code.
3. 
The working stresses of wire rope and its fastenings shall not exceed 25 percent of the ultimate strength of the rope or fasteners.
4. 
Working stresses for wind or seismic loads combined with dead loads may be increased as specified in Chapter 23 of the building code.
(Ord. 1058 § 8, 1993)
A. 
General. The supports for all signs or sign structures shall be placed in or upon private property and shall be securely built, constructed and erected in conformance with the requirements of this code.
B. 
Materials.
1. 
Materials of construction for signs and sign structures shall be of the quality and grade as specified for buildings in the building code.
2. 
In all signs and sign structures, the materials and details of construction shall, in the absence of specified requirements, conform with the following:
a. 
Structural steel shall be of such quality as to conform with UBC Standard No. 27-1. Secondary members in contact with or directly supporting the display surface may be formed of gauge steel as specified in UBC Standard No. 27-9 in accordance with the specifications of the design of light and in addition shall be galvanized. Secondary members, when formed integrally with the display surface, shall be not less than 0.024 inches in thickness. When not formed integrally with the display surface, the minimum thickness of the secondary members shall be one-tenth inch. The minimum thickness of hot-rolled steel members furnishing structural support for signs shall be one-quarter inch, except that, if galvanized, such members shall be not less than one-eighth inch thick. Steel pipes shall be of such quality as to conform with UBC Standard No. 27-1. Steel members may be connected with one galvanized bolt, provided the connection is adequate to transfer the stresses in the members.
b. 
Anchors and supports when of wood and embedded in the soil, or within six inches of the soil, shall be of all heartwood of a durable species or shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative. Such members shall be marked or branded by an approved agency.
C. 
Restrictions on Combustible Material.
1. 
Ground signs may be constructed of any material meeting the requirements of this code.
2. 
Roof signs, where allowed by PMC Title 19, wall signs, projecting signs and signs on marquees shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, except as provided in subsection (D) of this section. No combustible materials other than approved plastic shall be used in the construction of electric signs.
EXCEPTIONS:
a. 
Approved roof signs may be constructed of unprotected combustible materials on roofs of combustible construction.
b. 
Approved roof signs with a maximum surface area of 50 square feet and a maximum height of five feet may be constructed of combustible materials on roofs of any type of construction.
c. 
Nonelectric wall signs may be constructed of unprotected combustible materials on walls permitted to be of unprotected combustible construction.
D. 
Nonstructural Trim. Nonstructural trim and portable display surfaces may be of wood, metal, approved plastics of any combination thereof.
E. 
Anchorage.
1. 
Members supporting unbraced signs shall be so proportioned that the bearing loads imposed on the soil in either direction, horizontal or vertical, shall not exceed safe values. Braced ground signs shall be anchored to resist the specified wind or seismic load acting in any direction. Anchors and supports shall be designed for safe bearing loads on the soil and for an effective resistance to pullout amounting to a force 25 percent greater than the required resistance to overturning. Anchors and supports shall penetrate to a depth below ground greater than that of the first line.
2. 
Portable ground signs supported by frames or posts rigidly attached to the base shall be so proportioned that the weight and size of the base will be adequate to resist the wind pressure specified in this chapter.
3. 
Signs attached to masonry, concrete or steel shall be safely and securely fastened thereto by means of metal anchors, bolts or approved expansion screws of sufficient size and anchorage to support safely the loads applied.
4. 
No wooden blocks or plugs or anchors with wood used in connection screws or nails shall be considered proper anchorage, except in the case of signs attached to wood framing.
5. 
No anchor or support of any sign shall be connected to, or supported by, an unbraced parapet wall, unless such wall is designed in accordance with the requirements for parapet walls specified for seismic zones in the building code.
F. 
Display Surfaces. Display surfaces in all types of signs may be made of metal, glass or approved plastics.
Glass thickness and area limitations shall be as set forth in Table No. 15.36-A.
Table No. 15.36-A
Size, Thickness and Type of Glass Panels in Signs
Maximum Size of Exposed Glass Panel:
Minimum Thickness of Glass (In inches)
Type of Glass
Any Dimension (In inches)
(In square inches)
30
500
1/8
Plain, plate or wired
45
700
3/16
Plain, plate or wired
144
3,600
1/4
Plain, plate or wired
Over 144
Over 3,600
1/4
Wired glass
Sections of approved plastics on wall signs shall not exceed 225 square feet in area.
EXCEPTION: Sections of approved plastics on signs other than wall signs may be of unlimited area if approved by the building official.
G. 
Approved Plastics. The building official shall require that sufficient technical data be submitted to substantiate the proposed use of any plastic material and, if it is determined that the evidence submitted is satisfactory for the use intended, he may approve its use.
(Ord. 1058 § 8, 1993)
A. 
General. Signs shall conform to the clearance and projection requirements of PMC Title 19 and this section. The clearance of a projecting sign when measured from the sidewalk or grade to the bottom of the sign shall be no less than seven and one-half feet.
B. 
Clearance From High Voltage Power Lines. Signs shall be located no less than six feet horizontally or 12 feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors which are energized in excess of 750 volts. The term "overhead conductors," as used in this section, means any electrical conductor, either bare or insulated, installed above the ground, except such conductors as are enclosed in iron pipe or other material converting of equal strength.
C. 
Clearance From Fire Escapes, Exists or Standpipes. No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.
D. 
Obstruction of Openings.
1. 
No sign shall obstruct any openings to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by this code.
2. 
Signs erected within five feet of an exterior wall in which there are openings within the area of the sign shall be constructed of noncombustible material or approved plastics.
(Ord. 1058 § 8, 1993)
A. 
General. Electric signs shall be constructed of noncombustible material.
The enclosed shell of electric signs shall be watertight, except that service holes fitted with covers shall be provided into each compartment of such signs.
B. 
Installation. Electrical equipment used in connection with display signs shall be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code as adopted by the city.
(Ord. 1058 § 8, 1993)
A. 
General. All signs and sign support structure, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in proper state of preservation. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times.
B. 
Obsolete Signs. Any on-site sign, including its supporting structure, which no longer identifies the current occupancy of the premises, shall be removed from the premises not more than 30 days from the date that the sign no longer identifies the current occupancy.
C. 
Unsafe Signs. Any sign that, in the opinion of the building official, is unsafe, insecure, damaged or disfigured shall be repaired or removed, together with any supporting structure, within 30 days after written notice to remove the sign is mailed by the building official to the responsible party.
(Ord. 1058 § 8, 1993)
A. 
Support. A temporary sign, which may include a cloth sign, shall be supported and attached with wire rope of three-eighths-inch minimum diameter. No strings, fiber ropes or wood slats shall be permitted for support or anchorage purposes. Cloth signs and panels shall be perforated over at least 10 percent of their area to reduce wind resistance.
EXCEPTION: Temporary cloth signs over private property, not exceeding 60 square feet, shall be supported and attached with wire rope which will meet the requirements of PMC § 15.36.050.
B. 
Projection. Cloth signs may extend over public property, except for a public street, if in compliance with the clearance requirements of PMC § 15.36.060. No sign may extend across a public street without prior approval of the building official.
C. 
Clearance. A sign which has been approved to extend over a public street shall maintain a minimum clearance of 20 feet.
A temporary sign, other than cloth, when eight feet or more above the ground, may project not more than six inches over public property or beyond the legal setback line.
(Ord. 1058 § 8, 1993)