The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety, and welfare through a comprehensive system of reasonable, effective, consistent, content-neutral, and nondiscriminatory sign standards and requirements. The intent of this chapter is to promote high-quality, creative signing in the city of Enumclaw. Within this broad purpose are the following more specific objectives:
A. 
Provide an aid to communication. Signs shall serve to assist townspeople and visitors in identifying and understanding the area and to promote economic growth.
B. 
Encourage public safety. Quality, construction, and location of signs shall not create obstructions to motorists by interfering with sight lines or directional traffic signs, create distractions or confusion, or in any other way endanger the safety, health, or welfare of citizens and visitors to the city.
C. 
Promote pleasing aesthetics. Signing shall reflect Enumclaw's desired character as an attractive rural city with vital and appealing business districts. Scale, materials, colors, and location of signing shall be pedestrian-oriented where appropriate, harmonious with surrounding uses, and complement the architectural style of the buildings on the site.
D. 
Maintain and enhance property values.
E. 
Regulate signs while protecting content neutrality. The city's sign code shall recognize free speech in a content-neutral manner.
F. 
Implement the city's goals and vision. The city's sign code shall promote and accomplish the goals, policies, and objectives of the city's comprehensive plan and zoning code, and the city council's vision, mission, and goals statement.
G. 
Provide consistent design standards.
H. 
Provide for ease of use and administration. The sign code provides for clear, understandable regulations which enable the fair and consistent enforcement of this chapter.
I. 
Address emerging trends. Address emerging trends in electronic sign technologies and provide regulations that facilitate use of such technologies while ensuring protection of motorists and pedestrians from the hazards of glare, startling bursts of light, and the use of virtual movement and animation intended to attract driver attention, to hold driver gaze, and/or to otherwise distract drivers from the safe operation of their vehicles. Protect neighborhoods, surrounding development and the night sky from nuisance factors associated with such glare, movement and animation of electronic signs.
J. 
Severability. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter should be held to be unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018)
A. 
Uniform Sign Code. Per Chapter 16.06 EMC, the city has adopted the Uniform Sign Code. Chapter 16.06 EMC determines what signs require a sign permit and establishes structural and safety-related requirements. The provisions of this chapter are additional to those of Chapter 16.06 EMC. The building official shall not issue sign permits in violation of this chapter. In the event of conflict, Chapter 16.06 EMC shall prevail over conflicting provisions of the Uniform Sign Code. In the event that portions of the Uniform Sign Code are in violation of state or federal law, the provisions of this chapter prevail.
B. 
Property Maintenance Code. The city has adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, per Chapter 16.10 EMC. All signs shall be maintained in conformance with Chapter 16.10 EMC.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018)
The following words, terms, and phrases when used in this chapter shall have meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Any word, term, or phrase used in this chapter that is not defined in this section shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Chapter 15.04 EMC. Any word, term, or phrase used in this chapter that is not defined in this section or Chapter 15.04 EMC shall have their normal dictionary meaning:
"A-board (or sandwich board) sign"
means a sign consisting of two panels hinged or attached at the top or side, designed to be movable and stand on the ground, and that has no permanent attachment to a building, structure or ground.
"Abandoned sign"
means any sign remaining in place after such sign has not been maintained, or if the activity conducted on the subject property ceases, for 270 or more consecutive days.
"Administrator"
means the city administrator or his/her designee.
"Animated sign"
means any sign which moves or contains moving graphics or lettering. These include signs with visible moving, revolving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement; signs with blinking, strobe, flashing, moving, scrolling or changing sign copy (including background, text, design, colors) or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means. Changeable copy signs and electronic changeable copy signs are not considered to be animated signs for the purpose of this chapter.
"Awning or canopy sign"
means a nonelectric sign that is printed on, painted on, or attached to the vertical surface or flap of an awning or canopy.
"Banner"
means a sign made of cloth or similarly flexible material, with or without copy, that is attached to a building, pole, or fence.
"Building-mounted signs"
means any sign attached to the face of a building, including, without limitation, wall signs, marquee signs, under canopy signs, and projecting signs.
"Cabinet sign"
means a permanent sign that is mounted on the face of a building, provides for internal illumination and changing the message of the sign by replacing a single transparent or translucent material such as a Plexiglass/Lexan face.
Canopy Sign.
See "awning or canopy sign."
"Changeable copy sign"
means a sign with copy that can be changed or altered by manual means and without changing or altering the sign frame, sign supports, or electrical parts. A sign on which the copy may be changed by electric, electromechanical or electronic means shall be considered an electronic changeable copy sign versus a changeable copy sign, for the purposes of this chapter.
"Clear vision triangle"
means the area at the corner of a street that must be regulated in order to ensure that vehicles have a clear viewing area not blocked by signs. To define the clear vision triangle: (1) draw a line on each side of the street towards the intersection, continuing each line until the two lines meet at an intersecting point. The lines should be parallel to the edge of the roadway or curb; (2) from the intersecting point measure 40 feet back, away from the intersection, along both lines to the triangle base points; and (3) draw a line between the two base points to form the clear vision triangle.
"Copy"
means the graphic content of a sign surface, including, but not limited to, graphics, letters, numbers, figures, symbols, and trademarks.
"Electronic changeable copy sign"
means any sign on which the copy (including background, text, and design) is produced and changes through the use of electronics.
"Externally illuminated sign"
means a sign with a lighting source that is not part of or attached to the sign, but which reflects onto the sign to enhance its readability.
"Facade"
means the entire building face, including the parapet. The facade is the building exterior wall of a single occupant building or the building exterior wall of an individual tenant's leased space in a multi-tenant complex, viewed as a vertical plane between the finished grade and the ridge of a pitched roof above it (e.g., top of parapet, etc.). This vertical plane will be used to calculate the sign area for building-mounted signs. In the case of an interior business without a separate exterior entrance, the exposed building face will be the vertical plane of the entrance wall measured between the floor and ceiling. As an option, for those businesses having oblique walls, the exposed building face is that area between the finish grade and the ridge or top of parapet that is shown on the elevation drawing submitted with the required drawings for a building permit.
"Fence sign"
means a sign attached to and supported by a fence with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the plane of the fence.
"Flag"
means any piece of cloth of individual size, color, and design, hoisted on a pole permanently affixed to the ground or displayed via a pole bracket which is permanently affixed to a building. If any single dimension of a flag is more than three times greater than any other single dimension, for the purposes of this chapter such flag is classified and regulated as a banner, regardless of how it is anchored or supported.
"Freestanding sign"
means a sign which is not supported by a building. Freestanding sign types include monument, pole and fence signs.
"Frontage, building"
means the length of an outside building wall.
"Frontage, property"
means the length of the property line along the public right-of-way on which it borders.
"Graffiti"
means an inscription of symbols, works, or pictures by painting, spray painting, or other means of defacing public or private property.
"Government sign"
means any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the city or any special purpose district, school district, county, state, or federal government or agency, including, without limitation, traffic signs, directional signs, warning signs, informational signs, and signs displaying a public service message.
"Height"
means the vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign to either the grade of the adjacent street or the surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is less.
Sign Height Measurement.
"Illegal sign"
means a sign that does not meet the sign requirements of the sign regulations of this chapter and does not attain legal nonconforming status by operation of law.
"Illuminated sign"
means a sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
"Inflatable sign"
means any object enlarged or inflated which floats, is tethered in the air, is activated by air or moving gas, or is located on the ground or on a building with or without copy or other graphic. These signs include large, single displays or a display of smaller inflatable items, such as balloons, connected in some fashion to create a larger display.
"Internally illuminated sign"
means any sign where light shines through a transparent or semi-transparent sign face to illuminate the sign's message. Exposed neon is considered a form of internal illumination.
"Legal nonconforming sign"
means any sign that was constructed, erected, and maintained in conformance with all King County or city of Enumclaw rules and regulations in effect at the time of establishment and no longer conforms to the rules and regulations of this chapter.
"Maintenance"
means the cleaning, painting, and minor repair of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy, design, or structure of the sign.
"Mansard roof"
means a roof with two slopes on each side of the four sides, the lower steeper than the upper.
"Marquee sign"
means any sign attached to or supported by a marquee, which is a permanent roof-like projecting structure attached to a building.
"Monument sign (ground sign)"
means a freestanding sign having the appearance of a solid base of landscape construction materials such as brick, stucco, stonework, textured wood, tile, or textured concrete on the subject property. The base must measure at least two-thirds of the width of the sign.
"Multi-tenant complex"
means a complex containing two or more uses or businesses.
"Nameplate"
means a nonelectric, on-premises identification sign giving only name, address, and/or occupation of an occupant or group of occupants.
"Nit"
means a photometric unit of measurement referring to luminance. One nit is equal to one cd/m2.
"Neon (outline tubing) sign"
means a sign consisting of glass tubing, filled with neon gas, or other similar gas, which glows when electric current is sent through it.
"Nonconforming sign"
means any sign that no longer conforms to the rules and regulations of this chapter.
"Off-premises sign (or billboard)"
means a sign with copy pertaining to a person, event, business, or service which exists on a site other than that on which the sign is located.
"Person"
means any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, or other legal entity.
"Plaque"
means a small nameplate. Plaques may not exceed two square feet in area and must be at a scale suitable for pedestrians and not intended to be read by passing motorists, and not for commercial advertising purposes.
"Pole sign"
means a freestanding sign supported by one or more poles.
"Portable sign"
means a sign that is not permanently affixed and is designed for or capable of being moved, except those signs explicitly designed for people to carry on their persons or that are permanently affixed to motor vehicles. Portable signs include, but are not limited to, A-frame signs, portable reader boards, and similar signs.
"Projecting sign"
means a sign, other than a flat wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a building wall or other structure not specifically designed to support the sign.
"Projection sign"
means a sign created by the projection of patterned light onto a surface.
"Public art"
means original artwork which is accessible to the public and/or public employees and has been approved as public art by the city.
"Rooftop sign"
means any sign supported on the roof structure. Signs standing out horizontally from a mansard roof are considered wall signs.
"Rotating sign"
means a sign that revolves on a fixed axis.
"Service island sign"
means a permanent sign displayed on the service island canopy of a gas station, bank, car wash or other use that provides a canopy cover for vehicles. Service island signs are not the same as awning or canopy signs as otherwise defined by this chapter.
"Sign"
means any structure that has a visual display designed to be visible from passing motorists of a public right-of-way or persons in public parks and similar public gathering spaces and designed to identify, announce, direct, or inform.
"Sign area"
means the entire area of a sign on which copy is placed, excluding the sign's structure, architectural embellishments, and framework. Sign area is calculated by measuring the perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the module or sign face containing the copy; provided, however, that separated copy using a canopy, awning, or wall as the background and is without added decoration or change in the canopy, awning, or wall shall have a sign area calculated by measuring the perimeter enclosing separate copy and totaling the square footage of all such perimeters included as part of the sign.
"Sign face"
means the area of a sign on which the copy is placed.
"Suspended sign"
means a sign suspended from an awning or marquee.
"Temporary sign"
means a sign placed on a structure or the ground for a specifically limited period of time as provided in EMC § 19.10.210. Temporary sign(s) (which may include special event sign) may not be permanently mounted, painted or otherwise affixed, excluding portable signs as defined by this chapter, including any poster, banner, placard, stake sign or sign not placed in the ground with concrete or other means to provide permanent support, stability and rot prevention. Temporary signs may only be made of nondurable materials including, but not limited to, paper, corrugated board, flexible, bendable or foldable plastics, foamcore board, vinyl canvas or vinyl mesh products of less than 20-ounce fabric, vinyl canvas and vinyl mesh products without polymeric plasticizers and signs painted or drawn with water soluble paints or chalks. Signs made of any other materials shall be considered permanent and are subject to the permanent sign regulations of this chapter.
"Tenant space"
means a portion of a structure occupied by a single commercial lease holder with its own public entrance from the exterior of the building or through a shared lobby, atrium, mall, or hallway and separated from other tenant spaces by walls.
"Total signing"
means the entire sign face which has copy on it, measured in square feet. Thus, total signing of wall signs, window signs, and awning and canopy signs shall be measured on one side only, while total signing of projecting, under-canopy, and freestanding signs shall be measured on both sides.
"Wall sign"
means a type of building sign attached parallel to an exterior wall of a building, including a mansard roof and parapets.
"Window signs"
mean all signs located inside and affixed to a window and intended to be viewed from the exterior of the structure.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018)
A. 
This chapter applies to all signs as defined in EMC § 19.10.030 (Definitions).
B. 
This chapter is not intended to and shall not be interpreted to restrict noncommercial speech on the basis of its content, viewpoint, or message.
C. 
Any classification of signs in this chapter which purports to permit commercial speech by reason of its content or identity of the sign user, or otherwise, shall be interpreted to allow noncommercial speech on the sign.
D. 
No part of this chapter shall be construed to favor commercial speech over noncommercial speech.
E. 
To the extent that any provision of this chapter is ambiguous, the term shall be interpreted not to regulate speech on the basis of the content of the message.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018)
The following signs or activities relating to signs are exempt from the permitting requirements of this chapter:
A. 
The normal repair and maintenance of conforming or legal nonconforming signs.
B. 
Building identification numbers and occupant names or plaques, including but not limited to business logos or social media, i.e., nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area containing the name of the occupant of the premises.
C. 
Governmental signs. Signs installed by the city, county, or a federal or state governmental agency for the protection of the public health, safety and general welfare, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. 
Emergency and warning signs necessary for public safety or civil defense;
2. 
Traffic and/or wayfinding signs erected and maintained by an authorized public agency;
3. 
Signs required to be displayed by law;
4. 
Signs showing the location and providing information on public facilities, tourist spots and public points of interest; and
5. 
Any sign, posting, notice, or similar sign placed by or required by a governmental agency in carrying out its responsibility to protect the public health, safety and general welfare.
D. 
Flags. Any flags; provided, that they conform to all provisions of this chapter for signs.
E. 
Stone or cement plaques and cornerstones with engraved or cast text or symbols and permanently embedded in the building's foundation or masonry siding materials; provided, that none of these exceed four square feet in area.
F. 
Interior signs. Signs or displays located entirely inside of a building and located at least three feet away from transparent doors and windows.
G. 
Vehicle with signs. Any sign on a currently licensed and operable motor vehicle parked or driven on a roadway, driveway or vehicle parking area, where the primary function of the vehicle is not to display the sign (i.e., delivery vans and trucks or service vehicles).
H. 
Temporary signs in windows. A temporary sign taped or otherwise affixed to the inside of a window, in such a manner as to be easily removed, and does not exceed four square feet.
I. 
Bench signs. Any outdoor bench or furniture with any signs one square foot or less in area.
J. 
Original noncommercial art displays are allowed; provided, that they meet the following requirements:
1. 
Must not be placed on a dwelling;
2. 
Must not extend more than six inches from the plane of the wall upon which it is painted or to which it is affixed;
3. 
Compensation will not be given or received for the display of the original art or the right to place the original art on site; and
4. 
Must not be illuminated.
K. 
Noncommercial statues.
L. 
Nonverbal symbols attached to places of worship.
M. 
Privately maintained traffic control signs in a subdivision with private roads.
N. 
Signs on structures or improvements intended for separate use, such as phone booths, donation containers and newspaper recycling boxes.
O. 
Permanent noncommercial private signs not exceeding four square feet per sign face, regulating pedestrian and vehicular circulation and parking of a development, such as signs imposing parking restrictions and identifying entrances to parking lots and buildings.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018; Ord. 2738 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022)
A. 
All signs shall be constructed pursuant to the International Building Code.
B. 
Where regulations conflict within the ordinance codified in this chapter or with other ordinances, the most stringent regulation shall apply.
C. 
No signs shall be placed within the right-of-way, or on public property, such as median/planter strips, planter islands, sidewalks, utility poles, street lights, traffic control standards, or poles as described more fully in EMC § 19.10.150. Exceptions shall be provided adjacent to state routes per EMC § 19.10.170 through § 19.10.190, for certain A-board signs per EMC § 19.10.180 and § 19.10.190 and for temporary signs authorized under EMC § 19.10.050.
D. 
Public alleys shall be considered to be streets for the purpose of applying this chapter. Public alleys shall not be considered streets in residential zones.
E. 
No signs shall be allowed within or near intersections or driveways which obscure the vision of passing cars or of cars entering or exiting the intersection or driveway (clear vision triangle).
F. 
Sign size calculations shall be made as follows:
1. 
Sign size shall be calculated in square feet;
2. 
The sign size shall include the entire face of the sign and any bordering or supporting material. For freestanding signs, the sign face shall include the supporting structure at or above the lowest level of the sign face, unless a specific exception for a decorative support structure is granted by the administrator as permitted in the underlying zone (See EMC § 19.10.170 through § 19.10.200). Decorative support structures include a foundation constructed of brick, stone or other decorative and durable materials and surrounded by landscaping. The foundation must encompass a minimum of 75 percent of the width of the sign;
3. 
Signs composed of individual letters or numbers shall be measured by a box border encompassing the message.
G. 
All signs shall be maintained by the owner of the sign to show no signs of deterioration, including but not limited to rust, holes, discoloration, illegible messages, peeling paint, trash, or overgrowing weeds.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018; Ord. 2738 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022)
The following signs shall not be allowed:
A. 
Signs without proper permit. Signs erected, constructed, or structurally altered that are required to have a permit for such action and that were erected, constructed, or altered without obtaining a permit for such action;
B. 
Banners, pennants, ribbons, spinners, large inflatable objects, feather banners (kite flags), or other similar devices, unless granted a temporary permit per EMC § 19.10.210;
C. 
Posters, strings of lights, blinking lights, balloons, searchlights, and other displays of a carnival nature qualifying as signs and used for commercial purposes;
D. 
Commercial off-premises signs and billboards, except as expressly authorized;
E. 
Internally illuminated signs shall be prohibited in all residential districts, and shall be also prohibited in the CB, NB, and GO zoning districts except for certain signs which may be allowed per 19.10.180;
F. 
Animated signs; except certain electronic changeable copy signs as allowed by EMC § 19.10.160(D);
G. 
Portable signs, except as specified in EMC § 19.10.180 and § 19.10.190;
H. 
Rooftop signs;
I. 
Signs that would cause confusion because of their resemblance to highway traffic control or direction signals, such as signs using the words "stop," "look," "caution," "danger" or signs using the shape and colors of stop signs or other traffic control signs;
J. 
Signs that are attached to traffic control signs, signal poles, lampposts, utility poles, trees, fences or other signs, rocks or natural features;
K. 
Signs located in the public right-of-way, on or within medians or roundabouts, or on or within other public property or structures except where permitted in this chapter; provided, that in no case shall temporary signs permitted under EMC § 19.10.210 be located within travel lanes or sidewalks;
L. 
Stationary motor vehicles, trailers and related devices, and/or signs mounted on them to circumvent this chapter except as authorized by EMC § 19.10.050(J);
M. 
Window signs exceeding 33 percent of the window or 32 square feet, whichever is less, and/or window signs displayed in excess of 60 days, except as an approved permanent sign; contiguous windows shall be considered one window for the purpose of this section; all window signs shall be maintained in a state of good repair as to prevent peeling, fading and cracking;
N. 
Signs advertising or identifying a use which is defunct or abandoned are in violation of Chapter 16.10 EMC, Property Maintenance Code;
O. 
Signs with content or subject matter that constitutes obscenity;
P. 
Graffiti;
Q. 
Nuisance signs. Any signs which emit smoke, visible particles, odors or recorded sound;
R. 
Bench or furniture signs greater than one square foot in area; and
S. 
Any other signs not explicitly permitted in this chapter except as required by state or federal law.
(Ord. 2645 § 2, 2018)